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Original poster

I think our FTB will gazunder!!

118 replies

Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 10:03

Sold a while back and it's been dragging on for months- mostly because of solicitors not being able to communicate very well.
Our buyers are FTB, we are selling at a cheaper price to them. They included a clause that they will not try to lower the price any further after the surveys, which I realise doesn't mean much.

It took them a while to sort out the survey, which didn't show anything unexpected. The survey was over a month ago, but now they suddenly want to order two extra specialist surveys, and they want us to contribute to the price!!!
I said categorically no, they are free to have more surveys but we will not be paying for them, the house is a bargain as it is.

Am I right to be worried, I feel they will try to gazunder or pull out, although at this point we would just put the house back on the market. We will probably lose the house we're buying this way, but I wonder whether we could sell ours for more than we're currently getting anyway. Just very frustrated with it all.

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 10/02/2024 10:53

I think they are just trying it on @Potaytoe5 & you did exactly the right thing in saying go ahead with the additional surveys if you want but we certainly won’t be sharing the cost! Cheeky fuckers.

Original poster
Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 10:57

@Twiglets1 it is a very typical thing to do if they want to lower the price though, isn't it?
I didn't even realise asking seller to cover the survey cost is a thing, there is absolutely no benefit for the extra surveys for us. Even the EA said they are being cheeky. I'd have said worse D:

OP posts:
CrotchetyQuaver · 10/02/2024 10:58

If you have a bad gut feeling about them I would speak to the estate agents and ask them to start viewings again.

muddyford · 10/02/2024 10:58

Yes all their bluff. A few houses ago the buyer tried to reduce the offer. I said the house would be going back on the market, in that case, at £10k more than we were asking. (Rising market). She bought at the originally agreed price.

Then you get buyers trying to knock off the amount they want to spend on the house. Refused that too. Just because they fancy a new kitchen/bathroom/boiler doesn't mean I am paying for it.

DrySherry · 10/02/2024 11:07

"which didn't show anything unexpected"

What extra specialist surveys have they asked for ? It seems a bit odd to be asking to do this if nothing unexpected showed up.

I would be worried if they asked for a RICS valuation survey for example, but not if they just wanted a second opinion on a standard answer of "roof will need replacement at some point"

Original poster
Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 11:11

@DrySherry They want drains and damp survey. I think there was a slightly higher damp reading near the party wall with the neighbour- apparently not actually flagged as a 'problem' on the survey though. They are free to check it of course, but the chimneys are fine and we have no mould there or anything. Both mine and neighbour's roofs are new, we are in a semi.
Drains are fine never had any problems.
EA said it said on the survey the usual 'this age of property might have problems with x', the house is over 90 years old.

OP posts:
Original poster
Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 11:12

Even before they put in an offer they had 3 viewings, including one where they brought their own builders!! It took them HOURS of viewing before they even put in an offer...

OP posts:
sorestupid · 10/02/2024 11:14

I don’t understand why people question why FTB take hours at a viewing or are extra cautious. They are spending a ton of money often without loads of equity behind them even if the house is a bargain to the seller!

TiredCatLady · 10/02/2024 11:16

As FTB they’re probably being extra cautious and following whatever they’ve been recommended to the letter. I wouldn’t read too much malice into it.
The market isn’t great at the moment - how badly do you need to sell?

HappiestSleeping · 10/02/2024 11:20

As a buyer, I will try most things to reduce the price of a house. As a seller, I will resist everything that is not reasonable.

You can't blame them for trying, they can ask for anything they like, but you are also free to decline.

I would probably be speaking to the estate agent and let them know they need to pull their finger out at the original price or it will go back on the market.

Original poster
Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 11:22

I don't think it's standard to order a survey 2 months after our offer on the house we are buying is accepted, and then demand extra surveys 1.5 month after having theirs done?? So they are taking extra 3.5 months just to sort out their surveys???
Surely they should have ordered them before the eleventh hour.
I understand it is a big purchase, we were first time buyers 8 years ago but I wouldn't dream of wasting 3 hours of someone's time before even putting in an offer.
They just seem beyond cheeky to me.

OP posts:
freeedum · 10/02/2024 11:23

Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 10:03

Sold a while back and it's been dragging on for months- mostly because of solicitors not being able to communicate very well.
Our buyers are FTB, we are selling at a cheaper price to them. They included a clause that they will not try to lower the price any further after the surveys, which I realise doesn't mean much.

It took them a while to sort out the survey, which didn't show anything unexpected. The survey was over a month ago, but now they suddenly want to order two extra specialist surveys, and they want us to contribute to the price!!!
I said categorically no, they are free to have more surveys but we will not be paying for them, the house is a bargain as it is.

Am I right to be worried, I feel they will try to gazunder or pull out, although at this point we would just put the house back on the market. We will probably lose the house we're buying this way, but I wonder whether we could sell ours for more than we're currently getting anyway. Just very frustrated with it all.

I dont think theyre cheeky, no cheeky fuckers, or pricks or whatever disgusting unfair terms you or anyone wants to call them. They clearly are concerned about your house and want to make sure they make a good financial decision. I think as a seller, you might be considered as the cheeky fucker to many for putting a “clause” in so they don’t make any further reductions. And yes, it doesnt mean anything so sounds super ridiculous you even added that. That seems like you’re the red flag, not them. They clearly sound like they have doubts about the house. Maybe that is justified. Is your home screaming “buy me I am worth it”. By your OP, probably not? They’re trying to clear up those doubts but here you are… they have every right to renegotiate the price if there are issues in additional surveys as you have the right to say no. They have every right to walk away as you do. But I can see why they might be having doubts based in your OP.

