Successful bid on council property

[TheTartfulLodger]

Posting for traffic as the housing forum is slow.

Possibly soon not to be a Tartful Lodger but a Tartful Tenant.

Miraculously I was placed in position 1 on a council property the weekend and was still position 1 when bidding closed at midnight. Does anyone have experience with how long it usually takes to be contacted for viewing please? It's Redbridge if that helps?

Yes I know 'why don't you call them, we can't tell you', but you can't because they won't tell you anything and it's possible someone on here can actually tell me because they've been where I am with bidding themselves recently.

The problem is -

A) I'm seeing multiple incidents where people have still not been contacted weeks later,

And

B) My anxiety is through the roof to the point I can't eat and feel sick because In more than 3 years of bidding I've never been in position 1 and this property is my absolute dream come true. It's really everything I dreamt of. I'm frightened to believe this is even happening.

Equal measures of scared and anxious, more so because I made the mistake of getting too invested when I realised nobody was out bidding me and I know I'll be devastated if this doesn't work out 😭

I'm just really unfamiliar with how the system works and don't know what happens if you get to position 1 because they don't really tell you much on the website. Has anyone been bidding on council property lately and got to position 1? Was there a long wait to be invited to view?

I feel so nervous I have to keep running to the loo! Really grateful for any feedback , even the ones telling me to just call them and ask. ☺️

Yes, I know I'm being unreasonable for using two emojis in one post. I'll take that one like a woman.

Title edited by MNHQ on OP's request

Glad to read the update and love the Welsh dresser. I have been following your thread all along but not commented before. I see you aren't far from me. Happy New Year from Waltham Forest!

Oooooooh lovely!

I remember going nuts and buying an antique refectory table for my council house which due to a knocked through dining room/kitchen, had a VERY long room with no where near enough workspace. My table cost £100 which I absolutely didn't really have, but it has drop down flaps at each end and will seat 8 if they're really friendly...

And nearly 20 years later I am sat at it right now typing this as it is my desk. I don't think any modern furniture has lasted so well!

Decent solid antique furniture is an investment!

We are indeed very close by yes 😃

Happy new year from Redbridge!

It is so unlike me to invest in a large piece like this but having not had a living room for so many years I am determined to get the most enjoyment and use out of the extra space.

That’s lovely. I’ve not posted on the thread for ages but I am so pleased you are still here and enjoying your new home

This is such a lovely post. I'm delighted you got your home xx

Oh that's gorgeous x

Love the dresser. That's a really substantial piece of furniture isn't it. High ceilings make all the difference (she says from her new build 🤣😶)

I'm really enjoying your little updates on your new home, thanks for keeping us informed!

I hope you find a sofa soon, you defo need somewhere cosy to sit.

As soon as I finally find the sofa I’ll be posting pictures on here. I have a good idea what will suit the room. It really feels exciting putting a living room together after so many years without that extra space. I wasn’t planning to spend the sofa money on the dresser but as soon as I saw it while I was out sofa shopping with my friend we both kept looking at it and it didn’t take much to talk me into how lovely it would look in my living room and well, after measuring up I thought I’ll just go a bit longer without my sofa 😂

I've just read the whole of your thread and I'm so pleased for you,your new home looks gorgeous.

Thank you so much 😊

And here it is! Although even though it is over six feet tall it almost disappears in the living room. I think I might climb inside 😂

Ohhhh, it’s gorgeous. A proper piece of furniture. Promise you won’t paint it?

Oh god no, never ever. I even bought some beeswax furniture polish to look after it. This is going to be my all time favourite piece of furniture I think. ❤️

That is lovely.

I kinda want one for myself now! Where did you find it?

I was told about a wonderful charity by social services called TCL Reuse near Barking who do house and office clearances and sell the furniture for really good prices. The proceeds are used to run a rehabilitation centre for young people with troubled backgrounds. They have an amazing success rate for keeping young people away from drugs and out of prison. Often the people they help become delivery drivers who help collect and drop off the furniture. They sell on marketplace and you can visit the warehouse to see the furniture in person. It is in really good condition and the prices are so reasonable.

That's amazing, what a great organisation.

Just found and read your thread. What a happy uplifting post, although I don’t imagine it has always seemed that way to you. Good luck and many happy years in your lovely home

Oh absolutely there were moments I did wonder myself if this would ever really happen. I hope the thread will be useful in future to anyone on the bidding journey. When I think of where I was at the start with all the uncertainty to where I am now, I still can't believe it. I didn't even care that I couldn't furnish it right away, just an empty room was a blessing to sit in and dream about what I could do with it 😊

Another little update. I went back to the warehouse where I got the Welsh Dresser today and there sat right inside the entrance looking straight at me were the lovely comfy settee and armchair that wanted to come home with me! Being delivered on Friday and will finish my living room off perfectly. I’ll post a picture when they arrive. B&M cushion shopping for me next! 😊

Oh brilliant! I bet you can't wait for them to arrive

And here it is, my lovely new furniture 😊

Finally I have a living room I can actually sit in comfortably. I’ve had to mostly sit in the bedroom and was just not getting the full use of this room but now I can use it properly at last. It actually looks like a living room now as well. I’m not even sure about a rug anymore because the varnished floors match the furniture so well. Cushion shopping for me the weekend!

What a genuinely lovely thread. So happy for you Tartful! Your home is beautiful and I wish you a lifetime of happiness there.

That is lovely Tartful. Great choices!

You just need some nice pictures or paintings on the walls. It's looking really cosy.

That floor is stunning, agree you might not need a rug now. Best of luck with the throw and cushion shopping!

Really enjoyed reading your uplifting thread. What a lovely flat and so nice having the living room looking out onto the garden.