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WWYD, list it or love it? - long post alert!

22 replies

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 17:03

I would really like some help and advice on what to do about my current property.

Background: It's a 4 bed property, worth about £550K. In the area we live you don't get much back for doing up a house so any improvements we make would be for us, and we would hope to break evenish but will probably make a loss. When we bought it, we were looking for absolutely ages...around a year. We needed somewhere with more space and where my husband and son could commute from. Also wanted somewhere away from motorway noise as it drives me mad (bit of a problem in the area where we were looking). Found this place and we had looked at many other on the same road, ticked a lot of boxes, we liked the house, and no motorway noise....or so we thought!

Anyway, since moving in about 4/5 yrs ago, there is motorway noise which has got much worse since some bugger illegally cut down a load of trees. Somedays it's not there, some days its loud enough to hear in the house with the windows shut. It's there most days. I am desperately trying to live with it but not sure I am succeeding.

In addition to road noise, husband has massive commute so basically don't see him in the week. I am not well, so out of action a lot of the time and have also taken on a new job (doing something I've always wanted to do) which is good but another pressure as I am training, and trying to learn while feeling unwell. Oh and I haven't mentioned the biggy which is that house is falling apart/like a building site!

We had decided to try to sell it and move up the train line to somewhere hopefully quieter and nearer to DH's work. This would be somewhere smaller. However, in the 8 months I've been looking at properties (just online), only ONE has come up that we would consider/could afford and looks to be far enough away from roads/train lines etc to get rid of that issue, but near enough to a train station that DH's commute would reduced. Also, house needs a lot of work just to get it to saleable. We have a leaking roof, that two tradesman and DH cannot seem to fix, bathroom needs redoing, bathroom window needs replacing. Downstairs loo had a leak (floor and toilet need replacing), and basin is coming off wall. Kitchen is on its last legs and if we are here even another year, it will need redoing. Once we start redoing all this, we will need to level the uneven floors. House is freezing in winter so DH has said if we are here another winter he wants to put it a couple of new rads and a woodburner and replace at least some of the windows. Work needs doing on staircase....the list goes on and on.

So, it will cost thousands to get the place saleable and keep it liveable while we do all of that, and then thousands to sell up and move.

OR, do we just say we are staying, put up with the commute and the road noise, and do the place up as we want it which would include extending (so more money but not sure that much more than all of the above).

I keep wavering and driving DH mad. He doesn't notice the road noise and would put up with the commute although he is exhausted most of the time.

WWYD?

OP posts:
wowfudge · 24/07/2017 18:27

Have the house valued in its current state by three local estate agents with a view to selling. Don't list all the issues, let them see it and give you their opinions. Ask them to provide comparables. Ask what realistically they think it will achieve.

Then make your decision. If you do decide to sell your reason for moving is to reduce your husband's commute. Any work that is required can then be done to the buyer's tastes.

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 20:00

I've had it valued. Came in about £550k. Not sure how this helps though?

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 24/07/2017 20:03

I'd sell as is. Is the £550 in its current state?

wowfudge · 24/07/2017 21:29

It helps because you can tot up how much the work needed will cost and weigh up whether it is worth doing it yourselves. You also know what you could get if you just put it up for sale and get an idea what else you can afford.

Cutting your husband's commute and moving somewhere where you will be happier sounds as though it will be worth it.

HipsterHunter · 24/07/2017 21:44

Valued at £550 then just try and sell as is and move! A smaller house with a better commute and less road noise sounds like it will benefit you.

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 21:56

No £550K is if we do some work - but what we will need to do (essential stuff keeps breaking) keeps growing by the day! So essential stuff is back door needs replacing (it's rotten). Downstairs look needs completely redoing - it's unusable at present. Roof is leaking. Bathroom floor needs replacing and shower in bath doesn't work, sink is cracked. While of bathroom smells slightly damp due to previous leak we had. DH is currently fixing up rotten bathroom window. Broken glass in window in front room and 1 bedroom. Carpet throughout is buggered, past cleaning, I've stopped bothering! Def needs replacing in front room as we dropped an iron on it. Floor in breakfast room needs replacing. Possibly move a sewage pipe to other side of house (complicated as to why we need to do this but we've had half work done and if we didn't a drainage pipe under the house needs doing at a cost of about £1000). Decking outside as we've removed half the brick patio as it's bridging the damp proof course. Redo rendering on part of back of house as it's been part taken off because of also bridging DPC. Painting needed throughout. Finish fencing in garden. Sort rest of garden which is a state. By the time we've done all of this kitchen will have fallen apart. Plus work DH wants to do to get him through another winter (it is absolutely freezing in winter although I'd just put up with it, it makes him miserable).

By the time we've done all of this feel we might as well do it all properly and stay. Seems stupid to spend all that time and money here then move at a cost of £20/25K. Although might be somewhere we prefer more.

Do you still think move as we'll be happier regardless of cost? I am also struggling with the motivation of "bodge and go". I am a bit of a do it properly or not at all person.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 24/07/2017 22:08

So what did the agent say you could get for the house in its current state?

It sounds as though there is a hell of a lot to do. Unless you have the funds and the motivation it will be really tough.

