House move request

An update - after some more unreasonable requests (including saying they were reducing their offer by £24k), a couple of days before we were due to exchange contracts they pulled out from the purchase . However, the lovely young couple who had put in the 2nd best offer weren't fixed up and we've sold to them now. We now won't be able to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday, but at least we now have reasonable purchasers.

NannyB... I think they've got a bloomin cheek asking this of you. It you agree it might not end there. Its a shame you can't say, "your not selling if this is how they're going to behave." horrible people.

Cheeky! Tell them to pay someone to do it!

Would the buyers like you to decorate to their taste before you move out and they move in as well.
I really can’t believe that they’ve asked you to do this.
It’s your home right up to completion on moving day.
Just explain that you want your garden as it is and as soon as they have the keys then it’s up to them.

Complete chancers - YANBU. However, I wouldn't remove any plants from the garden because, as many have pointed out, the whole property is 'sold as seen'. This, unfortunately includes garden plants and shrubs. You could possibly get away with a few in pots as your buyers don't sound like gardeners and maybe didn't notice what you had. Make sure you fill in the holes!! Good luck

Houses have started selling like lightening around here so you are in a good position even if this sale does not work out. They are just trying it on. I would not trust them. Proceed with caution.

No, you are not being unreasonable. Once the sale has gone through and the ,property is theirs, they can do what they like. What a cheek!!

No. Just no.

I’d just tell them yes that’s fine and not do it!! Definitely a sellers market at the moment so sod them!!

What a cheek. They can pay to have the work done when they move in.

I'm surprised the estate agent even bothered you with this ridiculous question.
Surely solicitors are now involved if they are serious about purchasing your property!
A big red flag! And possibly time wasters. I hope not but it's a very odd request!
Good Luck

Blinking cheek!! No you are not being unreasonable ! I had similar when I sold my parents house , and they kept asking me to clear x, y and z. , and I did . But they kept on and on and In the event I told them where they could go !! The sale still went through!

Goodness no way. They made an offer on the house as they seen it - what they want to do when they move in is entirely up to them

Do they want you to redecorate the house to their tastes too??? Flipping cheek!!

Can you take the shrubs with you or give them to those who would enjoy them

What a damn cheek.
Make an excuse not to do it just incase they pull out,like saying you have a bad back etc.
Gosh the nerve of some people.

The cheek of it! Perhaps they’d like you to emulsion the whole downstairs too?

Absolutely not - you are only responsible for either carrying out works or reducing the selling price to account for issues brought up in a surveyors report. If you do this work and the sale doesn’t proceed for some reason, then you’ve ruined an attractive garden which could put potential future buyers off. I would tell them politely that you don’t intend to do anything of the sort - if they really want the house, it won’t put them off. Once you have completed they can do what they want, and will have to pay for it themselves. Cheeky sods !!

The bare faced cheek of them! You are not being unreasonable.

avitorl

It would be a definite no from me but I would agree to them having it done after exchange of Contracts and at their own expense too.

Even after exchange of contracts, there’s a chance the deal could fall through. I wouldn’t allow them to do anything until after completion

At the last minute our sellers, in 1991 asked us for an additional £1,000 - 'to help with their removal expenses!'.... My MIL very kindly offered to give us the money. I refused both the request and the offer. The sale went through as previously agreed...

No, no, no don't agree to do ANY work for them! As plenty of previous posters have said, how would you feel if you did what they're asking and the sale fell through last minute?

They're taking the mickey big-time!

A house is on the market for people to view and if they like it, buy: if it's not exactly what they want they can either alter after purchase or sod off and let someone who appreciates it make an offer.

Thanks everyone. As the sale is now almost 2 months in, and we don't want to lose the lovely house we're buying, we won't be withdrawing from the sale, but we certainly won't be doing what the buyers have requested. If they withdraw, well so be it, I think our house will easily sell (we had half a dozen other offers). As for any planning permission issues - well that's up to them, nothing to do with us. Thanks again, all - it's good to know others don't think we're being unreasonable

Tempting as it is to tell them to get lost but best to politely tell then NO! Tempers get frayed in the final stages so no point in inflaming the situation.

After we moved we heard that one couple had cut down a beautiful wisteria that hung over the front wall and on another occasion an old but prolific apple tree was cut down along with all trees and established shrubs. Sad and wasteful but obviously their house, their choice.

I wonder what makes them think that their time is more important than yours?

Just reflect their reason back to them, ‘you don’t have the time’

And no, I don’t think you are being unreasonable. Did the agent not think this was an odd request?