Is buyer a super picky?

[Emubymummy]

Few days before signing exchange of contract, the buyer sent their electrician to check out the electricity which was all fine but few things needs to replace such as new sockets (they still are in very good condition) worth £250 for the work and labour. Now the buyer is demanding that we have to pay £250 to do the work before they sign exchange contracts. I would rather to spend £250 on our new house which don't have any heating and electricity. Our flat is in very hot market. They didn't ask if I can do it but they told me to do it. Do I have right to say no?

You do - but if it meant the sale falling through would that be ok for you? Having said that, sounds like they are trying it on - it's quite last minute and would there be any more 'last minute requests'? Imo these sort of requests should only be for massive issues with a house, eg problems with the roof/structural issues, not more cosmetic issues like they have identified.

IMO they are chancing their arm and I'd tell them to sling their hook! But it depends if you think you will loose the sale? In future, don't let anyone but the surveyor in before contracts are exchanged!!!

Yes of course you can say no. That would ring big alarm bells for me actually anyway, they sound like they will be a pain and will mess around.

Yes you do have the right to say no. I think they are pulling a fast one hoping you'll do the work as you are worried they'll pull out. I would refuse. No one really interested in a house would pull out due to that small amount of work and if they do, it was just an excuse to hide the real motive.

Don't pay it
Take the chance that they have paid out for surveys etc and won't want to lose that money for the sake of £250

They are being very cheeky. You can of course say no. They can of course refuse to go through with the purchase at any point up to exchange.

how bizarre. you'd think they'd at least ask for more money off if trying it on like that. of course you can refuse. you could even off to change them. they only cost a few quid and you can do it yourself. that'd learn 'en :)

Have you had an electrical inspection done? If the problems are C1 or C2 on the inspection I would get them fixed. If they are C3 tell them to do one. I have had exactly the same thing happen to us today!

For £250 why on earth wouldn't they just do that themselves after they move in?

They are very cheeky. I would tell them no but offer for them to get the work done at their cost after exchange if they want it sorted before they move in.

We had similar with buyers - market was not exactly buoyant and they were the only people interested - told us we needed a new roof and knocked £1500 off the price and then another £1000 as their landlord had demanded another month's rent off them. We were pretty sure none of this was true, but were desperate to sell and move out of the area.

We were SO pissed off to drive past 5 years later and see that the roof hadn't been replaced and then find out they had moved! I felt like demanding our money back

It's all relative. Offer £150 and they do the work when they move in. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face x

Thank you for your fantasic supportive it does help me to know what to do. You are right. I love this group! X

When our buyers wanted to trim their offer by about £500 the EA pointed out to them that if they recalibrate their mortgage offer the terms might be different and they may end up paying more in the end. They decided not to risk it.

Negotiation is all about being more persistent than the other side at finding excuses to pay less, without annoying them enough to make them change their mind. They've found an excuse so now you just need to be persistent in saying no without annoying them! Good luck