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Original poster

To be fuming - house sale fallen through due to lying tradesman

56 replies

MetaWhat · 06/03/2020 11:19

Is it possible to get the buyer back on board?

Oh god I'm so angry and upset. I agreed to sell my house to a young woman before Xmas who was desperate to buy it, for a bit less than we wanted (even tho the busiest period for house selling is just after xmas).

We agreed a sale in the area we are moving to. Delighted that we would be moved and settled and DS would be in right location to start school in Sept. Its been a long, hard process getting this far.

A couple of issues were highlighted on the surveyors report for the house we're selling, nothing major. Seller gets a builder out for one issue (all fine) and a roofer out who doesn't know his arse from his elbow. Completely incompetent and clueless, talking a load of rubbish. At this point we hadn't seen the surveyors report so he asked us what the problem is and we say we didn't know. So he saw an opportunity to make some cash. He said there was a job they could do for around £600. Or he could do a big job for £3500. By the time he spoke to the buyer this has turned into 'defo needs a whole new roof for £4000'.

We got a highly recommended (but previously unknown to us) roofer out for a second opinion who really knows his stuff, really professional. Said there's nothing major wrong with it but could do a few jobs for minor issues for £750. If we wanted to make it tip top again it would cost £1500. Defo doesn't need a new roof. Other guy blatantly lying and is a cowboy. If we were to get a new roof it would cost well over £4k anyway so he's clearly on the make.

But despite me providing the second roofers details the buyer hasn't rung him and has pulled out of the sale!! My whole world is turned upside because one lying cheating bloke who probably isn't even qualified has tried to make a few quid.

I've texted her to ask can we discuss before she makes up her mind but shes not responding!

What do I do?

OP posts:
NoMorePoliticsPlease · 06/03/2020 11:22

If she wanted it badly enough she would have stuck with it. Find a new buyer

GrumpyHoonMain · 06/03/2020 11:22

Put the house back on the market.

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 06/03/2020 11:23

And get the roof repaired yourself

ShayAndBlueSeeker · 06/03/2020 11:23

You shouldn't be texting or communicating directly with anyone interested in buying your house, at least until exchange of contracts. You need to communicate via your solicitor - if they are any good they will be able to sort this out. If you are using a cheap solicitor they might be partly responsible for this sale falling through because they should have been dealing with this all along.

thecatsthecats · 06/03/2020 11:25

Well, for the love of god, don't contact her directly again.

I understand it's upsetting and stressful, but that is why you really need a calm professional intervening on your behalf.

Your son's schooling, the time of year you chose to sell etc - none of these are concerns to her when she's probably going to make the biggest financial transaction of her life.

She isn't obliged to buy your house, and harrassing her directly with your concerns and issues will just make you seem like more of a bad choice - making your problems her problems isn't a good look.

So be calm and speak through the estate agent.

Original poster
MetaWhat · 06/03/2020 11:26

I'm going to get the roof repaired anyway (we told her this) it's just that he's convinced her that a repair isn't good enough and it needs a whole new one...
Which isn't true. It just seems to ridiculous for this to happen because of one man lying. I'm just devastated.

OP posts:
Original poster
MetaWhat · 06/03/2020 11:29

I haven't harassed her at all. I just sent one text asking if she could chat. The reason we have each other's numbers is that she wanted to speak to me quite a bit before deciding on the sale and she's been in touch with me a few times since (which has been fine). I haven't said any of the above to her at all. Do the solicitors intervene at this point? All I've had is calls from the estate agent? Should I ring the solicitor do you think?

OP posts:
ShayAndBlueSeeker · 06/03/2020 11:32

Yes, call your solicitor. The thing is, she isn't to know whether she can trust her roofer or not. But as you say she is young, if this is her first property purchase she will probably be rather nervous!

Curiosity101 · 06/03/2020 11:36

I'd put the house back on the market. I can understand why you're upset but...

The reason we have each other's numbers is that she wanted to speak to me quite a bit before deciding on the sale and she's been in touch with me a few times since

Is reasonably unusual buyer behaviour so would be a bit of a warning flag for me. Especially combined with an offer of just below asking (if you have put the house on for the right price).

