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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think our buyer is really out of order.

259 replies

PrincelySu · 19/05/2023 11:36

We are selling our property, it's a detached cottage in a rural location, and was valued at £750k. We need a fairly quick sale due to our circumstances, we got an offer of £725k, we countered with £735k, and the buyer agreed. The cottage has lovely original features and is very quirky.

On the initial viewing, before they'd even made an offer, we pointed out a couple of things that may need to be looked at, one of those being the roof. Due to this, the buyer got a surveyor round, who agreed that the roof should be looked at. That is the only thing that has been flagged on the survey. The buyer organised a roofer to come and have a look, and the roofer said it's a quirky cottage and roof, but there is nothing wrong with the integrity. There are no leaks, damage, the felt is fine. There are a few tiles missing and it doesn't look great, but this is only cosmetic. The roofer said it is optional to replace the roof, and you'd probably want to at some point, but it's fine.

In between all of this, the buyer also came back to view the house twice more, to measure up for their furniture, plan where to paint and how to redesign the house, both of these visits totalling 4 hours. Which we were happy to do and accommodated.

The buyer has now decided they want the roof replacing and wants £10k off the house price! We said no, the roof doesn't need replacing, the roofer said it was optional and we've already given you a £15k discount from the listed price. The buyer has come back saying that they 'only wanted to pay £725k in the first place and they are fed up to be honest.'

AIBU to think they are being really out of order?! I feel like saying they can't have the house out of principle.

OP posts:
Murdoch1949 · 20/05/2023 18:28

Put house back on the market. They are trying it on, are not trustworthy, will try to renegotiate on exchange day. Never trust anyone like this..

Budikka · 20/05/2023 18:45

Glasshalffullorempty · 19/05/2023 19:04

I have bought a few houses in my time and always started with a 10% reduction in price and negotiated from that starting point. I have also expected the same on the other side so therefore worked with estate agents to decide a suitable start point. Our current house we ended up with a 5% discount, and I didn't go harder because of the fixtures and fittings included in the sale. Otherwise I would have def been looking for another 2.5%.

I live in Scotland, so it might be different here. But there is always a home-buyer's report, which states what is, in the surveyor's view, the market price of the property. Now, I know this seems all wrong, because the market price is simply when a buyer and seller come together... and tons of properties have been standing for a year unable to sell at the "market price"... but it does make sellers think: this is my price and I am not going to budge. So someone immediately saying, I will give you "report price minus 10%" might not get very far...

Mari9999 · 20/05/2023 18:55

When spending significant funds on a property purchase, I would not accept an"adequate roof
" I would not want accept any feature that was likely to need repair or replacement within five years without a comparable offset in price.

You are not likely to be inundated with offers on a quirky property. If you holdout for a better offer , you may be waiting for a very long time. How many other offers have you had on this property ,and how long has it been for sale?

The buyer is likely to have more options than you are going to have offers.

Gh12345 · 20/05/2023 19:20

NoSquirrels · 19/05/2023 11:46

OTOH, if you do need this sale to go through, then counter at £5K off.

As PP says, morality isn’t really useful to you in this situation. Getting the sale through is.

This ^^

GoodChat · 20/05/2023 19:23

Murdoch1949 · 20/05/2023 18:28

Put house back on the market. They are trying it on, are not trustworthy, will try to renegotiate on exchange day. Never trust anyone like this..

Read the updates

Vynalbob · 20/05/2023 19:41

Call their bluff. We did have another couple interested so if you're no longer interested please let us know so we can find an alternative buyer....thank you.

I'm the type of person that would rather shoot my foot off than give in to CFs.
It may be getting more common but it is cheeky/rude.

Itsanotherhreatday · 20/05/2023 19:41

WOW a 2% discount V a 3.3% discount - hardly getting much there is he?

I think as you’ve now agreed you’d better hope the sale goes through quickly.

helpplease01 · 20/05/2023 20:07

Tell them to take it or leave it. Stand your ground. It will sell.

MoyoGaza · 20/05/2023 20:24

I feel for you and hope you will be able to sell it soon for a fair price.
That seems like unethical negotiation. Unfortunately, because you want a quick sale, your bargaining position might be somewhat weaker. Are you able to get the roof repaired- ie just fix the missing tiles etc and either agree to reduce price by 5k or just put it back on the market.
There are all sorts of people out there - some with strange business ethics. May the Lord help us!
I think the overwhelming majority on this platform are with you and really wish you success. Just don’t take it personally. All the best.

Noramcf · 20/05/2023 20:52

I see it from both sides. As a recent home buyer, they are mortgaging themselves to the neck on a property with problems they didn't know about. Being a first time buyer right now sucks - you're well aware youre paying crazy prices for an ok property. We were in a similar situation recently - we were told that the seller was 'delighted' with the price we bid up to on an apartment and found out after moving in that it needs 10k in repairs. We were very apprehensive ro spend this amount of money on any property, and definitely would not have if we'd taken into consideration the money it would take to fix it. While I'm happy with the house we live in now, I still have reservations about the amount we pay in mortgage each month in comparison to the actual property we own. These people probably feel totally ripped off for a shoddy property that's going to take them a ton of time and money in home improvements

Srin · 20/05/2023 21:40

You are selling something for around three quarters of a million pounds, not £7.50. People are bound to be a bit tricky.

