Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

TallGirl

Sound advice from Uralmaid. Does sound like your estate agent is not doing any chasing. Did you go with an online one and it’s not part of their service? I would get your solicitor to do the chasing in that case. 

Hope the viewing clarifies things today. Also good luck juggling everything it will all work out I’m sure. 

Ps well done for spotting the error that’s a lot of £

LeighofMar

Hope your viewing goes well today.

DancingInTheRain

Hope the viewing went well.

jwil

Well done on spotting the error.

Hope the viewing went well today.

KajiKita

Another one hoping that the latest viewing went well and might have brought you some clarity.

KK

savingholmes

Thanks Uralmaid, TG, KK, Jwil, Leigh and Dancing

Cautionary tales are scary. I can cope with the odd one - but just a flag - my MH can't cope with the amount of negative stories pregnant women get or the dire house move stories - so in general give a nudge - I'm happy to receive general advice and would welcome it but as EH was forced to put on her diary when she was moving - don't share too many horror stories as it is already stressful enough.

My buyers have instructed their solicitors - I can tell by the inane queries I keep getting. Even my EA is saying they don't seem to understand they need to prioritise the valuation above the enquiries. The buyers work shifts in a professional capacity which may make it hard for them to keep on top of things - and when the EA calls they say they can't speak they are on duty - email. To which the EA says we already did - you need to respond.

The EA thinks the issue is they have an unusually high number of gifted deposits - and they are FTB and inexperienced. On the survey front - mine only happened last week - although TBF I only offered around the end of September on mine and in practice due to the gifted deposit issue for them the legals only started part way through October. I applied for my mortgage first week of November - and would have received an offer by now if I hadn't put things on hold after the survey. I didn't start the conveyancing process until I had somewhere to go as I felt it would be unfair. Slightly regret that now!

The viewing went well overall - he had bought it as a do-er upper and has done a heck of a lot of work - but not all of which is finished which he says is reflected in the price. I'd picked up beforehand that it was likely to need new gutters and soffits and fascia board and that the patio doors wanted replacing. Other than that there was various amounts of 'finishing off' that needed doing. Most of the finishing off could be done by my handyman or equivalent - although there was some flooring in the hall and lounge that needs a solution e.g. where they ripped out the fire and therefore there's a gap. Above the boiler still needs boxing in. Some architrave needs finishing off etc. I'll share a proper list later.

I was there around an hour - which made me late to the Counsellor as I got stuck in traffic and today has just felt like one long rush. They have been doing up another house which they are moving to after a three year project - so are keen to sell this one asap and are planning to move out at Xmas regardless. So I could still get an early 2024 move date - but I take your point on legal and other professionals shut down periods.

I need to take some time to ponder my own thoughts and ask Sis and BIL for their advice given they are mid reno project before deciding. Uralmaid - you did make me feel better about pulling out at this point on the other house and offering elsewhere in some ways - although you also made me wonder if I should wait for a valuation / survey on here before proceeding elsewhere. Last week my ES said the buyers had indicated they probably wouldn't have a survey as its extra cost.  It could be that they are having a remote valuation like they did on my remortgage here so that may not be sinister itself. They claimed to the EA it should be sorted this week - but I've had no request for an appointment.

savingholmes

savingholmes said:

I've written myself a list of things to check - including:

• Joists - He redid all the floorboards upstairs - there was only one room where there was a creak / it went down which TBH is better than my current house
• How much it costs to run the heated floor in the bathroom - and how long it takes to warm up - it takes 20 minutes to warm up and he says is 100 watt electric heating like a light bulb
• When the wiring/fuse box was last updated - he used to work for a commercial electrical company I think and it was recently updated presumably on mates rates - he is still awaiting the sign off certificate. However - the garage doesn't have working electrics which is pretty fundamental so that would need resolving. It and their internal store are packed to the gills however which I guess prevented this happening earlier
• Patio doors look old - could do with finding out when double glazing last replaced and check if any glass blown - he has wedged a curtain rail fitting in the door which prevents it from opening - and he agreed they needed replacing. He just uses the brand new back door instead. Which needs some of the surround finishing off and painting. 
• Check guttering, sockets and fascia board - they need redoing at the back and possibly the front - but did on the other house too
• See if I can measure the outdoor space - it was heaving down with rain so I went out briefly but didn't measure it. It was a lot smaller than mine but big enough - given the borrowed landscape views to the front. The back garden backs on to other people's gardens - where here a number of houses directly overlook mine. It is overlooked from the side by a property further up the hill to one side - still debating how I feel about that.
• No kitchen measurement - so measure it - did 
• Unclear if utility area is excluded from the garage measurement - he will get me some measurements
• See if they got building regs when they changed the use of half of the garage - it was done before him - and no - I said I'd probably need an indemnity for that then if I made an offer
• No photo of downstairs loo area - may mean it needs replacing - it was lovely and freshly done so happy about that
• It says laminate flooring on the advert but it looks like tile so check - it is laminate but not convinced there is any underlay / insulation underneath - and parts are missing in the hall and lounge. The kitchen, diner and snug L shaped area is all nicely done in the same laminate.
• Bills - gas, water, elec, council tax, insurance
• Local doctor and dentist and any recommendations - forgot to ask
• Boiler servicing and installation dates - it's the same make as mine, a combi - and he's promised to get it serviced asap
• Broadband/wifi speeds, phone signal - phone was fine, his wife works from home so doesn't think any issue with wifi etc
• Ask about garage flat roof and also ask if they ever investigated extending above the garage - he had considered putting a balcony on but not more than that. He said the previous occupants had done some work to the roof
• Ask about hedge in front - claims he asked neighbour below to take it down a few inches which they agreed to - he says its maintained at that level twice a year
• Local crime (I did a search earlier this year and it was no worse than where I am now)

