Argh negotiating over fixtures and fittings!

[Lightofthemoon]

We are in the process of buying a lovely house that has been lived in by an older couple for 30 years so it's quite outdated. We want to redecorate the whole place, but this may take a year or two.

They want to know how much we want to give them for curtains, carpets etc. and I am loathed to give them much at all as we're going to be replacing it all. I think they've just put a new carpet in to sell but I really don't like it, but they probably want to get the money back on it. They were also telling us how much their handmade curtains cost and will probably want a fair amount for these but again, I will be replacing these at some point.

However, it will be a big PITA to move into a house with no carpet and curtains with a baby. They've already said the curtains won't fit their new place so are they really going to take them out of spite and rip the carpets up and take it with them if we don't give them any money?! Really not sure what to do.

Thanks for all the further thoughts, it is so outrageous what some people will do for a few pence when a house costs hundreds of thousands of pounds!!

I've had further discussions with the vendor today and it has come down to a snazzy range cooked that they bought 2 years ago that cost £2K. They said they wanted money for this otherwise they will take it to sell and we'd then be left with a big range cooker hole.

So they've said if we buy the cooker they will leave curtains, carpets etc. so I think we'll manage to do a deal with them as we love the cooker but will not be paying anywhere near what they did for it (still a bit miffed it isn't included in what we're paying for the house though!)

Our previous owners took hooks off the back of doors, toilet roll holders and things that we are leaving without a thought, it just seems to pathetic!!

Well if that's fine for you, go for it, but if they could take the range they would, so this just smells like they can't take it but will make you pay for it. However I am all for looking at the whole picture and if you pay a reasonable amount for the range and that secures the curtains, carpets etc that that would certainly be a good deal! Grrrr though, at people who hold you to ransom, as it is!

Is the range mentioned in the schedule for the house?

If it was in the estate agents details the it is yours. No need to pay extra for it.

I had a double range in my last house, they cost a fortune to move.

I think this vendor couple are coming across as the type who leave a bad taste in your mouth.

If it was me, I would get a brand new range germ free, cheap curtains etc and pull the rug from beneath them. Make sure the contract when exchanging states you can go in before completion to measure up, and that any damage they make removing fixtures is compensated for. No need to make a big deal out of it, just get it written in.

Good point breathes I just checked though and the details say 'space for range cooker' so I guess they always planned to sell it to make a bit of extra cash.

I'm going to do some hunting on ebay and certainly won't be paying more than one I can get second hand anyway.

Good note for the future, make sure your offer on the house is on condition that it includes any 'extras' you want!!

Ha ha that's hilarious alors. I know they can't believe someone else wouldn't love their stuff!

She spent so long telling me how the curtains were handmade and the best quality money can buy etc. etc. Well yes 30 years ago!!! It's just so irrelevant how much they cost her and how lovely she thinks her curtains and carpets are!! They don't hold much value to me!

Lightofthemoon - in fairness to the vendors if the cooker is all they actually want money for then this is completely standard practice and is made obvious in the house details by the "space for range cooker" comment. I don't think they're taking the piss. A lot of people would want to take their decent cooker on to the next house because if they don't they may well have to buy another one for £2k. And if it won't fit in the house then it's still reasonable to expect them to sell, not give away.

Yes I think it is more reasonable kitsmummy than their initial question on how much would we pay for the individual bits including the carpet. They have backtracked on this and now said actually if we buy the cooker they will throw the curtains and carpet in with it.

Although they have said the cooker won't fit their new place, so they will be glad of us to buy it, we just need to find a price that we're all happy with, at the end of the day it's still a second hand cooker so them saying it was £2k new doesn't matter! I'm now busily researching how much range cookers are second hand.

It is not unheard of to pay for carpets (fitted or not) and curtains and light fittings. You should have been given a list of what is included in the sale and what is not (we are in this process), we have to tick, cross, N/A or put a price for each room - so curtains, carpets, light fittings, bathroom cabinet, door furniture, etc etc. At the top of the sheet it says that it is implicit that such things as the boiler and radiators are included in the sale unless expressly omitted so someone sometime has removed all that too.
Negotiate. we are leaving ours, but then they are old and there is no way I am taking them up!

Op that's good news, let us know how you get on.