House Buyers/Timewasters
Discussion
i feel i need to vent some steam...
its taken about 4 months of negotiating to finally move house - we're days from exchange - or at least i was hoping to exchange before Xmas. i've been totally upfront with my purchasers, being as helpful as possible and telling them that the price they offer is final...
3 days before xmas and they now want £5k off the price because the central heating is not up to their standard, and there is some damp (condensation near the bay windows - who would have thought?).
i have even spoken to plumber & co. who popped round and even they said everything was adequate - not perfect - but this isn't a brand new house. i dunno, it seems people will try anything on.
as a matter of principle, i have told them to 'talk to the hand' - i have found at least £10k of stuff that may need doing to the property i am purchasing but then this was reflected in my offer.
fido said:
i feel i need to vent some steam...
its taken about 4 months of negotiating to finally move house - we're days from exchange - or at least i was hoping to exchange before Xmas. i've been totally upfront with my purchasers, being as helpful as possible and telling them that the price they offer is final...
3 days before xmas and they now want £5k off the price because the central heating is not up to their standard, and there is some damp (condensation near the bay windows - who would have thought?).
i have even spoken to plumber & co. who popped round and even they said everything was adequate - not perfect - but this isn't a brand new house. i dunno, it seems people will try anything on.![]()
as a matter of principle, i have told them to 'talk to the hand' - i have found at least £10k of stuff that may need doing to the property i am purchasing but then this was reflected in my offer.
They probably vote Labour!

Remember that they are in the same boat as you, presumably, i.e. they will have expended a lot of time, effort and cash to get to this point. Are they going to throw it all away for the sake of £5k? I doubt it.
"Talk to the hand" is the right answer!
Furthermore, if feeling slightly evil, insist that they stick to the previously agreed exchange/completion dates or else you might pull out of the deal. Stick the pressure straight back at 'em.
"Talk to the hand" is the right answer!
Furthermore, if feeling slightly evil, insist that they stick to the previously agreed exchange/completion dates or else you might pull out of the deal. Stick the pressure straight back at 'em.
Chris Type R said:
Have they only just received their survey perhaps ?
i doubt it. the main survey which i guess looks for structural problems was sent a month ago.
i made the assumption (the mother of all f*k ups, i know) that the chain was now progressing, and at this point i proceeded with solicitors & mortgage (cost me about £1k so far... minor compared to m/gage in any case)
they then (unexpectedly) did some follow up surveys on any minor issues that the main survey highlighted as potential problems i.e. damp, central-heating efficiency etc. not being easy for me to take off days, i wasn't that happy but let them proceed, but i did remind the estate agents that the offer price was not negotiable. i suppose they can 'try it on' but it seems a bit ungentlemently (even though erm, the buyer is a a lady ... damn fussy one at that!).
pdV6 said:
Remember that they are in the same boat as you, presumably, i.e. they will have expended a lot of time, effort and cash to get to this point. Are they going to throw it all away for the sake of £5k? I doubt it.
"Talk to the hand" is the right answer!
Furthermore, if feeling slightly evil, insist that they stick to the previously agreed exchange/completion dates or else you might pull out of the deal. Stick the pressure straight back at 'em.
that sounds like a good idea. heck, i'm too nice, that's my problem. not in any rush to move either.
fido said:
pdV6 said:
Remember that they are in the same boat as you, presumably, i.e. they will have expended a lot of time, effort and cash to get to this point. Are they going to throw it all away for the sake of £5k? I doubt it.
"Talk to the hand" is the right answer!
Furthermore, if feeling slightly evil, insist that they stick to the previously agreed exchange/completion dates or else you might pull out of the deal. Stick the pressure straight back at 'em.
that sounds like a good idea. heck, i'm too nice, that's my problem. not in any rush to move either.
although i'm from the 'other' side of the fence, being involved with buyers mainly rather than vendors i'd say that this is the best approach, seems like she is just trying some bully tactics to see if you'll fold. my advice also is to hold out

To be honest, having gone through a couple of house sales/purchases now I would tell them exactly what you have said. If they continue to arse about I would drop their offer and put it back on the market. It does depend on how much you need to sell and if it was hard to get someone interested to begin with. Don't cut off your nose.... etc but I think this is a very underhand trick so close to Christmas and the proposed sale. I wouldn't trust them any further and if you give in now they may pull the plug anyway, leaving you feeling even worse.
The people I bought off got the full asking price and yet still stiffed me on several items. They asked for cash for some items around the house. (like a brass fire fender which went with the fireplace, Ceramic bathroom items, etc) Yet still left the dishwasher bust, central heating bust and kitchen sink cracked. Good job they emigrated to Spain. Grrrrrr!
The people I bought off got the full asking price and yet still stiffed me on several items. They asked for cash for some items around the house. (like a brass fire fender which went with the fireplace, Ceramic bathroom items, etc) Yet still left the dishwasher bust, central heating bust and kitchen sink cracked. Good job they emigrated to Spain. Grrrrrr!
I would have thought their offer would take into account potential renovations, etc...
I'm assuming they haven't offered the asking price, if so, you can politely remind them that they're already getting X amount off the asking price as it is.
Sounds to me like they've been watching too much 'Property Ladder'. They're not Asian by any chance are they?
>> Edited by T5-R on Wednesday 21st December 16:06
I'm assuming they haven't offered the asking price, if so, you can politely remind them that they're already getting X amount off the asking price as it is.
Sounds to me like they've been watching too much 'Property Ladder'. They're not Asian by any chance are they?
>> Edited by T5-R on Wednesday 21st December 16:06
yep, they have taken 5k off the asking AND i have left quite a few extra items like washing machine, freezer, wardrobes etc. - it's all new stuff in the place i'm moving to.
all-in-all, i've been quite nice to them {sighs to himself}
hey i'm just everyone's bitch, doormat, intellectual whore... i can feel my twin EvilMikey waiting to burst out any moment.
T5-R said:
I would have thought their offer would take into account potential renovations, etc...
not usually, perhaps a guess at condition but usually purchase price is not fully agreed until after any reports recommended by the potential purchasers homebuyers report have been carried out and any subsequent recommendations been implemented or instead costed and then taken off the asking price.
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