Nice People Thread Number 10 -the official residence of Nice People

Nikkster

silvercar wrote: »

I would love an airing cupboard. I have got a cupboard that is directly above the combi (combi downstairs, cupboard upstairs) but it is not quite warm enough to be classed as an airing cupboard. The other boiler is housed in a cupboard that is "topless" and houses the mops etc so no shelves, also doesn't work as an airing cupboard.

I still can't believe I have one. So much so that sometimes when I see it, it even makes me smile! I'm guessing it used to house the hot water tank, so I'm glad it was left when a combi was put in.

The empty space where clutter is now under the stairs is giving me a ridiculous amount of happiness this morning. I'd been meaning to do that for weeks and putting it off.

Generali

PasturesNew wrote: »

Remember that I have no income and no spare money ...... if I spend £200k on a house I'll be sitting there with the final £1k in my account, no furniture, no household items .... so paying £600 on rent I am not using would completely furnish and equip the house.

So it's a significant amount.

I've not been looking for 5 years as such.... just occasionally peeking.... and a lot of the last 1-2 years I've been feeling traumatised and awful.

Yup, £200k is a substantial amount of money as is £190,000 or £210,000.

Perhaps biting the bullet and buying something is the way forward. You can always sell it again.

Nikkster

Generali wrote: »

Yup, £200k is a substantial amount of money as is £190,000 or £210,000.

Perhaps biting the bullet and buying something is the way forward. You can always sell it again.

As far as I'm aware, PN has only between seriously looking for a month or so? Paralysis of analysis is definitely something to watch out for (its where I am in my quest for broadband), but to me PN sounds like she's in a better frame of mind about it all at the moment.

Also, buying a house is a big commitment for anyone. I do think it feels disproportionately heavy when you are doing it solo.

PasturesNew

Today, on RM, in my chosen area, there are 12 houses in my budget, which break down to:

2x Mid terrace, shabby
2x mid terrace, North facing rear garden/1 allocated parking space elsewhere
2x mid terrace, old/shabby, victorian (too old), "investors only"
2x mid terrace, shabby, has a huge pylon overshadowing the garden
semi, tenanted until July, north facing garden
new 2-bed yet to be built, being added to end of terrace
2 clusters

PasturesNew

Generali wrote: »

Perhaps biting the bullet and buying something is the way forward. You can always sell it again.

No, I need to feel settled. And buying/selling again would cost a lot of money and double the overall complexity. I don't have the advantage of youth and optimism on my side.... I now need to be settled and have a home I can build a life around.

PasturesNew

Nikkster wrote: »

I do think it feels disproportionately heavy when you are doing it solo.

This is something only those in that position can understand.. It's you, just you, if you've made a mistake you're in it alone. Nobody's with you, you're not in it together.... alone.... small and alone and you made a bad choice.

I bought my last house "in haste" as I was mortgageable for a short period of time so had to buy "a house, any house, just get a house"..... and then couldn't afford to maintain it or "live", so sat inside for years eating cold beans.... alone and in a house I didn't like.

CKhalvashi

PasturesNew wrote: »

Today, on RM, in my chosen area, there are 12 houses in my budget, which break down to:

2x Mid terrace, shabby
2x mid terrace, North facing rear garden/1 allocated parking space elsewhere
2x mid terrace, old/shabby, victorian (too old), "investors only"
2x mid terrace, shabby, has a huge pylon overshadowing the garden
semi, tenanted until July, north facing garden
new 2-bed yet to be built, being added to end of terrace
2 clusters

Pastures, if it's shabby, you're possibly in a position to knock the price down.

We managed (in 2010) to get a house on the market for £239950, down to £205000 (just checked), as it was in need of a lot of work. Due to the circumstances of the sellers, paired with the fact we were cash buyers (and therefore could complete within the week), they were happy to sell for this, as it was about 10% above auction price.

CK

PasturesNew

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Pastures, if it's shabby, you're possibly in a position to knock the price down.

We managed (in 2010) to get a house on the market for £239950, down to £205000 (just checked), as it was in need of a lot of work. Due to the circumstances of the sellers, paired with the fact we were cash buyers (and therefore could complete within the week), they were happy to sell for this, as it was about 10% above auction price.

CK

When I say shabby, I mean the whole road's shabby ..... and there's not much knocking down going on round here. The one that's tenanted is on at £170; a repo in the same road was on at £167 and has gone at £159

vivatifosi

PN I like both of those, especially the second as you get a lot more for your money.

If you like those, I'd go back to the agents, explain that you are a serious cash buyer and ask them to put flyers through the neighbours' doors where they meet the same criteria. Also say that if the deal fails for any reason, you would be interested in viewing, but you are not interested in gazumping.

In fact, if these are areas that you would like, there's no reason you shouldn't be the one putting the flyers through the door. That's how I sold my last house, and sticking one to the agents in the process was strangely pleasurable...

GDB2222

PasturesNew wrote: »

No holiday lets or B&Bs available as it'd be the summer/peak period, so everywhere's booked, or very expensive, or you're moving every week.

If it were happening over the winter that'd be doable, lots of places I could live in for awhile, but the summer's out of the question.

In principle, the seller is liable for your extra expenses, even if you end up having to stay somewhere posh. In practice, there's only a small chance that something will go wrong. And, even then, it may only be a short delay.

Personally, I wouldn't catastrophise about what might go wrong. I'd look at the big plus point: not much competition, and you may get a bargain.

If it's not a bargain, walk away. But if it is a bargain, you should keep an open mind about taking the risk. At least, go and see the property, and decide if you are interested or not.