Contracts exchanged, yippee!

Cissi

Phew, I don't think I ever want to go through another week like we've just had but it was worth it :beer: We've just exchanged contracts on our dream house, which was way out of our reach even a few months ago! We first saw it back in February and all fell in love with it - but not to the point of stretching ourselves to offer more than we felt it was worth. It went under offer (to someone else) soon after that. When that fell through we made an offer and after a lot of negotiation they accepted - we're cash buyers and they didn't want to lose their purchase.

It's been a tense few weeks, because they've since had three more offers considerably higher than ours, at least one alledgedly proceedable. Today at the last minute they tried to stall things saying that they now couldn't exchange until next week (which would have cost us another month's rent) - I was sure we were about to be gezumped, or at least that they were negotiating with one of the other interested parties, trying to get an even higher offer. Our solicitor played hardball and they gave in!

Yikes, the emotional rollercoaster has been intense - I don't think we've had more than 5 hours sleep any night this week as we've generally had to sit down at midnight reading through the latest wad of legal documents, surveys etc!

We did it all in just over 3 weeks from accepted offer to exchange, and even though we're cash buyers that was a tall order for a period house with lots that needed checking. It finally happened just after 4 pm - I then went straight down to our letting agent, children in tow, with a copy of our notice letter as this had to be in by tomorrow. Meanwhile DH finally got a good insurance quote through minutes before the exchange - there were last minute complications due to possible old subsidence although no claim has ever been made and there are no signs of recent movement - and activated it just before close of business, phew. Nothing like cutting it fine :rotfl:

Have a good weekend everyone - I'm off to crack open the bubbly :T

loki13

Congratulations! When do you complete?

chickmug

Great news and enjoy this evening because tomorrow you may start getting stressed again about packing and the moving.

It can be common for people to go into a slight downward spin at this point questioning themselves as to whether they have made the right decision, if they have bitten off more than they can chew, if they will miss their neighbours, etc, etc. So keep your mind occupied - one poster said she would do some extra retail therapy to help;)

Cissi

Thank you! Bubbly well and truly drunk, so no guarantees I'll make much sense

Loki13, completion is on 30/7 so a few weeks to prepare at least. We then have a few days before we need to hand over the keys of our rented house which should take the pressure off a bit.

Chickmug, yes, I sort of expect that... At least we've owned our own home before (and the last one was Victorian too) so we have an idea of what to expect, but there is certainly a bit of fear as to what we've got ourselves into as this one is a lot bigger... And you're spot on about the neighbourhood! For a long time we'd sworn we weren't leaving... I have my NCT groups here and an amazing network, but we're not moving too far away and nearer to DS' school, so I think we have a good feeling for where we're going. Anyway, it's too late now :rotfl:

DH is on the phone to MIL and all she wants to know is if we'll finally have an ensuite - we will, incidentally, although I've never seen the point, but I guess that means we've moved on in the world :rolleyes:

chickmug

Cissi wrote: »

And you're spot on about the neighbourhood! For a long time we'd sworn we weren't leaving... I have my NCT groups here and an amazing network, but we're not moving too far away and nearer to DS' school, so I think we have a good feeling for where we're going. Anyway, it's too late now :rotfl:

Years ago we moved from one house (a semi) to the next one exactly the same but detached only about 100 yards away and everyone thought we were mad. But schools friends etc were all exactly the same.