Not to let house buyer keep bringing tradesmen round?

[Unpresent]

Genuinely AIBU?

In process of selling house. Accepted slightly low offer last September as buyer was 'keen to move' and 'in an excellent position'. Has all taken ages but thought we were finally getting somewhere when at the end of November she asked for a survey and to bring a builder round to plan/ quote for some work she'll want to do. Radio silence since until a couple of days ago she sent an email saying the survey has highlighted some 'major issues' which the builder has quoted £20000+ to remedy. Some issues genuine and not known about (crumbly masonry on chimney), others need sorting but have been obvious since she first looked round- cracks around window frames etc. Nothing structural or severe. Or that would need doing immediately. Other things on the quote include things like putting in more radiators. Which I can quite see she wants to do but which are nothing to do with us? She is now saying she wants to bring two more builders round to get quotes and expects us to drop the price. I have said if she makes an actual suggestion on price then we'll consider it, (though think most of the stuff she's saying needs to be remedied is part and parcel of buying an old house) but ultimately she needs to decide if she wants the house or not and get on with things, not keep bringing people in to poke around and quote - she can do that once she's bought it!

Not sure if IABU as I'm just so fed up and don't understand how it's taking so bloody long -the chain is only us, her, and the people we're buying from.

DH and estate agent think we should just let her bring them round and maybe their quotes will be lower and reassure her a bit. I think she just needs to get on with it and make a decision to buy or back out!

AIBU?

Is it still on the market?

I'd agree to let them come round once more then a decision needs to be made with a firm ya or nay as you'll be putting the house back on the market ASAP.

They know if they want the property or not and if anyone tries to knock money off due to them not liking the kitchen/bathroom furniture, decor or because there's not enough radiators then clearly it's not the property for them.

YANBU she has already had one builder in for a rough idea, she can get further quotes in when she owns it.

You priced the house "as is", and it's an older house. I might make a small concession for work that wasn't obvious on viewing and a serious issue, like the chimney. For the rest, she can renovate it to her heart's delight after she owns it.

No it's been off the market since we accepted her offer! But yes that's sort of what I want to say - crack on and agree an exchange date or we'll just put it back on the market, as it feels like she's messing us about.

My DD renegotiated after survey as a few things would not have been obvious to a ordinary person (pointing, blown bricks, blown windows, poor flat roof) but not for a new bathroom, replastering hallways or full window replacement which is something they want to do.

My son isn't renegotiating at all but does want some repairs, reports and investigations done before exchange. Probably £1k max so not worth renegotiating but important to do - his vendor appears to be sensible and has made a positive response which makes sense as its currently his house and you'd like to think he'd want it sorted immediately and not leave it to perhaps get worse as who know what the timescale will be. My DS will have a plumber check the work once done.

Your buyer appears to have the potential of being a problem. It's possible the survey has suggested the house needs more radiators (my son's has suggested more electric points) but that's a practical recommendation and a nice to have and should not be built into the sale.price as you are selling as it stands.

Yes - it feels like she is a time waster who is trying to beat you down on the price and has taken her time doing it. She has had since September and is getting to it in January? Nope.

Did she not request a survey when the offer was accepted? Or if she needs a mortgage then a survey will need to have been done which would have highlighted actual issues which would then have lead to a possible price reduction if the bank didn’t think the house was worth what was offered for it.
If no survey was done for whatever reason then it seems ok to have a builder come round so she can get an idea of the work involved before fully committing to the purchase. I think it’s a bit cheeky to be asking to have multiple trades people come though.
I’d say yes to the request but on the condition that within X amount of days she makes a decision on whether she wants to proceed or not. If you’ve not heard by X date then the house is going back on the market.

Get back on the market immediately!
We have spent years selling houses at various stages that were held up by such people. They ultimately didn't buy the house as kept lowering offers.

She is wasting your time - get back on the market for a real buyer

YANBU she's a time waster and she's also very susceptible to being fleeced by trades if she thinks she needs a builder to fix cracks around windows rather than a tub of Polyfilla and some paint (assuming crack width is smaller than the width of a £1 coin and no underlying issues), I'm not saying she definitely doesn't need to do any work (e.g. the chimney) but it sounds like she's definitely getting overquoted. Extra radiators FFS.

Is she a FTB? Did all the "may require" "might indicate" statements on the survey spook her?

I'd consider giving her an ultimatum and genuinely pulling out if she doesn't get on with buying the house.

Get your agent to explain which items on the list are reasonable to expect price adjustments for ie possibly the chimney (if it's really bad, not just needs a bit of re-pointing) and which are just her wish-list for renovation work which does not have a bearing on the accepted offer.

If she's a first-time buyer then maybe she thinks this is how you do it, and in that case the agent needs to explain that finding minor faults/things she wants to do to the house are not grounds for reducing her offer. If she's just a CF then the same discussion needs to be had, just not as gently!

Either way, unless the survey (Level 2?) has suggested that you need further quotes for specific major items before the sale goes ahead, she needs to stop with the trades visits and either buy your house or not!

This. I'd be very tempted to put it back on the market.

the agent needs to explain that finding minor faults/things she wants to do to the house are not grounds for reducing her offer
Yes this. Years ago, we had one who tried to get a £15k reduction because he didn't like our wall colours, and we sent him packing. Luckily it was a sellers market in that area at the time. 🤣

I'd give up with these buyers. Old houses always need some work. They are wasting your time.

Yep - I agree

Thanks all, unfortunately you're mainly echoing my thoughts. Think we're going to give her until the end of next week to commit then go back on the market.