Original poster
Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 11:23

We needed to sell a few months back but we are in a much better financial situation now so we could put it back on the market and wait a bit more.
I would be miffed on losing the house we want to buyand the sunk costs on solicitors etc though.
I think they believe we are very desperate and can do what they want, which is not the case.

OP posts:
HappiestSleeping · 10/02/2024 11:24

Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 11:23

We needed to sell a few months back but we are in a much better financial situation now so we could put it back on the market and wait a bit more.
I would be miffed on losing the house we want to buyand the sunk costs on solicitors etc though.
I think they believe we are very desperate and can do what they want, which is not the case.

This is the joy of buying and selling houses unfortunately. I like the Scottish system much better.

Original poster
Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 11:26

@freeedum are you my buyer??
They are of course free to do more surveys, I am NOT paying for them.
They can pull out and we can find other buyers.
The clause about not dropping the price anymore was suggested by them, I imagine so we accept their low offer.

OP posts:
orangegato · 10/02/2024 11:27

Get it back on the market ASAP.

Theyre taking the piss. Drains and damp are all fixable issues and it’s complete overkill. Shit tends to need fixing when you buy a house. They won’t find one with nothing wrong with it.

Find more easy going buyers.

freeedum · 10/02/2024 11:28

Going back on the market is not necessarily a good thing ad this time either. Many buyers know it’s a buyers market and will wonder why another buyer didn’t purchase your house in the end. If you told your side of the story as per your thread to a new buyer, I don’t think theyd be interested in your house either. And we all Know EAs lie and no believes a word they say to buyers. Whether you are in a better financial position or not is irrelevant. The main factor is whether another buyer would want your house. If you moving depends on this chain, then you need to learn to be reasonable. FTBs are making a big financial decision now. You bought 8 years ago when things were cheaper and easier. The nerve.

sorestupid · 10/02/2024 11:28

We needed to sell a few months back but we are in a much better financial situation now so we could put it back on the market and wait a bit more.

But that’s true for pretty much everyone at some point through the buying & selling process, it’s the system we have.

I think they believe we are very desperate and can do what they want, which is not the case.

Well you needed to sell a few months back.. Of course they can do what they want, who would you expect them to please?

Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 11:32

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freeedum · 10/02/2024 11:32

Potaytoe5 · 10/02/2024 11:26

@freeedum are you my buyer??
They are of course free to do more surveys, I am NOT paying for them.
They can pull out and we can find other buyers.
The clause about not dropping the price anymore was suggested by them, I imagine so we accept their low offer.

If i was your buyer, I would pull out. There are too many red flags. any seller that cane across rude a d outting “clauses” in to stop further reductions is a no no from me. As FTB, they are probably getting the advice that you seem like a red flag. I think you’re destroying your own sale. and you say you arent desperate to sell, but to me you do sound it. Btw, i’m not a buyer. I own a house i bought from a lovely seller who reduced their property price fairly, let me see their house as many times as I wanted inc having builders in to give me reno quotes. By your attitude, which seems poor, i dont think you understand the market tbh.

sorestupid · 10/02/2024 11:33

I don't think it's standard to order a survey 2 months after our offer on the house we are buying is accepted, and then demand extra surveys 1.5 month after having theirs done?? So they are taking extra 3.5 months just to sort out their surveys???
Surely they should have ordered them before the eleventh hour.
I understand it is a big purchase, we were first time buyers 8 years ago but I wouldn't dream of wasting 3 hours of someone's time before even putting in an offer.
They just seem beyond cheeky to me.

Maybe someone has said something to them recently & they want to check. Maybe they are rattled by all the press, maybe they are seeing other properties come to market, maybe they are just very anxious. I’m pretty sure your purchase 8 yrs ago was cheaper? It’s not beyond cheeky! Christ the system is crap enough without all this emotive rubbish, remove the emotion!!! It’s a business deal, you want the best for you & they want the best for them.

Twiglets1 · 10/02/2024 11:37

They seem annoying as hell but I would trust for now that they are just being ultra cautious. Just let the process play out, but if they ask for a reduction for no good reason then say No.

freeedum · 10/02/2024 11:39

sorestupid · 10/02/2024 11:33

I don't think it's standard to order a survey 2 months after our offer on the house we are buying is accepted, and then demand extra surveys 1.5 month after having theirs done?? So they are taking extra 3.5 months just to sort out their surveys???
Surely they should have ordered them before the eleventh hour.
I understand it is a big purchase, we were first time buyers 8 years ago but I wouldn't dream of wasting 3 hours of someone's time before even putting in an offer.
They just seem beyond cheeky to me.

Maybe someone has said something to them recently & they want to check. Maybe they are rattled by all the press, maybe they are seeing other properties come to market, maybe they are just very anxious. I’m pretty sure your purchase 8 yrs ago was cheaper? It’s not beyond cheeky! Christ the system is crap enough without all this emotive rubbish, remove the emotion!!! It’s a business deal, you want the best for you & they want the best for them.

All of this. It was super cheap before and clearly people in middle of chains like OP are stuck in this market and not “better off”. Only one offer and theyre FTBs who gold right now!

The nerve. And @Twiglets1 why arr yoy calling these buyers cheeky fuckers? It’s gone too far dont you think? It’s quite disgusting the way people behave about money. Even when it’s not their own house .

hothotheatbag · 10/02/2024 11:41

I'd be going back on the market and open up to viewings.

freeedum · 10/02/2024 11:42

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Why are toy responding to my comment with a laughing emoji? I think your laughing emoji in response to my comment and advice i’ve given to a thread you’ve raised says a lot about what the buyers are probably dealing with. Please remember this is a business deal not a playground. 🙄

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