Selling house - survey - have we done the right thing?

[arthurdaly]

Would appreciate opinions/feedback on if we've done the right thing in this situation and if there's anything more that I should do?

Selling our house and buyer had a survey. Survey highlighted a number of issues with the roof including refelting/rebattening and a potential roof leak. We never had problems with the roof and definitely no leaks.

Buyer couldn't get a roofer to come and quote as they don't own the house no one would come out. I arranged for an independent roofer who came and said no leaks but yes felting/battening could do to be done but as the roof isn't leaking it's not urgent. Couldn't given a timescale of when it would become urgent as it's a how long is a piece of string scenario...could be next year could be 10 years but only becomes urgent if the roof starts leaking.
A couple of missing tiles and one lose tile also highlighted.

Total cost for work will be circa £6k including scaffolding.
I've shared the roofers findings with the buyer and also agreed with the roofer that the buyer can contact him to talk through.
On the back of this we've offered £3k reduction off sale price as goodwill gesture as we don't want to lose the buyer and we're pretty far down the line. Estate agent told me this was a good idea.

What would you think in this situation? Should I have played it differently?

You have been very generous offering the £3k discount. The roof issue wasn't really bad enough to warrant that offer, but it is done now. If the sale now goes ahead with no further glitches then you probably did the right thing as a £3k difference doesn't make much odds. If instead the buyers move on to the next little niggle on their survey report (of which there will typically be around a dozen or so for any house) and try to angle for professional assessments and subsequent discounts for each one, then you will end up having to find new buyers because they will never be satisfied. Don't drop the price again.

I think you've made a fair and reasonable offer.

Based on that I think you've been very generous, I don't know if I'd have offered a reduction based on a non-urgent repair as it can open up the gates to them trying it on with more. Hopefully though they'll be happy, you'll be happy and it'll be a smooth progression from here!

Around £5k of non-urgent repair costs were identified in our survey but we wouldn't have asked for a reduction in the price because they were non-urgent. Repairs and maintenance comes with home ownership. I think you have been extremely generous and I probably wouldn't have done the same in the same position.

I would have waited for the buyer to suggest a reduction figure. I think a reduction is reasonable but you've offered quite a lot. 1-2 K would have been what I would have expected

Thanks all! The survey highlighted the roof as an urgent repair, which is fairly typical of surveys in my opinion.

The EA suggested we go halves as he thought the buyer would ask for that anyway.
My heart sort of took over, I've met the buyer and they were really nice. £3k might have been a bit much in hindsight but in the scheme of things and the big move we're doing I don't want to quibble over a grand of things we're doing.
We won't be offering anymore off as the rest of the issues are most definitely not urgent

Just to say felt/membrane on roofs is not there to keep water out , it’s for keeping out insects/ dirt that’s blown in . The tiles keep the water out.

As the others said you have been very generous. Our survey highlighted loose tiles and other costs associated with the roof. We didn’t request a reduced priced as we felt our offer accepted was fair and as it was an older house some things the surveys highlight are just precautionary to cover themselves. I would have waited for the buyers reply but I think your offer is kind and hopefully encourages your buyers not to stress. Good luck with your move.