Losing Momentum

frostyfeet

Hi everyone

I put in an offer for a house at the end of January. I offered £5k under the asking price which was eventually accepted and duly applied for a mortgage. After loads of problems with the getting the survey done, the lender losing documents and basically using every stalling tactic they could think of, I got my mortgage offer last friday. The survey flagged up some hopefully , minor problems with the roof, it said that the roof had been rebuilt with second hand tiles, a few slates and ridge tiles need attention, the gable wall might need additional restraint and the chimneys need capping. So, I thought I would get a roofer out to give me an estimate and also give me a general opinion on the overall condition of the roof. Has anyone ever tried getting a roofer out? Most seem to want cash up front before they will give a quote due to no guarantee that I will take on the job as I dont own the property. So having accepted this, I am now on my third as they keep letting me down due to 'domestic emergencies''. I have instructed another last week and am still waiting for them to arrange a date with the sellers. I have a gut feeling I'm going to get ripped off. How can I minimise my chances of this happening when I dont personally know any roofers? Added to this of course, house prices are dropping and I now feel my offer was too high...although at the time it seemed a good deal. I'm a single Mum of 2 kids and trying to do all this on my own, have no family to support me and I'm beginning to run out of steam and want to jump ship!! Help!

Snooze

There's a very simple and obvious solution to this : stop trying to buy in a rapidly declining market and rent somewhere for a year or three.

Rob

frostyfeet

Thanks Snooze.

If only it were that simple. I have seriously considered this and am in rented accommodation at present...not because of the house price situation but because after a very messy relationship breakdown I needed time to decide what to do next. However, for reasons I wont go into I'm desperately unhappy in my current accommodation and need to move areas. Last time I looked, 3 bed houses in the area I want to move to are more expensive to rent than the mortgage would be and having to rely on removal companies (again) would also push the price up, not to mention my stress levels which have been close to breaking point for some time now! But mainly, I feel as a family we now need a permanant home. I do appreciate your response though.

Snooze

frostyfeet wrote: »

Thanks Snooze.

If only it were that simple. I have seriously considered this and am in rented accommodation at present...not because of the house price situation but because after a very messy relationship breakdown I needed time to decide what to do next. However, for reasons I wont go into I'm desperately unhappy in my current accommodation and need to move areas. Last time I looked, 3 bed houses in the area I want to move to are more expensive to rent than the mortgage would be and having to rely on removal companies (again) would also push the price up, not to mention my stress levels which have been close to breaking point for some time now! But mainly, I feel as a family we now need a permanant home. I do appreciate your response though.

In the long term it would be worth it to pay the bit extra renting for a couple of years and then buying. The house prices will have dropped significantly by that time (imho and the majority of others) and you'll be able to pick up a nice house for pocket change.

If you don't need to move right now, don't.

Rob

PRINCESSKERRY

I understand your situation I am a mum myself and with young children I completely agree it must be horrible to not be happy were you are.
If you do not love this house I would suggest seeing what else is on the market, prices would have come down a bit since January so see what else you can afford and if something does take your eye then walk away from this house and start afresh.

frostyfeet

Thanks Princesskerry

I do love the house, its perfect for our needs (apart from the roof maybe!) but until a few days ago was blindly pushing forward based on the fact that I want the house. But i'm not so daft as to not realise there will be other houses, even if this one did take ages to find. My plan was to see what the roofer says before making my final decision on whether to go ahead with exchange of contracts but it seems I cant find a roofer to say anything! I'm just getting tired now and after having so many hurdles thrown in front of me am beginning to wonder if someone is trying to tell me something!

furndire

Once you find out how much the roof is going to cost, offer that amount less on the property and be prepared to walk away if they wont accept.

neas

Just hold on renting for another year then you will have more money and better placed to buy a house.

Would you like to buy the house then be kept up at night worruying about keeping it?... Its less risky/stressful if you rent a bit longer .