Viewer Questions

[TinyAphrodite]

Had a viewing and they raised a question through the agent about how much gas and electricity is per month. We’re in a big 4 bed detached so not cheap.

Don't want to lie but also don’t want to put them off either. How truthful should we be to questions raised?

I mean it’s fairly meaningless info really. My sister lives in the same size property as me and runs the tumble drier daily and has heating on 10 months of the year. So our bills are very different? My parents house is far bigger than mine but only two of them so bills are lower?

maybe give them council tax info and advise other bills will depend on the usage/ tariff ?

Thanks, yes was just saying this to my husband, we work from home full time and have two teens with tech constantly on the go and they’re an almost at retirement couple so usage would be very different.

I think it’s fair to say what you’ve just said above. There’s just no comparison.

I couldn’t even do a comparison with others in direct terms of same occupancy because I hate a really hot house and have friends who have the heating on in the Summer in the evening. I want the house heated but never to the same degree that some want. I read on here about people having the heating on in the night in winter.

I don’t think it’s meaningless at all. The buyer is looking for reassurance. Especially if they are likely to be on a fixed income.
I’n currently selling DM’s house and have left the smart meter plugged in in a very visible position.
I would let them know your payments tbh but explain why they are so high.

If they asked, then they want to know so I’d tell them or they might just walk.

I don't think it's an unreasonable ask especially...

If they're coming from somewhere much smaller, they might have no clue of the costs of running a larger property. I don't think giving them all ballpark figure would be unreasonable.

The property I'm buying at the moment has a log burner. I asked the current owner about the price of wood, as it's something I know nothing about.

Maybe point them at the EPC ? I mean it is not a guarantee of anything but at least gives some clues to the energy efficiency of the house and what might be done to improve it. They should be able to get public access to the EPC anyway.

I'm selling atm and have told my buyer and all viewers, all of my costs for utilities and council tax as I appreciate that they need to weigh those costs into the purchase.

Thanks all, not something I would ask personally due to it being hard to compare, some people like to keep the house very warm, others not so and depends on the number of people in the house etc but I’ll pass on a ballpark with a note about us working from home etc.

Questioning the gas/elec makes me wonder if they can afford the house.

Tell them the info. If you dodge the question, it just makes you look suspicious.

We had to tell our mortgage suppliers what we expected the bills to be for our house purchase so maybe it’s for their affordability evaluation? I had to do it last time I bought, ten years ago, too.