Is anyone moving now?

[Mark83]

Greshamst said:

Well, still a long way away from sorted, but we finally have a sale agreed on a place to move to!

The vendor is moving to a retirement home, where the property is currently going through probate (funeral was only last week), so might not be in for a while, could potentially have to move in with family or short term rent in between, but worth it in the end I think.

We never really intended to take on much of a project, but the house does need modernising. It’s been well looked after, but still has the original 60s kitchen and bathrooms etc. it’s liveable, and we still have a healthy budget leftover to put our stamp on it.

And most importantly… a double garage, with drive space for 2 or 3 more cars if you needed

Let’s hope the survey goes well.

You got there in the end, congratulations. Is there a new PHer in the neighbourhood or did you find another location?

[illmonkey]

Mr Whippy said:

pb8g09 said:

illmonkey said:

Jumping on to share my frustrations!

Broke up with ex, sold house. I couldn't find anywhere to buy, so got a month to month agreement on a property, so I could keep searching and move quickly. Got notice 3 days before Christmas giving me about 10 working days to find somewhere!

In the new year, within a day or so I managed to find somewhere to live (agreement with a local airbnb) and have my offer accepted on a property with no chain. I figured I had 10 weeks in airbnb and move.

Fast forward to last week and it turns out the place I was buying didn't have permission for the dropped kerb, or access over council land, or to park cars in the front garden (covenants). A triple whammy! It was too risky to lose the drive and revert to street parking, so I've pulled out, lost £1500 in solicitor fees and the agent has put the same house up, at the same price with the driveway as a selling point. I imagine they'll do this dance a few times...

I found an other place, viewed and offered on the same day, there were 3 offers, 1 was non-proceedable, so I had a shot. I left it a few days and chased. Was told it was being sold by the 2 charities the person who owned it had left it to. One of them couldn't understand why the offers were not asking price(!). The other charity was fine. Turns out charity 1 actually want the properties they sell to be listed for 4 weeks, for best chance. So, I decided to up my offer by 5k, this offer expiring at noon today, to try and tie it down sooner. I imagine they just want more money, so thought I'd try it.

Annoyingly the airbnb I'm in has a booking in a month (I'd have probably been in the 1st house by then) for 3 nights, so I have to move all my st out, leave it in a van for 3 nights, then move back. It's free until mid June, so fingers crossed I can move in somewhere by then

Christ what a journey. Keep a positive mindset- you’ll feel amazing on your first night in your new place, just in time for summer.

Yep, sounds like a tough time. Fingers crossed for you!

PS, they do say if you want to make life hell then leave a proportion of your estate to a charity.
As it’s not an absolute or fixed value, they’ll work hard to maximise value because they share in it.
Thus your charity seller is indeed just following expected practice and pushing for more money.

As expected, I got a call today telling me they’ve accepted someone else’s ‘significantly higher offer’ a full 8 days before the 4 weeks they told the agent they’d wait before accepting an offer. No chance to counter.

I’m furious at them, you don’t do that, it’s just not cricket. But money talks as you say, even overrules ‘company policy’ in this instance.

Back to the drawing board. I’m really getting to my wits end. Even then, rentals are hard to get

[Greshamst]

Mark83 said:

You got there in the end, congratulations. Is there a new PHer in the neighbourhood or did you find another location?

Yep, I’m moving out your way!
I’m sure I’ll be in touch later in the year for builder recommendations.
Don’t think we’re going to be adding to the house, but there will be a big rejig of the internals.

[Mark83]

Greshamst said:

Yep, I’m moving out your way!
I’m sure I’ll be in touch later in the year for builder recommendations.
Don’t think we’re going to be adding to the house, but there will be a big rejig of the internals.

Welcome! Do you know the area well already; best places to eat and drink etc.?

I reckon we're a new lawn and painted summerhouse (paternity leave jobs) away from inviting an estate agent over for a valuation. Following yours and a local mate's experience, I'm interested in a local estate agent's value versus a desktop one following the work we've had done.

[FrankAbagnale]

illmonkey said:

As expected, I got a call today telling me they’ve accepted someone else’s ‘significantly higher offer’ a full 8 days before the 4 weeks they told the agent they’d wait before accepting an offer. No chance to counter.

If you would increase your offer, send the offer in writing anyway. Agent is legally obliged to present it to the seller.

[Patch1875]

Finally get our keys to our new build tomorrow.

Walk around yesterday and all looks good no obvious problems that I could see other than the ridiculous placement of the open reach fibre box.


Looking forward to getting the cats back from the cattery.

[GT3Manthey]

Patch1875 said:

Finally get our keys to our new build tomorrow.

Walk around yesterday and all looks good no obvious problems that I could see other than the ridiculous placement of the open reach fibre box.


