Well! A first!

poppysarah

An EA rang me today to tell me about a property they've got just come on the books.
Am viewing it tomorrow.
It's a midterrace with parking, 3 beds. Not huge and the street is a no through *but* there's an alley running along the end of it about 2 houses away.
She says other houses normally go for 95+ but this is discounted because the owners are emigrating.
Now I've had a look on houseprices and there's one sold a lot nearer the price she said its on at. And there's about 5 for sale on the street (About 1/8th of houses on the street) and 6 more on the very next street. Now that indicates it's got problems causing people to want to move... But maybe not...

I'm quite pleased in a way - that the EA remembered me - but I don't think it's quite the bargain she's making out...

Thoughts? Obviously I'll view it with an open mind and have to do some research on whether there's any issues (I'll have to the PCSO I think)

theartfullodger

Google the street name (In quotes) [with the town name if there are too many hits]...If stuff about ASBOs come up you'll know something.. (happens with wife's house in Ascot..but not in my street on what the English would call a Council Estate in Scotland)

Go see the street at various times - early morning, midday, pm, evening: Weekday, weekend...

Ask the postie, milkman, RIVAL EAs,

Good luck!! Remember, the secret of making money is....

a) Buy cheap.....

b) Sell when prices are high...

So, if you can buy cheap for whatever reason & it goes up later, woopee!!
Best wishes


Lodger

poppysarah

I was told asbos are rare as gold-dust here - our local magistrates apparently told a 14 yr old joyrider who'd caused 60k worth of damage that "if he were 18 he'd be locked up. Just don't do it again"

But I do want to research that alley and the problems it's bound to have...

themanbearpig

theartfullodger wrote: »

the secret of making money is....

a) Buy cheap.....

b) Sell when prices are high...

Fantastic :T

poppysarah

Walked in this morning and there's an overwelming smell of airfreshener with an underlying damp smell.
Rest of place looked ok but clearly has something wrong with the front downstairs for it to be so in need of covering up

theartfullodger

R U having it surveyed?? Surveyor with a damp-meter can measure the walls for damp & advise on a problem but sounds like there is one: Could be just bad ventilation & ignorance (eg unvented tumble dryer or gas-heater..).
-
these things...
http://www.damp-meter-direct.co.uk/?gclid=CLnt8IH4hpoCFRUhnAod7C-2QA

(Beware "Rising Damp Salesmen" who can find a problem nobody else can...)

However, good grounds for discussion on price ;-)

Good luck!

Lodger

poppysarah

Not going to buy it! - outside wall looks in good nick but it could be big underfloor space very damp and rotten as it's on a bit of a hill and almost certainly collects the streets rainwater underneath it.
Partly the tiny bathroom put me off and the strange shape little bedroom - cos of a shared alley under the house.. The smell of damp was just an extra bonus.

mlz1413

do you not like the house or are there too many unknowns?

If you think at the right price it's worth it, ask if you can take a damp specialist to view with you and give you a quote. A specialist should be able to say if its a build / drainage problem or if its something that needs remedial work to correct long term.

As for lots of terrace houses being for sale in one area, have you checked how long each has been on the market? I live in a terrace area and some of the houses have been for sale since before HIPs came in, reading your thoughts that made me realise how bad it can look, but there is no one reason for them all being for sale.

poppysarah

I just don't like it enough - the shared alley thing puts me off a little bit.

One has been on since 28 March 2008 (ie: the date I installed property bee) - can't tell all the others as they are not on with rightmove anymore and one ea comes off rightmove every so often.
But a few been on since at least Januaury (but prob longer) at only a bit more than this one - so I don't think this one is quite the bargain they make out.

Strapped

OK, I am nosy...how's about a link?

poppysarah

It's not online yet - she'd rung me before it's gone online (and no hip yet)

I was taking it as a good sign that she'd rung me about it - perhaps all the other people she normaly rings have run out of money ? ;-)