DIARY OF A HOUSE SALE - in a "static" house price part of the country

phoebe1989seb

lessonlearned wrote: »

Phoebe - no I've not had issues with neighbours or graffiti. Must be another poster. Actually my previous neighbours were lovely. I've met my new ones and they seem quite nice. Friendly but not "in your face" ifyswim.

You had a lucky escape there. How awful of the Vendor and EA to try and hide something like that.

I'm not naive and I know that sometimes people try things like this. I think that kind of behaviour is truly dreadful, unethical and morally bankrupt.

Just goes to highlight - there are a lot of sharks out there - just ready to bite the unwary.

Lesson - apologies, but if you look again you'll see that my comment regarding graffiti etc was directed at Money not you

And yes, we consider we had a very lucky escape as the £400k house sold in the end for only £182k - all it was obviously worth with the new-builds behind it!

Davesnave

I don't mind my house backing onto a field. I'm pretty sure it will not be built on in my lifetime.

People have very different perceptions of the pluses and minuses of their surroundings. Some certainly do prefer them to be built-up and fully developed. They argue that at least they know it won't change much, although we all know cases where an old rambling house has been bulldozed and turned into modern flats.

Recently, I was in negotiations with a group of home owners who wanted to buy some land for larger gardens, but they were adamant that they didn't want any access. To me, it was crazy that they would pass up a chance to give their £300k houses a rear entrance, but they insisted that the chance of burglary, or unspecified danger to their children, made it simply not worth it. They will continue to carry everything, like bikes, through the house.

My Mum would never have bought a house backing onto woodland because "You'd never know who or what was in there." Look at such houses on Rightmove and usually agents make it a principal selling feature!

PS. I own the field.

moneyistooshorttomention

Davesnave wrote: »

I don't mind my house backing onto a field. I'm pretty sure it will not be built on in my lifetime.

People have very different perceptions of the pluses and minuses of their surroundings. Some certainly do prefer them to be built-up and fully developed. They argue that at least they know it won't change much, although we all know cases where an old rambling house has been bulldozed and turned into modern flats.

That is the school of thought I tend to be in. Though I know it's not infallible, as I thought exactly that when I bought my current house - ie "they cant change the bit around me - its already built-up". Errrm....they did....they replaced two fair-size places (with a certain amount of "greenery" surrounding them) with two other fair-size places (with rather less "greenery" surrounding them) and then there's always garden-grabbing (which I loathe with a passion).

It's difficult to try looking into the future and predicting what will be over the estimated time anyone thinks they are likely to live in a place and I'm sure I'd make my fortune if I could do so:cool:

That's one of the things that has complicated matters when it came to investigating whereabouts to move to. I had one town top of my list as a possibility - until I studied some of the buildings there and how I think things are likely to go generally over some years to come and thought "I think I can see what will happen there - forget that one then...". I may get to 20 years from now and check out that town in person and think "So they didnt do what I thought they would with those buildings and the place has remained pretty okay" and, then again, I may not...

As for woodland at the back - fine by me and all the better if I can see a possible chance to buy it if I can ever afford to...

Contessa

My house backs on to fields and the view is a delight to me. I was surprised that a couple of estate agents didn't see this, and a large garden, as a selling point. When I move I don't expect to be able to buy a house with such a nice outlook, but I don't want to be overlooked and I want to live in a good, quiet, safe neighbourhood.

moneyistooshorttomention

CONTESSA - Well I would certainly regard a large garden as a selling point personally. Part of my reason for moving is because "Of course houses have gardens" has always been part of my thinking and I am, by now, getting desperate to have my garden.

As regards a garden - I'll take however large a garden I can get. I expect my new house will have a small garden (estate agent speak "Reasonable garden" or even "Large garden"....yep...small in actual fact). But, if I can get my hands on a garden that really IS large I will be delighted. I'd take on a half acre or even acre garden if I could get it....wishes I could afford a house with one that big. My motto is "If you've got it, then you can use it. If you haven't then there's no chance". Anyway, if it was too big for me to manage, then that would just mean leaving a wildlife area and keeping the local wildlife very happy...:)".

