First ever house viewing! Advice please!

First ever house viewing! Advice please!

Author
Discussion

BRISTOL86

Original Poster:

545 posts

165 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
miniman said:
Where to is it?
Emersons. Are you local?

hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
Very nice first house, as you say the decor looks clean and modern, the only downers for me are the orientation of the garden so little sun in the evening, also the garden could do with some grass as it's all a bit concrete for me.

All in all tidy though.

Oh, Longwell not Emersons wink

smile

BRISTOL86

Original Poster:

545 posts

165 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
Duh! Meant Longwell! We were set on Emerson's for ages but the prices are silly in comparison.

Impressive sleuthing by the way smile

Yeah garden isn't to our tastes at all but that's something I'll happily take on as a little project to make our own over the years! Needs some grass for sure!

miniman

24,982 posts

263 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
BRISTOL86 said:
miniman said:
Where to is it?
Emersons. Are you local?
Relatively, near Castle Combe.

Sheepshanks

32,799 posts

120 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
Mobile Chicane said:
Check out the neighbours. You'll be stuck with them if you decide to move in.

I generally knock on the door, apologise for bothering them, say that I'm thinking of putting in an offer on the house next door, explain that I'm new to the area, and can they tell me anything about it.

I've never been refused yet: most people take pride in their home and will happily spend 5 minutes chatting.

5 minutes should be enough to tell you what type of people they are, and moreover get an insight into the seller.
It makes sense if there's no-one in the house you're buying but I always think that's a strange thing to do if you've just spent time with the vendors. I've experienced it once and it was them who turned out to the problem. OTOH an American family moved in across the road and (after moving in) went around introduced themselves to everyone. That was very nice.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
BRISTOL86 said:
Impressive sleuthing by the way smile
bowtie

I've had my head dug in Rightmove for the last two years planning my own move so I'm used to the challenge now hehe

I sold in Bradley Stoke 2 houses ago and have slowly edged West... now outside of Cardiff. A few short years ago 250k would have got you 4 bed detached but not anymore I'm afraid. Life is tough!

BRISTOL86

Original Poster:

545 posts

165 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
bowtie

I've had my head dug in Rightmove for the last two years planning my own move so I'm used to the challenge now hehe

I sold in Bradley Stoke 2 houses ago and have slowly edged West... now outside of Cardiff. A few short years ago 250k would have got you 4 bed detached but not anymore I'm afraid. Life is tough!
Nice! Friends of ours moved to Bradley Stoke a few years ago and are selling now, it's gone up £130k in 7 years and they've done nothing to it.

It's come at the wrong time for us, market wise, but what can you do! Luckily we've done very well to get a private landlord who my Mum knew from work and have been paying below market rate rent for 5 years, so probably saved £10k in rent by the time we buy somewhere!

Dogwatch

6,229 posts

223 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
The schools are closed for Easter. Worth checking out the situation when they re-open as it may be very different to now. If it is and you don't like what you see you aren't committed until you exchange contracts (but neither is the vendor!).

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

160 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all

hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
quotequote all
BRISTOL86 said:
Nice! Friends of ours moved to Bradley Stoke a few years ago and are selling now, it's gone up £130k in 7 years and they've done nothing to it.

It's come at the wrong time for us, market wise, but what can you do! Luckily we've done very well to get a private landlord who my Mum knew from work and have been paying below market rate rent for 5 years, so probably saved £10k in rent by the time we buy somewhere!
Yeah my first house was a 1 bed semi in Bradley, lived in it for 6 years, bought 69k sold 145k. Nuts. Still, it doesn't mean anything really because everything you want to buy is more expensive too.

Tyre Tread

10,535 posts

217 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
BRISTOL86 said:
Impressive sleuthing by the way smile
bowtie

I've had my head dug in Rightmove for the last two years planning my own move so I'm used to the challenge now hehe

I sold in Bradley Stoke 2 houses ago and have slowly edged West... now outside of Cardiff. A few short years ago 250k would have got you 4 bed detached but not anymore I'm afraid. Life is tough!
Yeah, he does that (fortunately for some of us) wink



hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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wavey

Any luck your end TT?

ozzuk

1,183 posts

128 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Hey you could always ask for advice on moneysavingexpert. I feel like a stalker now. Anyway, good luck!

Tyre Tread

10,535 posts

217 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
wavey

Any luck your end TT?
Don't want to hijack the thread but we have increased our target area as you will see if you login to the rightmove account.

Some good advice on here OP.

BRISTOL86

Original Poster:

545 posts

165 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Sold this morning before we could even view frown

illmonkey

18,209 posts

199 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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BRISTOL86 said:
Sold this morning before we could even view frown
Shame. An other lesson, take the first slot to view it. Don't wait till the weekend.

DoubleSix

11,718 posts

177 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
BRISTOL86 said:
Sold this morning before we could even view frown
Oh well, at least you can get one facing the right way now.

Onwards!

hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
DoubleSix said:
Oh well, at least you can get one facing the right way now.

Onwards!
This cool

Asterix

24,438 posts

229 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
miniman said:
BRISTOL86 said:
miniman said:
Where to is it?
Emersons. Are you local?
Relatively, near Castle Combe.
Lovely area - Lucknam Park is one of my favourite getaway places.

FrankAbagnale

1,702 posts

113 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
There are plenty more houses in the sea.

As others have said, do have a very good think about the garden and the way it faces.

As an estate agent, I see a lot of houses and have grown to like property of all shapes and sizes. One thing I will personally never compromise on is a South or South West facing garden. Having a garden that faces the right way means the house is more likely to be naturally light inside and you will get use of the garden.

Doing man jobs, fixing cars, having a beer with your mates, standing around a BBQ, watching the Mrs sunbathe with her t1ts out etc are all things best done in the sun. If the garden is in the shade, it will remain mainly unused and become annoying on a scorching day in July when you have to go to mates houses to do the above rather than be a King in your own castle.