Well I've taken the leap and had an offer accepted on a house, and the buildings survey has come out okay.
With it being a 1901 terrace, I'm going to need to get the electricity and gas checked. I know that a lot of you are sellers, and wondered how you'd feel if the buyer made it a condition of exchange that the seller provide a certificate of safety for the electricity, gas and boiler.
I've been pretty good so far - the buildings survey has happened a week after the offer was accepted, and although I've knocked a little off the asking price, my first offer was high enough to be accepted by the seller within an hour.
On both houses we have made it a condition of purchase that the gas boiler is serviced at their cost.
Our first house (1935 semi) we arranged for the electrical survey and paid for it before completion so it was a condition of purchase that we had it done but as it was for our piece of mind, we paid. The husband of the pair selling was an 'electrician' (although he worked on the cruise ships as an entertainer!) so we wanted to make sure he hadn't cut corners in his own property.
Hey, When we bought our place a couple of months ago the seller had done the checks herself. They were about a year old, and i did ask for a newer check but the solicitor seemed to be happy with that, as she had fixed all teh comments and we will get it checked when we renovate later anyway. I dont know if its true but arent we supposed to get our gas and electrics checked anyway about once a year?? I know people probably dont do this, but if its expected maybe it wont be such a dificult thing to negotiate with your seller, for them to do it themselves. I think ask, its not such a big deal for them. Goodluck...
Thanks everybody. I'll probably do as you suggest - ask if they have already had an electrical or gas check done yet (they've had one sale fall through so it might have been completed) and if not ask them to check the central heating, and I'll pay for the electrical check. Cheers for all the advice.
