Pre settlement inspection and requests from buyers.

Discussion in 'The Buying & Selling Process' started by Rugrat, 8th Feb, 2016.

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  1. Rugrat

    Rugrat Well-Known Member

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    Well this is a new one for me.
    Our house is due to settle tomorrow. The buyers went out and done an inspection just now, before settlement. All good, as expected. Except in the last week and a half there has been some rain and some sunshine, which has mean the grass seed we had laid in the backyard has suddenly shot up magnificently, and the grass now stands at mid calve hieght. It had been mowed and weeded just 3 weeks ago. The buyer has just sent a request that we mow before settlement.

    Lol. Umm, No.
    Who on earth has time to go and mow a yard the day before settlement during a work week?!
    I guess they thought they would try.

    Anyone else ever had a buyer make odd requests just before settlement?
     
  2. JacM

    JacM VIC Buyer's Agent - Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat Business Member

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    It's a common request to deal with the mowing. If they decide to kick up a fuss they may be successful in delaying settlement.

    Just hire a local lawn-mowing tradesperson to go and mow the lawn for you. It'd be cheaper than paying the legal fees for your conveyancer to argue with the other side.
     
  3. Chilliblue

    Chilliblue Well-Known Member

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    I have delayed a settlement because the lawns and gardens were left to run wild waiting for the settlement 6 weeks on from the time of my original inspection.

    However, I took date stamped images of the condition of the gardens and lawns and copied the agent and conveyancer at the time of making my offer.

    Upon my pre settlement inspection, I again took date stamped photographs and sent them to the agent and my conveyancer along with a quote from a contractor to rectify the issue and requested that either the gardens and lawns be returned to the original conditions or the quoted amount be deducted from the final amount owing.

    To be fair, we were talking about $1,300 of works.
     
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  4. Rugrat

    Rugrat Well-Known Member

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    Our lawyer informed them that we would not be mowing and that the hieght of the grass in the backyard does not affect the condition of the property.
    If they wish to pay for someone to mow, then that is their perogative, after settlement. If they wish to try and delay settlement due to this issue, we would be charging interest for each day it is delayed (which I can assure you would far exceed the cost of any mowing service).

    I'll be keeping my money in my pocket thanks. ;)
    I have a feeling the buyers (first home owners) don't own a lawn mower yet and were simply trying the request out to see if we would do it.
    No harm in asking, but it doesn't mean it will or should be done.
     
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  5. Westminster

    Westminster Tigress at Tiger Developments Business Member

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    @Rugrat I will disagree with you on this one. The house and yard is supposed to be in the condition that it was when the offer was made - this includes the grass. I have maintained the garden on all properties between offer and acceptance due to this and made people I have bought off mow if they haven't.
     
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  6. Rugrat

    Rugrat Well-Known Member

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    In our case, the backyard was just dirt and grass seed at offer and exchange. The grass has grown since then, but requires no more then a mow. The rest of the landscaping is still just as good as it was.
     
  7. Rugrat

    Rugrat Well-Known Member

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    To take it back to the condition it was in I would have to rip up all the new grass and just leave a dirt patch.
     
  8. JacM

    JacM VIC Buyer's Agent - Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat Business Member

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    The key will be whether the buyers choose to dig their heels in. They are well within their rights to. It may cost both buyer and seller more in legals than it would cost to pay a lawnmowing person to attend, but the reality is they may choose to insist.
     
  9. Chilliblue

    Chilliblue Well-Known Member

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    They have a right only if they are able to prove the state of the property at the time of exchange. Are there images on the advertising showing the state, did they take their own, etc
     
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  10. tomlemke

    tomlemke Well-Known Member Business Member

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    100% with @Westminster get the lawn cut, the last thing first home owners are going to be wanting to do is mow the lawns.
     
  11. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    This is why SA doesn't have pre settlement inspections, just causes too many arguments.
     
  12. Rugrat

    Rugrat Well-Known Member

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    Buyers have just responded, all on track to settle tomorrow. Without the mowing. ;)
     
    Jennifer Duke likes this.

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