Moving and selling items

[goldnikcname]

Have recently sold the house, and brought a new one, waiting on contracts etc (fingers crossed).
We offered our gas cooker to the buyers if they were interested as we are moving to a house with electric, was in conversation so didn't discuss prices. They currently have an electric one! We had a note offering us £25.

We also have a huge extension ladder that they liked when they viewed the house, we don't really use it but is one of those things that live in the garage iykwim? They have offered £30 for that.

Not done this before so it it the kind of thing you just say 'ok' or is it alright to negotiate? How would i do this politely as the note they left us was 'I will give you £- for this item and £- for this'.

Have no idea how to go about it, people we are buying from are downsizing so appear to be leaving loads of junk stuff for us!

Most haggling took place via the EA ie we said we were willing to sell certain items ie kitchen stools, bespoke blinds for bay window, and suggested a price through the EA. Our buyers came back and suggested a mickey taking lower price and we met somewhere in the middle. With our vendors we did the same but they accepted our cheeky lower price. Then it all went to the solicitors who put it into the contracts. Each item was paid for through the solicitors too ie at the same time as the house completions.

I would say don't be too greedy though....our vendors wanted to offload various items but wanted as much as would cost new - this was for things like water butts, fire extinguishers etc. We said no. What are the items really worth to you?

And definitely get the stuff from the house you are buying moved out - can cost £££ to get stuff chucked - and do you really need the hassle. Speak to your solicitor about it - we made sure the vendors were aware that if they left poor late-Grandpa Alf's massive 60s furniture and workshop full of crap tools then we would have to pass the cost of removal/disposal onto them. It is a fairly standard solicitor/contract clause.

TirednessKills that was my first thought. Cooker fine, would prefer £50, not very old, clean etc but would have to pay someone to disconnect it.

I serious think our vendors will do this, we are being left... (not asking!) washing line, its rusted, ours isn't. Wood 'it's useful' not for us not DIYers. Asked them to take or dispose of both. Not sure that will happen. However they are leaving wardrobes, curtains, cooker etc no extra price but style not for us, how do you diplomatically say so?!
Asked them to take the wardrobes as ours won't fit and they are umming and arring!! (sp?) wardrobes are not fitted and we would like our stuff in our house!

Flutterbutterby do you think it is better to do it through the EA? I'm not very good at bartering and would be happy to leave curtains etc for nothing but the buyer makes me feel like he haggling over every little thing. Do you pay solicitor etc more for doing it though them? If not I think its the way to go!

dilbertina not trying to be greedy, they paid the minimum amount for house and have been very demanding since. Cooker is fine, if they weren't a bit greedy to start then might have left the oven as goodwill. Don't want someone to move in and not be able to have dinner! The extension ladder though, lives in garage, used it twice but wouldn't want to buy a new one!

Having answered you...
I actually think my issue is that they paid the lowest amount possible for the house, did the whole have two I like, put an offer in on both. It annoyed me, do you accept a low offer and sell or wait? We took the offer but now my back is up about the low offers on the other bits

I hate this!!

Would still like negotiation ideas though, can I still use EA even though he didn't?

FishfingersAreOk thank you! WE kept telling vendor we aren't DIY people we don't want wood, tables, workbenches etc. We would just like a garage! An inspection pit would be great for most people...not us!!
They are moving MILES away and don't want to pay much for removal - 4 bed to 2 bed. I looked at skips, are a stupid prices.
Is there a way to negotiate what we do want them to leave us, for free, and the crap? They are leaving a shed, curtains and oven. Would be a big mess if they take them!

A shed, curtains and an oven sound like perfectly normal stuff to leave as part of A sale. Ditto carpets. They are difficult to move.

All other loose possessions in the house, garden, loft and outbuildings should be removed. Why would you want the stuff if they don't?

I would be interested to know how you would recover the costs if they didn't clear out. Presumably small claims court and a lot of hassle? Maybe call house clearance companies and see what they can offer instead of a skip?

For slimming down your possessions pre move why not try ebay and gumtree? If it is a big ladder i would think you could get more than 30 that way. Or if not at least feel satisfied that your buyer hadn't got another bargain at your expense!

Ahh, now you see I think the people we bought from felt we got too good a deal. But the house had been on market for over 18 months. A house is only worth what someone will pay. Why on earth wouldn't they pay "the lowest amount possible"? Wouldn't you?

Anyway, if there is stuff you really don't want to move, offer it cheap. Otherwise offer at realistic market value and be prepared to take it with you and sell on later.

And do through solicitor not EA about the removal of stuff (check if you are worried that it won't cost more but it shouldn't) If in contract then more likely to be actioned. If they are downsizing you will really be at risk of them leaving crap behind. Do it tomorrow! An order !

As for your stuff to buyers - if you think you may regret getting rid of the ladder keep it (to put in your nice new EMPTY garage). And you never know - if you say no to their offer they may increase it If the cooker is useless to you just think sod it - let them have it for £25 - unless ebay prices are suggesting you could get way way more. Think of it as getting £25 for removing a hassle/something you were going to leave behind anyway.

Thank you so much for all your replies! Am going to say yes to cooker and no to ladder! We sold the house in 2 weeks, accepted offer in shock!

Haha Fishfingers!! Will obey orders and email solicitors do I just say please can we have sheds, curtains etc but take the other crap items please?!

I bet they will offer more for the giant ladder but now feeling all protective over something I'm way too scared to climb

We definitely negotiated over the blinds etc through the EA but I think I'd mentioned they were for sale in the fixtures and fittings list, but my mind may be playing tricks on me! As I mentioned though, each item once agreed, went through to the solicitors as they became part of the contract. No, no extra cost.

I'd definitely speak with your solicitor about your vendors leaving stuff behind though. They shouldn't leave anything unless agreed or integral to the house. Do they mention these things as staying on the F&F list? I don't think vendors are even supposed to leave picture hooks etc, I believe they should remove and make good.

So yes, did you speak with your solicitor about this today ?