House sales keep falling through - Am I the problem?

MovingForwards

You could always go for a cheaper property, that way it frees up money to do any work needed.

Extend your area if you can, rather than restricting yourself to one location, especially if there's good transport links.

I relocated with my furball after splitting from my ex, saved to get a deposit together, couldn't afford to buy in the area or location I made my home and instead looked for something similar but in a different area.
I purchased a lovely 110 year old flat in a small block this year, private garden, great views, village / community feel as I've not really got many neighbours, independent shops and walking distance to the bus / train station. My home hasn't been touched for probably 40 years, aside from the kitchen maybe 10 years ago, and has plenty of original features.
While I could have carried on saving to get a bigger deposit, buy a house / bungalow, it would have been a lot newer property 1960+, no character, no views and more homes surrounding it. 

When viewing properties you need to look at everything, I mean look properly and not glance. Touch things, open and close things. Use your eyes, ears and nose, not your heart. Enlarge photos from the websites and carefully scrutinise what you are seeing. Use the internet to do searches into the road, see what the council say on their website, manipulate browser searches and search terms until you master what the key word is for what you are looking for.

If you have a strong willed friend, who has owned a property or rented several, take them with you as they will point out the bad elements.

Mickey666

Firstly, was the survey that found ‘woodworm and rotten beams’ performed by a surveyor specialising and qualified in older properties?  I ask because old beams often have signs of woodworm that is historic, maybe within the first 50 years or so when the beams were still ‘green’, but once they properly dry out they have a moisture content below that that woodworm can tolerate.  My house has beams over 450 years old with some ‘pin holes’, presumably from woodworm, yet they are so hard it’s impossible to drive in a nail without pre-drilling a hole first!

Secondly, thatch is widely referred to as being a ‘rich man’s roof’.  Best to allow around £2000 per year for maintenance.  Not that it will need annual maintenance of course, but it gives you an idea of the amortised costs of a thatched roof.  They can certainly look lovely but I wouldn’t have one.

Crashy_Time

pumas said:

And my pulling out, really p**d off my OH as we were still living 'together'!

There is a joke in there somewhere ......

pumas

Crashy_Time said:

pumas said:

And my pulling out, really p**d off my OH as we were still living 'together'!

There is a joke in there somewhere ......

There wasn't until you found it! Was meant to cheer up OP.

pbhb

Mickey666 said:

Firstly, was the survey that found ‘woodworm and rotten beams’ performed by a surveyor specialising and qualified in older properties?  I ask because old beams often have signs of woodworm that is historic, maybe within the first 50 years or so when the beams were still ‘green’, but once they properly dry out they have a moisture content below that that woodworm can tolerate.  My house has beams over 450 years old with some ‘pin holes’, presumably from woodworm, yet they are so hard it’s impossible to drive in a nail without pre-drilling a hole first!

Secondly, thatch is widely referred to as being a ‘rich man’s roof’.  Best to allow around £2000 per year for maintenance.  Not that it will need annual maintenance of course, but it gives you an idea of the amortised costs of a thatched roof.  They can certainly look lovely but I wouldn’t have one.

Yes the surveyor specialises in listed buildings and she was adamant it was a love infestation sadly. The third property I am looking at is a tiled roof which frees up my budget for other areas of the house. Crossing my fingers it all works out with this one!

Crashy_Time

Mickey666 said:

Firstly, was the survey that found ‘woodworm and rotten beams’ performed by a surveyor specialising and qualified in older properties?  I ask because old beams often have signs of woodworm that is historic, maybe within the first 50 years or so when the beams were still ‘green’, but once they properly dry out they have a moisture content below that that woodworm can tolerate.  My house has beams over 450 years old with some ‘pin holes’, presumably from woodworm, yet they are so hard it’s impossible to drive in a nail without pre-drilling a hole first!

Secondly, thatch is widely referred to as being a ‘rich man’s roof’.  Best to allow around £2000 per year for maintenance.  Not that it will need annual maintenance of course, but it gives you an idea of the amortised costs of a thatched roof.  They can certainly look lovely but I wouldn’t have one.

Another joke in there somewhere, can`t think of it though.

pumas

Crashy_Time said:

Another joke in there somewhere, can`t think of it though.

Sorry to mention it OP, Crashy_Time, you missed the 'love infestation'?

Crashy_Time

pumas said:

Crashy_Time said:

Another joke in there somewhere, can`t think of it though.

Sorry to mention it OP, Crashy_Time, you missed the 'love infestation'?

Is that a TV show?

Bonniepurple

pbhb said:

Mickey666 said:

Firstly, was the survey that found ‘woodworm and rotten beams’ performed by a surveyor specialising and qualified in older properties?  I ask because old beams often have signs of woodworm that is historic, maybe within the first 50 years or so when the beams were still ‘green’, but once they properly dry out they have a moisture content below that that woodworm can tolerate.  My house has beams over 450 years old with some ‘pin holes’, presumably from woodworm, yet they are so hard it’s impossible to drive in a nail without pre-drilling a hole first!

Secondly, thatch is widely referred to as being a ‘rich man’s roof’.  Best to allow around £2000 per year for maintenance.  Not that it will need annual maintenance of course, but it gives you an idea of the amortised costs of a thatched roof.  They can certainly look lovely but I wouldn’t have one.

Yes the surveyor specialises in listed buildings and she was adamant it was a love infestation sadly. The third property I am looking at is a tiled roof which frees up my budget for other areas of the house. Crossing my fingers it all works out with this one!

I think you’re very wise.  The last thing you want is a love in with death watch beetles.