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Is it worth asking for £2,000 price drop for work discovered after survey?

Johnjones7656
Johnjones7656 Posts: 87 Forumite
in House buying, renting & selling
As the title reads there's follow up work to be done after the survey-these works have been quoted as £2,250. Is it worth asking for this to be deducted off the price we've offered or just suck it up and carry on??
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Comments

  • Westminster
    Westminster Posts: 1,004 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Savvy Shopper! Debt-free and Proud!
    You can always ask - perhaps be prepared to cover 50% of the cost (or maybe even 100% depending on the vendor)
  • juniordoc
    juniordoc Posts: 366 Forumite
    Yes if course it's worth it, the worst that can happen is they say no.
    Your success will depend on how long the house has been on the market, how keen they are to sell/move, how much other interest they had in the property. You could improve your chances by compromising and asking for 1.5K off.
    Best of luck!
  • martindow
    martindow Posts: 10,214 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Surveyors always cover their backs by pointing out 'faults' that can be something and nothing.

    What are the issues that they have flagged up? Have they valued the house at the price you are paying or lower?
  • PasturesNew
    PasturesNew Posts: 70,698 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    It's complex. The work might've been obvious, e.g. new windows required... or hidden and the owners didn't know.

    Then there's the question of what's critical/urgent and what's nice to have.

    Then there's the issue of the cost you have been quoted.

    You're not buying something brand new and, depending on age, there will always be something to fix with any house, if you think it's important....

    The sellers might not be able to drop the price - nor willing - nor willing for the work you say costs £2k.

    A lot of "work required" is priced in when the Agent values the house, so has already been discounted.

    "Drive needs relaying" - would be obvious as you walked up it and whether that's done is a choice. Maybe "a drive" could be sorted for £600, nor £2k. Something like this might even be "priced in" and if the Estate Agent had walked up a brand new drive when he went to price the house up he might've suggested they put it on £5k higher.

    "Electricals are so dangerous the fire brigade would tell people not to sleep there" is critical and something that'd potentially prevent others buying it .... £2k for a full rewire might seem a reasonable price to pay to get the house sold...

    How long is a piece of string ...
  • david1951
    david1951 Posts: 431 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    Look at it from the seller's point of view:

    - was it all obvious stuff that the original offer took into account, or routine maintenance?

    - what are the chances of finding another buyer willing to proceed at the agreed price, or higher? This is likely in, e.g., areas of London and the South East.

    - have you annoyed the seller about other stuff, e.g., enquiries? For example, this could be the final straw that leads to them pulling out.
  • FBaby
    FBaby Posts: 18,367 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    Also consider that the price agreed already included a reduction on account of these issues.
  • Johnjones7656
    Johnjones7656 Posts: 87 Forumite
    Thanks for your advice.


    Theres issues with the chimney that the seller knew needed fixing and then an independent damp report has estimated a cost for rising damp that we didn't know about.


    We just cant work out if its worth getting a new mortgage offer if the seller agrees - is getting a new mortgage offer a hassle?
  • teddysmum
    teddysmum Posts: 9,471 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    When my late father's bungalow was being sold, a burst pipe, in the loft, damaged plasterboard, so the buyer asked for £2000 off the price (in the 1990s when a detached bungalow sold for £50000).


    We agreed to this as we wanted probate sorted, but the buyer came better off,as he was is in the building trade and was going to demolish that part of the wall anyway (to make a larger living room ).
  • Mr_da
    Mr_da Posts: 122 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post First Anniversary
    Most definitely worth asking. Recently had the same issue, I was going to ask if they would meet in the middle, but my mortgage advisor said ask for the full amount to be knocked off and it was.
  • Johnjones7656
    Johnjones7656 Posts: 87 Forumite
    How do you ask?? How do you word it??
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