Buyers coming around with builder 'to check utilities '

[Yellowmelon1988xx]

Currently selling our house, nearly at the end of the process ( we hope )

Just had the EA asking if they can come around eith buyers and s builder/ trades man as they been advised by their solicitor to do so

Is this normal practice? When we last told our house it was during lockdowm so this didn't happen

All the searches etc have come back

Slightly worried now

Do you get your boiler serviced yearly ?, if you do then just send over the last report.

Depending on the age of your house, it might be a good idea to get the electrics checked.

I would pay to have the boiler serviced if it’s not been done in the last year but that’s all.

our buyers asked to do similar and we told them they were more than welcome to but we wouldn’t be paying for electrical check or agreeing any reductions in price off the back of the late checks. They went ahead with the check and the the sale all went through. Just be clear with the estate agent now that there is no movement on price between now and completion.

Yes, they would pull out that late. But they are more likely to ask for a reduction in the price due to 'faults' they find.

However as a buyer, from the things you have mentioned I would want to see boiler service records.

You say "they've already viewed the house a few times". That is not necessarily a good sign. Two viewings, fair enough. But an EA told me years ago that any viewings after the second one are where they talk themselves out of it (she was right in our case).

This with bells on.

Yep, they want a reduction in the price. A builder doesn't need to run a boiler check.

Bought and sold a couple of years ago in England. We provided evidence of our sale house and received evidence from the house we were buying that the boiler had been serviced within the last 12 months. So I'd say that is fairly normal. We had an open fire in one room so we had the chimney swept and paid for it just before exchange.

For the electrics I'd say no, unless they want to pay and I'd be very firm that there will be no negotiation on price no matter the results. Personally I'd say no full stop as it's still your home and you'll need to make yourself available for someone to come in, they can do that when it's their house on their own time.

Thank you all for your advice

Feeling VERY worried now

They are FTB so I'm unsure if they are doing doing everything that there solicitor has suggested as they have no previous experience, or if there is now more to it

When did you last have the boiler serviced?

@Flopsythebunny last year (but I think over 12 months ago) willing to pay for this if I have to, but not willing to pay for electrical testing

I can understand why you feel worried but if they’re going to pull out or push for a price drop it’s perhaps best to push them into showing their intentions now. do it now by making sure they know there is no more room for negotiations on price regardless of what comes up at future viewings.

agree to doing the boiler check and then insist that they do their final viewing with the builder in the next week as you’re not willing to hold up the process.

FTB are notorious for getting freaked out by everything.
Offer to pay for a boiler service, agree if you wish to an electrics test / survey at their cost, but make it clear you won't be agreeing to a price reduction.

I tend to agree that if they pull out because you won't pay for a boiler service they will most likely pull out because of something else. Just inform them that it's a no.

FTBs tend to be nervous and want everything checked. As they have never done it before they will listen to anyone in their ear whether it's their solicitor or their best friend's mum. Sometimes the checking will pacify them and it works out, sometimes it's a sign they are looking for excuses (either to drop out or drop price).

If the boiler had been serviced within the last 18 months I (as a buyer) wouldn't ask for you to do another. If you agree to do that it's likely to delay the process, my plumber wouldn't have time in his diary for a few weeks.

How many weeks since their offer?

Don't you get your boiler serviced annual, OP? Just send them the latest one, but shouldn't that be in your house documents that went to your solicitor?

If you have never had it serviced, that could potentially be dangerous and no wonder they want you to get it serviced

@Marinel the offer was accepted on April! And we hadn't found a property for a few weeks after we accepted their offer, and they were constantly nagging us. We have obviously found a property now and our forward purchase is ready for us to go all everything has come back

Just say no. Your job is to answer questions honestly. It's your right as a homeowner to get the boiler serviced daily, never, or anything in between. Just tell them when it was last done.

Electrical survey - they can pay if they want one. Buyers pay for surveys.

If they pull out, they pull out. No one sensible pulls out because a boiler service is a bit late.

I was asked the same as you and I said no, no problem the sale went ahead

I think your solicitor needs to tell their solicitor to manage their client.

Yes, they most likely are going to low ball however if everything else is set to go you need to be asking for the exchange and completion date or suggest you re-market.

if that gives you the willies then your answer is that you are willing to pay for these things to pacify them in order to be able to move.

This is not normal for the buyers to do.

Boiler annual service would be sensible to organise if you were selling.

I agree, and I suspect they’re looking for an excuse to drop the price at the last minute, in the hope that you’re too close to the finish line to say no.

They can ask anything, you can say no. what they’re asking for is not an obligation on the seller or some integral part of the legal process of buying and selling.

I do not understand the odd attitude of some on here.

Perhaps they made an offer expecting to be able to do some specific work and have been alerted to the fact it might not be possible so want to take a builder to check. Why is that a bad thing? They are about to buy something for £hundreds of thousands. It is perfectly fair for them to want to ensure the house will work for them. Maybe the surveyor identified an issue and they just want to check how much it will cost to fix rather than relying on the surveyor’s estimate.

They don’t know you from Adam. Just as you are assuming the worst -that this is a tactic to get money off, perhaps they are assuming the worst and worry that you are covering up something that will be a problem. It’s not like all sellers are perfect!

My solicitor insisted we take a course of action before exchange which annoyed the estate agent and the seller. Bloody good thing we did - saved us about £30k (insurance issue, didn’t seek a reduction in price.) So yes, I’d listen to my solicitor, first time buyer or not.

But why shouldn't the buyers ask for a reduction in price if the electrics test comes back showing an issue that's going to cost £££ to fix?

Tell them to piss off

Agree an exchange date with your solicitor

advise them of the date in writing via the EA and verbally tell the EA you want it the house relisting if they don’t exchange on the nominated day because you want to sell and you don’t want to mess about.

FTBs sometimes don't realise that they don't need to (or won't be able to) do everything that is recommended. I think we refused an electrics check - or at least said we wouldn't pay. As electrical requirements change all the time an electrician will frequently advise a house needs updating. It was obviously from the price and age of the house that it was priced fairly.

Conveyancer here - this is completely normal procedure. It always baffles me why any Seller refuses access. IMO it looks like you are hiding something. Buyers have the right to to review with whomever they wish when they are making such a huge investment.