Mumsnet Talk

We are in the process of buying a lovely house that has been lived in by an older couple for 30 years so it's quite outdated. We want to redecorate the whole place, but this may take a year or two.

They want to know how much we want to give them for curtains, carpets etc. and I am loathed to give them much at all as we're going to be replacing it all. I think they've just put a new carpet in to sell but I really don't like it, but they probably want to get the money back on it. They were also telling us how much their handmade curtains cost and will probably want a fair amount for these but again, I will be replacing these at some point.

However, it will be a big PITA to move into a house with no carpet and curtains with a baby. They've already said the curtains won't fit their new place so are they really going to take them out of spite and rip the carpets up and take it with them if we don't give them any money?! Really not sure what to do.

Well can you ask your solicitor for advice?

I would pay something for the carpet but you could probably get cheap curtains in the meantime?

It doesn't matter how much they paid for the items - so disregard that. Have you got an amount in mind and negotiate from there? TBH it should be included in the price you offered!

I certainly wouldn't pay anything for carpets

Carpets are not fixtures and fittings if they are fitted.

Tell them you don't want their curtains if you don't want them. You can get cheap curtains from ikea or similar.

Could you say that you just cant afford to offer them anything extra for the curtains, but will obviously understand if they take them? Hopefully that would avoid them taking them purely out of spite.

I also thought that carpets were included?

Sorry if fitted, a carpet is likely to be a fixture.

Are they planning to take the bathroom suit too? Because technically that's a fixture.

When we moved we agreed the carpets and curtains were included. We also wanted to negotiate a price for the shed, the gas fire, and all the light fittings and told the seller's estate agent. The seller was supposed to get back to us but didn't and we couldn't get any answers. It was very touch and go whether she would actually move and didn't want her to back out.

Turns out the estate agents didn't ask her on our behalf. So she employed an electrician to take down all the lights knowing she didn't want to take them with her. Also someone to pull out the gas fire. She took the shed down and took it to the tip.

I would just say thanks but no thanks you have your own. You don't sell teh carpets!

I think they are being unreasonable! Carpets should be included in the price! Talk to your solicitor/estate agent. They can't simply rip them out if you don't pay for it!

Call their bluff and see if they take the carpets with them

I've never paid for carpets and never expected the vendor to pay for carpets in our house, I mean what use are they to you in your next house

I'd never pay for carpets tbh. I did pay for curtains in this house, but not a lot. You can get curtains from Ikea or Ebay to tide you over

Thanks for all the useful advice. I agree I was a bit when they asked how much did we want to pay for the carpets! I think as they bought it new to sell the house they want to get some money for it, but it's such scewed logic, if you buy new carpets to sell a house you don't expect the next person to pay for them!

I think we will call their bluff and explain we can't afford to pay anymore money and hopefully they will at least leave the carpet!

Someone did tell me this is how people try to get more money for their house sometimes by selling all the extras!

Am very surprised at their approach. Our vendor hasn't asked for a penny more for curtains etc (although they are taking one pair and a few light fittings, which is not an issue at all) plus they're leaving about 1000 litres fuel oil. No extra, no quibbling. Is this unusual? Is not asking extra for stuff unusual? (not bought for 16 years...)

OP - if you wouldn't go into a shop and buy the stuff that's already in the house, then don't pay any extra for it. If they take it, they take it. Up to them really. If you're paying a fair price for the property then that's that, as far as I'm concerned. How do you feel about it? This is your hard earned money, after all. Don't be too polite

No & no - they must feel hard done by if they are attempting to get more money off you for second hand carpet and curtains. Get the agent to ask them whether they seriously want to sell the house to you.

I think that is very cheeky to ask for more money. I think call their bluff and also put something in the contract that they must make good any damage done by the removal of carpets and curtain poles etc.

They have to make good any damage anyway.

I would offer a nominal sum (£200-£300) - just to keep them "on side", but as others have said, make out that as much as you appreciate the offer, you don't have very much money to spare, will be bringing curtains etc with you and will be replacing other things so you can put your own stamp on the house.

My reasoning would be to try to avoid cheesing them off, as other people have said, they could be really awkward if they wanted to be - taking carpets / curtains / light bulbs / curtain poles - all the things they're at liberty to take (but in reality nobody does) which would definitely cost more than £200 to replace even if you just got "make do" replacements as a temporary measure.

In a previous property I purchased I insist the seller ripped out the carpets and disposed of them. The place smelt of damp as the tenant kept his fishing gear in the lounge and it was just filthy.

They go the hump about it but did it anyway!

We had awful vendors who made us pay extra for the carpets. They told the solicitor they would rip them out, and the laminate flooring in the hall unless we paid an extra £500! The solicitor believed that they would do just that. We paid it - we didn't want the hassle of putting in a new carpet the day we moved in with a baby crawling about.

They also took all of the curtain poles, curtains, blinds, light fittings - had said they were taking the shed but it was still there when we moved in! We were left the fire surround as a 'good will gesture'.

They didn't even try to ask for money for these other extras, although I'm sure their blinds wouldn't have fit their next house!

I didn't like their curtains etc anyway however it did mean that we had to buy curtain poles and ready made curtains straight away, which don't really fit properly but we didn't want the windows uncovered. The vendors wouldn't even let us in before completion to measure up.

Some vendors are just pains, but remember you're buying the house and not the people so grit your teeth, work out what's worth paying for (even if it's not your taste, the inconvenience of not having a carpet/curtains for day 1 is a pain!) and good luck

When we moved into our last house we didn't like the carpets and curtains, and needed to change the carpets anyway because they had house pets and DH has bad allergies. Fortunately they didn't ask for any money for them, and then I was surprised to be able to sell the carpets on ebay for local collection, so actually got some bonus money for them .

We bought off the Church. Took all the light fittings, even the bulbs, but vicar left his socks so that was okay.

May be a generation thing. 20 years ago we were asked to pay for carpets and refused. The owners removed them leaving the underlay and all the gripper rods round the room (great as DS2 was crawling!)
They also removed a greenhouse, curtains and light bulbs.

Our vendors left the carpets and most of the curtains. We must be really lucky as it would cost a fortune to recarpet and get curtains for every room. They also let us in to measure for the windows where they were taking the curtains and agreed that we could keep the loft ladder (virtually unused) if we paid for one for their new house, so we didn't have the hassle of fitting it.

When we bought this house, the vendors asked for a meeting to discuss what items I wanted to 'purchase', their words. I lived 70 miles away but turned up with my sister who lived in the next village to my new house. My sister asked me what I was going to say when they asked me what I wanted to buy and I said, I'm not buying anything, I don't like any of their things and the carpets are included, it's on the details, so I'll just refuse to pay for anything else [she said she was going to die of embarassment, lol!). In the event it was nice to meet them for the first time (viewing was with agent, twice) and I simply told them to please take anything they asked me about. Hoot was they were very apologetic that they couldn't offer me the living room curtains as they had 'sentimental value', good job as they would have been straight on Freecycle. So it was actually it a nice surprise on moving day to find they had left a great curtain pole in the dining room and an even better light fitting They were pleasant people but we just didn't have the same taste, as someone said if you wouldn't buy it in a shop, why pay for it now? Good health and luck in your new home.