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

SuzieSue

If the EA tells you that they have a cash buyer for your property, find out what type of cash buyer it is as there is no rigid definition:

* buyer does not need a mortgage (but still has a property to sell)
* buyer does not need to sell (but still needs a mortgage)
* buer does not need a mortgage and doesn't need to sell

(thanks to G_M for this)

googler

Better_Days wrote: »

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.

It's not a question of being worried about the vendor going elsewhere after the first agent having a decent shot at it, it's a question of the short contract being totally inappropriate for the current market, where houses and flats are taking far longer to sell than in previous years.

John_Pierpoint

The EU directive that has been implemented on the quiet from 2002 to 2008, has been recast. This news belatedly escaped last summer and was dubbed "the conservatory tax" by the Daily Mail.
[You can trust a tabloid journalist to get it wrong]

Today at lunch time on Radio 4 "You and Yours", it was confirmed that the new measures would be implemented from January [2013?].:D

I was told by a civil servant last March that "we have revised the building regulations twice and tried to get this type of measure implemented but his time it is going to happen".

Looks he was right:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ntj9v

Near the end of this programme there is an undertaking from "the department" to implement the "recast" EU directive that says anyone seeking to extend their home must mitigate the damage to "sustainability" by installing green measures in the existing part of the property, in order to to get approval.

It looks like you will have to be very quick to get your plans passed in advance of these changes.

googler

What's the name of this EU Directive?

And (again, relying on obscure terms, JP) what does 'recast' mean ...?

Red_sky

Anyone got any good advice re. solicitors when selling ie. how much do they charge, can you get a solicitor that charges a flat rate, how do you know a good solicitor from a bad one (ie. one that isn't going to charge you every time he breathes), etc.

John_Pierpoint

googler wrote: »

What's the name of this EU Directive?

And (again, relying on obscure terms, JP) what does 'recast' mean ...?

The EU has been successfully operating the mushroom theory of management, since its inception and you and your family have been paying the tax and price consequences. One day the auditors might be able to sign off its accounts.

So I suggest you leave it for a day or two until the transcript of the BBC programme is available and then send it to your Euro MPs and ask for an explanation.

[Oh dear it seems the BBC has stopped doing transcripts - it must be the cut backs - you will have to make your own
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/transcripts_index.shtml ]

Let us know how you get on.

Good luck.

[ I emailed my "poor relation of Brussels/Strasbourg" Westminster MP about the huge budget increases being demanded and got a somewhat pusillanimous reply within 12 hours, using the excellent "theyworkforyou" web site. ]

http://www.europarl.org.uk/view/en/your_MEPs.html

[Personally I think these house structure measures, though annoying as they are linked to the "competent person" directives, are a sensible response to "Climate Change"]

googler

I think the short version of that reply, despite the obscure language again, is "I don't know", isn't it...?

John_Pierpoint

I think it probably means an amendment that does not have to be approved by our democratically elected parliament - but I really don't have the time to probe the EU obfuscation that comes with bureaucrat to bureaucrat terminology.

At least it will keep our local authority planning / building control departments in paid employment, charged to anyone wanting to increase their living space.

Let us know when you find some useful information for this discussion..

John_Pierpoint

Red_sky wrote: »

Anyone got any good advice re. solicitors when selling ie. how much do they charge, can you get a solicitor that charges a flat rate, how do you know a good solicitor from a bad one (ie. one that isn't going to charge you every time he breathes), etc.

Presumably if you are selling all you really want is the money?

I've used these people for both selling and then buying later.
O'Neill Patient LLP
Chester House
2 Chester Road
Hazel Grove
Stockport
Cheshire
SK7 5NT

http://www.oneillpatient.co.uk

Here is the price for buying last summer:

> I've attached the original quote from Money Saving Expert for £397+VAT,
> and showing the Chancel search at £18 (incl. VAT).

I cannot say the service was brilliant - I had problems getting their automatic identity check to agree I existed.

The terms and conditions specify your responsibilities and the extra charges if you cannot meet them on time (eg £5 for an inadequate postage stamp on a letter).

If you do a Google search of this web site, you will find other opinions.

Red_sky

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Presumably if you are selling all you really want is the money?

I cannot say the service was brilliant - I had problems getting their automatic identity check to agree I existed.

The terms and conditions specify your responsibilities and the extra charges if you cannot meet them on time (eg £5 for an inadequate postage stamp on a letter).

If you do a Google search of this web site, you will find other opinions.

Thank you John.

PS. Interesting URL for their website; one ill patient. Useful name for a doctor's surgery.