Moving to Cardiff (area) - ideas and suggestions
Discussion
Happy New Year everyone!
Well looks like that job was not to be. They offered a temp contract and I turned it down. Long story.
Anyway, it looks like Mrs TT will be moving alone initially into digs for a while.
No further movement on the house here so we're in limbo.
Job applications being fired off.
Ho hum.
Well looks like that job was not to be. They offered a temp contract and I turned it down. Long story.
Anyway, it looks like Mrs TT will be moving alone initially into digs for a while.
No further movement on the house here so we're in limbo.
Job applications being fired off.
Ho hum.
Good info thanks.
IF (note the big IF) I am interperting the map correctly the new road will loop up to join the existing motorway before it reaches Marshfield.
The bit where I am looking appears to be in the SSSI (I think.
ETA: Hmm, maybe the last bit of the road would be close to the top and the property I was considering would be quite close. Maybe why they are selling perhaps.
Good catch, Thanks
IF (note the big IF) I am interperting the map correctly the new road will loop up to join the existing motorway before it reaches Marshfield.
The bit where I am looking appears to be in the SSSI (I think.
ETA: Hmm, maybe the last bit of the road would be close to the top and the property I was considering would be quite close. Maybe why they are selling perhaps.
Good catch, Thanks
Edited by Tyre Tread on Thursday 8th January 16:08
Hi guys. Suddenly things are getting very real.
House sold STC and SWMBO starts new job on Monday.
House and job hunting now need to step up significantly.
Spent last weekend decorating one of the bedrooms to improve chances on the upcoming viewings - Wasted weekend!
So tonight we will sit down and wade through the houses we have been shortlisting to see which ones we fancy viewing.
Hornetrider, would you mind if I email the list to you to check over since some may be ones you already viewed?
Fortunately we already have an appointment with the bank to discuss a mortgage in case we need a top up. Yes the budget has grown again!
House sold STC and SWMBO starts new job on Monday.
House and job hunting now need to step up significantly.
Spent last weekend decorating one of the bedrooms to improve chances on the upcoming viewings - Wasted weekend!
So tonight we will sit down and wade through the houses we have been shortlisting to see which ones we fancy viewing.
Hornetrider, would you mind if I email the list to you to check over since some may be ones you already viewed?
Fortunately we already have an appointment with the bank to discuss a mortgage in case we need a top up. Yes the budget has grown again!
Edited by Tyre Tread on Tuesday 27th January 16:58
hornetrider said:
I'll buy that if you'll collect it and deliver it for me. After all, how hard can it be?
We figure if we're going to buy something we might as well buy something we really like even if it means a mortgage again. After all we'll be selling up when we retire probably so might as well enjoy the bank's accommodation.
I think I said earlier that I really like the idea of living in a village/hamlet but not sure about the reality vs the ideal.
I think there's an element of we'll know when we find it. Bear in mind we have no worries about school catchment areas or running kids about which makes life easier.
Thanks to Martin for his emailed suggestion. YHM
I think I said earlier that I really like the idea of living in a village/hamlet but not sure about the reality vs the ideal.
I think there's an element of we'll know when we find it. Bear in mind we have no worries about school catchment areas or running kids about which makes life easier.
Thanks to Martin for his emailed suggestion. YHM
I must admit that for an outsider its sometimes difficult to know which properties are actually priced at "market value" (whatever that is?) and which are speculative. This is particularly difficult in areas where precise location is important to avoid noise or other nuisance. For example Hornetrider and others have pointed out that Cardiff Airport, which I thought would be a major devaluer of property due to noise, has no real effect on quiet enjoyment whereas the quarry where there are motorsport events and Llandow circuit MAY cause an issue. The airport I made incorrect assumptions about, the circuit I might have picked up on but the quarry I probably wouldn’t have done so.
I admit that when we put our house on the market we marketed at the highest valuation (two EAs valued it at the same amount and the third £25K higher) partly because 6 months earlier it had been "valued" (albeit by only one estate agent0 at 30k higher still - this may have been a vanity valuation to get the property on the market or property in the town may have dropped as they told me. (knowing now what I know about the estate agent who did the earlier valuation, I’m pretty sure it was a vanity valuation – see below)
I work for a small company in a similar industry to estate agents (business sales) and it is common practice for the majority of Business Transfer Agents to perform what I refer to as "vanity valuations". This is where an agent contacts a business owner and persuades them to have a "free valuation". The agent then significantly over values the business to flatter the owner about the value of the business. This is for two main reasons. 1. The business owner thinks that if the business is worth that amount now then they are more likely to agree to sell, and 2. It is more likely that a vendor will sign with an agent who values his business at a higher value as they will achieve a higher prices (in the mind of the vendor). If another agent is invited to value the business and values on a realistic basis the vendor is more likely to want to achieve the higher valuation, obviously.
What the agent then does, is market the business for a while knowing the likelihood of a sale is slim to non existent (unless they get lucky and find someone who doesn’t know the market or has some over riding reason for wanting that particular business). The agent then, over a period of time gently works on the vendor to lower his asking price in the hope that a sale and resultant commission will occur. All sorts of arguments can be employed to persuade the vendor to drop his price.