Glasshalffullorempty · 20/05/2023 22:20

@Budikka In England you don’t see a buyers report until after an offer is made as it is a cost for the buyer. If I had spent money on that for every house I have looked it I would be a lot of money down. Plus, some sellers actually seem to resent 2nd or 3rd visits as if you should take more time making a decision on buying a dress than a house.

Pricing depends on what the estate agent values it and as they work on commission it’s in their best interests to go for what they think they can. So I will continue to negotiate.

Mazza7412 · 20/05/2023 22:29

Having bought and sold 7 houses now. I’d personally say no to reducing price, that you’re happy to have the ‘cosmetic repair’ completed before sale! They then won’t have a leg to stand on.

SillyOldBucket · 20/05/2023 23:37

Why don't you meet halfway and knock £5k off? To be honest, it's very common for a house priced at £750k to sell for £725k. Its also common for further negotiation to take place after a survey. Houses rarely sell for the asking price and for the sake of £5K it's a small price to pay to keep your buyer in a slow moving market.

Montybrie62 · 21/05/2023 05:58

When it comes to buying and selling we should take heed from Scotland’s law… None of these shananagans going on . Exchanging 6 weeks and in .

GrangieA · 21/05/2023 07:25

The market is falling. Take the 725 and be glad.

RachaelN · 21/05/2023 08:00

They are chancing their luck. It's quite normal to try and negotiate on such a high value item. Just say no. They obviously really want the property.
Unfortunately selling and buying property hardly ever comes without stress and glitches. Stand your ground.

RachaelN · 21/05/2023 08:02

Also to add. Everyone who thinks buying and selling in Scotland is easier, don't always assume that. We had to wait over 6 months for ours to complete. It was a nightmare from start to finish, but we persisted. No chain at all as we were renting and the house we were buying was empty.

Ponderosamum · 21/05/2023 08:05

NoSquirrels · 19/05/2023 11:42

Just say no. It’s £735K as agreed, take it or leave it.

Don’t get emotional about it. They’re negotiating- not very well! as it’s completely transparent they only wanted it at £725K, and now they’ve even admitted that. But negotiations are a 2-way street and if you don’t want to move price then it’s up to them what they do about that. They sound pretty invested, measuring up etc so I’d feel I was in a strong position to just say take it or leave it.

This. They have spent time effort and money they are invested and to ask for money off at this stage Is not acceptable. I’d say take it or leave it. It’s a nice cottage you will get another buyer.

Flopsythebunny · 21/05/2023 08:06

The price that a property is advertised at is just what the estate agent thinks it might be worth.
A home buyers survey tells you what the bank are willing to lend you to buy it but not what's really wrong with it and a structural survey will tell you what needs doing to the property and any things to be wary of.
Of course a buyer is going to haggle after a survey. Why wouldn't they?
If a roof will need replacing in the next 5 years it means its getting towards the end of its life. Too right I'd want money off for it.

Cakeorchocolate · 21/05/2023 09:13

Flopsythebunny · 21/05/2023 08:06

The price that a property is advertised at is just what the estate agent thinks it might be worth.
A home buyers survey tells you what the bank are willing to lend you to buy it but not what's really wrong with it and a structural survey will tell you what needs doing to the property and any things to be wary of.
Of course a buyer is going to haggle after a survey. Why wouldn't they?
If a roof will need replacing in the next 5 years it means its getting towards the end of its life. Too right I'd want money off for it.

But that's not what's happened here.
The survey didn't bring up anything of concern to be worth reducing the sale price over.
If it had, then sure there would be grounds to renegotiate. It didn't though. So they're just being CFs.

BruceAndNosh · 21/05/2023 09:24

PrincelySu · 19/05/2023 17:53

Update:

We've agreed to pay for the repairs and replacement tiles (£850) and said we will not be negotiating on the price, otherwise we will be putting the house back on the market with immediate effect. To our surprise, the buyer has accepted this.

Still very, very concerned that they will try and pull a fast one later down the line.

As I suggested earlier, it would be better to actually spend the £850 fixing the roof yourselves now. Then if you have to remarket, the roof won't be an issue for other potential buyers

poetryandwine · 21/05/2023 09:59

@Noramcf I am sorry for what happened to you and I’ve been in that situation myself. But OP’s buyer’s pursued a relatively expensive character property. Unless they are cash buyers, the agreed price has withstood a mortgage valuation.

OP’s buyers should not feel ‘totally ripped off for a shoddy property that’s going to take them a ton of time and money in home improvements’. There is no indication that any such thing is happening.

Winnipeg23 · 21/05/2023 14:31

They have a bad feel. I agree. After lots of buying and selling myself, people who duck and dive and twist and turn...I'm not interested in doing business with them.
Just be straight...you told them about the roof, they had it checked, the price is the price. Take it or leave it.