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Original poster

Seller wants £500 for carpets in the house

43 replies

karmi2010 · 13/12/2016 13:04

Hi, would really appreciate some advice. I have found a really nice house, made an offer (£5 over the asking price as the estate agent said there were several buyers and I really wanted the house), the offer was accepted, the process started and I received the Fixtures and Fittings form today, which says that the carpets in the bedrooms and on the staircase are excluded from the sale and the seller wants £500 for them.

I don't want the carpets as I was planning to replace them anyway (I will probably have to use a credit card for that, but I think I need the new carpets as my DD is 1 years old and is crawling everywhere now, plus there is a chance she is allergic to cats and the sellers have a cat...)

If I say "no, I don't want to buy the carpets", what's next? How will the house look like if they rip the carpets out? I assume I won't be able to move in then until the new carpets are in place?

I am also worrying that the seller may pull out if I don't buy the carpets? I think this would be silly as it is only £500, but then shall I just not take the risk and pay these £500? But I will be really short of money and now even think I won't be able to pay for the removals company and will need to pack everything myself, hire a van and ask friends to help, so given that I will be getting new carpets straight away, paying £500 for the ones I will be ripping off does not feel right...

OP posts:
Flisspaps · 13/12/2016 13:15

Don't buy the carpets, I suspect they'll be left as they'll be of little use to the seller as the dimensions of their new house will be different!

Why would you need your new carpets laying before moving in? It shouldn't delay the purchase.

Bigbongos123 · 13/12/2016 13:17

You just say no. They're offering you the choice to buy them seperatly from the house because their stupid tightwads

It'll just be bare floor underneath. It'll be loud and cold underfoot but not the end of the world.

If you plan to decorate anyways they've done the work for you by lifting and getting rid!

Bigbongos123 · 13/12/2016 13:18

They're not their. Gah.

wowfudge · 13/12/2016 13:18

You are totally over thinking this - if you don't want to pay £500 then don't. You can even feed back via the EA that you are likely to replace the carpets in the short to medium term therefore don't want to pay for them. They won't remove them, they are just looking to recoup what they've spent in some way.

SecretTryer · 13/12/2016 13:18

I doubt the seller would pull out because you don't want to pay for the carpets. IT would delay things to find a new buyer and time costs money. Not worth it for £500.
That would leave a really sour taste if I was the buyer. They have accepted your offer, they can't decide to add on the individual fixture costs like that.

Agree with above, just say no thanks, you'll be replacing the carpets anyway.
They will probably come back with another bill for the fireplace/light fittings/curtain. Just repeat no thanks.

FlouncingInAWinterWonderland · 13/12/2016 13:19

Are the carpets mentioned in the estate agents details? Usually anything listed is included in the sale price. Its probable that they're just trying it on because the form has a box they could add a price in!

SheldonsSpot · 13/12/2016 13:21

If you don't want the carpets anyway then they'll be doing you a massive favour by pulling them up and getting rid, otherwise you're looking at several trips to the tip or hiring a skip.

They didn't think that through did they - the tightwads Grin.

Chances are they're trying it on and they'll leave them anyway.

Just say no.

If they do remove them then you move in with bare stairs and bedroom floorboards, no big deal.

Lucked · 13/12/2016 13:22

500 is a lot towards new carpet, especially kids bedrooms where you can get off cuts really cheap, so I would say no. I bet you could get the hall and kids room done for 500 and saved up to get something nice for your room.

missyB1 · 13/12/2016 13:23

They won't pull out and I doubt they will remove the carpets either. They are just trying it on. Just tell them you aren't interested in the carpets.

Original poster
karmi2010 · 13/12/2016 13:23

Thanks a lot everyone! I feel much better now :)
Don't mind there being bare floor, I was thinking of hopefully ordering the new carpets on my credit card within the first couple of weeks of moving in...

OP posts:
Lucked · 13/12/2016 13:24

Make it clear that you were planned to rip the carpets out, pretend they are doing you a favour disposing of them.

mouldycheesefan · 13/12/2016 13:24

Why can't you move in if the carpet isn't there? Puzzling.

JustSpeakSense · 13/12/2016 13:24

Just say you don't want the carpets, as you will be fitting new carpets.

If they remove them (which will cost them money to do so, so I doubt they will) there will just be bare floor underneath. You can live with them in the meantime until you have new carpets fitted.

£500 will go a long way towards paying for your new carpets.

SheldonsSpot · 13/12/2016 13:25

In fact because they've been so ridiculous I think I'd go back not only say I don't want them but insist they remove them.

Herschellmum · 13/12/2016 13:28

Agree with others, just say, oh that's ok then, was thinking I would like to replace them soon after moving anyway.

I've lived with no carpets for a couple of months (house flood and insurance job), no ideal as you can snag your feet on the gripper rods, but it's not a massive deal and surely it's better to use that £500 towards new carpets you actually like/want?

idontlikealdi · 13/12/2016 13:32

I'd say no thanks. I would imagine they will levae them there anyway unless they are moving into exactly the same sized house. They're just trying to get £500 out of you imo.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 13/12/2016 13:37

They are extremely unlikely to take up carpets!
Decline to purchase the carpets and add a stipulation that if they do remove the carpets that they ensure all gripper rods are removed for safety reasons.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 13/12/2016 13:39

Are these fitted carpets? They won't want them, they're just trying to get an extra £500 out of you. Say thanks but no thanks.

ShotsFired · 13/12/2016 13:40

I always though F&F were things that would fall out (or at least move) if you could turn the house upside down and shake it. So, not carpets, which are fixed in place.

But agree with pp, just politely decline - mention you will be replacing them anyway if you want to soothe things, so the current owners don;t think you are trying to diddle them - people get VERY precious about things they perceive as valuable in house buying and selling. When really it's all second hand stuff in someone else's taste!

When you move in, they should have removed them, but if they haven't, you get the benefit till you do replace them.

imjessie · 13/12/2016 13:41

Just say no , I doubt they will pull them up but they may do just to spite you because you won't pay . They are trying their luck ! I sold the fridge freezer and table to my buyers but they wanted them and asked me . We were going to sell them privately and I sold them to them for the price I would have got .

YelloDraw · 13/12/2016 13:42

Decline to purchase the carpets and add a stipulation that if they do remove the carpets that they ensure all gripper rods are removed for safety reasons.

But then you have yo buy new gripper rods at £1.50/m or something - adds up :-)

drinkyourmilk · 13/12/2016 13:43

People ask extra for the carpets? ! Seriously? Tight wads.
We had new, expensive, carpet laid throughout 6 months ago. Wouldn't dream or charging for it.
I'd call their bluff.

GiddyOnZackHunt · 13/12/2016 13:45

Yello if the OP has a crawling baby there'll be injuries!

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 13/12/2016 13:47

Babies don't crawl on the stairs and if it's just bedrooms if baby has a cot they'll be fine.

Nobody leaves crawling babies unattended and presumably the downstairs is ok?

HardLightHologram · 13/12/2016 13:55

They're chancers. I bet you cash money that they'll leave the carpets even if you don't pay.

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