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Original poster

Sold as Seen?

45 replies

ILikeSofas · 21/11/2022 14:05

Made an offer on a house last month for £20k under asking which was accepted, and now had the survey. It urgently needs a repair that wasn't apparent at the viewing, I've obtained quotes and the cheapest was £9k.

I'm an experienced buyer/seller and I am more than happy to overlook lots of issues and I've always classed a survey as a future To Do list, not as a way of reducing the price (as well as ruling out big issues like subsidence). But this is something that needs doing ASAP.

We've asked that the vendor fix the issue at their cost, prior to exchange.

They have refused, saying the house is sold as seen and they won't consider any reduction because we're already getting £20k 'off'.

It was on the market for a year before it sold at asking price which then fell through. We then saw it and felt our offer reflected the actual value in relation to other sales nearby and the condition of the house.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Pirrin · 21/11/2022 14:13

I'd say it depends on the house value. If it's worth £1.5m then the 9k repair is small fry really. If it's a 150k house then they are taking the mick (imo) expecting you to look the other way at something that's a decent percentage of the house's value.

TheNoonBell · 21/11/2022 14:14

Either pay the asking or look elsewhere.

Anon778833 · 21/11/2022 14:15

I hate people who use the phrase 'sold as seen'. It almost always means something is wrong with what they're selling. Puts me off right away.

mrsed1987 · 21/11/2022 14:21

Tricky one, reduce your offer again by 9k or you'll pull out? Guess it depends on what the issue is and what the house is worth

stevalnamechanger · 21/11/2022 14:23

Are you prepared to lose the house over 9k?

If so , id reduce .

We got an additional 30 off ours due to survey and bank valuation issues

Original poster
ILikeSofas · 21/11/2022 15:04

stevalnamechanger · 21/11/2022 14:23

Are you prepared to lose the house over 9k?

If so , id reduce .

We got an additional 30 off ours due to survey and bank valuation issues

Yes definitely happy to walk away, there are already a few compromises with the house anyway so this hasn't helped.

I don't want the money off, I'd rather they did the work and had the hassle of it. But they have said a flat no to having it done, we haven't asked for a reduction.

We're chain free, cash buyers and with the market having a wobble at the moment I'm surprised they're being as uncooperative as they are.

Really appreciate others' opinions, thank you.

OP posts:
superdupernova · 21/11/2022 15:06

To be fair to them, I wouldn't want to deal with the noise or disruption for a house I was planning to leave anyway.

If you're happy to pull out, say so. It will either persuade them to change their mind or let you move on to your next purchase before incurring more fees.

Original poster
ILikeSofas · 21/11/2022 15:09

superdupernova · 21/11/2022 15:06

To be fair to them, I wouldn't want to deal with the noise or disruption for a house I was planning to leave anyway.

If you're happy to pull out, say so. It will either persuade them to change their mind or let you move on to your next purchase before incurring more fees.

I understand that, I do feel for them and see their side.

It's their attitude of 'take it or leave it' that has soured it all. No meeting in the middle, no conversation, I feel like they utterly resent us as buyers.

OP posts:
Lemie · 21/11/2022 15:13

Tell them fine I'll leave it. My offer will stand for 30 days, after which I'll buy elsewhere

WoolyMammoth55 · 21/11/2022 15:17

Hi OP, certainly if you're ready to walk then you have to let them know that.

I agree that you should clearly state what you'd be prepared to accept as your minimum to proceed and that you're withdrawing your offer if they can't meet your terms regarding the repair (which evidently couldn't be "seen", right? Or you'd have seen it when you viewed!)

Best of luck whatever you decide.

superdupernova · 21/11/2022 15:18

Yes but maybe you've come across as if you think you're doing them a favour by buying the house so it's put them on edge? The bit below came across that way to me. It's a transaction and nobody is doing anyone any favours here.

We're chain free, cash buyers and with the market having a wobble at the moment I'm surprised they're being as uncooperative as they are.

girlmom21 · 21/11/2022 15:21

Sold as seen only makes sense if you'd contacted them after purchase.
It's not sold yet, so not sold as seen.