On the advert it does look like they've got an up to date bathroom and kitchen both to my taste so that seems promising. The bathroom is a proper wet room with tanking so really pleased with that as it was on my wish list for the other house - and indicative quotes were £10K. The kitchen was nicely laid out - I'd probably swap the gas hob for a flat induction one with timer as it is safe for me - but other than that it looked great.

Summary from today: No chain - they are keen to move asap - and plan to move out by Xmas regardless.

Despite it having been on the market since mid October it sounded like I may have been one of his first viewers. 

savingholmes

Today's house viewing continued... 

They had rewired throughout - awaiting certificate
Replumbed - including a two or three new radiators - did himself so no certificates
Replaced glass in 3 windows himself so no certificate - may need indemnity
Most of the internal doors replaced and nice shiny handles (I like them) - two or three architraves still to be resolved
Replastered every wall - it looks mint where it's been done
Via energy company grant - got thick insulation put in the loft and cavity wall insulation
He thinks the rooves were redone by previous owners.

As I say I will share some of the photos of the outstanding works needed and this list with sis and see what they come back with. 

uralmaid

Good luck - hope everything works out as you want it to.  It must be daunting sorting everything on your own.  x

savingholmes

Thanks uralmaid

Ironically while I was worrying about my buyers yesterday - I'd had an email to say they've had their offer through and can they come back and view Saturday afternoon. Only read it around midnight so not replied yet. Eek. Lots of tidying to do in my house!! I've just texted my cleaner to ask if she can come back and help but she's still ill. Asked DD to come and help - and offered to pay her. There probably isn't as much to do as it feels - it would take someone else an hour or two but me a lot longer as I get really distracted. It would be nice to also get some Xmas decs up.

I'm going to withdraw from the other house. Will send them and my solicitors an email next. I need to talk through yesterday's property with family before a final decision - but it had a lot of things I wasn't consciously aware I wanted including rewiring throughout, new plaster, freshly painted white throughout, new doors and handles etc. Yes there's work to do but it seems competitively priced taking that into consideration. I could also afford the work due to the lower purchase price.

Sis said as important was I happy with the area. I'm still working through that one. It seems very similar town wise to where I live now in terms of convenient access to stuff - just with nicer views. I think I'm less likely to regret this move than the other one because it is slightly less rural and closer to decent shops, hospital, learning centres, employment zones if needed and has decent transport links including a railway. It doesn't look like I'm going to get away from the sound of trains any time soon as there is a small station around a mile away but that's no worse than here.

It's closer to work than the other one which is a big plus - although the journey from here to there for 3pm took 45 minutes - but at 4pm it took me an hour and 20 to get to my counsellor - however I allow 30-40 mins from here to get to my counsellor now despite it only being 8 miles because it's in an awkward place. She also spoke yesterday about going virtual - which I said I might cope with if we do the T video instead of Z. It's main negative is it's less green than the other one but each has its pros and cons. 

One of my fingers is still sore from where I burned it the other week - due to skin cracking off and new stuff trying to grow. I've had to put a dressing back on it. My blood test left a purple welt on my arm yesterday. 

I need to talk to my solicitors about how quickly I could shift from one house to another and ring my mortgage company if I decide to go ahead and make an offer. For now though - I'll have my coffee and think about getting dressed while I also ponder the move!