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Original poster

To remove greenhouse at buyers’ request or not

51 replies

EscargotToGo · 10/05/2023 20:51

Hi wise ones. Wanted to get your views on what to do re: the request from our buyers to remove the greenhouse we have in the garden before completion. We have listed it as an “include” item in the fixtures and fittings form.

It has a concrete foundation, and is not easily removable (it would require professional dismantling). It came with the house when we bought it a few years back. I would therefore class it as a fixture.

Can we simply say no to this request or is it best to get quotes for its removal and ask if they would be willing to consider splitting the cost? Or should we just suck it up and do it?

OP posts:
MulberryDerry · 10/05/2023 21:53

So they even know it is concrete? Maybe they think is it smth you can pack away?

Greenhousegasses · 10/05/2023 22:04

EscargotToGo · 10/05/2023 21:04

They’ve had a few weeks since we sent them our fixtures and fittings form. They came back (via their solicitors) to us with no on the items we said we would be open to discussing leaving/selling (fair enough) but said for the greenhouse to be removed on or before completion.

So far, they haven’t tried to negotiate on anything but we have sold the house at below market rate as we wanted to secure the house we are in the process of buying (and we needed to be sold to have our offer accepted).

Show quote history

Based on what you’ve said, it would still be a no from me.

Liverpoodle · 10/05/2023 22:13

Wait till after exchange and then offer it free to anyone willing to dismantle. For what it’s worth I dismantled one when I moved into my current house. It was half fallen down and we just threw it in a skip so you don’t need to pay someone.
Leave the concrete pad for them to deal with, they ,may even want to put a shed on it.

FiveShelties · 10/05/2023 22:16

Are they wanting it removed because of its condition?

Original poster
EscargotToGo · 10/05/2023 22:20

FiveShelties · 10/05/2023 22:16

Are they wanting it removed because of its condition?

They haven’t specified, but I understand they have plans to completely redo the garden and put in a side extension so think it’s likely linked to this. It’s not the newest greenhouse by any means and could do with a clean-up but it works fine

OP posts:
Augend23 · 10/05/2023 22:22

I'd put the greenhouse on Freecycle, for the person who collects to dismantle (fairly normal) and leave the base. I'd only do it after exchange.

CatMattress · 10/05/2023 22:29

There's a whole Facebook group dedicated to second hand greenhouses. People are desperate for them

inloveandmarried · 10/05/2023 22:34

BarkyMatherson · 10/05/2023 20:57

Offer it for free “buyer to dismantle” and someone will take it away!

I did this. Advertised on freecycle.

A lovely man appeared who was a gentle soul. He was a retired engineer and had moved to the coast.

He spent most of the day carefully inspecting, removing and packing it. Whist telling me stories about engineering (interesting ones).

A few weeks later he sent me photographs of the greenhouse, installed and ready to grow. I'm so pleased it went to a good home.

So much better than putting it in a skip.

Ihavekids · 10/05/2023 22:38

Londono · 10/05/2023 21:39

Also, if they are genuinely planning to buy the property you refusing won't change their mind. So if they pull out over this, they never intended to buy it anyway. I think it is fair enough for them to ask whatever they want though and just as fair enough for you to say no!

Exactly this. Politely no.

C4tastrophe · 11/05/2023 07:00

The end target is your new house.
If they have not specified removal of the base or ‘greenhouse in entirety’ then agree and as PP said, offer the GH for free after exchange, leave the base.

CellophaneFlower · 11/05/2023 07:17

We had this when I sold my dad's house. After the survey, the buyers tried to get some money off for various non issues. 1 was the greenhouse, which the survey had noted as a possible "unsafe structure" (it wasn't). The EA said they were concerned as he thought they had small children (they didn't have any children at all).

I advertised it and someone dismantled it and paid 50 quid for it. We didn't drop the price for anything else either.

I'd leave it if you can't be bothered to sell it. They won't pull out.

GoldenFarfalle · 11/05/2023 08:13

I would say yes, why not? you want to sell, why not to do one thing they ask? an old greenhouse would devalued your home.

TheNecessaryWoman · 11/05/2023 08:26

Why on earth would you do anything before you've exchanged contracts? After exchange I would possibly consider listing it on Freecycle or similar.

