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Answers (5)
Best Answer
- Lisa Palermo, "Lisa Palermo"
- Contributions:77
good evening...
i am not sure of your local area, but commonly gas is much more
desirable than wood burning fireplace..
as you yourself stated it is much cleaner than wood burning and
there's no clean up.!!
is this a buyers agent telling them that information?
they know what the house offered when they came to look at it..
if there are any modifications that they would like to do that should
have been considered by them before looking, not to be negotiated in
offer..
you are marketing a WORKing fireplace so there is no remedy required on your part.
best of luck to you..
Lisa
i am not sure of your local area, but commonly gas is much more
desirable than wood burning fireplace..
as you yourself stated it is much cleaner than wood burning and
there's no clean up.!!
is this a buyers agent telling them that information?
they know what the house offered when they came to look at it..
if there are any modifications that they would like to do that should
have been considered by them before looking, not to be negotiated in
offer..
you are marketing a WORKing fireplace so there is no remedy required on your part.
best of luck to you..
Lisa
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
Buyers can ask for whatever they want, but a wood burning fireplace is not a functionall item for most non "cabin in the woods" type houses.
I would offer the buyers a small credit toward the repair no more than $500, focus on negotiating their requests for any other repairs to core house systems and then see if they are actually serious about buying.
I would offer the buyers a small credit toward the repair no more than $500, focus on negotiating their requests for any other repairs to core house systems and then see if they are actually serious about buying.
- Jim Basquette CRS, CNE, "Jim Basquette"
- Contributions:1231
This seems to e a question about re-negotiation after inspection than about gas or wood fireplaces.
You are under no obligation to repair or pay for anything after the inspection. Keep in mind that the buyer is under no obligation to buy if the home does not pass the inspection and the definition of pass is up to them. Unless written in the contract otherwise, they can "just say no".
If the final price is below what you want, counter or refuse to make them and the buyer may or may not choose not to but your home. Be sure you are prepared for them to walk away from the sale, even though they may not
Additionally, they were aware that the home had a gas fireplace prior to the inspection and have no reason to expect you to turn it back into wood burning for any reason. I believe they just want a reduction and they think you will give it to them. Still, they dont have to buy the home. If they don't, I don't think they were that serious anyway and may find anotherway out if they want to.
In the end, it is about how bad they want to buy and how bad you want to sell, like every other negotiation. If a serious defect were found, you may have a difficult time finding another buyer without fixing it and this buyer may not be able to get financing without fixing it. This is not the case here.
Back to the fireplace question:
Some buyers prefer gas, some wood. I have seen very nice ventless fireplaces and some not so much so it is difficult for anyone answering can give a solid response as to the value.
You are under no obligation to repair or pay for anything after the inspection. Keep in mind that the buyer is under no obligation to buy if the home does not pass the inspection and the definition of pass is up to them. Unless written in the contract otherwise, they can "just say no".
If the final price is below what you want, counter or refuse to make them and the buyer may or may not choose not to but your home. Be sure you are prepared for them to walk away from the sale, even though they may not
Additionally, they were aware that the home had a gas fireplace prior to the inspection and have no reason to expect you to turn it back into wood burning for any reason. I believe they just want a reduction and they think you will give it to them. Still, they dont have to buy the home. If they don't, I don't think they were that serious anyway and may find anotherway out if they want to.
In the end, it is about how bad they want to buy and how bad you want to sell, like every other negotiation. If a serious defect were found, you may have a difficult time finding another buyer without fixing it and this buyer may not be able to get financing without fixing it. This is not the case here.
Back to the fireplace question:
Some buyers prefer gas, some wood. I have seen very nice ventless fireplaces and some not so much so it is difficult for anyone answering can give a solid response as to the value.
- Marc Stromberg, "uniquehomefinder"
- Contributions:51
Each buyer has a different view of a home, some will not find gas a problem. If you don't need to sell can you hold out for a another buyer?
I'm in California so your market is unknown to me, but that's a lot of work when they knew the house had gas.
I'm in California so your market is unknown to me, but that's a lot of work when they knew the house had gas.
- Anne Oliver, "anneelizabetholiver"
- Contributions:10
I agree with Lisa. The buyers knew about the fireplace before making an offer. Unless there is a defect or safety concern with the fireplace, which undoubtedly should have been noted by the home inspector, I don't believe you should be obligated to pay for changes at this stage of negotiation.
Best of luck to you.
Best of luck to you.
Is a wood burning fireplace much more valuable than a gas fireplace for property value/resale?
We are now trying to sell the house and have potential buyers who have had a home inspection. They are asking for us to concede a great deal of $$, including a significant amount of money to convert the fireplace back to a wood burning one (e.g., they want to rebuild and line the chimney) because a realtor friend told them that everyone wants a wood burning fireplace. We are already taking quite a hit on the sale price of the house given the current market conditions and do not believe that we should pay to change a fireplace that works, albeit not as a wood burning fireplace. The agreed on sale price (pre-inspection) is just over $150,000. Thoughts?
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