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Original poster

Second viewing. Etiquette on asking vendor if he'd leave any of his furniture behind?

52 replies

clubnail · 04/12/2013 19:27

Going for a second viewing soon of a property we will make an offer on. The vendor will show us round again. Is it rude to ask when we are there if he will include anything in the sale, or is this done at negotiation stage via agent? Or not at all? Stuff like chest of drawers, piano. It's old lovely-looking stuff, big things that are an effort to get out of the house, I am hoping he will want to save himself the hassle! :)

OP posts:
bundaberg · 04/12/2013 19:30

i wouldn't ask at all. you're buying the house, not the contents. if I was selling my house and someone asked if they could have my stuff as well i'd be quite weirded out by it tbh!

Bluestocking · 04/12/2013 19:30

If I was selling my house, I would not be at all offended if a prospective buyer expressed interest in the furniture!

Bluestocking · 04/12/2013 19:31

So there you go - two diametrically opposed views! You might consider asking the estate agent what they think, if you have any faith in their opinions.

WhoNickedMyName · 04/12/2013 19:32

I think I'd be a bit taken aback if my buyer asked if I was leaving any furniture, especially stuff like a piano.

Why would you think they'd be leaving furniture?

SwimmingMom · 04/12/2013 19:38

When I was moving out of a rented property, the next tenants came to view the house. All the furniture was mine, and the lady wanted to buy it off me! I went through so much trouble buying it, and she wanted to save herself the trouble so she was trying hard to convince me!! She even left her number. It was very weird!

Original poster
clubnail · 04/12/2013 19:38

:) Ha, ok, I think on balance I won't ask, seems the strongest views are against.
Re the piano, just because it is a heavy old thing and will need to get down stairs. And they are a pain to move, even for professionals. The family are grown, maybe the vendor had it for his children, I don't know. Just thought maybe he didn't use it any more. Of course, maybe he is the pianist and plays regularly. The chest of drawers fits a very neat little spot, and the property is old. I know he is moving to a newbuild, maybe it won't fit in with the style of his new place. But ok, I think I won't ask! I don't want to annoy him!

OP posts:
Original poster
clubnail · 04/12/2013 19:41

I also thought he'd be quite flattered! :)

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Bowlersarm · 04/12/2013 19:42

It's fine to ask!

If he's very friendly and easy to talk to ask him if he would consider leaving any furniture.

If he's not that friendly, or approachable, when you put the offer in to the Estate Agent ask them to ask him if he would consider leaving anything "in particular x y and z". Expect to pay extra on top of the offer price.

Lizzylou · 04/12/2013 19:43

I would ask.

VivaLeBeaver · 04/12/2013 19:43

I'd ask. You never know they might be worrying about taking big stuff with them especially if they're downsizing.

When I sold my last house the buyer asked if I'd leave a big bookcase. I said no but wasn't bothered that he asked.

offblackeggshell · 04/12/2013 19:46

I think it's fine so long as you are willing to offer a fair price for it.

We had buyers once who assumed we'd want to leave things, and offered insulting, junk shop level money, for almost new Conran Shop and Heals furniture we had no intention of parting with. Angry

On the other hand we had a seller tell us he was leaving the curtains in our current house, and since he liked them, and they had cost ££££ he was adding £15k to the house price. They were vile. We declined. Grin

OliviaBenson · 04/12/2013 19:46

You could be more discrete and make a comment about how much you love his furniture and a 'gosh, that will be interesting to get that downstairs when you move' said with a big smile to gauge reaction.

If you buy it then you can ask through solicitors of any furniture is to remain.

Good luck!

Original poster
clubnail · 04/12/2013 19:50

Oh thanks, some more comments saying to go for it. Ok, I will try and gauge things when we are there! I don't actually even know if the piano works!!! :)
I was wondering if was not the done thing to offer £xxx including the piano/bookcase whatever?

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WhoNickedMyName · 04/12/2013 19:56

When the seller completes his fixtures and fittings form via their solicitors they can list stuff that you have the option to buy, and how much extra they want for it.

I'm just surprised anyone would think that something like a piano would be included in the house price.

bigbrick · 04/12/2013 20:04

I'd ask straightforwardly are they selling any of the furniture. It's a normal question to ask

Original poster
clubnail · 04/12/2013 20:05

Not included, as such, but if we make a good offer, it may be worth it to him to get our offer? I don't know if others are making offers though.

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Bowlersarm · 04/12/2013 20:06

I think it would be odd to offer '£250,000 but to include the piano, bookcase, small drawer thingy in the hallway' if you haven't put it in words first! That would be odd. (It wouldn't be odd to offer a price to include carpets and curtains though, to which he could come back with a counter offer).

You need to sound him out, personally or through the Agent.

Original poster
clubnail · 04/12/2013 20:12

Ok, I am feeling like I won't ask. I will admire the pieces and then he can decide if he wants to sell them.

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JumpingJackSprat · 04/12/2013 20:37

Don't ask don't get! ! What have you possibly for to lose by asking outright?

Original poster
clubnail · 04/12/2013 20:50

:) Gah, I don't know what to do!
I don't know, annoy him somehow? Like, some people have responded that they'd be weirded out. I am usually of the don't ask don't get mentality! Just don't want to jeapordise the sale, if he has two equal offers and doesn't choose ours because I asked rude questions!

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LaVitaBellissima · 04/12/2013 20:55

We had loads left, i said we would only buy the house we have if they left the French dresser, which they did and also left the matching table - result. Just do it via your estate agents x

Original poster
clubnail · 04/12/2013 20:58

Thanks. Perhaps it depends on what other offers, if any, he gets. Did you feel the ball was in your court, Bellissima?

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janeyjampot · 04/12/2013 21:03

When we had the agent around to take pictures and do the floor plan they asked us if we wanted to take everything with us and which appliances we intended to leave etc. I think it might be worth asking the agent before you view in case the vendor has already discussed it with them.

If you don't ask the agent or the vendor you don't really find out until you get all the paperwork which is quite a long way into the process. We just received the paperwork for our purchase and were quite pleased and surprised to find that they are leaving all the curtains etc. Even if they are not to our taste it will be a bonus not rushing to put up curtains on the first evening so that we can get unchanged for bed!

Original poster
clubnail · 04/12/2013 21:05

Brilliant, I will do that, ask the agent first. Thank you!

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LaVitaBellissima · 04/12/2013 22:51

Yes to be honest we bought in 95 and it was a buyers market, but also we knew the seller was a film director and moving abroad for a period of time. There is no harm in asking, as you say if these pieces are difficult to move from the property they are often left behind anyway x