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Original poster

Difficult buyer

26 replies

StrangeCoat · 16/10/2020 18:05

I'm very very glad I have a buyer but oh my word they have been a nightmare!

A million questions, demands, last minute price drop before exchange, it just taints the whole thing a little bit!!

Does anyone else have a tricky buyer?

OP posts:
Catycity · 16/10/2020 18:14

Are they First time buyers?

That might explain the anxiety. I was a nightmare first time buyer because I was clueless.

DespairingHomeowner · 16/10/2020 18:59

What were the questions and demands?

I think questions are reasonable as avoids getting down the line with a deal that won’t work

Last minute (unjustified) price drops are grounds to drop the deal ...

LooseMooseHoose · 16/10/2020 19:35

Last minute price drops are unreasonable. Demands might or might not be, depending on the detail. Questions from a buyer are never unreasonable, even if you think they are silly.

Original poster
StrangeCoat · 16/10/2020 19:46

@Catycity

Are they First time buyers?

That might explain the anxiety. I was a nightmare first time buyer because I was clueless.

No not even first time buyers!

Example: they wanted money off because the kitchen drawers aren't soft close and the carpets aren't the right shade of cream.

That is only scratching the surface!

OP posts:
Beebumble2 · 16/10/2020 19:51

We’ve had this twice. The first time it was selling our second house to a first time buyer, who mage numerous visits at our baby’s bedtime. Really annoying.
Years later we sold to a buyer who seemed to have OCD and had to go round the house a number of times. They also tried to reduce the price three times, despite being old at the first ask, a firm ‘no’.
I believe it’s called ‘chipping’

Thermo · 16/10/2020 19:52

Example: they wanted money off because the kitchen drawers aren't soft close and the carpets aren't the right shade of cream

LOL!!!! I can’t believe the nerve of folk!
We had someone ask how much the house would be with a washing machine. The house had no white goods.

Saz12 · 16/10/2020 20:13

It’s awful, you know they’re trying it on. They know they’re trying it on.

Make sure you get them to sign before Christmas. Don’t feel like “ooh, they’re nice, they want our home”.

I had “buyers” (cue hollow laughter) who had 8 (8!!!!) viewings and were desperate to buy this “the house of their dreams”. Fuckers.

Original poster
StrangeCoat · 16/10/2020 20:55

Funnily enough every time I've raised doubts about the buyer's commitment (they delayed survey date twice!) The EA has said "Oh don't worry this is their DREAM house" - erm surely not!

I've knocked £2k off just to get it through and keep them happy but still there are yet more demands - finally saying no, take it or leave it!

OP posts:
Original poster
StrangeCoat · 16/10/2020 20:58

Another 'concern' they raised was the fact we had new doors and windows installed in 2018 (FENSA certificated) but were moaning they only had 8 years left of the 10-year guarantee. They felt we should lower the price to reflect this.

OP posts:
DespairingHomeowner · 16/10/2020 21:33

@StrangeCoat

Funnily enough every time I've raised doubts about the buyer's commitment (they delayed survey date twice!) The EA has said "Oh don't worry this is their DREAM house" - erm surely not!

I've knocked £2k off just to get it through and keep them happy but still there are yet more demands - finally saying no, take it or leave it!

I think they sound annoying

Are they delaying survey date, or is there an unavailability of surveyors?

What is the 2K about? Do you have concerns that their finances are not in order?

Saz12 · 16/10/2020 21:37

Yep. It might be there steam house, but it doesn’t meN they’ll buy the fecking place! Don’t let EA do you off.

DotBall · 16/10/2020 21:51

They’ll probably piss you about for weeks like this then pull out at the last minute anyway. They’re calling all the shots but you have the house - tell them the deal’s off.

DespairingHomeowner · 16/10/2020 22:20

I’d actually give them a deadline to book survey in or you remarket OR tell them you are keeping on the market until they get their survey booked and back

From a buyers perspective:

  1. I had that with my current place (owners gave me 2 weeks to book survey, fair enough, they needed to see my commitment) and I’ve said same to my own current buyers: a week to book the survey (ie request it and show me proof)
  2. I’d not choose to proceed with a survey if house not taken off market as I’d think vendors messing about, but I know some places are. If it’s their dream house they will get a rocket under them, if it’s not they will pull out (as they might have any way). Either way you’d know
DespairingHomeowner · 16/10/2020 22:21

Sorry: also totally reasonable to tell them to hurry it up, as don’t you want to buy before Mar 31. They will be holding up you & your chain

friendlycat · 16/10/2020 23:26

OMG they sound nuts. It would make me very wary of how they will behave at the point of exchange. They just aren’t being realistic.

mumsy27 · 17/10/2020 02:47

they are piss taker, don't spend any money before they commit any further, survey, mortgage offer.
make sur you have a back up buyer or keep property available.

user1471538283 · 17/10/2020 06:48

One of our buyers finally nearly at exchange wanted £1k off because the "house was old". Yes it was and they knew that from the get go. We refused as we had had enough by then. People try it on. I don't get why

Roselilly36 · 17/10/2020 06:56

Yes a lot of CF’s about, we had a ridiculous offer from a buyer yesterday, obviously declined, just makes you think they are not serious buyers or they haven’t got the funds available, another viewing booked today. But getting fed up with the stress of the process. I think we will take our house off the market & re-list in the Spring, as we are happy to be here another year.

kittlesticks · 17/10/2020 07:02

Our buyer wanted us to fit new taps. Confused

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 17/10/2020 07:04

My parents were buying a flat. The vendor’s solicitor thought it completely unreasonable that they asked for information about the leasehold and service charges Hmm

Original poster
StrangeCoat · 17/10/2020 08:23

We're due to exchange next week so it will be really interesting to see if it happens!

The 2k off was just to keep it all going through, the survey was very good but highlighted some repairs that may/may not need doing in 5 years. You know the sort of thing, typical surveyor arse covering.

But she turned everything into a mountain and even though we allowed access for further investigations (which were all fine confirmed no actual issues to address at all!) she wanted a second opinion, then a third, at which point we said bugger off but here's 2k off on stipulation no further delays.

Really wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't proceed, I don't think anything would surprise me anymore Grin

OP posts:
londonscalling · 17/10/2020 11:06

I get really annoyed when I watch house buying programmes and they try to kick down the price because of various things that need doing to the house. These would have been taken into consideration when the house was valued!

londonscalling · 17/10/2020 11:08

*knock down

Jellytottheif · 18/10/2020 09:01

Just set a date and say complete by X date or the house goes back On market!

FurierTransform · 18/10/2020 12:18

They are being compeltely unreasoable - they are just as invested in the process as you are at this point - time to remind them of that I think.
Reply to anything they say with the house is already priced with that in mind & set an exchange deadline.