Difficult property to sell

wannabe_sybil

I really appreciate all this advice, and I am determined to put this into practice!

I have spoken to the local council today. The bricks have been reported and someone is 'looking into it'. Sometime next week a nice man will come out and look at next door's roof (again). The 'working garage what can I do you for mate' aspect of the street has also been reported and we at least don't have a portion of a Winnebago outside, and a huge mound of branches and generic rubbish has been removed. I expect the situation with the garage to very slowly ease. I did not report the vehicles, indeed the neighbour who has them is an absolutely brilliant neighbour but someone else did out of, really, spite and there is now huge amounts of acrimony.

I think I would have more peace in Albert Square.

hethmar

Think positively - you have rung the council and they are looking into features of your problems.

Next thing is tidying up the place to make it more comfortable for yourselves to live in and to get the optimum price for it.

Izzy.

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

The local btl has made our lives an absolute misery, and has just told me that he is not buying any more (though you can tell when he is being 'economical with the truth' because he is breathing). I think that he is running out of money because he started to remodel a pub that backs onto our street, knocked down loads of walls, left the bricks piled up in a heap, left a pallet of unused bricks and some sand, but stopped paying anyone to do the work. There are a set of half built walls that I pass most days, with weeds growing all over them, not touched since August. Also the roofers he used to do half a job on the roof next door (missed a gaping patch of missing tiles!) seem to be chasing him for money, but that doesn't mean anything. He is not over keen to part with money even if he had it. He is not a nice person.

Dear heart will not decorate nor buy rugs, nor do anything with sink. I am going on a mission to deep clean inside and out (two year old little bear permitting :rolleyes:) Yes, I agree with you that a 'cheap and cheerful' approach would work wonders, but he does not agree. But he is a wonderful husband and father, and I wouldn't swap him for the world.

But I do appreciate what you say. I think I shall have to see what I personally can do. I do have the feeling that I can't make anything worse Besides, some lining paper on the walls with pale emulsion will work wonders... If I can sort it out myself. I am now on a mission :eek: As long as he doesn't get too upset. I don't think I can do anything about the sink.

I really appreciate the advice and hope I do not come across as 'yes, but...' because you have given me a great deal of food for thought.

Any update on this op? Did you persuade dear heart to buy some rugs or do anything with the sink? Was lining and painting the walls very difficult to do and have you put the house on the market yet? Was the work and effort you put in worth it? Sorry for all the questions but I know somebody in a similar position and want to show her how you managed.

Doozergirl

I'm a bit late to this thread. I'm a bit surprised that the advise went around cheap rugs and a lick of paint - the area lets the house down and I don't see the point of spending money on the house at all. A cover up job won't really do if the house is suffering.

Nenen's idea of auction and also of renting make sense to me. No doubt the house will still be worth plenty more than it as in 1994 so there should be plenty of equity to invest. Do investigate how much of a mortgage you can get and see if you will be able to afford in the better area. However, I honestly believe that it's better to rent in a nice area than own in a bad one, especially if you are so unhappy.

wannabe_sybil

Thanking you for asking!

Clearing and decluttering is progressing slowly as I hurt my back. We will not be decorating, but a deep clean will do wonders.

A lady came out and gave a valuation that gave us about £25k equity, which should be enough to put down on a house nearer where dear heart works. I have a mortgage in principle (which has significantly upset some estate agents :rolleyes:) and I am getting another valuation in a few weeks when hopefully the house will be cleaner and clearer, and this estate agent seem a lot more pro-active.

With all the down turn and everything I am optimistic we will be able to afford more than a rabbit hutch, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I really appreciate all the advice given.

Also, a good reminder to chase the council as they still have not sorted out next door's roof!

Also I have looked at renting, and it may be an option we take in the end but we have an elderly cat who may make things a bit difficult.

wannabe_sybil

Also, the lady that came round said that the kitchen was illegal as it was not 7 feet two inches high. It is a cellar conversion, and is around six foot six inches. This was not raised when we bought 15 years ago. I thought that if it is legal when it is done, it is okay, but this is another reminder to chase, though may wait until other valuer has been. Regardless, the whole kitchen is a wreck with drawer fronts off and the sink and sank another inch or two since first posted and the washing up in sinking sink has made back worse.

poppysarah

You could check with building control officer if your kitchen was approved at the time it was done - if so then it's not a problem -

wannabe_sybil

Thank you poppy sarah.

I was planning on asking the solicitors who handled the conveyancing whether any issues/insurance was raised then and if they have any documents.

To say that the solicitors were as much use as a chocolate teapot is to do a grave disservice to chocolate teapots. On a previous thread the matter was suggested that I don't ring the council in case it was not legal, so I may wait and see what other valuer says.

Also have just rung the council re the damp from next door and once per day is enough. Do you know, I have been ringing since May and the gentleman dealing with the case has never yet been in, no matter which day or which time of day I ring. He is always supposed to be ringing back...

I really appreciate all the advice on here.

poppysarah

Ah if they're not in you have to ask for their team leaders name AND take the name of the person you are speaking to. Once you've ID'd who someone is that's taking a message you can ring back and go through the process of saying you spoke to person A so can you speak to them again. Then ask why you've not been rung back.
And then complain to the team leader.

You sometimes have issues because you don't realise a property has been modified - or you assume it's alright and then your solicitor doesn't know it's a bit they should be questioning.

You need to tell solicitors about extensions, changes like attics, basements, and then if there are trees outside so they can check if they are subject to TPO which mean you couldn't chop them down. Of course if you don't mention things the solicitor probably doesn't know - they certainly don't look at the property - and then it'd only be in any surveyors report where issues might crop up. I assume solicitors should read any reports you give them - but if they missed an issue that they should have spotted you could probably complain - but it's whether it'd get you anywhere.

wannabe_sybil

poppysarah wrote: »

Ah if they're not in you have to ask for their team leaders name AND take the name of the person you are speaking to. Once you've ID'd who someone is that's taking a message you can ring back and go through the process of saying you spoke to person A so can you speak to them again. Then ask why you've not been rung back.
And then complain to the team leader.

You sometimes have issues because you don't realise a property has been modified - or you assume it's alright and then your solicitor doesn't know it's a bit they should be questioning.

You need to tell solicitors about extensions, changes like attics, basements, and then if there are trees outside so they can check if they are subject to TPO which mean you couldn't chop them down. Of course if you don't mention things the solicitor probably doesn't know - they certainly don't look at the property - and then it'd only be in any surveyors report where issues might crop up. I assume solicitors should read any reports you give them - but if they missed an issue that they should have spotted you could probably complain - but it's whether it'd get you anywhere.

You're absolutely right. I thought I would start with the solicitors for any paperwork, if the solicitors didn't just file it all under 'F' for 'filing'.

This was the first house we bought, fifteen years ago, when the area was considerably nicer, and we didn't have a clue what to ask. There were problems with drains and all sorts as well (now sorted out). Unfortunately we couldn't search the net then.

The solicitors should theoretically noticed that the cellar kitchen was a conversion, but my experience at the time was that they wouldn't necessarily notice if they were on fire. They certainly didn't notice phone calls or letters. I wouldn't try complaining about them, but if they could retrieve useful paperwork then it would be at least a start.

And I shall certainly take note of your post and confirm any changes with solicitors for our next move. Thank you for your help.