Not an AIBU but need to get some answers as to WWYD

[TheLadyEvenstar]

I have been moved up a band on the council list so am now a band 2 instead of a 3. Was looking at properties this morning.

There are only 2 available which are suitable.

1 has 33 people in front of me having already bid.

the other has no bids on it at all.

I personally thinks this speaks volumes.

So do I bid on the one with no bids or on the one with 33 bids?

Have you looked around both?

YABU

i dont understand how it works but surely you are highly unlikely to get property 1?

have you seen property 2?

why do you need to move?

Inky I can't look around either of them unless I get offered one of them.

but i can only bid on one

TheUnmentioned. I need to move for a few reasons.
1- the property is in a serious state of disrepair
2- it is seriously damp
3- DS1 and DS2 cannot share
4- DS2 now needs to be out of my room.

Crazy system. I don't understand it, but is it possible that some (many) of those bidders have bid because others have so it seems popular and the best one?

Presumably they haven't seen the properties either?

How does this system work? Sounds mad.

OhFor, basically there is a system where you put in the size of the property you want - so for me i put in 3 bedrooms.
there then is a list of 3 bedroom properties available. well this week there are only 3 available.
1 is private and in another part of london
2 are loal council and 15 minurtes from where i am living now.

So I could bid on one of them and then you may come along have more urgent needs than I and bid and I would be moved down the list while you moved up iyswim?

How do the 33 people who have already bid know what the property is like if you do not?
Can you get any sort of information before you make decision - address, go round, look aat outside etc?

I know where both are and the site tells yo a little of each property....just not enough for me to make a decision.

If you know where they are can you have a look at the areas?

Might that give some clues?

Can you go and have a look from the outside at least?

Location wise, would you be happy with number 2?

I'd go and have a look at the general area, the outside of the property (if you have that much detail). Is anyone in there now?

Whatever its like on the inside can be sorted I guess.

Its a massive gamble isnt it?

Ok. If you bid and get offered, do you HAVE to take it? What are the schools in the area like (although if it is only 15 mins away you may not change schools?) Go for a drive around the areas to get a 'feel' for it. Go to that website (whereIlive??) that tells you about the area etc. Do as much research as you can, basically. When does bidding end/be decided? How long ave you got?

And would it be a big help that it is Council owned, with regards to repairs, length of time you can stay there etc? Are there advantages to this?

Upmystreet tells you about the area too. Do you want to tell us where they are? Roughly?

ok here is the thing.

Property 1 has everything I have been advised to go for, 3 bedrooms, ground floor,CH and a garden. Close enough to DS1's school and my family.

Property 2 is a 3bedroon on the 3rd floor, close to DS1's school and my family.

I grew up in the area and know where both of the properties are. The thing that bothers me is the 2nd property has no bids and in todays world where people are desperate for homes I am wondering why.

This should show you both the properties.

they are the bottom 2 on the page. I will ask MN to delete when you have looked

here

Well if noone has seen it, then perhaps they are all thinking the same as you and going with the crowd 'because there MUST be something wrong with it'.

So basically, the question is, how much do you want a garden?

ok that didn't work!

let me try again!!!

If you use drop down menu to pick 3 bedrooms it will show you 3 it is one of the bottom 2.

here

I would guess it's the ground floor and garden that's making everyone go for the other? If they only have access to the same information as you, what could they know about it that you don't? I would have thought a garden was a big pull for a lot of families.

It does sound bizarre. Maybe there is an element of being a sheep and people making the same assumptions as you are, i.e. what's wrong with it, but 33 v 0 seems a huge difference. Maybe everyone else has already been round for a look - even from the outside - and have spotted something really offputting nearby - though it's hard to think of many things that'd stop you in your tracks when you're really desperate to move. Unless it's a property with some sort of notoriety attached to it ?!? ... but how would you know unless a neighbour came out to tell you ?

I'd definitely go and have a look .... I'd even have a look through the windows if I could (don't know what kind of 3rd floor it is obviously, but if there was an outside walkway you might be able to). Can't think that the lack of a garden would put off ALL those people .... nice to have but not essential, even with kids, and without one it's one less job to do. I lived without a garden for 5 years and although I sometimes felt cooped up in the summer and had to make more of an effort to get DS out for fresh air, it wasn't the end of the world.

Can you look at the outside of it, at least? It may be that with kids (assume all the people ahead of you do) they have determined on ground floor property - easier for pushchairs, easier for kids to play out, all that stuff.

Isnt property 2 ALSO on the ground floor? Thats what the details say if you click through?

Also, parking - what are your thoughts on that?

Plus 3rd floor and no lift? That's alot of stairs several times a day. Keep you fit though!