NeedToKnow101 · 11/05/2023 08:28

Stratocumulus · 10/05/2023 21:00

They have offered on the property “as seen” and you’ve covered it in the pre sale questionnare so at first I’d tell them no you won’t remove it.

If it becomes really pivotal then maybe go halves for removal?
I doubt anyone will pull out based on a greenhouse but there’s nowt so bolshy as some folk.

We bought a house with an unwanted fish pond. It came with the house so we just had to suck it up! (Not literally 🤭)

🤣🤣🤣 that did make me chuckle. Imagining you sucking hard on stripy straws blocked with tiddlers 😂

EmotionalSupportWyrm · 11/05/2023 08:30

No - we had similar before exchange and I simply said that if for any reason this exchange did not happen, and I had removed the items listed, an Aga and the greenhouse, I was possibly prejudicing a future sale as these were features I would find attractive in a property.

My buyers sold the greenhouse and the Aga ( friend saw them advertised), I had to buy a greenhouse for this property. (Old greenhouse too big for this garden)

ittakes2 · 11/05/2023 09:04

I would tell them that after the sale becomes legally binding you would be happy to put out an advert for it to be collected free with buyer to dismantle. So you are making an effort without promising anything.

HaggisBurger · 11/05/2023 09:07

Just say - unfortunately this is a fixture of the house / garden and won’t be removed prior to completion.

DibbleDooDah · 11/05/2023 09:20

I would say not until after exchange and then you will use best endeavours to get rid of it, but you will not be paying anyone to have it removed. Just explain that you will be offering it free to someone to dismantle and collect and so it will depend on their timings. Be clear that the concrete base will not be removed.

Particularly relevant if there’s only a short gap between exchange and completion. After exchange it will cost them ££££ to pull out and also they cannot drop their price (as it’s stated in the contract).

Likewise, they are also more than welcome to arrange for someone to come and remove it between exchange and completion and you will accommodate that.

That way you are being seen as trying to be helpful but not making any guarantees.

I personally think they are CFs if they are planning to totally redo the garden and build an extension anyway.

Mythril · 11/05/2023 09:33

Absolutely not. What if the chain falls through? You've gotten rid of a feature that many buyers would desire.

Your buyers are just as capable as you at listing it on Facebook or Gumtree after purchase. If they are redoing the garden and extending, then the greenhouse will be small fry for them.

They are being CF in my opinion.

QueefQueen80s · 11/05/2023 09:36

Don't remove it, if they don't like it then they should remove it. And yes that would be a selling point if this falls through.

CellophaneFlower · 11/05/2023 09:42

Also, if they've paid out for the survey, they're unlikely to pull out over this and if they were to, I'd assume they were flaky anyway.

If they haven't had survey yet, I'd fully expect them to nit pick and expect money off when they do. Please post here again if that happens, for advice!

Iguanainanigloo · 11/05/2023 09:42

Some people are so cheeky! It's like asking the seller to remove the kitchen before they move in as they want to replace it anyway, you don't do that, you move in, then make it how you want, not the other way around?! Anything can happen between now and exchange, if you're in a long chain, the whole thing could collapse at any point (not wanting to scare you) and then what, you're half way through dismantling a greenhouse, that for a potential different buyer, would have been a huge positive selling point. Just say no, you will not have the time or resources to do this before moving, and it comes as part of the house, therefore, their responsibility to do with as they wish once they actually own the property..

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 11/05/2023 17:44

You could sell it on Facebook - you'd be amazed at what people will buy. I got £500 for the one that came with my house (that I didn't want) and that price included someone taking it away too. Easy peasy and cash in my pocket.

Milkand2sugarsplease · 11/05/2023 17:51

If they're serious about the house, you saying no to removing the greenhouse wouldn't put them off.

You've included it in your paperwork, they've asked and you can say no.

If they do pull out because of it, I think they were looking for a reason to pull out anyway.

commonground · 11/05/2023 17:58

Just be vague 'sure, we'll bear that in mind'.....or even 'noted'.

We asked our vendors to remove a dilapidated shed before we purchased (tbf, they had pointed it out and said they would get rid).

When we moved in, the shed was still in the garden. What were we going to do? Ask them to take the house back?! No, obviously.