Looking forward to getting the cats back from the cattery.

Congrats hope all goes swimmingly.

Assuming you get a snagging list drawn up if needs be ?

[Patch1875]

GT3Manthey said:

Congrats hope all goes swimmingly.

Assuming you get a snagging list drawn up if needs be ?

We will be. Yesterday was a quick look around they say to give it a couple of weeks to find any issues and they will
address them they are a small builder and the finish looks a pretty good standard.

[pb8g09]

Patch1875 said:

We will be. Yesterday was a quick look around they say to give it a couple of weeks to find any issues and they will
address them they are a small builder and the finish looks a pretty good standard.

Doors lining up and big gaps underneath them causing draughts are often the thing that you don't notice straight away but swear about forever more.

Check the toilet seats are on straight too else you'll be replacing them very quickly...

[Toaster Pilot]

pb8g09 said:

Check the toilet seats are on straight too else you'll be replacing them very quickly...

How would they not be on straight?! The holes on the toilet that they bolt to are fixed, no?

[skwdenyer]

Toaster Pilot said:

pb8g09 said:

Check the toilet seats are on straight too else you'll be replacing them very quickly...

How would they not be on straight?! The holes on the toilet that they bolt to are fixed, no?

The bolts are often smaller than the holes, allowing a fair degree of mis-alignment potential Especially the case with "aftermarket" seats.

[Patch1875]

pb8g09 said:

Doors lining up and big gaps underneath them causing draughts are often the thing that you don't notice straight away but swear about forever more.

Check the toilet seats are on straight too else you'll be replacing them very quickly...

Will give it a good check over hopefully we don’t find much. If we do I may call in a snagging company the builder has been a right pita all the way through this so I’m expecting the house to be perfect.

Hopefully the toilets are good we paid extra for fancy ones!

[Greshamst]

A couple of surveyors I’ve contacted have said there’s no point in getting a level 3 survey, over a level 2 survey on a house that’s 60 years old.

Any thoughts on this? I’m surprised they’re turning away the higher fees of a level 3…

[Jules Sunley]

Greshamst said:

A couple of surveyors I’ve contacted have said there’s no point in getting a level 3 survey, over a level 2 survey on a house that’s 60 years old.

Any thoughts on this? I’m surprised they’re turning away the higher fees of a level 3…

I've always thought of level 3 as being for anything unusual like a converted building or maybe thatched etc. Only ever had level 2's for my homes.

[beanoir78]

Jules Sunley said:

Greshamst said:

A couple of surveyors I’ve contacted have said there’s no point in getting a level 3 survey, over a level 2 survey on a house that’s 60 years old.

Any thoughts on this? I’m surprised they’re turning away the higher fees of a level 3…

I've always thought of level 3 as being for anything unusual like a converted building or maybe thatched etc. Only ever had level 2's for my homes.

That’s the same approach we’ve taken, only had a level 3 done once on a 250yr old cottage, the rest just level 2.

[ChevronB19]

Jules Sunley said:

Greshamst said:

A couple of surveyors I’ve contacted have said there’s no point in getting a level 3 survey, over a level 2 survey on a house that’s 60 years old.

Any thoughts on this? I’m surprised they’re turning away the higher fees of a level 3…

I've always thought of level 3 as being for anything unusual like a converted building or maybe thatched etc. Only ever had level 2's for my homes.

Level 3 on our 200 year old listed house (from a so called specialist) turned out to be, as per usual, a waste of time with codicils scattered everywhere.

[Alex_225]

We're looking to move and completely relocate. Currently in Surrey, frustratingly on the edge of the Croydon borough. Which I suppose has it's good and bad points.

But my new job's head office is Bristol, my eldest daughter is in Gloucestershire and I've spent the last 5 years up and down the M4 picking her up and dropping her home every other weekend. So we have put in an offer on a house which has been accepted. Had ours photographed today so should be up for sale next week.

For the price of our four bed semi detached with a garage and two off street parking spaces. We have bought a five bed detached place with double garage and parking for many many things haha

[Patch1875]

And finally we have the keys.

[Toaster Pilot]

Patch1875 said:

And finally we have the keys.

Congratulations!

[ooid]

Greshamst said:

A couple of surveyors I’ve contacted have said there’s no point in getting a level 3 survey, over a level 2 survey on a house that’s 60 years old.

Any thoughts on this? I’m surprised they’re turning away the higher fees of a level 3…

Depends on the property. Level 3 is more detailed definitely. I took a level 3 survey once on an Edwardian Terrace house (1880s built?). The report found couple of issues that most would not see with untrained eye. We agreed about 5 or 6% discount (on the previously agree price) with the seller after the report.

Edited by ooid on Friday 31st March 18:09