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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:
DappledThings · 19/05/2023 11:55

PrincelySu · 19/05/2023 11:52

I totally get renegotiation after the surveys come back. Absolutely. I'd do the same. But the fact is, there is nothing wrong with the roof, and that's been confirmed by the roofer that the buyer themselves instructed. It would be different if there were genuine issues that needed looking at. I don't think asking for £10k off because you cosmetically want a nicer roof at the expense of the seller is reasonable.

Then reject the request. They might pull out, they might not. But assessing that risk is the only bit you should be giving headspace to. Not whether you think it makes them bad people or not.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 19/05/2023 12:03

Once they’ve bought the house, they can do what they want with the roof.

unless you are desperate, OP, I would hold your ground. Don’t have any further personal contact with them, do it all through the agent. They seem to have measured every inch, they won’t need to set foot over the threshold until they have completed.

Get the house back on the market , though; tell the agent that this isn’t a proceedable offer. It doesn’t really matter whether it is the roof or the floor or the big tree in the garden, the house is sold as seen ( by the surveyor). Then take two deep breathes and try to detach.

GeraltsBathtub · 19/05/2023 12:08

I suspect they just see it differently to you. You keep saying there is nothing wrong with the roof, but there objectively is (missing tiles). Sellers generally view issues as much more minor than buyers do because they have been living with them for x years whereas buyers don’t want to take on something that will be an expensive liability (unless they’re buying a doer upper).

Scoobyblue · 19/05/2023 12:11

I'd say hold your ground.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 19/05/2023 12:11

Nothing wrong with negotiating at this stage, though now they've admitted the lower price is "all they wanted to pay in the first place" they may well be grasping at anything to get it

If that's so, I'd worry they'll turn into one of these "£20k reduction on exchange of contracts" types, and if you feel that's likely I'd consider re-marketing it

SunnyshowersinMay · 19/05/2023 12:14

Get the property back on the market and call their bluff.

mumofboys8787 · 19/05/2023 12:14

Utter bollocks, negotiation for legitimate or necessary repairs is standard, asking for 10k off because you've decided you don't like the look of the roof anymore takes the piss. Cosmetic adjustments are not a reasonable excuse to negotiate a price reduction. Out of principle I'd stand my ground and if they decide to pull out (they won't) then that's a risk you take. There's a lot I could do with an extra 10k in my pocket

Original poster
PrincelySu · 19/05/2023 12:15

@Puzzledandpissedoff This is exactly my concern; what will be the next thing that they want a discount on? If we agree to this, will they think we must be so desperate that at exchange of contracts they'll want another £10k knocked off.

OP posts:
billy1966 · 19/05/2023 12:15

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 19/05/2023 12:03

Once they’ve bought the house, they can do what they want with the roof.

unless you are desperate, OP, I would hold your ground. Don’t have any further personal contact with them, do it all through the agent. They seem to have measured every inch, they won’t need to set foot over the threshold until they have completed.

Get the house back on the market , though; tell the agent that this isn’t a proceedable offer. It doesn’t really matter whether it is the roof or the floor or the big tree in the garden, the house is sold as seen ( by the surveyor). Then take two deep breathes and try to detach.

Excellent advice.

Detach.

They are trying it on.

Get the house back on the market asap.

Lcb123 · 19/05/2023 12:15

Just say no and put it back on the market then. they're entitled to negotiate. Otherwise counteroffer £5k if you need to sell quick. With the current interest rates, buyers are being very cautious about over commiting and possible house price drop. it's not personal. We're buying at the moment and have negotiated hard.

FartSock5000 · 19/05/2023 12:17

@PrincelySu Put it back on the market. No more 4 hour long visits to measure up or plan anything.

If they want it, the price is £735k as agreed or you will leave it on the market and they can walk away.

You are already giving a huge discount and now you have a survey to show new interested parties that the roof is sound.

