Is anyone moving now?
Discussion
edc said:
People need to ask themselves what they are looking to achieve/validate with such certificates. If the expectation is some sort of regular upkeep or maintenance ok. But if it's to check whether something was approved at the time of installation then if there was no standard or cert issued then you can't expect one. Similarly if it's for a warranty you have to ask whether the install would still be within the warranty period.
It's a funny old game buying and selling houses.My FTB was a bit of a dick head who tried to chisel me halfway through the process but he came good in the end. His surveyor knew I had no paperwork for the house for anything done before I owned it as I told him that when he did his survey. I think that helped to manage the buyers expectations. I still got asked for fensa certification and boiler documents etc and I just said I didn't have any and none would be provided. He did start moaning about the back utility room having high damp readings in the floor but what did he expect? The foundations were laid in the 70s and the floor is part of the concrete slab. Of course it's going to have elevated damp readings but nothing turned on it and it didn't smell or anything so I politely pointed out he is buying the house as it is.
The bloke I purchased my house off told all sorts of fibs about when chimneys were removed and extensions done and windows installed (the house is in a conservation area) but I didn't care as I was knocking all his handiwork down and an indemnity policy wouldn't solve anything. He probably couldn't believe his luck I wasn't bothered about it, but what's the point in scuppering the deal for a pointless certificate? Residential deals rely heavily on goodwill and there is only so much available during the process. Getting into a scrap about whether a window has a fensa certificate is a fools errand.
edc said:
Flooble said:
ChevronB19 said:
Regarding demands for certificates etc., I can sort of understand an electrical check, but how do the other aspects work with old/unusual houses?
Previous house I sold (built 1780, converted from a mini barn in about 1920), the buyers demanded stove installation certs (installed in about 1920), window guarantee (installed circa 1990) etc etc. So, erm, it’s a ‘no’, which conveyancing solicitor seemed horrified at.
Current house (listed) is 1820 with original windows, stove etc. - so no certs, obviously. Are these people dim, or being advised by someone dim?
Surely just what you encounter in all walks of life - people can only follow the written process, which was defined for the 80%. Step outside that process and everything falls apart.Previous house I sold (built 1780, converted from a mini barn in about 1920), the buyers demanded stove installation certs (installed in about 1920), window guarantee (installed circa 1990) etc etc. So, erm, it’s a ‘no’, which conveyancing solicitor seemed horrified at.
Current house (listed) is 1820 with original windows, stove etc. - so no certs, obviously. Are these people dim, or being advised by someone dim?
But people cant/dont want to make decisions about something they know nothing about. So instead of asking someone who knows about the subject, they ask the solicitor, who then tells you you must have everything, like a Fensa cert.
Most certificates are largley worthless,, especially FENSA which are a complete joke. Surely the actual condition of what you are buying is more important? But that would involve a "proper" survey. Which no one wants to pay for, even though, as soon as they move in they will spuk £20K on a kitchen. Or similar.
When you lounge window falls out becuase your FENSA certified window was only glued in with expanding foam, what use is that certificate? You will still end up paying to sort it out.
Even getting a proper survey is hard. Most just say anything that looks suspect needs "more investgation".
Best you can do is a decent survey from someone who will discuss and advise, and maybe a clutch of indemnity policies.
I accepted an offer three weeks ago today and it’s with the solicitors now but not much happening. My house is 4 years old and they don’t need a mortgage so am guessing they won’t bother with a survey.
Disappointed to hear this morning the searches won’t be back for another 6 weeks apparently so doubt they will get in before Xmas, if it happens.
Such a slow process, it’s painful.
Disappointed to hear this morning the searches won’t be back for another 6 weeks apparently so doubt they will get in before Xmas, if it happens.
Such a slow process, it’s painful.
Anyone here recently gone to market and if so what levels of interest are you finding ? I've had a property on for a few weeks with no interest at all. Wondering if I've gone with the wrong agent. Tricky part is that I'm interested in a property that they have on their books and get a feeling they will be even more difficult if I jump ship. It's been all fun and games from my first contact with them, just as I expected sadly.