If it's priced well then there's no reason you shouldn't have a new offer pretty quickly.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 06/03/2020 11:44

To be honest, I think that if a survey highlighted issues with the roof, I would think twice about buying a property too. Some maybe wouldn’t mind and would use it as part of a refurbishment programme. If you want a house that’s move in ready and the survey shows it’s not, then I think you have to get it fixed and have the documents to prove it.

I’d take it off the market for a bit, get the work done and then try again. You don’t know what else she might come up with and how inflated the cost might be.

Original poster
MetaWhat · 06/03/2020 11:45

Thank you. Just spoke with the solicitor, she's going to speak with the estate agent to see if anything else can be done.

This is the first time I've sold a house, too, so I didn't realise it was unusual for her to contact me.

OP posts:
FizzyGreenWater · 06/03/2020 11:49

But why don't you just put it straight back on the market?!

Quartz2208 · 06/03/2020 11:51

No your sale has gone through because you had an incredibly nervous buyer who was 100% committed and panicked.

Its awful but simply fix the roof and remarket

Kraejka · 06/03/2020 11:53
  1. Back on the market
  2. Get the roof repaired yourself

It's disappointing and annoying but unfortunately house sales fall through all the time for all kinds of different reasons. You just have to pick yourself up and start again.

Waveysnail · 06/03/2020 11:56

Get proof repaired. You could offer to pay for her surveyor to come back out to assess the roof once repairs are complete.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 06/03/2020 11:58

Tbh OP if I got a roofer round to check on a house I was hoping to buy and got a quote of £4K and the vendor got back to me and said "Ooh no, our roofer is much better than yours and says £750." I'd assume the vendor was talking no less bollocks than the first roofer.

MarieQueenofScots · 06/03/2020 11:58

Put it back on the market.
Get the roof fixed by your contractor.
Don't text the buyer again.

MimiLaRue · 06/03/2020 12:01

OP- I'm really sorry this happened to you. However, you must leave this be and put it back on the market immediately. Do not try to "convince" your buyer to carry on. It wont work- you'll look desperate and even if she does decide to carry on she could get cold feet again at a much later stage causing even more hassle for you in the long run. Get rid of her and bin her off. Address the roof issue yourself and put it back on the market ASAP. Its coming into spring now which is pretty good for selling.

I do know how you feel- my house has been on the market since Nov and I'm getting really pissed off. Unfortunately, you can only do what you can. These things can take time. I do feel you though, and I'm right there with you- I hope we both find buyers very soon.

Biscuitsdisappear · 06/03/2020 12:01

Put the house back on the market. A seed of doubt has been sown in the buyers mind and you need to move on as frustrating and annoying as it is.

Alsohuman · 06/03/2020 12:02

Get your guy to fix the roof
Put it back on the market
Move on and leave your aborted buyer in peace

This is par for the course with first time buyers, I’m so grateful never to have to deal with one again.

Bringringbring12 · 06/03/2020 12:04

You got a tradesmen our to do work before seeing the survey?

And why were you providing roofers details to buyer?

I’m confused!

bellabasset · 06/03/2020 12:05

You might find houses are selling better now so put it back on the market and hope it goes quickly. Good luck, it's stressful selling and buying.

Original poster
MetaWhat · 06/03/2020 12:06

It's back on the market. Thanks for replies.

@MimiLaRue best of luck with your house sale. It's so bloody stressful isn't it. Mine was on the market from July last year. We took a few months to get the house ready before we put it on so I feel like a whole year is wasted. Anyway, back to bloody viewings again...

OP posts:
DontCallMeShitley · 06/03/2020 12:08

(even tho the busiest period for house selling is just after xmas).

Not anywhere that I have ever lived, traditionally it is Spring when houses are put on the market, slows a bit in the summer holidays then people want to move before Christmas or the new school year.

Fix the roof, keep the paperwork to show it was done, and put it back on the market.

MagnoliaJustice · 06/03/2020 12:10

Another vote to get the roof repaired and put the house back on the market asap. It's Spring, people are looking to move, so onward and upward, good luck!