Im99912 · 19/05/2023 12:19

How much have they invested into buying your property so far
survey
solicitors
I would say no and stick to it
tell them the price is the price
and you won’t be giving any more of a reduction even if they try it on last minute

Viviennemary · 19/05/2023 12:19

Depends if you think you can get a better offer from a new buyer. It isnt unusual to re-negotiate after a survey. And £10k doesnt sound that much for a new roof these days.

cestlavielife · 19/05/2023 12:20

Spend the 1k replacing the missing tiles and re market
Or negotatiate if you want the sale now
10 k on 700k is not a huge %

DisappearingGirl · 19/05/2023 12:21

The thing is with rooves, if it's an old roof, then at some point someone is going to have to pay to replace the whole thing. And if they plan to live there a while then it's likely it will be them. So they are kind of correct in saying, while it doesn't need doing right now, it will likely cost them £10k to replace the roof sometime in the next few years.

Who should pay for it is a different matter and I don't think there's a right and wrong. You could stick to your guns (as they agreed the price knowing it was an old roof), or you could agree £10k off, or you could split the difference and give them £5k off so in effect you have shared the cost of the (eventual) new roof between you and them.

I don't think it's too cheeky of them to ask, but equally I don't think you have to say yes - it's a negotiation.

I guess it all depends how quickly you need to sell and how likely you are to get another offer.

littlemousebigcheese · 19/05/2023 12:23

This is tricky because what if the next buyer finds the same thing and wants money off? I know to you it's a non issue but it's a lot of money to spend on a house and I'd be wary too much f there was even a sniff of a roof problem!

I guess either take the hit, and hope it all goes ahead or put it back on the market

Original poster
PrincelySu · 19/05/2023 12:24

I think what's really pissed me off is the fact the buyer said they 'only wanted to pay £725k in the first place.' It's as though they planned the whole time to try and claw money back to get what they wanted in the first place. Especially now they know we have invested time and money into our solicitors. I'm not even sure they genuinely want to replace the roof and that this all isn't all an attempt just to get the house for what they wanted in the first place.

OP posts:
Qbish · 19/05/2023 12:25

These people will dick you around if you let them. If you give way to this, they'll probably try it on again before exchange.

GasPanic · 19/05/2023 12:26

FartSock5000 · 19/05/2023 12:17

@PrincelySu Put it back on the market. No more 4 hour long visits to measure up or plan anything.

If they want it, the price is £735k as agreed or you will leave it on the market and they can walk away.

You are already giving a huge discount and now you have a survey to show new interested parties that the roof is sound.

A 15k reduction on a 750k house is not a huge discount. It's 2%.

725 out of 750 is only about 3.5% discount.

Either you want to move quick and accept the discount, or not.

I would put some conditions on it though if you decide to agree with the request, for example, you could say you want exchange by date X and maybe let them know that any further discount requests will be met by a straight rejection and re-market.

At the end of the day people can tell you to do x or y or z.

But only you can ever know how much the 10K is worth to you, and how important it is for you to get a rapid sale in the current market.

Saucemonkey · 19/05/2023 12:27

Just say no. They are being cheeky. Frankly they have paid for the survey etc, so it’s unlikely they will want to lose that money and they are trying their luck.

readbooksdrinktea · 19/05/2023 12:27

You're taking this way too personally. It's a business transaction.

BruceAndNosh · 19/05/2023 12:27

I would get the missing tiles replaced ASAP and tell them price remains as agreed and you have fixed the issues the surveyor raised.
Frankly, if you have to remarket, it would be a good idea to present the house with a fully intact roof...

JenWillsiam · 19/05/2023 12:27

“You will probably want to at some point” suggests it’s a cost they’re going to have to bare. I would want reduction for that and would ask.

You are free to say no and re-list.

Gettingbysomehow · 19/05/2023 12:30

all of my buyers have tried this nonsense. I put it back on the market and tell them they are welcome to purchase if they stick to the original agreement but in the meantime it's gone back on the market. Stick to your guns.
One buyer had me paying both rent and mortgage while they faffed around messing me about when I had to start a new job somewhere else in the country.

Gtsr443 · 19/05/2023 12:30

readbooksdrinktea · 19/05/2023 12:27

You're taking this way too personally. It's a business transaction.

This.

Ultimately it boils down to how much you want to sell. The market is iffy and things are sticking.

I took a large hit on our last property because I was desperate to move and not miss out on a purchase (where I instantly made back the price drop I'd accept on our sale.)
If you aren't in a hurry then pull out of negotiations and remarket.
Personally, in the current climate, I would accept the offer and get out.