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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Seller trying to charge £'000s on top for existing fitted window shutters!

347 replies

MrsKT123 · 16/01/2022 00:08

We're buying a house and have had the fixtures and fittings report back and our seller has noted that the fitted window shutters are not included and would be an extra few thousand £s if we'd like them to stay! (Don't want to give exact amount in case they're on here!)

We're already paying considerably over asking price, had no quibbles on around £5ks worth of work required noted on our survey and have said we're happy to exchange and complete in order with their timescale (they have asked for an extended period between exchange and completion). We love the house and just want things to go smoothly.

I'm really disappointed by this as I would not have expected them to be taking these as they're made-to-measure and I know the house they are buying and there's no way they'd fit. To me, it's like taking the kitchen cupboards or built in wardrobes with them.

Surely it's more hassle to them to get them removed and put good the decoration for all windows in the house (large 5-bed with some bay windows)?

YABU - you shouldn't expect fitted window shutters to be included
YANBU - of course fitted window shutters should be included

OP posts:

NoLongerTroels · 16/01/2022 09:06

@Ellmau

We also don't have "chains" which seem to be where you guys sell on the basis that you will buy the next persons place, who sells on the basis that the next person will buy theirs and so. Why do you do that?????? confused

Is everyone a cash buyer in Australia, then?

No it's the same in many parts of the world. We bought and sold in California, the offer is a binding contract. All done and dusted in 30 days. there are short term lets all over so you can move into a nice apartment till you find something, or make an offer on what you want the day after you sell and only need a couple of days in a hotel while the moving company has your stuff. Its a lot less stressful than here in UK. Dh has said no way he'll ever try to move here as it's a minefield.

Thisbastardcomputer · 16/01/2022 09:08

Can I just say I stripped my previous house of every single thing, it was being demolished, we had a massive garden in a very desirable area and had obtained planning for a small development.

All the stuff I didn't use personally I gave to family and friends

Houseplantmad · 16/01/2022 09:12

Very grabby and they sound the type to take them if you say no to payment. Make sure, if they do, they leave everything in good condition. Have this stipulated before completion.

bcc89 · 16/01/2022 09:13

@Thisbastardcomputer

Can I just say I stripped my previous house of every single thing, it was being demolished, we had a massive garden in a very desirable area and had obtained planning for a small development.

All the stuff I didn't use personally I gave to family and friends

How is this relevant to OP's situation even a little bit?

RedMozzieYellowMozzie · 16/01/2022 09:14

Really really rude of you lot to start a huge derail in someone else's thread about something completely unrelated. Go make your own thread fgs

FourteenSixteenTwentyTwo · 16/01/2022 09:15

@NotBabiesForLong

The shutters are surprisingly easy to not just remove, but also to re-size. We had a new bathroom installed which resulted in a shorter window. I presumed I would need a new shutter. But the builder removed it very quickly and he easily amended the size.

We are not DIY experts so I could not contemplate doing this, but maybe your sellers are.

I don’t think the sellers do want to do this though, as they offered them at a price. They are chancing.

If they actually wanted them they would have just removed them from the property and said nothing.

ballsdeep · 16/01/2022 09:17

They're pulling a fast one and trying to make money. That's weird. When we. Moved all the shutters were left ; why would they need them in another house where they didn't fit? They didn't charge either.

Aworldofmyown · 16/01/2022 09:20

You should never expect something to stay. If it's removable, then it can be taken. That's why we have fixtures and fittings lists. That said, the things some people want to take are ridiculous 🙄

peridito · 16/01/2022 09:20

How do posters suggest that the making good (if shutters removed ) is enforced ?

eurochick · 16/01/2022 09:21

@pixley

When we moved into our current house we were asked to pay for oil that was already in the oil tank - we said no way, take it with you - it was left!

That's really weird. You would surely need the oil - it's better to have some in the tank than having to sort a delivery immediately (there is a two week lead time on oil orders around here). We paid an approximate amount for what the previous owners left.

bordermidgebite · 16/01/2022 09:22

@peridito

How do posters suggest that the making good (if shutters removed ) is enforced ?

I guess you insist it's done before exchanging and you will inspect before exchange?

CasperGutman · 16/01/2022 09:25

@marpelier "Simultaneous settlement is pretty common..."

Surely if anyone involved wants "simultaneous settlement" (presumably meaning they settle the sale and purchase simultaneously) then this amounts to, you know, a chain?

offersoverr · 16/01/2022 09:27

I disagree and think it’s ok for them to ask for money for the shutters. When we bought a house, the seller offered us fitted curtains for £500. We said no. She took them and presumably sold them. Same with these shutters. You may not be pleased that they’re not being given to you for nothing, but they are not part of what’s included in the sale price.

