How long did you look for?

seven-day-weekend

Debtslayer wrote: »

I think the problem on location though was the young lady didn't really want to move out of her parents house and every house they looked at she was comparing it to her parents even though their budget was vastly different.

We looked at one and bought it

That was not the episode I watched.

We looked at two and bought the second.

shortcrust

A common theme on TV seems to be people not accepting the compromises their budgets demand. Still, if you're not in a rush then I think it makes sense to hold out for a place that you know's right. Some people need to have a 'feeling' about a home whereas others can be a bit more detached.

seven-day-weekend

Our bungalow fulfilled our essential criteria of location, proximity to shops and bus route and having a drive and a decent garden. It was also a very pretty property (something important to us but something we would have compromised on). It was a do-er upper but we didn't mind that.

The compromise was I would have liked an extra small room for a study and a proper utility room instead of the alcove that we have. But hey, it's a downsize, it is supposed to be smaller than the house you are leaving (although the garden is three times the size).

But we love it and don't intend moving again. We had our last house for nearly forty years!

G_M

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I suppose I was thinking that if they fit your essential criteria, then out of dozens, one is sure to be right, although not perfect, perhaps.

Yes but if it's not perfect, why would I move?

You need to think differently.

And you also have to realise the TV IS NOT REAL LIFE.

What people do and decide on TV depends on what makes good or interesting viewing, not on what they'd really do......

shortcrust

G_M wrote: »

Yes but if it's not perfect, why would I move?

You need to think differently.

And you also have to realise the TV IS NOT REAL LIFE.

What people do and decide on TV depends on what makes good or interesting viewing, not on what they'd really do......

When I'm PM the people who go on those programmes will be made to buy one of the properties. Nothing so unsatisfying as a "you've really helped us with our ongoing search" ending.

Yazmina

Looked at 14 houses over about a year. Bought number 13.

Scotbot

Looked at about 25 spanning a 150k price range. Not really liked any of them. Realised I am not going to be wowed by any in tne location I am looking in and am buying a functional box. Not sure how long I will stay.

Baby_Angel

Know someone who having sold his house 2 years ago, is still looking. He lives in a relative's house rent free. It has damp and rot issues and living room is not habitable. He has the possibility to buy that house for much cheaper and fix it. But don't want the hassle. His daily commute is about 3-4 hours. He is looking in the same area and for a bigger house (at least 3 bedrooms) that he can't afford. He has been single for as long as I know him (7+ years) and won't change his search requirements. I am beginning to wonder if he will ever decide.

ProDave

When I moved from my first house (a 1 bedroom starter home) to my second house (a 2 bed semi) it took about 2 years

The problem was an absolute must was off street parking and a garage or room to build one. That was the main reason for wanting to move from the rabbit hutch that only had an allocated parking space in a car park away from the house.

The trouble was, for what I could afford very few houses had proper off road parking on their own land, let alone space to build a garage. And to make matters worse, most of the estate agents ignored what I wanted and sent me to look at houses that missed my requirements by a country mile. So much that one of them branded me a time waster with no intention of ever buying.

I eventually found what I wanted in the form of a 1930's 2 bedroom semi. The house was very poor and run down, but I could see through that. It had a big side garden, off road parking and space to build that garage. I renovated the house, built my garage, then later extended the house on that big side garden almost doubling it's size.

If only the estate agents would listen to what the buyer wants it would have saved wasting a lot of people's time.

juniordoc

We looked at about 15 over a 3 month period and are in the process of buying number 14, but as FTBers we weren't initially certain on what we were looking for when we started and tried to keep an open mind.