Diary of a House Search

Davesnave

Sorry the repo didn't work out, but with your other news being so positive, I doubt you'll be that bothered! :j

Contessa

Just to add that I'm also pleased to read of the improvement shown.

lessonlearned

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your good wishes and positive vibes. I'm just about to get my glad rags on and pop over to see him. Wonder if I'll see any difference today. I think I will keep a proper log with photographic evidence to monitor his progress.

The drug trial is free for the first month, if we wish to continue with the meds then we have to pay for them. His consultant has said he will try and argue OH's case so perhaps some hard evidence might help our cause.

Anyway I just want to expand on my comments about my difficulties trying to get viewings.

I appreciate that the properties we are looking at are largely where vendors are no longer in residence, or they have tenants in situ however I am finding the delays intolerable. OK so I am not the most patient of people:rotfl:

However, when I sold my own property one of my viewers complained that it had taken her 2 weeks to get the EA to sort out a viewing. I was doing the viewings so there was absolutely no excuse for the delay.

This I think is an area where EA's really need to get their act together.

The best response I've had so far is with an internet only agency.

I am going to look into these in more detail. I might be tempted to use one of these myself next time I come to sell.

I am more than happy to do my own viewings, and liaise with my purchasers myself.

There is a significant difference in fees and I'm beginning to think that an online agent may be no bad thing.

Yes you do need to do a lot of work yourself so maybe they aren't for everyone but my assessment of most of the EA's leads me to believe that the DIY option is best anyway. :rotfl:

At least so far but I am happy to be proved wrong.

lessonlearned

Viewed some properties today - have found "The One" :j:j

Going to put an offer in on Monday, fingers crossed.

2 viewings with agents. One a girl after my own heart. Friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. And....... she asked for the sale. At last. If ever I set up my own Agency I will track her down and head hunt her. :rotfl::rotfl:

The guy who showed us round "The One" was really just a keyholder but he was great. He didn't know as much about the house as I did but then again I had lived next door to it in the past so I guess it was an unfair contest.

It was the first time he had seen it but at least he had the nous to get their early and open it up and familiarise himself with the layout etc. He loved the house as much as we did....

The other houses had Vendors in situ - some lovely properties and some lovely people - especially the lady with 4 week old twins who kept apologising profusely for the clutter. The clutter of course was all baby paraphenalia. Poor woman. The houses were lovely and I could have bought any one of them.

All except one guy and his awful stinking fleapit of a house. He was a real "geezer" who would not have been out of place on "Eastenders". His line of patter was unbelievable - sounded like a dodgy market stall trader flogging knock off designer clobber.

He had er-hem "renovated" the property himself. Bodged DIY, no building regs, each room with a different decorative "theme". The place reeked of dogs and ciggies, the kitchen stank like a greasy spoon caff with a pile of dirty plates on the side, some half eaten food still on the plates, a sink full of dirty greasy washing up water. :eek::eek:

His charming chavvy family were sat outside drinking cans of industrial strength lager and chuffing away on their fags.

Eeee - you do see life when house hunting. :rotfl:

Anyway roll on Monday and we'll get that offer in. Here's hoping.

Contessa

Hoping it all works out for you-looking forward to reading of your progress. Interesting that you've been quite pleased with the online agents as a buyer.

lessonlearned

It was the house with the lady with the twins.

I got a viewing very quickly, only rang the online agent on Thursday and they came back to me the same day with a viewing for today.

I asked the lady how she was getting on with them and she said that so far she had been very impressed.

As she pointed out they only do what they do, that they didn't profess to know anything about the properties on their books, or the local areas etc but she did say that so far everything had been straightforward and they had done exactly what they had promised.

I must confess I don't know much about online agents but it is definitely something I will look into next time I sell.

I appreciate that not everyone wants to commit to doing so much work themselves and it might have been more difficult with a long chain. However when I think how much work I did myself and that the EA's fee was £3000 plus vat, I think that for me it would be worth a try.

Obviously the Vendor is committed to doing the viewings but I think the online agents will still take and relay offers and do the sales progressing.

The only downside that I can see is that you need to pay fees upfront and obviously might not sell.

lessonlearned

You are not going to believe this.

At 9.30 I rang an EA to tell them I wanted to make an offer on one of the properties we viewed on Saturday.

A drippy minion took my call and said there was no-one available to talk to me. Whaaaat!!!!

She would get someone to call me back.

I have been waiting 45 mins.

I want to offer on a house and they can't even be bothered to ring me back.

Unbelievable

Is this how they are going to treat me........

I really want the house so will just have to put up with this nonsense, otherwise I would take great pleasure in telling them to sling their hook.

Seriously though - what a way to run your business.

lessonlearned

Update

Grovelling apologies to EA. It was my blasted house phone on the blink. She managed to get DS1 on his mobile.......Must ring BT now and get the line checked.

Anyway - offer accepted. House being taken off the market immediately. All systems go.......

Keeping everything crossed. We really want this house.

Will try and post pics soon.

gallygirl

lessonlearned wrote: »

Update

Grovelling apologies to EA. It was my blasted house phone on the blink.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

All's well that ends well - great that offer is accepted :T

Contessa

Looks like all systems go-good news!