I guess a lot of people aren't that bothered about having a garden - because of how many people either neglect it:eek: or build on it:eek:, But, for those of us who do want to have one, then it matters...a lot...

I've taken note of what a previous poster said about the chances - or otherwise - of an estate agent actually knowing the answers to questions when asked by a viewer. I've typed out an aide-memoire of answers to all likely questions and sent that to my estate agent, with the suggestion that they print off copies and hand one to a viewer as they go round with them. So - it's all down there: Council Tax band, etc, etc.

Can't understand why my solicitor at the time I bought this house did a "fall backwards with astonishment" look and said "I've never seen anyone so organised" when I turned up with file in one hand and notebook in the other hand and started firing my way through a list of questions I'd made out to him:rotfl::rotfl: and I'm planning on doing this again...:) (LESSONLEARNED - you are SO not the only one that likes to keep their finger right on things in this respect.....).

lessonlearned

Money I've learned the hard way - I have to get organised otherwise I'd be really scatty.:rotfl:

Phoebe - sorry got the wrong end of the stick about the graffiti. Must be losing my marbles.

Got so much on my mind at the moment - well that's my excuse.

Re the gardens - I love gardens and gardening, the bigger the better, more privacy too. And of course it's orientation is important.

if you haven't already got one invest in a compass for when you start viewing your next property.;)

moneyistooshorttomention

Lessonlearned - the graffiti mention is because it's a concern I have about the area I currently live in. People keep telling me "It's an urban area. That's what happens in an urban area" but I don't accept that for mine.

I've contacted the Council every single time it appears on anywhere that is their responsibility and, give them their due, they do come out quickly and remove it. However, there is no "paper trail" on this with my name on as it's easily possible to just click on "anonymous" when asked for identity on filling in a report form about it on their website:D. So the problem lies basically with the perpetrators of the crime obviously, but also with those householders who are too lazy/not responsible enough to remove it promptly (or sometimes at all:eek:) from their property if it happens there and I haven't been able to think of an answer to that.

As regards garden orientation, I read a comment on another thread about not needing a compass to ascertain this. Just check what direction the satellite dishes face on any houses that have them. I seem to remember that that meant they face south-east?? Errrm....have I got that right that that means I have two reasons to go "Darn. A satellite dish" if I spot any at the front of a house and that I need for them to be at the back from the garden pov as well? I never was much good at geography...

lessonlearned

I'd stick with the compass if I were you. They are cheap enough.

Failing that visit the property at least a couple of different times during the day, preferably a sunny day:D. You can just do a drive by.

I shouldn't worry about the fact that you have reported grafitti to the council - that would not classed as a neighbour dispute.

Given that the grafitti is not confined to just your property but is more widespread then presumably the viewers would notice this anyway. It's not something you need to draw their attention to.

There is a school of thought that grafitti is a form of art. Think Banksy.

I don't like to see it though, neither do I like to see "art" on the gable ends of buildings that you see sometimes. It soon starts to look very tatty.

Davesnave

lessonlearned wrote: »

Re the gardens - I love gardens and gardening, the bigger the better, more privacy too. And of course it's orientation is important.;)

So do I , but anything over 1/4 acre of true garden is an indulgence for one person, unless they want to spend a disproportionate amount of their time time and money on it.

lessonlearned

1/4 acre would be huge for me - I'd have to employ a big strapping man to help me out.

Hmmmmmm - maybe not such a bad idea.rotfl::rotfl:

A bit of eye candy to look at whilst I potter around with my geraniums.

I've just hurt my back - slipped on the slushy snow. All I was doing was planting up some tulips in my veg table.

I know it's rather late for them and the veg table is not the prettiest of containers. However, because of my recent move they didn't get planted.

If I leave them the bulbs will just turn to mush, this way they do at least have a chance of being saved.

And yes, I do miss "my" fields. Actually this looks like a nice garden here, reasonable size, south facing and not directly overlooked.

When I come to buy my next house I will definitely try and get one with a nice view though.