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Buying a home and don't know how anything works

Well I'm still waiting for the solicitor to send me something in the post (invoice, contract, not sure) and then they'll finally start doing something.
 
It's a negotiating tool, gives you a chance to try and haggle for a reduction based on what is in the report. The buyer may tell you no or they may be willing to a little reduction. All depends on their circumstances and need for a sale.
 
Would you trust the vendors to get it properly serviced and would you really risk losing the sale just because the boiler has not been serviced.
Ask by all means, but I certainly would not make it a deal breaker. If boiler is getting on, does it need replacing even, if so ask for a discount to
help pay for it.
 
Elpenor said:
Agree with all to say get the vendors to service boiler for you. As a condition of exchange
Click to expand...
We asked for that and they just refused. What could we actually do? Pull out because of that? But then our seller was an arsehole, so it's totally worth asking in case your seller is a nicer person than them.
 
hash tag said:
Would you trust the vendors to get it properly serviced and would you really risk losing the sale just because the boiler has not been serviced.
Ask by all means, but I certainly would not make it a deal breaker. If boiler is getting on, does it need replacing even, if so ask for a discount to
help pay for it.
Click to expand...
Brainaddict said:
We asked for that and they just refused. What could we actually do? Pull out because of that? But then our seller was an arsehole, so it's totally worth asking in case your seller is a nicer person than them.
Click to expand...
 
I'm going to assume the boiler works ok at least. It's been a very cold winter and when I went to view the flat was warm and there was no sign of plug in heaters. They have wooden radiator covers around some of the radiators - is that just an aesthetic thing?
 
miss direct said:
I'm going to assume the boiler works ok at least. It's been a very cold winter and when I went to view the flat was warm and there was no sign of plug in heaters. They have wooden radiator covers around some of the radiators - is that just an aesthetic thing?
Click to expand...

The boiler is almost certainly safe to assume as ok - the survey saying it needs a service will be because it has a sticker on it saying “next service due March 2021” or similar,not because the surveyor has made any kind of assessment of its function.

Radiator covers are an aesthetic choice, yes.
 
Radiator covers can be great if you have cats - once saw photos of blistered burns on a cat that had slept on a radiator too long and I think although that is a rare occurrence and probably the radiator was too hot, covers just remove the risk entirely.

(And no it isn't the case that "wouldn't a cat move before it burned?" - I did the same to my arm once when I went to bed with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, the towel slipped off, really nasty burns on my arm when I woke up hours later, had slept through actually getting the burns as it is gradual)
 
Your offer is presumably 'pending survey' so tbh I would use anything in the survey to minimise future trouble and get the price down if appropriate.

Personally I think its very unwise to skip any checks - get an electrician in to check wiring, make sure boiler is surveyed etc. If there are any issues you may be in a strong position to negotiate on price, almost certainly more than the costs you incur for a few checks.

My advice is also to read the lease yourself if it's leasehold (soz not read all thread) as sure, your solicitor will do this but it'll be beneficial for you to know the nitty gritty regarding animals, carpets/floors, renting it bla bla bla.

I think it's very important to step back from the "ooo my lovely new house I want to move in now" feeling and be rational and logical and patient, you are taking on a huge financial commitment and even if you dont care about minor details future buyers likely will when/if you try and sell.

It might be worth going to view it again now you have had survey done, or maybe after a few more checks are done. It's normal for people to pick holes. And also you want to make sure it's right.

So really, my main tip for buying is - "don't assume". Because it can lead to mistakes and mistakes cost money.
 
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Right so I finally have a letter from solicitors. They're asking for either search fees so they can proceed with searches or a waiver saying I don't want them. Argh!

Searches are mining, environmental, local and drainage.
 
They are very into dropping lines as in actual letters, which seems strange in 2021. But there you go.

Who am I supposed to ask about the boiler thing? Solicitors, estate agent?
 
Have you seen the report yet, does it mention the boiler, does the boiler look newish and cared for or old and neglected? And what would you like to achieve?
 
See earlier posts.
If you are paying lots of money for a place, would a hundred quid or two expense for you stop you buying it?
If you were selling, could you be bothered to get it done?
If you wanted to, start by asking the selling agents (don't bother solicitor, at least not yet) if it will be done before completion and take it from there
I would not be overly stressed about this. If it needed replacing it would start to bother me.
 
miss direct said:
They are very into dropping lines as in actual letters, which seems strange in 2021. But there you go.

Who am I supposed to ask about the boiler thing? Solicitors, estate agent?
Click to expand...

Easiest/quickest way is to get the estate agent to relay the message - as you’ll have noticed solicitors aren’t the fastest and the message will have to go from you to your solicitor to their solicitor to them.
 
I would ask the estate agents if the boiler was going to be serviced as planned end of March rather than ask outright. Answer might be yes or might prompt them too as they want the to sell as much as you want to buy. They might say no & you could say your preference was to be completed but I would go in gentle & see what happens. If everything else indicates boiler in good repair & they don’t you have to decide if it’s a deal breaker for you which based on info I suspect it isn’t.
 
The vendors of the house my daughter and her partner just bought said (through solicitors) that they would not be getting the boiler serviced before completion, but neither did they confirm when it was last done. Gas isn’t something to mess with, so I suggested my daughter arrange a service ASAP after moving in, so they know it’s been done and can talk to the engineer about anything they need to know. It’s been a month and thanks to this thread I have just reminded her.
 
The sellers will provide EPC etc to your solicitor. Heating servicing records should be part of that. Your solicitor should auto pick it up so don’t stress about it for now. Bring it up with your solicitor once you get those reports and your solicitor raises enquiries. They should just do it for you.
 
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