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Original poster

OFFERING ON A HOUSE

23 replies

noddy5 · 12/04/2004 19:48

How much is reasonable to offer on a house that needs everything doing?The house in question is big old and an absolute wreck and is on for 230k others in the street have sold for less than this already in ok condition.I think the owners have priced it like one that is ready to move into.Even the estate agent suggested we would have to rent for a few months to get it liveable.We really want it but will need to do it up so mumsnetters what's a reasonable offer?

OP posts:
insanidee · 12/04/2004 19:53

they wil lfigure it out when it wont sell.

in the meantime, get estimates to what needs doing, is it just decoration, or does the whole house need bring upto date (windows, electrics, plumbing etc?) then i'd offer the price less these works needing doing to it. whats the kitchen like? and the bathrooms? if these are ok, then its unlikely people will consider the rest of the property needs work, kicthens and bathrooms are big selling points.

shrub · 12/04/2004 20:24

bit naughty but try putting in a reasonable offer you think they will accept, then talk to your surveyor and highlight all your concerns - get a full survey if you can afford it. hopefully he will value property less or even put a retention on property so you will have a good reason to renegotiate the price. take the report and use a highlighter pen to stress all the things wrong with property and let the vendor have a copy. this will now be at the half way stage of buying where the vendor might feel it would be too late and too much hassle for him/her to risk putting it back on the market - also stress that the same problems will crop up if he/she tries to put it back on the market. a slight risk but worth grittting your teeth for and going for it! (the reason i know this ploy is our buyer did it to us and we did it to the people we have just bought our house from). also if you are in no chain he/she will probably stick with you for the fact he/she will get the house sold/money quicker. if its the'worst house in the best street' then its worth it. good luck - i am soo not moving ever again

Original poster
noddy5 · 13/04/2004 18:19

Have decided to offer but does anyone know the rough cost of double glazing a 3 bed semi before I put my offer in?

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grumpyzebra · 13/04/2004 19:13

with or without bay windows? And how many bays?
Ok, very rough costs, discount-type DGing company, something that will carry a 10 year guarantee but nowhere near the best quality.
No bay windows: £1500.
Two 4-window bays: £3000.
Those are the minimal costs I'd estimate. I wonder if you could get an over-the-phone quote if you try some DG companies, though.

grumpyzebra · 13/04/2004 19:14

Sorry, not clear: That's £1500 or £3000 total (not £3000 additional for the bays!).

shrub · 13/04/2004 19:33

remember reading article in one of the sunday papers that double glazing actually reduces the price of a period property as most people look for original features - could you not renovate windows and put secondary glazing in? just a thought in case you were looking to sell on in a few years.

grumpyzebra · 13/04/2004 19:34

That's true... and don't replacement sash/other traditional type windows cost more than DG windows, nowadays?

aloha · 13/04/2004 21:32

I wouldn't buy a house with UPVC windows unless it was cheap enough for us to afford to reinstate timber windows, personally.

Original poster
noddy5 · 13/04/2004 21:36

Thanks!The house is old but all in the terrace are double glazed except this one with old metal windows(not original)There are no bays so shouldnt be too bad then

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Original poster
noddy5 · 13/04/2004 21:37

I personally prefer timber aswell but the cost would make it impossible for us and as all others are glazed in the terrace they should look ok

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aloha · 13/04/2004 22:07

Might be worth finding out if timber ones would really cost more if poss - otherwise I think that yes, UPVC would be better than nasty metal windows. Good luck!

MABS · 14/04/2004 08:38

Noddy - wot's going on , did you lose the other house? Sorry , may have missed it on here but just got back from 3 wks on holiday.

Original poster
noddy5 · 14/04/2004 08:49

Yes we did!The seller decided he wanted another 35k and so we had to let it go.We were about to exchange!Now the only house near a decent school is an absolute wreck but with loads of potential so we are considering it.Hope you had a good holiday ........we are looking at going away while house renovations are started if we can tie it all up this week

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M2T · 14/04/2004 08:52

Noddy - Am I right in saying that around your area a 3 bedroomed semi-detached needing work done on it is selling for £235k???!

Jeeeeeeeeeeesus! That's disgraceful.... how many people can afford that size of mortgage?!

twiglett · 14/04/2004 09:30

message withdrawn

M2T · 14/04/2004 09:36

Twiglett - You can't be serious! For a house that isn't even in move-in condition??? Even for London that's got to be steep!

My parents live in a very good area with expensive housing and their 4 bedroomed semi is valued at around £150k.

Original poster
noddy5 · 14/04/2004 10:34

this house is not in need of work it is derelict virtually but in v good road hence the price

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twiglett · 14/04/2004 20:54

message withdrawn

MABS · 14/04/2004 20:57

Noddy - I can imagine which of the roads it's in as I was in that area today . Any more thoughts? How long has it been on the market ? Have they had other offers? Sorry you lost the previous property , you must have been devastated - b**tard guy. Good luck with holiday plans.

Levanna · 14/04/2004 22:53

Hi noddy, just wanted to wish you luck with the house you want. We're in a very similar position as the house we had signed ready to exchange for fell through last week, and is back on the market this week at ten grand more than we were paying for it. Today we put an offer in on another house (it's been accepted ), and this one needs work aswell, like yours. I hope it all goes smoothly for you this time round .

Original poster
noddy5 · 15/04/2004 15:54

this housebuying lark is getting so stressful!Made an offer which was turned down followed by another with the same result.Then the agent told us how much they would accept so we offered that and still no!!!!!!!!!!!!!We are thinking of staying put for now

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kiwisbird · 15/04/2004 16:15

A surveyor will pull down the value after assessing the work, and your bank will likely withold as well in order that the works is done before they will lend against it. It might cost you a full survey but if you really want it then you might stand a chance that way of getting the price down, this will also highlight to the sellers that the property will never get sold unless a cash buyer turns up, unlikely at £230k!

CountessDracula · 15/04/2004 16:18

noddy it sounds to me like he is taking the p*ss. Call his bluff and pull out, if he doesn't sell it they will be back to you to accept one of your offers and then you can put it back down. If they don't get back to you then it was too expensive and you didn't really want it anyway (honest!!)

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