To those BUYING in these difficult times....

celyn90

oooh best of luck! Fingers crossed everything goes okay

Welll... we've just viewed four houses in two hours :eek:

The first one was okay, 1930's semi, but it had an odd extension on the back - making the kitchen the walkthrough to the lounge; so it felt like the sort of kitchen you have in offices. The lounge backed onto a shower room as well. The upstairs bedrooms were small. The outside shed/garage/outbuilding was of worrying construction. Shame, as it had obviously been beautifully cared for - just the layout didn't feel right for us.

The second one was a state. I mean we were up for a project, but there are projects and there are projects.... The agent was really honest about it too. The rendering was peeling in massive sheets off the outside (about 40% missing off the gable end) and the ceiling had partially collapsed in the kitchen (looked like a blown water pipe). Up for 10K less than the other one (same road about 100 yards apart, same age/type of house).

Then we viewed a converted church. It was really lovely (mezzanine floors and the original stained glass preserved), really really tempted, but my practical head says it's just too small and virtually no garden

And then the last one - nice size, beautifully kept, lovely garden - no central heating, a wet upstairs wall (I think from the shower, but I'm not sure), ropey area, no parking, quite pricy for the area/type of house, odd bathroom/extra downstairs loo and tiny kitchen. Were told outright that there would be no movement from the sellers on this one.

It's just made me really really want the one we are bidding on at the moment, so I'm not sure it helped. :rotf: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Next door to the one we are bidding on has been removed from the market by the sellers, but we weren't given a reason - so we can't see it on Saturday after all. We are going to see another one two roads down with the same agency (their suggestion) - beautifully presented but expensive - but we drove past it on the way back and it's really close to the multi-storey carpark for the shopping centre, so I have my reservations already sadly. *sigh* soooo depressing!

cel x

Blodwen

celyn90 wrote: »

It's just made me really really want the one we are bidding on at the moment, so I'm not sure it helped. :rotf: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Ah, it's a shame you didn't like any of the others but if it has clarified in your mind exactly what you want it has been of some help. When do you find out what's happening with the one you're offering on?

Well, good news here (although no chickens are being counted for a loooong time!) - our final offer was accepted :T Really pleased to finally have found somewhere that isn't a compromise (well OH thinks it is a bit in terms of location but he'll come round :rotfl:) We were also a bit worried about offering as had a bit of an issue with our sale yesterday, but that seems to be back on track. Plus (very OT) our sick cat is better, yay! It's a good day!!

Jebrelli

The exchange-lease extension-completion was actually OK! Finding it hard to believe that I have a flat after 5 months of negotiations! But spent the last few hours looking at all the work that needs doing :eek:

Blodwen

Jebrelli wrote: »

The exchange-lease extension-completion was actually OK! Finding it hard to believe that I have a flat after 5 months of negotiations! But spent the last few hours looking at all the work that needs doing :eek:

Congratulations! Must be a massive relief?!

kazire

I have had my offer accepted but with my offer I asked for the property to be taken off the Market, but the forsale sign is still up outside and it's still on rightmove! My offer was accepted a week ago! I really dint want someone jumping in and taking my first house away from me!

azkaban420

Finally completed and got keys to our new house yesterday. So relieved and happy!


Thanks to everyone for your support and advice, it's been invaluable
Az

The_Drama_Llama

Many many congrats Azkaban!

I'm still waiting for the results of my survey which was done on Monday. What's really annoying is that he sends a hard copy by post, but he does have a PDF version he can email. Why doesn't he just do that?!? If he wasn't so brilliantly thorough, I'd dump him!

InkZ

Another offer rejected

House on for £300k, offered 280k.

chambta

I've accepted an offer on mine to an apparently proceedable first time buyer so the search begins. He's told the EA that he's keen to move ASAP which is fine by us even if it puts us under a little pressure. I want to be ensure he's not delayed as after seven months on the market and only one actual bidder I don't fancy having to find another if he changes his mind.

Anyway we went to see four today in the area of town we want to buy in. Two we've ruled out immediately (the two Rightmove listings with no internal pictures - hint taken for future!). One of them was potentially perfect as it was located a short stroll from my girl's school but was being sold by the daughters of a lady who had recently passed away. However it needed just a little too much doing to bring it up to scratch - although double glazed the house was effectively unchanged for 40+ years.

The second one was an oddity really. The dining/kitchen had been weirdly converted into a second sitting room with a practically not there kitchen in the corner as an afterthought. I wondered how much she actually wanted to sell as the house was absolutely filthy (literally fag ends in the spare room), and her 20-something son was drinking lager over a makeshift bbq in the back garden with a friend.

The other two that we're considering were listed for a little more (£137,995 & £145,000) but were more like what we need. Both are 3 bedroomed 1960s semis on a large private estate. The houses are well regarded as being solidly put together and having decent sized bedrooms. My aim is to pay no more than £125k and both are chain-free though I expect more leeway on the higher-priced one. It's mortgage free, just gone on the market and we were shown around by a woman brought up in the house whose elderly father is moving away after the death of his wife. We were told he was simply going to bank the cash and live with his other daughter. I don't think he'll be offended by an initial offer of £120k for a hopefully quick sale.

The other one has been on the market longer and funnily enough owned by the daughter of the lady who showed us round her late Mum's house immediately before. They'd been comparing notes as they knew I was going straight to it. She also commented on how the ex who would be showing us round with her grandchildren was the violent type - hence her daughter now renting elsewhere. The house itself was very similar to the other we're interested in though has a bigger bathroom and a bigger third bedroom although it's location and garden are not as good. I knso ow the current owners paid top whack for it back in 2006 (£148k I think) so I guess the chance of a £125k offer being accepted will depend on their mortgage and his need for a deposit.

I think we'll view another couple and contemplate offers.

I think we'll see a couple more and then

Funkygibbon

azkaban420 wrote: »

Finally completed and got keys to our new house yesterday. So relieved and happy!


Thanks to everyone for your support and advice, it's been invaluable
Az

Congratulations!!!