Buyer is concerned about the garden…

Skiddaw1

Good luck OP. I love a wildlife-friendly garden and I think yours would have been a selling point to me rather than the reverse.

donutandbeer

Quick update in case anyone is interested:
 
So the buyers (family of 4) just came and left. They asked if we’re going to cut the plants more and I said “No, we’ve done some cuttings and I believe this is how it was when you viewed in March.” to which they replied “Yep.” 

They also tried to nick pick lots of things like how the carpet next to the handrail upstairs is not totally tucked in under the handrail frame. And creak sound on one spot. Not quite sure what they were expecting me to reply but I just said yeah it’s been like this.

We know the house is not perfect or brand new and we never tried to advertise it as something that it’s not. We priced it accordingly, which they should know if they’ve been looking in the area. There are a lot of small works (most are visible/cosmetic work) we could have done before putting it on the market and we would definitely be able to sell it at a higher price but we decided against it. At the end of the day it’s a 50’s semi, we don’t have the patience to make it look brand new. 

Anyway hopefully they have not changed their mind and we will be able to exchange tomorrow. I really want to just sleep through this period of time and wake up having exchanged. Thanks for all the kind words and support, I’ve been telling myself to stop worrying about worst case scenario because I can worry about it when it actually happens and not now. 

diystarter7

Thanks OP
They are clearly interested,
Say NO to any reductions but be polite and your reason will be, "as the markets gone up since we accepted the offer, we are soory but we see no reason to move from the AGREED price."
I hope you've not told them re your move planned date.
Please update again if/when you can.

donutandbeer

diystarter7 said:

Thanks OP
They are clearly interested,
Say NO to any reductions but be polite and your reason will be, "as the markets gone up since we accepted the offer, we are soory but we see no reason to move from the AGREED price."
I hope you've not told them re your move planned date.
Please update again if/when you can.

We were/are worried that because we’ve done some modernisation, a loft conversion and a rear extension, some parts of the house might not appear to be as old as it is, especially to people who have never lived in this kind of houses in the UK before (I think they are first generation immigrants - I’m one too no particular offence here). We priced the house accordingly, but they could have thought that they were just lucky and snatched a deal. There are lots of good schools around so it’s a very popular area with no new houses being built.

We actually accepted an offer in early March first, also FTB buyer (and also first generation immigrants - they said they’ve been living in a quite central & new area with lots of new flats). First buyer came for a second viewing a week after we accepted their offer, then pulled out the day after. During the second viewing with the first buyer I felt that they were spooked by things that suggested that they’ve never lived in a house like this (just like myself a few years ago). They told us that they’ve been looking for a few months and never seen anything they liked (probably because most houses here are either very dated inside or very expensive). I really didn’t expect them to pull out but fair enough it was very early stage. Now I just have to stop thinking about it for my sanity’s sake.

Brie

Hoping all the things you are worried about come to nothing.  I'm rather envious of your various plants. 

When we bought our current place I contacted the EA about the garden but it was to ask if the then owners could do a drawing of the various plants and what they were - I think they were delighted that I knew what hard work they'd put in, and hope that if they drive past they aren't disappointed I haven't kept it up to their high standards.  I've been slowly changing things and trying to get lovely stuff like rosemary and thyme established.  And I'm still wondering why anyone would put a cherry tree in a (admittedly huge) pot.  But we get some cherries so that's ok.

nicknameless

They sound like utter idiots.  Plenty about.

[Deleted User]

donutandbeer said:

Quick update in case anyone is interested:
 
So the buyers (family of 4) just came and left. They asked if we’re going to cut the plants more and I said “No, we’ve done some cuttings and I believe this is how it was when you viewed in March.” to which they replied “Yep.” 

They also tried to nick pick lots of things like how the carpet next to the handrail upstairs is not totally tucked in under the handrail frame. And creak sound on one spot. Not quite sure what they were expecting me to reply but I just said yeah it’s been like this.

We know the house is not perfect or brand new and we never tried to advertise it as something that it’s not. We priced it accordingly, which they should know if they’ve been looking in the area. There are a lot of small works (most are visible/cosmetic work) we could have done before putting it on the market and we would definitely be able to sell it at a higher price but we decided against it. At the end of the day it’s a 50’s semi, we don’t have the patience to make it look brand new. 

Anyway hopefully they have not changed their mind and we will be able to exchange tomorrow. I really want to just sleep through this period of time and wake up having exchanged. Thanks for all the kind words and support, I’ve been telling myself to stop worrying about worst case scenario because I can worry about it when it actually happens and not now. 

Poor you! I think this is typical of many (not all, but many!) FTB's who I think are just inexperienced with what to expect. I think you either get ones who want to get stuck in and make lots of changes / like a bit of a project or the other end of the spectrum that think absolutely everything should be perfect even in much older houses! I don't think they'll pull out, just being a bit picky and they'd be the same anywhere. You've done and said all the right things. Good luck!

Atomix

Any chance you could post up a picture of the garden? Just want to see what the fuss is about... - 

Slinky

If they've been renting they could be expecting their purchase to be like their rentals - pointing out things like the loose carpet so that they're fixed before they move in - not realising they are in a different process.

BikingBud

donutandbeer said:

Thanks for everyone that replied and sorry that it’s a bit difficult to respond to every comment on phone. 
 
It would be very difficult for us to remove all plants, garden is not small (160 m2), and to be honest it hurts me to have to dig them up myself and destroy perfectly good plants… We got lovely giant rosemary bush and sage bush, lots of things we grew from seeds and lots of plants we bought from garden centre (definitely not cheap but we enjoyed them). I don’t care what the next owner wants to do with the garden, but I can’t bring myself to destroy it. I had hoped that we can find a buyer that wants to keep all the plants and have the energy to maintain it, but all the offers we got were from FTBs with young kids looking to start a family and probably have a lawn so their kids can play. 

I certainly will miss the garden, we are looking to buy something with a smaller garden but I would never want a lawn. 
 
As if today is not stressful enough, the light switch for the downstair bathroom just broke down. I ran to wilko when they opened at 8:30 and managed to buy a light switch. Just replaced it and it works now. I know it’s a small and simple task but I’ve never changed a light switch before. It’s not like any reasonable person will be put off by a broken light switch but I really don’t want to spook the buyer. 

If they were removed we would then see a post complaining because the previous occupants took all the lovely plants and shrubs from the garden.

I would likely have advised that as I had grown them from seedlings I will be taking them with me.

You could always give them the number for the local ready mix concrete plant and some flyers for artificial grass.