MuscleSedan said:
Anyone here recently gone to market and if so what levels of interest are you finding ? I've had a property on for a few weeks with no interest at all. Wondering if I've gone with the wrong agent. Tricky part is that I'm interested in a property that they have on their books and get a feeling they will be even more difficult if I jump ship. It's been all fun and games from my first contact with them, just as I expected sadly.
I firmly believe its still Rightmove that mostly sells the house not the agent. Sure they have to play their part with the right photos and answer the phone but they don't sell they offer properties in my view and not very well. My agent has a good reputation but on 3 viewings I had, I had a different employee turn up not having been to my house before, that is poor service!Depending on location of course but how good is your advert on rightmove, all correct and pictures spot on? Post a link if you want it critiqued by some of us?
Sheepshanks said:
I looked at, and had discussions with, the sons of a neighbour who died last year and left a house that was pretty well untouched since it was built mid-60’s. We were dancing around £400K and it was clear they were hoping for more and said they had several interested parties so I dropped out and started extension work on our house.
They put up by modem auction (very unusual around here) for £370K and no one bid. They re listed it at £325K and I hear they had one bidder, who bought it.
Not sure where values will end up now but before the recent softening I’d have said its fully tarted up value would be something like £550K.
Spoken to the estate agent this morning, who turned out to be a bit of an arse. "There's no point me putting forward that offer as they're going to decline it straight away".They put up by modem auction (very unusual around here) for £370K and no one bid. They re listed it at £325K and I hear they had one bidder, who bought it.
Not sure where values will end up now but before the recent softening I’d have said its fully tarted up value would be something like £550K.
Then reminded him that legally he had to do so, not sure what his issue is, they can just say no...it was £410k on a £450k property, considering where the market looks to be heading I wouldn't say it was unrealistic.
okgo said:
As long as they can get something onto rightmove it doesn't matter who the agent is in terms of there being a bit of initial interest IMO.
After a few weeks I've had one half-hearted update from the agent I'm using, and that's it. I've passed the office a couple of times and no one was there! Property is sub-£300k, reduced by £10k at the weekend as I'm motivated to find a buyer before the vendors of the one I'm interested in find somewhere themselves.
Rightmove's the go to place, but if the agent is difficult for any interested parties to get hold of it's not going to work. I can keep on dropping the price, but do I really need to ?
MuscleSedan said:
Anyone here recently gone to market and if so what levels of interest are you finding ? I've had a property on for a few weeks with no interest at all. Wondering if I've gone with the wrong agent. Tricky part is that I'm interested in a property that they have on their books and get a feeling they will be even more difficult if I jump ship. It's been all fun and games from my first contact with them, just as I expected sadly.
A friend is selling his flat (was their first home, more recently let out), and really struggling to get people through the door.It's a 50sqm, 1-bed flat that's about 5min walk from a Z2 Tube station in London. Pre-COVID it was probably worth £390-400k, and now he's reduced the price three times in as many months and is struggling to get people through the door at significantly less than that value.
edc said:
Is that wholly down to the economic market right now? I understand many flaw owners and would be owners are put off by the hang ups to do with cladding.
It's a period conversion, so cladding is a non-issue.It's an ideal first property for a single/couple, but that suddenly looks like a stretch at 6%.
MuscleSedan said:
The one I've put on was valued at £300k - £315k in the summer. Different agent valued it 3 weeks ago at £290k - £300k with a view to it making the £290k. Now at £280k with zero viewers. Personally, I think it's going to be a bloodbath out there.
Not a good time if you need to sell.interstellar said:
Depending on location of course but how good is your advert on rightmove, all correct and pictures spot on? Post a link if you want it critiqued by some of us?
Thanks. The advert looks good to me, I'll maybe link it later. It's your average place I guess, mid-70's 3 bed linked detached, clean and tidy throughout, conservatory, garage, driveway, etc. I'm no expert but it looks to be decent value compared anything else in the area. New build 2 beds are £250k near us, no driveway or garage, struggle to see how they are continuing to sell. MuscleSedan said:
The one I've put on was valued at £300k - £315k in the summer. Different agent valued it 3 weeks ago at £290k - £300k with a view to it making the £290k. Now at £280k with zero viewers. Personally, I think it's going to be a bloodbath out there.
