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AIBU?

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Original poster

To offer less on a property for these reasons

68 replies

KobeLondon · 28/10/2019 20:32

  • Single glazed (it’s 2019!)
  • Damp (vendor had damp survey and only paid for online).
  • Damp upstairs and would need an air vent installing
  • Needs new bathroom
  • Washing machine and dryer are currently located in cupboard outside Confused
  • Kitchen needs modernising to include room for washing machine
  • Need re-plastering die to damp
OP posts:
Nextphonewontbesamsung · 28/10/2019 20:33

What do you mean by "offer less" ?

FatAndFurious7 · 28/10/2019 20:34

Do you mean you'd like to offer less than what it's been valued as? I mean you're within your right to offer whatever you like for any reason but the chances are it's been valued taking most of these things into consideration and may be asking for much more if all these things weren't an issue. Out of interest, how old is the house?

mildlymiffed · 28/10/2019 20:35

Depends on whether the asking price has been set accordingly to reflect these issues.

Darkstar4855 · 28/10/2019 20:35

You offer what you are willing to pay for it, simple as that.

SalamanderOnHoliday · 28/10/2019 20:36

In a very similar situation we offered 10% under and eventually got 5% under. They’d put a new roof on and thought that was their contribution.

HUZZAH212 · 28/10/2019 20:37

You offer what you feel it's worth and they either accept or decline it.

Original poster
KobeLondon · 28/10/2019 20:41

Yeah true .. I mean I could off £100.

Basically the vendor lives abroad and has been renting the property out for years. I don’t think they realise how much work is involved.

How much would it cost to have all windows replaced? Confused a couple of grand?

OP posts:
VincentVanGoughandhisear · 28/10/2019 20:44

How have other houses in the street or near been priced at?

FatAndFurious7 · 28/10/2019 20:44

Are they selling it through an agent or privately? If the former then I'm sure the agents valuer will have taken these things into account. If its private and they've just decided how much they think it's worth then it might be worth mentioning it all in your offer

Grumpos · 28/10/2019 20:45

Surely it depends on how the house is priced?

If they’ve priced it to reflect the condition then it doesn’t matter how many issues you list, they have given a price guide based on the work needed.

If they’ve priced it similar to something in “move in condition” then yeah they are being ridiculous and a low offer is appropriate.

Either way you can always make an offer on a property, to what you believe it to be worth and they will decide if that’s acceptable to them or not.

But you can’t expect to get a huge amount of money off if they have considered all of this when they priced it.

Cathnip · 28/10/2019 20:47

You can offer what you like. Doesn’t mean it will be accepted. Regardless of where the owner lives the presumably local agent has done the valuation and taken into account the work that needs to be done.

FunOnTheBeach20 · 28/10/2019 20:47

Just make an offer. They don’t have to accept.

The asking price is just that. Have made some damn right cheeky offers before now, some have caused offence and some have been accepted. You can always go higher but not lower.

Lllot5 · 28/10/2019 20:48

I would steer clear of a house that had damp. Such a bugger to get rid of.

Silentlysinking101 · 28/10/2019 20:48

Depends on how many windows, sizes etc, if lintels are required, but I would budget 10-12k, you need to find out the reason for the damp, if the damp course has failed you are looking at another 5-10k depending on size of house and how far up the wall the damp goes, damp upstairs is likely to be roofing issues, replacements start at 8-10k.

New kitchen depends on what spec but you are probably looking at 3-5k for a decent spec.

If there is damp you also need to check the electrics.

I used to be a maintenance manager for a property firm so I have a good knowledge of costs etc.

mildlymiffed · 28/10/2019 20:48

Can you have another viewing with a builder with you? Would be worth getting an opinion on costs. Then you can work out an offer from there...

Theresnobslikeshowbs · 28/10/2019 20:50

Depends how many windows! Are we talking 8 or 28? Large or small? Conventional size or odd? How longs a piece of string?

scoobydoo1971 · 28/10/2019 21:08

I have bought a property with known damp issues...currently sorting my way through the DIY. Addressing moisture related issues was the first priority, and it wasn't that expensive. You can buy airbricks for a fiver online and drill them into the bricks yourself. You can have the gutttering done to ensure water flows away from the structure. You can invest in dehumidifiers. I knew the issues the property had before I bought it as I got a full survey. I factored those findings into the offer made, and I am looking to make a good profit on the property when it is finished. My advice would be to get a full survey because you can identify if the damp has caused any structural problems that would be difficult and expensive to correct, and cause issues with getting buildings insurance. However, if this is not the case, fixing the bathroom and kitchen is something a competent DIY person could sort out. Youtube is full of handy tutorials on all sorts of projects, and is my go-to if I am stuck.

LoopyLou1981 · 28/10/2019 21:17

To give you an idea, we’ve just had our windows replaced (10 in total with a coupe of really large ones) and it cost £6.5k

BlankTimes · 28/10/2019 21:29

If the property is offered for sale without taking any structural deficits into account, then you're fine to offer lower for those reasons, usually backed by a structural surveyor's report.

If something is functional but just not to your taste, then that's cosmetic and as a vendor, I'd not consider reducing the price for those reasons.

spanglydangly · 28/10/2019 21:34

How much would it cost to have all windows replaced? a couple of grand?

Between £800 and £8000

We really do need more information to help.

keeprocking · 28/10/2019 21:38

Presumably it's been valued in its current condition. We once had an offer £15000 under because she wanted to build a conservatory!

Original poster
KobeLondon · 28/10/2019 21:41

Depends how many windows! Are we talking 8 or 28? Large or small? Conventional size or odd? How longs a piece of string?

Ok rough estimate ..

I’d say 10 windows

The bathroom had 2 small widows
Kitchen had large window
Living room has bay window
All the rest are average size

OP posts:
Preggosaurus9 · 28/10/2019 21:42

Offer whatever you like. I'm guessing you're a first time buyer? Do you actually want a doer upper? It is a big committment and a lot of risk to carry if things don't go to plan (and they never do). Financially and personally in terms of stress levels.

Original poster
KobeLondon · 28/10/2019 21:44

If something is functional but just not to your taste, then that's cosmetic and as a vendor, I'd not consider reducing the price for those reasons.

What about the washing machine and tumble dryer being in a wooden cupboard outside?

The kitchen would have been big enough to fit these in if designed differently.

Don’t really fancy walking out in the snow to wash my undies Grin but ... is that cosmetic?

It’s definitely odd. I’ve known washing machines in garages but wooden outside cupboard.

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 28/10/2019 21:44

If it's already been priced accordingly then it's unlikely to be accepted. If it's over priced then nothing ventured.

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