Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

Blackcats

I hope the various viewings are interesting.  I do think that Rightmove opens up options for locations far more than in the days of waiting for the local newspaper to be delivered or peering in local estate agent windows and perusing typed up sheets of property details!

beanielou

Hope viewing goes well 

savingholmes

Thanks BM, Blackcats and Beanie

Yes the options are wider now - but that can also be paralysing.

BM - I'm not sure - we've always done the viewings in the past but obviously that was when I was part of a couple and had others at home. Not sure how I'd feel now.

The viewing today was a clear no before I even reached it. I had to go through a slalom of streets that had too much residential parking on for their width - so stressful. Then although there were views from upstairs that were stunning - the garden was much smaller than it looked on the picture - and the bedrooms were all doubles pretty much - but couldn't take a superking size bed. It was also too overlooked from the front.

I'm making myself take pictures from inside my own house to appreciate my own views more - I live in a cul de sac and you'd have to walk past to see into my house - rather than another house facing it from the front. Overlooked at the rear though. I won't move though unless I find something that fits the bill better than this. I don't mind reducing the number of rooms but still want the sizes to be good and a decent sized garden is a must.

skint_spice

You sound very sensible there, no point moving unless it’s to something you really want. Are you looking at more rural options too at this point?

savingholmes

Hi Skinty

Yes I am also looking up to 2 hours away from here. I know I don't travel well though - so couldn't cope with a regular commute to work. I think I could cope with coming up for the odd 2 day block and staying overnight somewhere (if it was 2 hours away rather than 1). I could then time that with seeing my DD, seeing my counsellor, having a hair cut etc.

Even before I drove to the viewing - I felt it was a compromise - as it's too close to where I am now and therefore weirdly not a big enough change. While the thought of moving somewhere I don't know anyone is scary - it's scarier to spend all that money moving and to have not met my heart's desire - which is somewhere far more rural. At the same time there's part of me pushing harder than that and saying I'm bored in my main job - and therefore not to necessarily allow its location to dictate how far away I move either. However the reality is I need the job to satisfy the mortgage and the pension provision is fabulous so it is extremely difficult to leave. I can also work mostly remote which is a huge draw too. I like the main people I work with... Similarly - I don't want to make it impossible to see wider family - my youngest sister's family in particular. We give each other mutual support.

My logical brain says work here 2 more years then consider leaving when I have more of a financial cushion. Another part of me is screaming - No you've compromised and people pleased long enough - move. The difficulty with that argument is my house and garden is gorgeous and it's hard to leave. I've lived here 17 years which is my longest anywhere. I just wish I could pick up my home and move it elsewhere. The hardest thing is that my budget isn't big enough for the houses I'd like... but looking at what mortgage rates are doing I don't want to stretch myself too far... Then there's the whole issue that I find change difficult in the first place... 

I'm also debating how move in ready it needs to be - and whether I'd be willing to rent for a while if needed to allow work to get done or not... This is the best time to take photos - but potentially I'd be moving just as winter hit which is not ideal... Decisions, decisions. 

I managed some decorating yesterday but need to do more. I nipped out for a birthday meal at my fave pub which was  nice. Today I'm going to an outdoor pool with a friend to swim. Tomorrow it's back to the proverbial grindstone. 

EssexHebridean

There are so many things to consider with moving aren't there - as you know we've been going through the same process!  Remember that the agents fee will just come off the amount you receive for your existing home so you don't really need to budget those separately as you won't need to find that money upfront ahead of completion. We debated using P/Bricks or similar and decided against in the end - in my experience through work solicitors routinely groan when they discover those sorts of agencies are involved as they are as much use as a chocolate fireguard when it comes to helping on getting things moving during the transaction. Once you add on all the various extra costs as well there is precious little difference at our price point (I suspect we are selling for less than you, but will be buying for a bit more, looking at your SDLT figure) so we decided to go the traditional agent route in the end. We've also had the debate about whether to go for somewhere that needs work or not - but without the option of being able to rent elsewhere while anything major is done we have eventually come round to the idea that a higher spend for a place that needs next to nothing done - at least immediately - is a better bet. 

jwil

What's the rental market like in your area?  Here, demand far outstrips supply and it's really difficult to get a house.  There's usually about 50 people chasing each house.  It's a nightmare if you are trying to rent. 

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil and EH

There aren't a huge amount of rented properties... I'll ask the EAs when they come around what they think it would rent for as well so I have a comparison. 

I'm looking for a property less than £300k - with lower being better so I don't have to work as many years or as many hours. One I enquired about last week was £235k and one £295k. I'm just testing what's out there to help me refine what I want. I've just enquired about one 2 hours away at £245k. I think absolutely worst case I should get £270k for mine. Best case £290-320Kish according to Z00pla or maybe even £330k. The latter seems very unlikely. I've tried to be pessimistic on house value so that what I end up with is a 'win' rather than a blow. 

I hear what you are saying EH on EA fees - but it's more money to find. If I went up in value it wouldn't really be by enough to warrant a second mortgage so I could be looking at some sort of bank loan - so the less I'd have to find the better by far. 

I went outdoor swimming with a friend today. We sunbathed for half an hour after it was lovely. Afterwards I nipped to get a stephanotus (star flower) plant and ate out. It's just so pretty and fills a room with scent.

I need to do more on the get the house ready for sale front. Not done anything other than the plant towards that today.

Honeysucklelou2

Exciting times SH. Good idea to take photos of your own views now so that you can compare with a new potential property.

How rural are you thinking?  Some would find a village rural enough but others might prefer a hamlet or house on its own within a parish…

savingholmes

Thanks HSL - I want to make sure that I don't jump ship for the sake of it - and that where I move is appreciably better/different in terms of rural feel. I'd quite like a hamlet or a fairly individual house - but it's a matter of what comes up in my budget. I've seen a house today at the top of my budget with amazing views - but they are debating whether I can view as my house isn't quite on the market yet. I've booked in a third valuation next week so hopefully I'll have a better idea then what I'm likely to get for mine. Unless I go for the low end of my budget I am unlikely to have spare cash to do the place up - as I want to avoid increasing my mortgage if possible as the rates with my existing provider seem dire.

After work today I've spent about 90 minutes cleaning out 6 shelves in 3 narrow cupboards and 2.5 shelves in a double width cupboard. I've thrown out most OOD food and decanted half filled jars of coffee into other jars etc. Between the two I've filled a kitchen recycling bin and about a 50 litre normal bin. I've found another mini shelf and put that in the pantry cupboard and added some clear organisers I bought but never used. The goal is to get all my food stuff put away and out of sight - including any in the car (roll eyes). There is now space on the shelves so that is a real possibility.

Before I began - I prepared a chicken casserole which has finished cooking. I plan to eat that and then sit on the floor and try and empty a low down double width cupboard. Failing that I may ask my cleaner to help with that tomorrow - although she's currently down to do painting so can't do both. If I can get that cupboard emptied - then I should be able to fit my saucepans neatly in there (what a novel thought!!!) instead of on the back of the door. This will then help my kitchen seem 'big enough' for a new buyer. I also need to add oven cleaning to my to do list but that won't be today. I also potentially need to tackle DD's items that she's left on the counter and work out where they should go too.

I probably need to water my outdoor seedlings too.