Flat sale - condensation

AliceBanned

Hi I wonder whether anyone can advise. I am at the early stages of selling my flat but after agreeing sale price the buyer noticed at second viewing (I was away so flat had been empty for a few days with heating off) damp on the carpet next to the balcony door.

I know the door needs replacing as it is old style aluminium patio door and gets a lot of condensation. This has put the buyer off but EA suggested I get it ‘re-sealed’. I am getting quotes but think it may need new UPVC door, approx £2k.

i could offer a discount on the sale price but when I bought the flat there was a lot I could see needed doing and based my offer on this. They haven’t reduced their offer. EA is not communicating much with me and just said their lender approved the sale price the day after.

not sure what to do but am looking for someone who can improve it. Typically I use a de-humidifier. It is a problem but not one I wanted to take on! I think the EA shouldn’t have told them it needs re-sealing as there is no evidence it does. Not sure what the EA told them. We seem to have stalled on this. Any advice welcome. Thanks

anselld

It doesn't really seem cold enough for significant condensation issues.  Are you sure it is not rain getting in somehow?   May or may not be an easy fix.

Certainly would not shell out for a new door at this stage.  Better to let the new buyer choose type, style, etc if that really is what is needed.

AliceBanned

There could be rain but it usually gets condensation from autumn through to spring and not in summer. Only overnight when it is quite cold actually this time of year. It is an old style so the panes of glass are larger and thinner than in modern windows. It does need replacing but I’m considering reducing the price rather than going to the trouble but I guess unless they have a building survey the buyer won’t know the extent of the issue. The room does get too cold and the heating is electric so I thought that might be why. It’s at end of a block so has two outside walls.

ThisIsWeird

Unless that patio door is absolutely running with condensation, so much it causes a puddle on the floor, then the 'damp' is not 'condensation'.
You could leave your flat all winter with zero heating and not suffer condensation - as long as you crack open all your windows.
I'd suggest your EA was trying to do you a favour, since resealing around a door is a minor task, whereas replacing a door not so much. So, if it is from a leak - water getting through from outside - he did the right thing.
Soooo, does the glass run with condensation?

AliceBanned

Maybe it’s both. Both the door and frame do run with condensation. Dehumidifier helps but it’s too noisy to have on overnight. I’ll get someone to see about re-sealing it. Thanks everyone for the advice.

ThisIsWeird

Ventilate ventilate ventilate.
Certainly overnight, when no-one is using the room. Heating off, windows cracked to vent setting. 

gwynlas

It looks as though you have probably lost the buyers unless the EA is prepared to do some work and offer them £3k off purchase price for cost and inconvenience of replacing doors.

Otherwise sell flat as is potential purchasers can offer what they believe it is worth

AliceBanned

Thanks. I emailed the EA today as they have gone quiet despite me phoning twice this week. I’m getting concerned about their lack of communication with me and considering changing EA but need to give 28 days’ notice. When they took the flat off the market after finding this buyer they didn’t even let me know, never mind ask me. I had accepted an offer though. 

I don’t think the EA would suggest offering £3k off as I wouldn’t be keen. I’d offer something off, maybe £500 but why would I pay for the improvement when someone else benefits?! I have factored in the old doors in my price.

youth_leader

You say you have 'factored' in the old doors in your price, but what have other similar flats sold for?  

ThisIsWeird

Picture of these doors, Alice?

They are double-glazed, yes? Although unlikely to be as effective as modern equivalents, they will still offer a decent level of insulation, so the 'running condensation' won't be down to a fault in them. It also won't be down to any leaks around the frame.

Such condensation is down to too much moisture in the air inside the flat. If you simply raise the air temp, it'll just hold more water in it, ready to come out whenever you turn the heating back off - say, overnight. So, you might be able to remove the visible cond by keeping your heating on 'high', all of the time without a break.

The sensible way to get rid of the moist air, is to ventilate it out.

You can prove this any time you like. The next time you see cond running down the inside of the balcony door pane, simply open the door and leave it fluttering in the wind. It'll be bone dry within the hour - no heating required.

Whenever you have another viewing booked in, ventilate the flat thoroughly - if you are out, then make sure every single window is cracked open to 'vent' setting, and all internal doors open to allow a through-draught. Heating off. Then, an hour before the viewing, close them all, and turn on the heating = warm, dry flat.

AliceBanned

My next door neighbour’s in similar condition sold for £2k less a few months ago. However my flat is worth more in my opinion than next door as it has better outlook and more windows due to being triple aspect when next door has dual aspect. I would drop the agreed price as mentioned but feel equal price to next door is probably not justified.