Looking at much of the housing stock in the more expensive sector in the Vale it seems that much is owned and being sold by, or on behalf of, elderly vendors. These vendors are not interested in a quick sale but in maximising the value extracted from the property. They will therefore have been particularly vulnerable to vanity valuations and will hold out for a considerable time (in some cases several years) for a buyer. The EA in the meantime sits there knowing that he has a stock of high quality houses on his books which benefits him in several ways.
1. By getting houses on the market with them the EA has “locked out the competition”. Of course the vendor could change but he has not really lost anything if they do. Other EA’s would have to over value the property to get the vendor “on board”
2. Because he has lots of stock people searching for a property will be attracted to his business (nobody looks in an empty shop window)
3. The apparent values of his (overpriced) housing stock will make other properties which are priced realistically look more reasonably priced than they would otherwise appear
4. Both of the above will help to keep prices high in the geographical area and therefore the EA’s commissions more buoyant
5. Lots of the Estate Agents sale boards appear around the area therefore looking like they are the most prolific and successful EA in the area, raising their profile and thus attracting buyers to search on their sites/windows and helping to attract new sellers
So, local knowledge of property prices and how they are affected by local circumstances is important in making sure you don’t end up over paying.
This is one of the reasons why I really appreciate all of your input.
As this is PH we will have to have a meet up and I will buy you a beer and maybe even have a bit of a house warming when we eventually move.
Thanks again chaps!
Sorry for the long post and hope it makes sense.
I admit that when we put our house on the market we marketed at the highest valuation (two EAs valued it at the same amount and the third £25K higher) partly because 6 months earlier it had been "valued" (albeit by only one estate agent0 at 30k higher still - this may have been a vanity valuation to get the property on the market or property in the town may have dropped as they told me. (knowing now what I know about the estate agent who did the earlier valuation, I’m pretty sure it was a vanity valuation – see below)
I work for a small company in a similar industry to estate agents (business sales) and it is common practice for the majority of Business Transfer Agents to perform what I refer to as "vanity valuations". This is where an agent contacts a business owner and persuades them to have a "free valuation". The agent then significantly over values the business to flatter the owner about the value of the business. This is for two main reasons. 1. The business owner thinks that if the business is worth that amount now then they are more likely to agree to sell, and 2. It is more likely that a vendor will sign with an agent who values his business at a higher value as they will achieve a higher prices (in the mind of the vendor). If another agent is invited to value the business and values on a realistic basis the vendor is more likely to want to achieve the higher valuation, obviously.
What the agent then does, is market the business for a while knowing the likelihood of a sale is slim to non existent (unless they get lucky and find someone who doesn’t know the market or has some over riding reason for wanting that particular business). The agent then, over a period of time gently works on the vendor to lower his asking price in the hope that a sale and resultant commission will occur. All sorts of arguments can be employed to persuade the vendor to drop his price.
Looking at much of the housing stock in the more expensive sector in the Vale it seems that much is owned and being sold by, or on behalf of, elderly vendors. These vendors are not interested in a quick sale but in maximising the value extracted from the property. They will therefore have been particularly vulnerable to vanity valuations and will hold out for a considerable time (in some cases several years) for a buyer. The EA in the meantime sits there knowing that he has a stock of high quality houses on his books which benefits him in several ways.
1. By getting houses on the market with them the EA has “locked out the competition”. Of course the vendor could change but he has not really lost anything if they do. Other EA’s would have to over value the property to get the vendor “on board”
2. Because he has lots of stock people searching for a property will be attracted to his business (nobody looks in an empty shop window)
3. The apparent values of his (overpriced) housing stock will make other properties which are priced realistically look more reasonably priced than they would otherwise appear
4. Both of the above will help to keep prices high in the geographical area and therefore the EA’s commissions more buoyant
5. Lots of the Estate Agents sale boards appear around the area therefore looking like they are the most prolific and successful EA in the area, raising their profile and thus attracting buyers to search on their sites/windows and helping to attract new sellers
So, local knowledge of property prices and how they are affected by local circumstances is important in making sure you don’t end up over paying.
This is one of the reasons why I really appreciate all of your input.
As this is PH we will have to have a meet up and I will buy you a beer and maybe even have a bit of a house warming when we eventually move.
Thanks again chaps!
Sorry for the long post and hope it makes sense.
Thanks Ryan
Most of the stuff we seem to like is centred around the Cowbridge area, mostly south of it.
I have alerts set up on Rightmove but if you can find anything different we will be travelling down to Cardiff tomorrow for a look around over the nest couple of days.
If anyone wants to meet up for a drink sun or Mon night we're staying in a B&B in Monknash and happy to meet and buy you a beer while we pick your brains.
Most of the stuff we seem to like is centred around the Cowbridge area, mostly south of it.
I have alerts set up on Rightmove but if you can find anything different we will be travelling down to Cardiff tomorrow for a look around over the nest couple of days.
If anyone wants to meet up for a drink sun or Mon night we're staying in a B&B in Monknash and happy to meet and buy you a beer while we pick your brains.
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