to those buying in these difficult times! AKA buyers support network

<sebb>

I'm currently part way through buying a flat and am really starting to get cold feet. I'm not sure whether I'm just being paranoid or sensible!

Little things started to bother me from the start, not major things that would make me pull out, but enough to make me think that the vendor wasnt putting as much effort in as he expected me to.

The property is a 100 year old house in london that was converted to 2 flats about 18 months ago. It's never been sold as two separate flats so (I'm buying the upper flat) and it's share of freehold.

Firstly, there was no HIP (yes I know they are a waste of time, but they are a requirement!) and after chasing it finally arrived two weeks later, incomplete and full of mistakes - even the address and council tax band was wrong. It also didnt have any of the required searches or a copy of the lease. I'm still waiting for the searches a further 2 weeks later.

I was told there was no lease yet because it hadnt been created and had to wait weeks to see a copy of the draft.

Then the survey comes in and it says that the conversion is substandard and the roof was "amateurish" (a large dormer had been added to the top floor and a new extension was built at the back). They also highlighted that it would need regular maintainance as so much of it was a flat roof (more than they had expected to see according to the report). I decided to get a roof inspection done but before going to this added expense I wanted to see what my solicitor had to say about the papers she'd already received.

To top it all off, I decided to check the planning documents on the council website for the conversion and they dont match the layout of the two converted flats! I spoke to my solicitor and she said she was still waiting for the building completion certificate and that they wouldnt have got this if it didnt match the planning permission.

So I decided to put off the roofing inspection until I see the building completion certificates, but it's all starting to worry me now.

I guess I just have to wait and see what turns up with but I'm finding this process quite stressful and seriously considering pulling out.

firsttimebuyerz

Hi all, I'm a first time buyer new to the forums. Me and my girlfriend want to buy in Bromsgrove/Worcestershire. Have a mortgage in principle and a good deposit. We have seen a couple of houses we like the look of, but can't decide whether now is the right time to buy, or having heard recent reports of a possible dip after the general election, to wait for a few months. Just scared of buying something and then finding ourselves in negative equity!

Hauzen

Mortgage approved this morning!

RacyRed

:j My final offer was accepted just as I'd gotten used the idea that I would have to start my house search all over again.

Now for the survey :eek:

Karen_30

Grrr....just been told that the people we are buying our house off have not found anywhere yet, despite being told that they were in negotiations with someone and it was pretty much done and dusted when we were looking around :mad:.....still on the plus side we've found 'our' house and hopefully they'll find somwhere soon and in meantime we can save more to buy nice things

Michelin

Karen_30 wrote: »

Grrr....just been told that the people we are buying our house off have not found anywhere yet, despite being told that they were in negotiations with someone and it was pretty much done and dusted when we were looking around :mad:.....still on the plus side we've found 'our' house and hopefully they'll find somwhere soon and in meantime we can save more to buy nice things

Very frustrating Karen but at least it gives you more time to build up the 'moving in fund' as you say!:j

Astara

Good luck purpletopaz on Friday and hope your move goes well! The viewing went ok but think I liked the previous house more! It's hard and I have empathy with everyone looking and trying to buy! I know keep saying if it's meant to be it will be!

katehesk

I am hopefully buying a house with my boyfriend of 9 years. I say hopefully.

The house is one we spotted in a road were we have viewed a number of houses. Initially we wrote the house off but a few months later viewed it, and in a little avenue of small terraces it was like the tardis!!!

The first house we viewed on the street we found out is unmortgagable due to the side wall needing to be fully taken down and rebuilt (due to historical movement).

The house was being marketed at £62.5k but we later discovered it was reduced to £55k. We had an offer accepted of £53k. BUT the house was due to go to auction (guide price 40k) on the 15th March, yes, on Monday, and initially the vendor (a property company) said they would withdraw the house from the auction as soon as we got our survey results through and were happy with them. We had the bog standard survey done as we were advised against getting anything more done by a number of people and took a builder friend with us for our 2nd viewing, who has also quoted us for the full works required.

It needs work, Cavity wall ties, flooring, few roof tiles, damp course and radon testing.

Now the vendor is rescinding on what they said initially and has not yet withdrawn it from the auction (i sort of knew they would do this though).

We love the house and apparently all the jobs are very standard stuff for a house of it's age (1930's mid terraced property) but I am plagued by doubts that we are biting off more than we can chew, I am always like this about everything though, an eternal pessimist, everything that can possibly go wrong will type (I know that's bad right?!)

We have approximately £2.5 k for renovations (the surveryor has recommended this as a retention on our mortgage for works to be carried out coincidentally) which leaves us with very little to 'buy stuff' although my mum says she will gift me 1k for 'stuff' which I would rather not take if I can help it. I also have a little of my own personal savings, but would like to keep this seperate as 'rainy day money'.

I'm really very stressed with it all. The vendor's solicitor is taking their time too, yet they are putting pressure on us to get things done, and this auction is hanging over our heads!!! STRESS!

Purpletopaz

Hi All!!
Hauzen! Wopee for you! On your way!

Racyred! Congrats!

TiggerJJ Have you decided what you are going to do!

Katehesk! Hope all goes well and you can get what you want

<sebb> sounds like a bit of a botched job! not surprised you are stressed!

Chris quarterly! How did the viewing go!

Well after 3 months( since first viewing ) we complete tomorrow! went to Sols today and handed over the rest of the 25% dep and their fees! Never thought we would get there she said the mortgage funds are through.

Now the fun ! Moving! Will be off line for a while but Hope all your hunting and searching goes well! ! XX

tiggerjj

Well Im still waiting on the written electrical report, then ill put that with the damp report and see what they say about a price reduction. But tbh even if i get no where I will probably continue with the purchase anyway.

Oh and I still feel wobbly, spoke to the parentals are they are saying "ur not doing this alone, we are here" but in all reality I am buying this house alone and I guess being scared is a good thing, its a lot of money to be borrowing.

Just really hoping we can get exchanged in the next three weeks so can complete close to me getting back to the UK

Purpletopaz, congrats on the completeing, thats amazing.....