and so it begins! (hopefully a long and happy story of house selling and buying)

charleyroo

mr charleyroo and i have found two lovely properties, one (1940s ex council) near where we live and one further up the valley (6 years old, a bit smaller, garage). both 3 beds, semi, driveway, nice gardens, around the 135k mark bank have said up to 166k so i'm comfortably within bounds i think.

we are currently in a large 1900s terrace where we've been for nearly 3 years since buying shared equity on the open market with our council (see prev posts - one of the few excellent schemes that were around). we've made a few improvements, i think we may have lost a little money overall making the house how we wanted it, but if i got a couple of k profit it would push us nicely below 90% ltv (we are on something like 89.5% ltv if we sold at purchase price)

the first one is on the same street we brokenheartedly moved from renting to buy our current house, which is a lovely feeling as once upon a time never thought we'd even be able to buy, let alone move back.

we have 2 viewings in the next 2 days then our house will go on the market.

i may be doing things the wrong way around but these houses have come up so i'm putting mine on the market asap if i like one of them :j

drusilla

Good luck, but as so many on here advise be careful that you don't let your heart rule your head.

charleyroo

thanks totally agree, we need to be sensible in all of this. i like having spare cash to enjoy life as well!

first viewing tonight:j

charleyroo

hi all

house i liked got sold lesson learned about looking before you are on the market!

update for selecting agent

agent a - valued at between 120-125k, fee of £1500 no sale no fee. willing to do 8 wks instead of 12.

agent b - same valuation, fee of £2100 dropped to £1800. will do 16 wks only.

my gut says to go with agent b for 8 weeks then try agent b. any thoughts?

ps i have a third one coming on monday!

beecher2

I wouldn't view any more houses until you're further along in selling your own house. No offer will be taken seriously until you have an offer on your house.

I wouldn't personally base which agent to pick purely on how much they charge, and don't understand the logic in wanting to swap agents after 8 weeks. Ultimately, you want your house sold so want to get whichever agent is best placed to do so quickly and efficiently.

Ask them about how they organise viewings, find out who have sold most properties in your area, check their opening hours too. Ask friends/colleagues about their experiences with EA too.

charleyroo

beecher2 wrote: »

I wouldn't personally base which agent to pick purely on how much they charge, and don't understand the logic in wanting to swap agents after 8 weeks.
.

i read it on MSE, being trapped by one agent. My logic was, imagine 8 weeks without a single viewing (worst case scenario) and still 4 or 8 to go.

charleyroo

both are open saturdays, the more expensive one has a touch screen tv outside the shop so you can look at houses 24/7 if you so desire. both do viewings for the seller but i went on a viewing with agent a and they made the seller show me around (it was after 5 though)

agent b will have a key when i'm on hols in nov (imagine 3 weeks away and coming back to a sold house lol)

agent b puts a floor plan on rightmove, agent a doesnt. hmmmm.

newbutold

charleyroo wrote: »

agent b puts a floor plan on rightmove, agent a doesnt. hmmmm.

As a buyer when looking for properties on rightmove etc, I show more interest in houses with floor plans (& the more pictures the better).

What is agent a's reason for no floor plans?

Few pics/no floor plan makes me think a house is not going to be great inside when you view.

highguyuk

Surely you can get Agent A to put a Floorplan on RM though, even if for an extra fee?

And that extra fee, will likely result in them still being cheaper than Agent B.

charleyroo

i know, i love a good old floor plan!

they just didn't mention it. maybe i should ask for one.

charleyroo

we've been to a few viewings now. nothing completely spot on but i don't expect that for the budget we have.
mr charleyroo confessed though, that he's been thinking night and day about one we visited last week. i had reservations that the main bedroom was too small (only one bedside table, for instance) with no scope to enlarge. also the kitchen was tiny. it did however have a beautiful garden and living room (big ticks) hmm.

today we viewed two empty properties, one mid budget that had previously had tenants and been left a bit tired and broken with lots of little jobs which didn't phase me at all. having only two side and one front gardens all overlooking the main road did kind of grate me though.

we also saw a probate property. way overpriced but i have been monitoring the street for a long time and seen a similar type sell for 20k less last year so i expect scope for bartering. however, i believe the old lady died there in bed from what the estate agent gave away.... and nothing freaked me out more than the slippers sat next to the bed ready to be walked in of a morning!!! i may view this one again, as it was a grey morning and this could possibly have not helped my mind - however in the feedback call i will suggest that they remove the slippers for future showings!

tomorrow we have a viewing the street down from the probate property 10k less, a little smaller garden but pretty much finished with new windows/doors etc. just needs a kitchen at some point (not desperately) from what i can tell.

really debating whether we want a complete do-er up-er (probate, loads of scope to add value and extend) or a well presented property (tomorrow) with a smaller window of value add. hmmm.