Quit everything , and start again over 50?

Smodlet

Thank you, AC and sorry for the rant. It still is true, though but I should not have put this on your thread and truly apologise. :o:o

another_casualty

That's ok. You've been a good help

MrsPorridge

AC - I love reading your diary - once you move on will you still post? Would love to hear about your adventures when you do move.

lessonlearned

AC, Smodlet - First of all.......I am sorry if I scare you both. I am a delicate little flower really.;)

I admit I am assertive and very focussed but I am no aggressive bully. In RL I am quietly spoken, never raise my voice, don't swear and curse, have impeccable manners and only rarely lose my temper.

Gosh I sound like a paragon of all the virtues.....:rotfl:

I agree with AC - sometimes a post on a forum can seem harsher than the writer intended.

Any advice I have given has been "best advice" - as I would give to any client. I try to use humour, tact and diplomacy to make my point but maybe my writing comes over as being a bit "robust" at times.

The "dog fight" remark was a lighthearted throwaway line. I certainly wont be resorting to fisticuffs.:rotfl: However I will use my skill as a negotiator to try and succeed. Why would I not. I have spent a couple of hours doing my homework and research in readiness.

Smodlet, I do think you are taking me a little too literally.

After my conversation with the EA I realise I will actually be competing with hard headed property developers. The property is most definitely not an enterprise for a FTB.

Smodlet.....and anyone else who has a problem with EAS........

Whatever your opinion of EAs you have to remember they work for the Vendor, no one else.

They have no real personal interest in who buys the property, it really matters little to them. But.......they do have an obligation to their client to find the best buyer. Their job is to get a sale, they are not social workers with a remit to house the homeless.

Given the fact that this property is not likely to be eligible for a residential mortgage (or at least not without a substantial retention) then it will need to be sold to either a cash buyer or a developer who will be using a commercial mortgage.

In such cases, from the vendors point of view, the cash buyer would be the safest bet. Therefore it makes perfect sense for the EA to be happy and relieved when a cash buyer comes on the scene. Hence the EAs delight and relief when she found out that I was a cash buyer with no dependent sale.

lessonlearned

AC. I too hope you will continue with your diary.

I think quite a few of us are rooting for you and will be all agog to hear all about your next adventures.

lessonlearned

Smodlet......if you wish to pm me as to how I can help your FTB friend then I will see what I can do.

But to get back to your rant about EAs if I may.

(Sorry AC I've no wish to hijack your thread but as it was aired here then I would like to address it here.)

I have long advocated that EAS should undertake rigorous training and pass suitable exams and be required, by law, to be licensed.

It might help raise the status of the profession........and before the sniggers start.......done properly it is a profession. EAs might act as go betweens liasing with all the various personnel involved in the buying and selling process but they are certainly not just "glorified messengers".

Secondly. I would ask you to just reflect a moment and ask yourself this. Are there not other professions where it's practioners leave much to be desired.

Are there not plenty of corrupt lawyers, bent coppers, fraudulent bankers and accountants, arrogant surgeons, incompetent GPs, lazy nurses, useless teachers, ........and so on.

Not that this excuses bad practice of course but it's a sobering thought that so many so called professionals are, in fact, anything but.

I always joke that there are three professions that are universally loathed ........tax inspectors, traffic wardens and estate agents.

Smodlet

Lawyers, bankers, accountants... not helping your cause, LL :rotfl::p:rotfl:

You are, of course, absolutely right and I apologise for taking your words too literally.

Thank you for offering to help my friend. The vendor's purchase fell through and she had to find another property to buy quickly so if the EA is putting off a keen, genuine FTB, with no chain and a mortgage approval, I do not see how that is helping their client at all.

Now, how do you ensure you get this house rather than some hard-nosed, hard-bitten property developer? One is agog.

lessonlearned

Outbid them if necessary......up to a limit obviously. I only have a finite amount of money. And I need to keep enough in reserve for the renovation budget.

This is why I spent a couple of hours doing some research to work out some figures.

The property has no gas supply so I rang the national grid to find out what is involved, how long the application takes and what it would cost.

It also has no offstreet parking but a nice big frontage so I rang the council to find out about getting a dropped curb.

Basically Just doing a bit of groundwork to help me work out costings gives me a better idea of how high I can go with my offer.

Forewarned is forearmed and all that or maybe you would prefer I borrow the Girl Guides mantra......"Be Prepared".

I think my main advantage, as a cash buyer, is likely to be speed so if I can't outbid the competition then hopefully being able to make a decision on the spot and get the ball rolling quickly might just help my case.

It all depends on the vendors circumstances. Will they want top dollar or is a speedy sale more important. I can't second guess that of course but the EA will know the score so hoping to pick their brains on that one.

The vendor has already lost one sale - I'm guessing because of issues around finance due to a worse than expected survey so hopefully they will feel more comfortable with a cash buyer.

As always it's in the lap of the Gods.

Que Sara.....

Re your FTB friend. If the Vendor is stalling because her onward purchase has failed, then there are two choices. Proceed with her own sale and rent so as not to risk losing your FTB friend or make him wait whilst she finds somewhere else.

Your FTB friend also has two choices .......wait or find another property. It will probably hinge on his mortgage offer and the time limit.

Either way it is not the EAs call.

another_casualty

MrsPorridge wrote: »

AC - I love reading your diary - once you move on will you still post? Would love to hear about your adventures when you do move.

Thanks Mrs porridge /LL
I suppose I could start a cereal
TBH , I'm surprised and a bit overwhelmed as we're getting near 100 pages , and the interest is still there .

I suppose the best thing is to close this thread when I move , and then open part 2 once I relocate .

I would imagine everything will be full on within the next couple of weeks , and the real excitement happens .;)

Smodlet

Thank you, LL. The more I can learn from you, the more I can help my friend. No, it ain't the EA's decision (I did tell him that) I just found it telling that he seems to think it is. He is an FTB, after all and the scary world of property buying is all new to him. Perhaps, one day he will be as savvy as you, my angel. :A I wish you the very best of luck with your own purchase.

Dib, dib dib... who's Sara?

E.T.A. To AC, "cereal"? Grooooaaan. ;0)