Buyer asking for repairs to be done

[Strawberriesandmelons]

We just sold our house and about 5 weeks into the conveyancing process. The buyer had a homebuyers survey done and now is asking for repairs to be done. Is this normal?

Yes usual to ask you to carry out repairs or reduce the price so they can do it themselves. It's up to you whether you accept or not though.

We had our buyer demanding cosmetic work done as wife was pregnant and didn’t want to be overseeing the work. We pointed out that the house was priced for condition, I had a premier newborn and house had no furniture in as selling as vacant. No way was I supervising builders.

I said but as agreed at price or we would relist. They blinked first

Yes perfectly normal nothing to worry about

Depends what sort of repairs. I wouldn't be fixing anything that was obvious at the time they made their offer.

What has survey uncovered?

Depends what it is? If it’s something major then I’d expect as a buyer to either get money off or it to be fixed. But not small things.

Don't have a list yet. Waiting for email from buyer from their survey. The house is already priced to sell. I won't be doing any cosmetic work. I think it's really cheeky!

There's no structural problems.

Or you can get a wanker like our buyer who dropped the price for some repairs and then refused to exchange until we carried them out. We didn't of course and the estate agent ended up paying for them because somehow they'd convinced themselves he was right. Mad.

they are free to ask. You are free to accept, or refuse.

Why wouldn’t you chance your arm and ask

also if it’s unreasonable just say no

It's quite normal & depends what the survey says.

It’s not something I’ve ever heard of or considered. If it is something big and unexpected I might ask for a reduction, otherwise it’s just stuff you sort once it’s yours. Houses are generally sold as seen ime.

We were asked to remove plaster from a chimney breast and damp proof and replace. We refused as there was no obvious signs of damp.ans our decor was good.
They also wanted the lead water pipe replaced as they had small children / we had 3 ourselves and said it was and old property sold as seen.
its up to you what you’re prepared to do - I feel that you can get into a spiral of changing things to suit buyers who can back at any time. Many surveyors cover themselves by recommending further investigations: damp / gas / electrics a Id this is at the cost of the owner and causes damage to the property you can refuse and they choose whether to go ahead and purchase the property.

depends

urgent structural repairs - yes
legal requirement (starting knotweed treatment) - yes
non-urgent structural repairs - maybe
cosmetic - no way

It's really not normal!

Their offer should reflect the condition and if the survey raises anything significant then they could re-negotiate, but I certainty wouldn't be fixing stuff at the buyer's behest, especially as there is no formal contract until exchange.

What are they asking for?

It is totally not normal
To ask for a reduction for structural issues is normal but to ask for work to be done (other than possible service a boiler) is not at all normal.

I'd say most people try it on. Ours asked for the windows to be replaced (absolutely fine older style double glazing) we told them to jog on.

It actually is perfectly normal - as to whether you entertain it depends on what was found.
Yes, I know 'sold as seen' etc, but if there is something very costly and structural that only a chartered surveyor would spot (not the average home buyer) and the property wasn't sold as 'in need of modernisation' etc, then it is not unreasonable to ask for a reduction or work to be done. Otherwise, why have a survey if you could spot it all yourself?
You can of course say no (and should if it's silly). They can of course pull out of the sale if they want.
Hope it gets sorted for you. I know it is very stressful.

Houses are generally sold as seen ime.

i don't know anyone who doesn't do a survey because you often can "see" everything!

can't!

@footstoop sold as seen doesn’t mean don’t do a survey. It means base your offer and possible renegotiated offer after survey, on the state of the property. Then you do any work you want after you buy. Why would anyone do work to the specifications of someone who hasn’t yet signed a legal document to say they will buy the house?

Then you do any work you want after you buy.

Is this a rule? I've not heard of it. Ime some negotiating after a survey is normal & often buyers request stuff to be done. Sometimes it's reasonable & sometimes it's not.

Why would anyone do work to the specifications of someone who hasn’t yet signed a legal document to say they will buy the house?

It depends on the issue doesn't it assuming the buyers want a sale to actually happen.

and some sellers prefer to do the work themselves because it costs less than the amount the buyer wants to renegotiate over.

Depends what it is. Our buyer wanted us to revamp the cellar and put in some new boarding and a new ceiling and we said no, you do that if you want to when you're the owner! But anything that's an urgent repair I might consider. In turn, we had money knocked off the property we were buying because of damp.