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 22:49

Didn't really say - it was more a "you'll have to get this done and the house in a sellable state and then it will be worth this" type of conversation. We have the funds but motivation to do all that in a crap, bodgy way, just to sell and move away, will be hard for me. But because of all the indecision we're not really moving anything forward and everything's falling apart faster than we can fix it up. Feel very stuck and not sure at all what to do. Do we stay, do it up properly, and move on to our forever house in 10/20 years? Or do we try to find the motivation to bodge (my not wasting money anxiety really struggles with this too) and move somewhere perhaps in 2/3 years (by the time we've got it all done) and then move again to our forever home?

OP posts:
mumma24 · 24/07/2017 22:52

List it

JT05 · 24/07/2017 22:57

It sounds like there's a lot to do that's related to plumbing. I'd cost up getting that sorted first and if feasible do those repairs. Then the rest might not seem so daunting.
That with A quick lick of paint and 'cheap' carpet might make all the difference.
You sound like you would really prefer to move and won't be happy until you can.

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 22:58

Can you elaborate on your thinking mumma24?

OP posts:
another20 · 24/07/2017 22:59

You need to move. Soon.

Can you split your list of jobs to be done in order of priority - with the priority being what is visible for first impressions.

Then look at tackling these asap and get it on the market asap.
Do you have the funds and the tradespeople contacts to get these jobs done asap?

I would give yourself a deadline of getting on the market by October - and only start looking once you have some interest.

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 23:06

Getting the impression people think move to be happier regardless of the cost side of things? Bit worried we could do this, spend loads of money bodging and then not be able to find somewhere, or change our minds!

Also didn't mention that all my DH's friends are close by, and some of mine of course! Not that we have any time at the moment to see any of them anyway!

I have to say though that sometimes the thought of just upping sticks and moving into a new build that needs NO WORK sounds very appealing!

OP posts:
another20 · 24/07/2017 23:13

You need to aim to live a happy, easy day to day life.
Smaller, more manageable property would deliver this for you.

You need to be decisive, start the ball rolling - that will provide the momentum and focus that you need.


Once you get a list of 5 key things to do, tradespeople booked and then put it on the market - then you can start looking to buy. Really not much point before then.

If it costs a bit to do the work so that you can sell the house - then thats what needs to be done,

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 23:15

We have funds but not tradesman and have had a nightmare in the past getting anyone to do anything. I find you ring people up, they don't answer calls, don't respond to messages, don't turn up, or they do and spend an hour discussing things with you, give you a quote and then you can't get hold of them again. Or we get people in who do a not very good job, so than have to get someone else in, or my DH has to repair what they've done. The whole thing is getting extremely frustrating. I think there is much more work than tradespeople where we live so getting good people is really difficult. Have tried via checkatrade & friend/neighbour recommendations. Recently a friend has got together with a builder, and he has said that he can recommend people. He has recommended one person to us so far and he was expensive but very good. But even he was a nightmare to tie down! Think we will see if he can put us in touch with anyone else he is happy to recommend though as he was definitely the best so far despite the communication issues.

None of this is helped by the fact I am not well a lot so this causes further delays when I am out of action.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice so far, it's really helpful to get all these thoughts out there and get some opinions and clarity. It's all been rattling about in my head for so long I can't see the wood for the trees.

OP posts:
another20 · 24/07/2017 23:18

Seems stupid to spend all that time and money here then move at a cost of £20/25K.

you need to get two sets of figures from EA

  1. If we sell in present state
  2. If we sell having spent £x and ytime on repairs.

    You might find that there is not much in it - lots of people keen on a project.

    Declutter, deep clean, do basic visible repairs (get someone in) and stick on the market - see what happens.
another20 · 24/07/2017 23:22

If you are unwell you dont need the hassle of a series of unreliable tradespeople to do repairs that you will not practically benefit from.

I would do the minimum and move on. Life is too short - fantasise about the immaculate well, efficient new house.

Is your home in a good school catchment etc - as if so it would be bought regardless of condition.

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 23:28

I like the 5 key things to do idea to move things forward in a more manageable way - we both get days of being really overwhelmed. Really interesting that everyone is saying the same - move. You are right, we are not living an easy day-to-day life at all - far from it. We are both exhausted most of the time and don't have time to see family and friends. We both feel as if we're constantly chasing our tails. And not getting anywhere.

Agree think I perhaps need to change my thinking on the work for the house. So hard to do a just OK job, and not do it as I would want it (which usually costs quite a bit more!). I struggle to see where that line is. Maybe I need to come back here with the inidvidual jobs and canvas opinion on "good enough"!

OP posts:
another20 · 24/07/2017 23:32

Basic, minimum required has to be your mantra.

Ask the EA what is critical, ask friends and family what they "see" and then just prioritise that list. Keep it short and sweet - but keep you "eyes on the prize" of moving for a better quality of life. Good luck.

MiniMum97 · 24/07/2017 23:33

OK thanks everyone. Think I have my answer. Off to bed now, will check back for any further thoughts tomorrow.

Really appreciate everyone's time and thoughts on this. Will show DH the thread tomorrow. The indecision has been driving us both mad for months.

OP posts:
anotherdayanothersquabble · 25/07/2017 23:08

Just sell it... move on. Work out how much you would spend to fix it.. Price it to sell. Get quotes if you can and show that the property is priced appropriately.

another20 · 26/07/2017 14:17

Thats a great idea anotherday - EA can share the quotes with prospective purchasers and it is all v transparent and up front.

Also the dilemma around friends being near where you are now vs shorter commute ... I would suggest the 5 day x10 trips a week in rush hour trumps the might catch up with mates on a Sat night.

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