If you're in the process of buying a house, you'll probably know a lot about negotiating house prices already. With record-breaking property price increases a feature of the UK housing market for many months now, it's understandable that house buyers will want to use all their savvy in order to secure the best possible price. But did you know that there are other ways of making the most of your house purchase that aren't about the house price at all?
Ryan Dibble, COO of Flyhomes, advises people to think beyond the house price and negotiate the following aspects of a house sale instead (or as well as) the property price.
1. Existing decor and appliances
Some homes are bought for their potential, but others already look perfect at the point of the sale, thanks to excellent decor, fixtures, and appliances. If this is the case, and you've fallen for how the house looks before you've moved in, it's a good idea to try and negotiate to buy the items with the home (in some cases this can save you quite a bit of money on appliances and furniture). However, as Ryan explains, 'this can sometimes complicate your loan and sometimes it is staged furniture (not the sellers’ to sell).'
2. A professional house clean
Depending on how large the house is, it can cost a fair bit to have it professionally cleaned before you move in, and you really don't want to be doing a massive clean yourself as well as undertaking a major house move.
'No matter how tidy a home is kept, there are always nooks and crannies that get overlooked because of furniture and appliances in the home. Moving is already a lot of work, consider negotiating a deep clean of your new home.'
3. Repairs
'If your inspection report uncovers items that need repairs you can negotiate to have those repairs made by the sellers before you buy the home', says Ryan. This is especially worth doing if you're not planning on doing any major repairs or renovation work any time soon after moving in; you want everything in good working order as soon as you're in, and it's best sorted out in advance.
4. Closing timeline
Most people are much more flexible than may seem, and it's definitely worth negotiating the final completion/moving in dates if you need a little more time. 'Sellers are often looking for the fastest closing timeline possible, but, remember: you can negotiate the timeline to better match your schedule.'
