House Nightmare.....

[siko]

Sorry its another "advice" thread but I've learnt quite a bit from here already....where the birds and bees go for nookie and all sorts of stuff!

My missus put her house up for sale last Jun, long story short, lots of interest only 2 offers and the daughter of the neighbours put in a bid in Dec. After much kerfuffling and builders etc coming around she beat her down about 5% or so because of a problem - the heating system needs entirely replacing and there is minor damp. She got quotes for the work and the new price reflected it.

My missus signed her contract on Mon and we've just heard today she'll only buy it if my missus has all the work done, but at the original price....!! ??

Time waster, or just pain in the arse ? Due to the fact we are getting married this year we can't afford the money for the house.....doh.

[theaxe]

Sounds like they're trying it on. If they've got as far as contracts then the buyer already has some financial commitment to loose (surveys, arrangement fees etc).

Obviously it depends how badly you need the sale but I'd tell them to get lost.

[B17NNS]

tell her no deal.

she is being unreasonable.

she has invested time and money in the purchase (survey) - is she prepared to throw that away?

[killer2005]

Think she's just being annoying

[fido]

siko said:

S...the heating system needs entirely replacing and there is minor damp. She got quotes for the work and the new price reflected it...

find my thread (in the last three months) about time-wasters. my buyers used the same two excuses about central heating and minor damp. i told them stick to 'agreed price' or else...
the agent even tried some sob story, again i told them they were confusing me with some1 who gave a toss. 6 weeks later home is sold. i even popped round last week (amicably) to pick up my mail.

personally i'd never sell to neighbours as i tend to get nasty and personal...
erm, unless the bid was higher than the 2 offers? - you could try putting it back on the market with another agent (actions sometimes speak louder than words).

>> Edited by fido on Thursday 2nd March 15:36

[Davel]

Agree - it's a complete try on.

Tell them that, if they don't sign, you'll start viewing again.

[themaskedavenger]

I take it that if you sell get the work done then the price goes back to the original (i.e. up 5%) again.

It may be that she does not want the disruption when moving into a new house (lame I know but....)

Maybe you could offer to do the work when the contract is signed and just get out a loan to pay for the work and pay it back when sold so only short term.

Or say that stick to the new 5% lower price and the buyer can have access to the house for a builder from the moment the contract is signed that way she can move in a month later with it all done.

I would not get it done with out a signiture somewhere though as they could say that after you have done the work they still want the lower price etc.

[falcemob]

Call their bluff and show you mean business by putting it back on the market.

[Piglet]

All of the above - tell them to feck of AND put it back on the market (don't just threaten to - do it).

Just a thought - have you agreed a private sale to the neighbour in the hope of avoiding estate agents fees? If so read some of the other threads on here on that subject.

[Mukes]

As her parents are your neighbours - thank her kindly for her interest, tell her the deal is off and you are resorting to plan B which is renting the property out for student accommodation.

[wolves_wanderer]

A friend had this problem when, immediately prior to exchange the buyers insisted on a 10k reduction for no reason. He replied that the original agreement stood and if they didn't get back to him on the same day the price (to them) would rise by 10k.

[siko]

errrr yes we are avoiding estate agents fees and gone straight to solicitors, pourquois ???

Standing by for incoming.....

[SS2.]

Another vote for telling them that their offer is not open for re-negotiation...Putting the house straight back on the market with the same estate agent will get the message home to the prospective buyers..

These chancers, when given an inch, will often try and take a mile...

[Piglet]

siko said:

errrr yes we are avoiding estate agents fees and gone straight to solicitors, pourquois ??? Standing by for incoming.....

Have you double checked that you're not still bound by the original agreement with the estate agent? This one is a real trap for the unwary! Be sure on this one before you agree any price at all.

[cinque]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

[fido]

i always thought you can sell a house privately as long as you become an agent yourself
i.e. put up an advert, or placard outside your house (i've seen people do this).

[Piglet]

You can but once you sign a contract with an Agent they usually require you to leave your firstborn child to get out of it. If the house was put up for sale with an agent intially then they should double check that the agent doesn't get commission for any sale within x period.

[siko]

No problem,

the agents were ok as the missus told them..it was about 7 months after they put the house on the market so they gracefully accepted it, expecially as she had dealt entirely with my missus.

[chorlton]

They all try it on, saw a house I really wanted and went straight in and offered the asking price. Week later the seller was still um'ing and aah'ing, probably thinking maybe we could get a better deal.. so I said take your time but for every day from now on the price drops by a grand. They threw all the prams out and I bought another much better house. There's was still on the market for quite a while afterwards I believe.

Everybody wants a deal nowdays, makes buying anything of anyone you know get complicated quickly.

[maxed]

Yep, best thing you can do is vote with your feet.
And tell the other party "to take a walk" !!
They don't deserve your time, input or money

There is always a better deal or 3 around the corner

and it leaves em smarting


>> Edited by maxed on Thursday 2nd March 17:12