Probate properties

[Elllie]

Just wondering if any of you took on a probate house. We are seeing one next week - needs everything done and the EA described it as needing an industrial clean before stepping foot in it. Nice! I know most older properties have had several owners previously, but did an actual 'probate' house feel strange at all?

[skymoo]

We went to view one a while back and although it was in good order and clean and tidy, it was very sad. The elderly owner had died - suddenly, and he had no family and therefore had left the house to an animal charity. When we went around there, all of his belongings were exactly as he had left them, cards on the mantlepiece, change on his side table, food in pantry, medication etc. Even his tomatoes were still growing in the greenhouse and those unpicked lay rotting on the floor.

Carpets were all patterned and the windows would have needed to be replaced, and a heating system installed, bathroom/kitchen works eventually.

I felt very uneasy about the whole thing, and did not want to buy it.

Depends how thick skinned you are really I suppose.

The charity held out until a ridiculous price was offered and accepted - ie it was worth about £250k and it went for about £360k!

[biffandchip]

We bought one last week, dp is gutting it as I type. It makes part of me feel sad because photos and things have been left, the house is very dated and has been in the same family since built in 1935. It stinks of urine, has woodworm and hasn't been touched for years (apart from a new roof luckily enough). However, we could not have afforded it had it not been in this state and hopefully can turn it back into the loved family home it was about 30 years ago. Apparently the garden used to be lovely too so we are making it our job to do it justice again. Sentimental moi?

[lalalonglegs]

We bought one - I prefer to buy places that need lots of work and this one certainly did. Didn't feel strange at all - just very dated. It had been owned by a childless couple and at least one of them had died there but that sort of thing doesn't bother me in the least.

The good thing about probate properties is that they are chain free, the bad thing (in our case) was the twunt of a solicitor didn't apply for probate until 3 months after accepting our offer and it took another 3 months to sort out .

[Littlefish]

We bought one. I love it. It's over 200 years old, so lots of people have been born and died here. It doesn't worry me at all.