Our Buyers are trying it on

[StressedMover]

Nearing exchange of contracts and our buyers are starting to muck us about.

We agreed some weeks ago to have our boiler serviced at our cost. They also requested an electrical test but my solicitor told them straight off we have no legal obligation to do so.

We have allowed our buyers to come back with a builder- apparently so he could prepare a quote for works they wan carried out.

They are now requesting we have an electrical test at our cost before they are willing to exchange along with the recommissioning the bugular alarm that we have never used.

They have not had a building survey carried out and we feel like they are trying to get us to pay instead!

FYI house is just outside NHBC 10 year guarantee and we accepted £20000 under asking price.

What would you do, suggestions welcome!

Think I remember your previous thread.

If you are confident in the property, I would advise them that no, you won't have the electrics tested at your cost (but they are welcome to pay for an electrical test) and no, you will not be recommissioning the burglar alarm (but again, they are welcome to pay for this as part of the electrical testing if that is convenient for them).

It's their choice not to have a survey - and a survey would only say "We recommend that you satisfy yourself that the electrics are in good working order" or whatever. So back to the same situation!

At £20,000 under asking, and if you have never implied that the burglar alarm is working, then I think they can suck up their own test costs.

Yes, they are trying it on. You already know there is no legal obligation on your part to do an electrical test. Just say no again.Your buyer's have spent a considerable sum of money on surveys etc so if they pull out now then they will have to start again, thereby lengthening the process and with additional costs.

Just state that you have not used the burglar alarm and do not intend to recommission it, however you will leave any booklets/instructions that you have so that the buyers can recommission this at their own expense upon completion.

Your solicitor has to pass on enquiries from the buyer's solicitor to you, but they are probably expecting you not to agree to their demands. If in doubt, speak to your solicitor for clarification.

Tell them to suck it up or your pulling out....nobs

Your solicitor has to pass on enquiries from the buyer's solicitor to you, but they are probably expecting you not to agree to their demands.

YY to this ^

You are entitled to say no to their request, so I would. Up to them then what they decide to do. They may dig their heels in - at which point you could decide if you want to front it out and see if they back down eventually, or you could offer 50% of the electrical testing cost to keep the deal moving. But don't give in now!

I would think it quite unlikely that your deal would fall through at £20K under asking (presuming it wasn't overpriced and is a good deal compared to others on the market) over the cost of an electrical survey on a 10-year-old house ... they sound either like chancers, or just very inexperience first-time buyers?

This sounds so like our buyer, turning up with builders and unreasonable requests just before exchange. We told her to jog on and put the house back on the market.

Ok, so I've emailed both my solicitor and the agent. I've told them it doesn't sit well with me. I have suggested they can have their own test carried out at their cost and at a convenient time to me. I pointed out they are getting a lot of house for their money. Feels like a waiting game now!

And no we weren't overpriced to begin with, they are getting a very good deal!

spickle they haven't had any surveys. They want us to pay for things that 'might' have issues.

Cash buyers and they haven't paid for their own survey? You are quite right to tell them to jog on.

They're not cash buyers, they had mortgage valuation. They do however have nothing to sell, renting I believe?

Tell them you're putting it back on the market and watch them furiously back pedal. They're trying it on.

I'm glad you all agree. Waiting for a response from my solicitor.... might not be until tomorrow.

I suspect your house is right at the top of their budget and they can only afford it because they've agreed a price £20k under asking. They are happy enough that it's just outside guarantee but are twitchy as they are FTBs.

I think your probably right fudge. Apparently they have requested the electrical test because there is evidence of new electrical installations in the extension. I have stated that the extension was done by the previous owners and have provided all building regs and electrical test certification for this. No electrical work has been undertaken in the house since we moved in.

Who's evidence is this, they've had no survey!

My solicitor came back to me and said if we had asked her she would have advised exactly what we have done. However she has to put the questions to us.