The Great 'what you wish you'd known before selling your house' Hunt

John_Pierpoint

googler wrote: »

Regulations in America, or UK?

It probably varies by state (too much air conditioning in Florida compared to a big freeze in Dakota), but heat does not flow through building materials in a different way just because you transport them across the Atlantic.

The USA is annoying because it refused to use units of measurement based on the metric system. (I am old enough to have been brought up in both).

googler

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

If any of you are beginning to realise the liability you might be buying, by not understanding the "thermal envelope" regulations; today the "Quest" TV channel started to explain.

Please define what 'liability' a house-buyer is buying if they don't understand these 'regulations' to which you refer....

Most folks buy houses which have been lived in before, and which were built to the regulations applicable at the time of construction.

Are you basically saying that people aren't buying houses which correspond to the current regulation regime? If so, then I say again - you're verging on stating the flipping obvious......

John_Pierpoint

I have already posted that if you buy a house with rendered walls and a slated/tiled roof and windows, should those elements of "the envelope" need renovation/replacement the local authority should use its powers to force you to make the renovations to modern building standards, at your expense.

The increased costs involved can be considerable and it is probable that you can be forced to take a loan secured against the property to do as you are told.

So before falling in love with (say) a small Victorian detached house that has more external wall than footprint, think carefully about the costs of heating and the costs of renovation.

In my recent experience of selling such a home, buyers fall in love with the 100 - 150 year old architectural features and allow their hearts to rule their heads.

chirpchirp

Bargain with the estate agent - I went for a set fee saving 3k in total! Make sure it is much lower than their percentage rate in case you have to lower the asking price. Go for the shortest tie in period that you can get.

Bargain with the removal firms and get lots of quotes - I saved a 1000 pounds on my worst quote, six hundred on my second best quote, when moving from down south to up north, by going with a national firm from their northern office!

I wasn't brazen enough to bargain with solicitor as the firm had done some good work for me before but I think they did give me a discount on some work.

Finally, don't be in a rush to change things in your new house. Settle in, move your furniture around etc and after a year or so decide on what you really want to do and which furniture to get rid of.

bluebell_woods

We've signed up for a 20 week lock in with an estate agent - why???? I will never do that again, never, ever. My agent is lazy, I'm doing all the work, phoning them, doing the viewings etc. My husband had to take the photographs because on the day the agent came the light was too poor. So please don't agree to it. We did it because we genuinely believed that they were the best agents around for marketing properties well. And we're not even first time sellers - I'm taking the shame now from all you sensible moneysavingexpert people reading this... and I don't even know how to insert one of those sad face pics, lol.

googler

bluebell_woods wrote: »

We've signed up for a 20 week lock in with an estate agent - why???? I will never do that again, never, ever.

To turn that on its head, why would an agent agree to a shorter lock-in for you?

chirpchirp

googler wrote: »

To turn that on its head, why would an agent agree to a shorter lock-in for you?

Many lock ins are three months and because you state that you will go elsewhere if they don't give you a shorter lock in.

Upset_Nanny

geoffky wrote: »

And how much commission do you get from these solicitors?;)

NONE I can assure you, why is everyone so synical about a local business offering a good service and good advice :mad:

Better_Days

googler wrote: »

To turn that on its head, why would an agent agree to a shorter lock-in for you?

Because if an agent is doing a good job and has managed expectations well, the agent should not be worried about the vendor going elsewhere.

I had no problem negotiating short lock ins, or in one case, none at all apart from 2 weeks notice.

debbiesmum

DON'T assume that an estate agent will do a good job of handling viewings for you. My husband and I have just sold a flat (privately - no agent involved - therefore no fee. We put a for sale sign in the windows and sold it in a week and half - so lucky in today's market!!) and are in the process of looking for another. I'm appalled at some agents - they haven't arrived on time, we couldn't get access to one house cos a tenant was in and locked the door from the inside leaving the key in the lock, the agent knew nothing at all about the history of the property, we are still waiting for calls back from 3 agents about viewings. I want to get hold of each of the vendors and tell them to change agent as they are NOT getting good service and they will be paying the agent a percentage of the selling price.