How much to deduct from an offer if a house does not have a central heating?

[littlecrystal]

The shabby house with warm air heating is advertised for the same asking price as a very similar house on the same road in a much better condition plus central heating install. The latter, from the experience, should go for the asking price. I want to make a fair offer for the shabby house, but obviously want to deduct the cost of removing warm air unit (possible asbestos), installing boiler/radiators (gas already there) and making up (will need new flooring, boxing pipes, repainting etc). What would be a fair deduction? I am thinking towards 10-15k but don't want to play offers, so need the final good offer. I am in a chain so cannot compete with unreasonably low cash offers (if any)... Thanks!

It depends on the asking price. 10-15k off £400k is not much, 10-15k off 100k is quite a lot.

We are a 3 bed average sized house and we had central heating fitted a few years ago for under £5K, but we didn't need anything removing. They did boxing in of pipes as they went along and I did the repainting.

Well you could deduct it and make an offer but the sellers aren't obliged to accept it and if the heating is inadequate, the original price probably took into account how it compared to other similar houses with GCH. There may be other features that are better than the other house or maybe the estate agents had different ideas.

Why do you prefer the house without GCH? It's going to cost you money and hassle to have GCH installed so it isn't necessarily better than the other house even if you get it at a lower price.

Thank you. The houses are for 235k. I was counting 5k for central heating, 2k for old unit removal (likely asbestos), 3k for relaying new flooring as the old laminate will not hold well lifting it, then up to 5k for general shabbiness and hassle. Why I prefer the shabby house is because I cannot afford 235k but can afford around 220-225k but obviously not keen on overpaying as it is going to be lots of hassle..

There is no major differences between the houses, and I could do up the shabby one in the longer run

Neither house is likely to go for the full asking price though, unless you are in a very popular area. Are you sure you couldn't get the house with central heating for 220-225? It doesn't seem an unreasonable offer to make.

The area is indeed popular. Sometimes the houses are snapped up for asking or above asking prices. Sometimes it goes slightly lower, with less of luck. Never below 220k though...

as always, offer what you are willing to pay. They will take it or leave it.

Yes offer what you are willing to pay. If something is,adequate its not the vendors fault you want a different form of heating, its no different to you wanting to remove a red adequate kitchen in favour of a white kitchen and expecting the vendor to pay for your personal taste. It will all depend on how good your position is and how dedpirate the vendor is to sell.

Offer £215 & go from there.

If you reach your highest price you're prepared to pay, then leave it.

House buying is a bit of haggling!