Selling - will our buyer pull out??

[IrishMomOf2]

We are in the process of selling our house as we're moving from the UK to Ireland. Put our house on the market at the end of summer at 450k after receiving pretty wide-ranging valuations between 400k and 500k. Didn't have loads of interest at that price and post the Kami-Kwazi 'fiscal event' we dropped the price to 425k. At this stage, we'd identified a new build in Ireland that we wanted to buy and put down a deposit on this. We had our first offer on our UK home a few weeks later, an offer of 370k. We'd hoped to agree a price no lower than 400k so countered with this but, given the change in the market, we accepted their response of 390k (cash buyer and no chain and keen to move quickly which suited us).

The buyer has now had a detailed survey on the house, with a couple of category/level 3 coming up - chimney needing repointing and some slates needing replaced on the roof - and as a result has put forward an amended offer of 360k. Our estate agent has told us that the surveyor valued the house at the 390k mark - the price that we'd agreed - so we've pushed back and said that we don't want to renegotiate and are sticking with the price of 390k. AIBU to feel like the buyer isn't serious and is likely to pull out of this sale? Any advice from others who might be or have been in a similar situation?

No, leave it. They've got a great deal and this is really minor stuff. They're pushing their luck- just say 'sold as seen'. Sending you lots of love and luck!

See if you can get a quote froma roofer for the work - ask the estate agent for their trusted roofers if they have a lettings branch. Counter the offer with 390 minus the X,000 work required on the roof - with proof of quote (s).

The survey on the house I’m selling revealed the need for chimney stack pointing and flashing, a replacement slate roof over the single storey kitchen and replacing all front guttering.
The buyers got a specialist roof survey quote and it was under £5000 for everything and we agreed a corresponding price reduction.
I would get quotes for the work and potentially offer to reduce in line with those - I’d be surprised if it’s more than £2000.

The survey on our current house said the chimney stack needed repointing. A builder came and looked with some binoculars... told us the surveyor was just saying it to cover his backside. That was 6 years ago and we haven't needed to do anything to our chimney.

Get it checked by a roofer and quotes. We were told we needed a new roof and guttering. My uncle (big roofing firm owner) had actually replaced the entire roof on the house we bought only around 5 years earlier for our sellers. We had another independent quote and we were told it was completely fine. Suryver covering his behind. Get quotes as the work will not be 30k!

They’re trying their luck - £30k off for that is obscene!
To be honest I’d be happy if they were the only issues.

I think they are chancing their luck and probably the cost of the work suggested is way over inflated and possibly not needed? Try and get some quotes as suggested but stick to your guns

Utter chancers. I’d imagine they’d try to drop again before exchange if you let them.
When is your onward house ready - can you wait if needed?

Our survey came back last summer with similar on the roof and the suggestion it would cost £6k to rectify. We didn't ask for a reduction.

Sounds like they're chancing it

We just had some repointing done on our chimney and it cost £500. They are taking the piss.

I paid £250 in Greater London to have our chimney repointed and a few tiles replaced. Do not accept their offer. They're sounding like they want to cover the costs of a new roof with their CF reduced offer.

They are taking the mick. Surveyor said the value was fair. Don't agree to a reduction.

From your tone it seems that buyers are pouring over your doorstep. So you don’t have to accept the lower offer.

You’re within your rights to say no, but they may still pull out if they think the market is dropping. So depends if you think you can get the same/more again or if you want it done. A small offering of reduction eg couple of grand might keep them if you want to retain the chain. Sounds like they’re flexing their chain free and cash position but only you know how much value that is to you.