If I were a buyer at the moment with options I’d definitely be waiting to see what happens with mortgage rates etc. If someone needs to sell currently I’d expect it be hard work, but if someone doesn’t need to sell they’ll probably sit tight. It’s therefore really hard to know whether the current situation is indicative of a future sustained direction, or just a reflection of current uncertainty. Very few of us got it right in 2020!johnnyBv8 said:
If I were a buyer at the moment with options I’d definitely be waiting to see what happens with mortgage rates etc. If someone needs to sell currently I’d expect it be hard work, but if someone doesn’t need to sell they’ll probably sit tight. It’s therefore really hard to know whether the current situation is indicative of a future sustained direction, or just a reflection of current uncertainty. Very few of us got it right in 2020!
Even if you got ahead of the curve in 2020 then you may be coming off your fixed term deal around now. I managed to sell and buy in July/August 2020 with completion in Dec and had I had a 2 year fix I'd be going from 1.58 to what we is out there now. I'm on a 3 year fix so hoping things calm down over the next year. edc said:
johnnyBv8 said:
If I were a buyer at the moment with options I’d definitely be waiting to see what happens with mortgage rates etc. If someone needs to sell currently I’d expect it be hard work, but if someone doesn’t need to sell they’ll probably sit tight. It’s therefore really hard to know whether the current situation is indicative of a future sustained direction, or just a reflection of current uncertainty. Very few of us got it right in 2020!
Even if you got ahead of the curve in 2020 then you may be coming off your fixed term deal around now. I managed to sell and buy in July/August 2020 with completion in Dec and had I had a 2 year fix I'd be going from 1.58 to what we is out there now. I'm on a 3 year fix so hoping things calm down over the next year. Edited by johnnyBv8 on Monday 31st October 20:16
Even though we have had 3 buyers, Our estate agent has been busy with people and selling. But is getting worried and there is a slow down.
Got a gut feeling about our estate agent when he came through the door. I was looking at who was selling for months before I put mine on the market and 2 agents were selling in a few weeks whereas the rest were on for months.
Estate agents have a list of people buying and budgets. Maybe they viewed a place a week or two ago but didn't go for it and gave them a call to say your place in on the market. Once you get through that list you and the people who have alerts on rightmove. You might get some through rightmove over the next few weeks but after 3 months I'd move on to a new estate agent with new photos.
Unless your in an outstanding school area with an amazing curb appeal house never go with a online estate agent.
Got a gut feeling about our estate agent when he came through the door. I was looking at who was selling for months before I put mine on the market and 2 agents were selling in a few weeks whereas the rest were on for months.
Estate agents have a list of people buying and budgets. Maybe they viewed a place a week or two ago but didn't go for it and gave them a call to say your place in on the market. Once you get through that list you and the people who have alerts on rightmove. You might get some through rightmove over the next few weeks but after 3 months I'd move on to a new estate agent with new photos.
Unless your in an outstanding school area with an amazing curb appeal house never go with a online estate agent.
johnnyBv8 said:
MuscleSedan said:
The one I've put on was valued at £300k - £315k in the summer. Different agent valued it 3 weeks ago at £290k - £300k with a view to it making the £290k. Now at £280k with zero viewers. Personally, I think it's going to be a bloodbath out there.
If I were a buyer at the moment with options I’d definitely be waiting to see what happens with mortgage rates etc. If someone needs to sell currently I’d expect it be hard work, but if someone doesn’t need to sell they’ll probably sit tight. It’s therefore really hard to know whether the current situation is indicative of a future sustained direction, or just a reflection of current uncertainty. Very few of us got it right in 2020!I gave the estate agent of the place I wanted to buy an ultimatum of needing an answer by 5pm today or my offer is withdrawn. I didn’t hear back. I’m a straightforward guy and didn’t like the feeling of being played off against someone else. Slightly back to the drawing board but I’ve made the right decision. I think.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff