House move request

Provided they saw the garden before they put in an offer for your house, you’ve no need to do any work just so they can utilise the space in a different way. Surely the estate agent should have told them that.

When my sister had to go into a nursing home I had to sell her house. Whilst it was up for sake somebody broke in - there was little of value, and the only damage was to the front door, which I had ‘made good’ (e.g safe). The first viewers immediately offered the asking price (which reflected the condition of the property), then just before signing they asked for a reduction because the front door needed replacing, even though they had seen it on the 3 times they viewed. I flatly refused, and they signed without any more requests.

There really are some hard-faced ill-mannered oafs around.

I thought that concreting surfaces was a no no anyway---to save the planet and all that, but there are always those who go through life thinking only of themselves and their needs before anyone else's.
I'd hate to be their next door neighbours !!

Leave your garden as it is, they'll have to find another mug !

Unless you're desperate to move, I'd be warning the neighbours.

They obviously liked the property so what ever changes are to be made will be once they have purchased not before and certainly not at your expense .Bl---y cheek.

When it’s their house they can do what they like but I’d say no too

We’ve just moved house after 40 years. From our very recent experience of selling & buying I would advise you to forward anything that is communicated to you by the estate agent on to your solicitor to deal with. I fell into the trap of acting on requests from our buyer via the estate agent and carried out work unnecessarily. Your solicitor will know how to respond to this, then it’s out of your hands. I think buyers make requests via the estate agent as there is no cost to them but if requested via their solicitor there might be a charge. Also, as someone else said, how upsetting to carry out the work and then the sale to fall through. Remember also the estate agent should be working on your behalf as you will be paying their fees not the buyers. Good luck, let us know how you get on

Definitely don't do it. What if they back out of the sale? It could all end up in court and you may have to asked for other fences to be taken into consideration

NannyB2604

Hi everyone. We're in the process of selling our house and all seemed to be going ok until yesterday. The estate agent relayed a request from our purchasers: when they move in the want to pave the whole front garden to make standing room for their caravan and vintage Cadillac (seriously!). In connection with this, they've asked us to cut back the hedge and prune back or remove the (very well-established) shrubs in the garden as, I quote "They don't have time to do it"! Am I being unreasonable to say no? They saw what the garden was like when they put in their offer. By the way, the hedge and shrubs aren't running rampant - we keep them reasonably pruned to complement our currently lawned garden.

Under no circumstances do you do this. I am selling my house and it will be as viewed. This can open a can of worms. How do you know that the next person would prefer the hedges etc.
Where will it end, these people are liberty takers. Years ago when I bought a house, it was agreed that the sellers were leaving a lounge carpet, ( it was before you had to leave a list). They then said that they wanted to take the carpet, I replied ‘best you take your house as well’, they soon changed their mind and included the carpet. Good luck with your sale and don’t get stressed

What a cheek!! That’s a good one, getting you to pay for what they want to do! People never cease to amaze me!

Has NannyB2604 replied. It would be nice to know what she has decided.

Definitely say NO.

No, you shouldn't do it. If they want the hedge trimmed back they should do it. It's a no-brainer. How rude they are, I feel sorry for your neighbours.

What a cheek! However obliging you are this would be taking advantage of you. They can do what they like when you're gone (obviously) but until then....

Definitely NO. As others have said, "Sold as seen." I agree with others on the other point that you might get your garden all dug up then the sale fall through.
A relation did what this couple are wanting to do but only after he had bought the house and paid for it himself.

They are being utterly unreasonable. If they want it done let them do it themselves....they bought your house on what was presented to them...I mean...do they want you to erect an extension or even move their furniture in? For gawd's sake, tell them where to get off!

What a cheek do they have???
My understanding is that you buy a house as is and do what you want once you have the keys in your hand!
I think I would be tempted to take some of the shrubs with you, is you can and put in your new garden.
I'm just wondering though if the purchasers will want to knock money off the agreed price due to the fact that they will have to pay to change the front garden - won't be the first ones to try it on ! It also won't be your responsiblity to arrange and pay for the dropped kerb they will be needing either!

No ...if they offered when they saw it, ;sold as seen; then it is THEY would should do the work. I had a similar request to remove a lot of fitted furniture (bridging unit from the main bedroom, fitted shelving in alcoves, and various cupboards and other fittings in the garage. I said NO ....you can forget the purchase .....they still bought my bungalow for the asking price ...think they may be trying it on ! you could also suggest to the agent that he may like to check your council's regulations re vehicles on private drives....

Cheeky! Why on earth should you do heavy gardening work for them - and presumably also dispose of the bushes - when they could perfectly well hire a garden company to do it when they move in. I feel the answer is a resounding 'NO'.

It must be a joke !

A simple "S*d off" would be my immediate response, and on further reflection with great consideratin it would remain the same!

Paving over front gardens should not be allowed in my opinion.
Really bad as natural drainage hampered.
And to ask YOU to prepare for this is outrageous

Is it a "condition of sale"?..

We have just sold our house STC and one of the interested parties put in a reasonable offer and came back for a second viewing. Told me he was thinking about adding a sun room on part of the patio, did I think it would be possible. I said if he bought it then it would be nothing to do with me. He went back to the agents and reduced his offer because of what it would cost him to do the extension. Our agent told him politely ( without asking us) the answer would be 'no way'. The offer we have accepted is asking question after question about silly little things. Don't know whether it's delaying tactics, but any delay would be detrimental to them as well as us if we go beyond the 30th June.

I certainly wouldn't be cutting back hedges as requested. I would say check your deeds and covenants, but it might lose you the sale if there's anything prohibiting caravans etc on your property. I know there is on ours.

There does seem to be a lot of chancers around at the moment.

NANNY please DO NOT DO IT. We’ve just moved 6 weeks ago and we had all kinds of requests from our cheeky buyers and said a firm NO to them all! 2 nights before exchange because he wasn’t getting his own way with the completetion date he threatened to pull out so I told my Solicitor and estate agent to tell him to do it then, even though our chain was 5 long. I called his bluff and didn’t actually care in the end because he’d caused us such stress. If you cut down your bushes your buyer could still pull out and you would have done it for nothing, tell your Solicitor it’s ‘sold as seen’ and hold your nerve, trust me the stamp duty holiday is ending soon he won’t pull out and if he does he wasn’t a very strong buyer anyway. I personally wouldn’t let him touch the property until you have legally moved out and he has the keys in his hand as he’s trying it on and has no right asking you to do this. Be firm, good luck with the move.

Yes it’s a pity when you see what you cherish going to a skip.
If houses in your area are selling well then your solicitor can explain they can do as they wish when they have ownership. It’s possible they want the price reduced in lue of work they feel needs doing.
Our next door neighbour bought a trad house with Edwardian original features.
They had it at a very good price as the owner wanted a very very quick sale. Still they tried to get it cheaper. They moved in and modernised and painted over beautiful fireplaces and staircasings with fairy lights galore. No wooden floors, it’s now Lino looking wood. Looks like IKEA now. But it’s their house to do what they want.
When the new owners of your house take ownership they can do anything.
I think they’re looking to reduce the price. Just depend if you want to reduce it. Please don’t change your garden as others have said you may do this then they say no they don’t like it. Your then left with a less desired home to sell. Good luck with the sale

Yes, like everyone else, I wouldn't do anything to the property or garden before a sale. It's a totally inappropriate request. They could pull out and you'll be left with a devastated garden, which could reduce the sale price and indeed the saleability of your property. And you don't have to deal with this in person. That's what the estate agent/lawyer is paid for. Get the potential buyers to deal with them. You could write them a very polite note, to that effect. I would also instruct the estate agent to inform them that such requests are , (unfortunately), never entertained before a purchase.