Oddbobbyboo · 16/01/2022 09:28

Shutters are incredibly expensive and easily removed. The same happened to one of our neighbours who were selling their house. He just knocked on a few houses around the estate and sold them to one of our neighbours. All of the houses on our estate are similar so it was obvious it’d be an easy sale. It’s cheeky but I’m guessing they need the money. Shutters are beautiful and it’ll cost you a fortune to put blinds up. It may be worth negotiating. We’ve recently moved and had to buy all new blinds, these were from Homebase so nothing fancy but cost £400… then I wanted poles and curtains.

NewMessageFrom · 16/01/2022 09:28

@Wafflesnsniffles

Id call their bluff. "Sure, take them but you will of course need to replace them with curtains etc."

They wouldn't need to leave curtains

AtillatheHun · 16/01/2022 09:33

Paying for oil in tanks is really normal - along the lines of pro rating service charges.

The thing is, if they’re moving to the same street, then the shutters are quite possibly of value to them. Making good is reasonably subjective so if you do t want the shutters, be very specific about what you expect the finish to be.
(We had similar with a seller trying to flog us their sexpond. The point at which you tell them that not o my do they have to go to the trouble and cost of removing it but also capping off the services to it an making good because not only do you not want to buy it, but you really don’t want any sign of it or the germs, is quite a dawning realisation for them. Sadly with this, shutters are easier to remove and seems like they may well be able to use them. Why are they moving on the same road? Bit odd?)

D0lphine · 16/01/2022 09:36

All you need to say is your mortgage is approved to the current selling price and you're unable to exceed it.

However, you note they believe the blinds aren't a fixture of the property. If they choose to leave the blinds you won't charge them for removal.

Iamthedom · 16/01/2022 09:37

@dworky I would leave the lightbulbs 😂
but my shutters wouldn’t be staying but I wouldn’t be asking more for them if they wanted them .
I just wouldn’t be including them in a sale

Cocogreen · 16/01/2022 09:41

Have bought 3 houses and sold 2 in Australia. Have never rented in between. Used bridging finance through a reputable bank and negotiated settlement - in Melbourne can be anything from 30-120 days. With our current house we settled 2 weeks before we moved in so we could clean and paint a few things.
It has been a friendly process each time.
The people who bought our middle house wanted a 30 day settlement because they were first time buyers but we said we needed 60 and they understood.
The chain system seems so stressful - does it collapse often?

Tulipomania · 16/01/2022 09:43

Our sellers (who were appalling in numerous ways) tried to pull this stunt on us. The shutters had been made to fit the windows, painted to match, and as the house was newly renovated, were brand new!

Literally "window dressing".

They tried to make us pay extra for them. I stood my ground, pointing out they'd been made specially and therefore should be included. They relented, then insisted we pay cash for all the other additional things we agreed to buy (a few light fittings etc).

FitAt50 · 16/01/2022 09:45

We are selling our home and had shutters installed 2 years ago. Of course they are included in the house sale - the sellers are being dicks.

lucillelarusso · 16/01/2022 09:47

My mums sellers did this to her - it was a garden shed and an outdoor fitted trellising. They called their bluff as it was obvious the stuff wouldn't move easily. The sellers broke it all up and burned it using petrol so when my mum arrived at her new home there was a massive burn in the lawn and huge mess. Some people are weirdly spiteful.

user1471538283 · 16/01/2022 09:48

Some people have no pride. I've sold my homes with blinds because they were made to measure and wouldnt fit anywhere else. I've also left appliances where I didnt need them and the buyer wanted them.

I'd go back and start negotiations about the survey and tell them to take the shutters. Bet they dont.

starfishmummy · 16/01/2022 09:52

@GatoradeMeBitch

I'd just say you'll pass on them, but that you've heard removing them can cause damage, and want assurances that the window area will be left in good condition. That would be my main concern, that you'll arrive in your new house to find chunks of plaster gouged out of the frames and surrounding area of every window in the house!

Having had stuff sloppily removed in our house, I agree. We knew it was going, they'd told us at first viewing they were taking it. Later they offered to sell the items to us for ££££ with "no negotiations" as a friend was interested. I suspect they were p'd off that we said no and the reparations weren't at all good. In fact they were so bad that even my new, non handy-man, dh was able to do better!

FlamingoQueen · 16/01/2022 09:52

Say no thanks. Chances are they’ll leave them - if not get new ones.

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