Rodent droppings on second viewing - happy to pay and renegotiate price?

deannagone

I had a problem with mice.  Put a dyed tracker dust down, figured out where they were coming out of the walls, laid traps and killed quite a lot of them.  They stopped coming in the house.  But I think you will need to clear the rubbish before you start something like that.  That is where they are most likely nesting.  

However, I think you are on a loser expecting the present owner to pay for/organise this.  He's too far away, possibly unwell and too old..,  and just wants an easy buyer so he can be rid of the place.  You are getting a 25k discount to help you be that easy buyer who will do the things he can't.

But I hope you have a thorough survey to find out what you will need to repair etc.., sometimes properties like this can be a money pit (and it can cost more than the property will be worth once brought up to spec).  As said already expect to pay out more for things the surveyor doesn't spot.  This may be why the property didn't sell previously.

annetheman

Thank you for the encouragement, and the advice! I will not bother with the faff of the reduction. I only hope seller will agree to doing the clearing now since we're going halves on that, before the exterminator comes in at my cost. I hope I can book both in for the next few weeks. 

As mentioned, accepting of the risk that they may pull out - but if they don't, it will absolutely be worth starting to sort the infestation out now.

I am excited about starting with the renovation, cleaning, degriming and fixing this rather small house, I just didn't even think of mice infestation being part of the deal (very possibly deliberate wishful thinking) -- a cautionary tale for the next first-time-reno-project-enthusiast!

Yes it is a doer upper but (alongside the fact a tenant moved out in September 2023) at first viewing it looked liveable, if a bit grotty. For me, an infestation is not liveable - I can deal with a few but there are clearly loads in there.

I shared a photo of the worst of the mouse poo, and here are some more:

• The new house's downstairs - see the rubbish left inside (this is where the mouse poo is).
• The new garden (edit: &again) - most excited about this though it is full of rubbish, snails and probably more rodents!
• My current newbuild flat - this is the cushty, rodent-free life I am swapping for the above!
• My currently jobless mouse catcher / repellent - to be called to duty soon!

I can't wait to start, really. But there are many things I personally will leave to the pros, such as plumbing, electrics, roofing/structural.

I have now added dealing with rodents to that list lol!

I know it'll be much harder than I think and I know it'll be expensive as all hell. But I'm hopeful in 5 years I can update with a photo of the mouse-free after, too!

Thanks for the help, all!

annetheman

AlexMac said:

annetheman said:

… This is a Victorian house in London, under £400,000 in zone 3, 7 minutes' walk from a tube station - so very popular area, but the house has clearly had issues …

You’ve decided to go for it, so I can’t add to the advice, above, not to quibble about a few quid, but…

Snap!  Sounds like as much of a bargain as the wreck I bought once “when I were a lad” (to quote the trope); coincidentally also a neglected long term rental; a doer- upper  dating from the late Victorian era, in Zone 3, near transport and in an up and coming area. 

And mice? Mice? That’s nothing!  My first job, after solving the mortgage problems which nearly snookered the purchase, was to put on overalls and remove six bulging bin bags full of dead pigeon carcasses and guano from the loft. And a wasps nest. Then start to plan the refurb; new roof (so the birds could no longer roost via the holes), gutters, electrics, boiler, c/h, a bathroom and kitchen, all previously absent (no wonder I had mortgage problems!)

Was worth it though; doubled my money when I sold three years later. 

So you’ll be good; you’ve even already got a cat, so that’s one less expense. My wife refused to move in with me til I got a moggie when we first met (the lodger was an animal lover and used to previously leave food out in little dishes for the varmints). 

Good luck with the up doing. 

Wow! Word for word, I'm reliving your past great to hear it was worthwhile for you and your family! I don't plan to sell on for many years, but will see.

Very grateful to hear your story, and the luck, which I'll need!

Missus_Hyde

annetheman said:

Thank you for the encouragement, and the advice! I will not bother with the faff of the reduction. I only hope seller will agree to doing the clearing now since we're going halves on that, before the exterminator comes in at my cost. I hope I can book both in for the next few weeks. 

As mentioned, accepting of the risk that they may pull out - but if they don't, it will absolutely be worth starting to sort the infestation out now.

I am excited about starting with the renovation, cleaning, degriming and fixing this rather small house, I just didn't even think of mice infestation being part of the deal (very possibly deliberate wishful thinking) -- a cautionary tale for the next first-time-reno-project-enthusiast!

Yes it is a doer upper but (alongside the fact a tenant moved out in September 2023) at first viewing it looked liveable, if a bit grotty. For me, an infestation is not liveable - I can deal with a few but there are clearly loads in there.

I shared a photo of the worst of the mouse poo, and here are some more:

• The new house's downstairs - see the rubbish left inside (this is where the mouse poo is).
• The new garden (edit: &again) - most excited about this though it is full of rubbish, snails and probably more rodents!
• My current newbuild flat - this is the cushty, rodent-free life I am swapping for the above!
• My currently jobless mouse catcher / repellent - to be called to duty soon!

I can't wait to start, really. But there are many things I personally will leave to the pros, such as plumbing, electrics, roofing/structural.

I have now added dealing with rodents to that list lol!

I know it'll be much harder than I think and I know it'll be expensive as all hell. But I'm hopeful in 5 years I can update with a photo of the mouse-free after, too!

Thanks for the help, all!

The best of luck to you with your house renovations ( I hope your sale goes through as smoothly as possible and with no more nasty surprises!😉)

May you and your beautiful cat have many happy years in the house!👍

twopenny

Sounds like you have a winner despite the 'infestation'.

Massive discount in good location, garden etc. The rest is easily doable.

I bought somewhere with ants running up the walls and a loose bit of ply at the porch that probably has a step etc under but I'm too scared to look  

The soloution was small but not fun to sort the problem and lots more besides.

Now I have a sought after spot worth 30,000+ what I paid and the location is great.and I've cleaned, decorated, improved a bit.

The garden was one thing I did.

That looks a good one. Easy to make desirable.

Enjoy

FreeBear

annetheman said:

• The new garden (edit: &again) - most excited about this though it is full of rubbish, snails and probably more rodents!

That fake grass (outdoor carpet) has just got to go. It is even worse than the crap under the stairs....

And seeing as we are trading kitty pr0n....