Namechangeforthis88 · 21/11/2022 15:22

If I was them no way would I get the work done before the sale goes through, you could still pull out and they've spent 9 grand, all the hassle and stress and still have the house to sell.

hellsbells99 · 21/11/2022 15:22

They might not have £9k available to get the work done so you might have more chance of getting £9k off the price and doing it yourself

MistyRock · 21/11/2022 15:24

Maybe they've not actually got the 9K to fix it? And they've dropped the price by 20k.

PurBal · 21/11/2022 15:25

I agree with you that a survey is a to do list. But I also feel that significant costs like this there should be some negotiation. You haven’t got £20k off, they must be having a laugh if they believe that. I’d reduce my offer and be prepared to lose it.

Original poster
ILikeSofas · 21/11/2022 15:29

superdupernova · 21/11/2022 15:18

Yes but maybe you've come across as if you think you're doing them a favour by buying the house so it's put them on edge? The bit below came across that way to me. It's a transaction and nobody is doing anyone any favours here.

We're chain free, cash buyers and with the market having a wobble at the moment I'm surprised they're being as uncooperative as they are.

That's a good point and a fair one, I do think we're in a good position and think they may not, in their experience, realise that!

They took a long time to accept our offer which was very stressful and took away from the initial excitement so I think from the outset negative feelings have been on both sides, us feeling they should have snapped our offer up and them feeling resentful with wanting more!

I try to stay objective but definitely failing...

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 21/11/2022 15:29

The house isn't sold yet, so sold as seen means in the condition you now know it is in! I'd ask for a £9k reduction.

FuckabethFuckor · 21/11/2022 15:35

I'd walk. Especially if there are already compromises. You get to a point when all those little (and not so little) things add up, and the house suddenly gets labelled in your head as Number 12 Compromise Street. At that point it's game over, really. In my view, anyway.

All houses are sold as seen, aren't they? There are no guarantees, unless you're buying a new house. (And even then...)

So it seems a bit disingenuous to come out with it as a phrase. I'd be like '....Yeah, and?' because I consider any non-newbuild house to be 'sold as seen'. It's just how it is.

C4tastrophe · 21/11/2022 15:40

What is the defect that will cost £9k to fix?

C4tastrophe · 21/11/2022 15:42

As others have said, I’d probably walk away at this point. Plenty more fish in the sea.

Original poster
ILikeSofas · 21/11/2022 15:45

FuckabethFuckor · 21/11/2022 15:35

I'd walk. Especially if there are already compromises. You get to a point when all those little (and not so little) things add up, and the house suddenly gets labelled in your head as Number 12 Compromise Street. At that point it's game over, really. In my view, anyway.

All houses are sold as seen, aren't they? There are no guarantees, unless you're buying a new house. (And even then...)

So it seems a bit disingenuous to come out with it as a phrase. I'd be like '....Yeah, and?' because I consider any non-newbuild house to be 'sold as seen'. It's just how it is.

This sums up exactly how I feel, lots of little things and this is just another obstacle to suck up.

They've been unhelpful with all enquiries really, like they're annoyed our solicitor is asking any questions at all!

I've lost heart I think.

OP posts:
DecsAreUp · 21/11/2022 15:46

I'm pretty sure if you pull out they will accept -9k but it's a gamble you may have to take. Depends how much you want the house.
I suppose if I was the seller I wouldn't want to pay out for work if I wasn't going to live there, maybe that's one of their reasons to move.
If it's you're dream house buy it and do the work if not decide if you want the burden.

Original poster
ILikeSofas · 21/11/2022 15:50

C4tastrophe · 21/11/2022 15:40

What is the defect that will cost £9k to fix?

The septic tank is not functioning properly and needs replacing. The vendors bodged a repair at some point and are saying it's fine.

I paid for their tank to be emptied (as they refused) in order to have an inspection of the system and the engineer says that as it stands, the tank is actually an environmental health issue so it needs sorting ASAP.

OP posts:
C4tastrophe · 21/11/2022 15:53

ILikeSofas · 21/11/2022 15:50

The septic tank is not functioning properly and needs replacing. The vendors bodged a repair at some point and are saying it's fine.

I paid for their tank to be emptied (as they refused) in order to have an inspection of the system and the engineer says that as it stands, the tank is actually an environmental health issue so it needs sorting ASAP.

Show quote history

I seem to remember previous threads where people said a law has already been passed on septic tanks and it’s illegal ‘not to have updated’ the old style ones , or something like that.
To be honest, I don’t like the smell of this, pull out.