Hi all,
Just as the title says really…
we originally put an offer in on this house (asking price) and tried to ignore our concerns as we loved it that much, but unfortunately somebody else’s offer got accepted (they had less of a chain issue etc and were more desirable buyers). I was absolutely heartbroken but over the last few weeks got my head around it and told myself it was for the best anyway.
basically, we are looking to relocate closer to family - myself, my partner and two young children. We found the house of our dreams just around the corner from our family.
I walked in and instantly saw us pottering around in there. It felt like it really could be our home. It ticked all the boxes, minus an extra bedroom for other family to stay in but our children would still have a playroom (which is something we have considered we may not get in our next property as house prices are higher in that area) and we figured a sofa bed in there would do the trick. The location was perfect, the plot of land it is on is large with incredible views and is more than we could have imagined to find when we first started house hunting. We pictured camping out in the garden with the kids in the summers evenings in this house and really set our hearts on it.
now don’t get me wrong, it’s not perfect and not to everybody’s taste, but it most certainly is to ours. It’s just slightly over budget but we figured we could stretch and it would be worth it as it would most likely be our forever home. I do not want to move again any time soon!
we spent an hour talking to the current owners. Then we started to feel a bit suspicious of the reason on their sale. When I asked the reason for their sale they both stuttered and said to move nearer to family, just down the road - literally a few streets away. They basically listed the house around 12-18 months after purchasing. I found the old listing and they have made the house beautiful but it strikes suspicion really. They haven’t done anything to make me think they’ve done it up to ‘profit’ - just a change of decor and carpets and a new bathroom and a render as the main points. The house was built in the early 1800s and I asked the seller if they’ve had any damp issues. Response was ‘none was picked up on the surveyors report’ - it didn’t answer my question really. I asked have YOU had any damp issues. He then went on to tell me they’d had a PIV unit (for condensation, damp and mould) installed and alarm bells started ringing for us. He then continued to tell us he has ‘allergies’ so it’s been really beneficial for that. And then said when they moved in there was condensation because nobody had lived there for a long time.
I can’t help but wonder if they’re selling so quickly because they’ve found the house to be problematic. Current owner was pregnant too which made me even more suspicious because the house was plenty large to not have to worry about moving anytime soon.
we absolutely love the house. But I’ve had damp issues in a house before and it was a nightmare. i know it can happen in any house but I’d like to avoid buying another one with the same issue if i can.
this house is absolutely perfect. And for what we can get for our money there is a whole lot of house and land which could be a forever home. The location is perfect for us. To achieve anything close to this on size we’d have to consider a further drive from family in slightly ‘less desirable areas’ or a smaller house in the same area. But I feel like walking away from this dream because it feels to risky. I don’t feel they have underpriced the house for a quick sale, I think the price is reflective of the things that others wouldn’t find desirable about it - things that don’t bother us.
The estate agent rang me and told me the people who had placed an offer have now pulled out. They said reason is: they were getting a gifted deposit and the gifter is no longer gifting… I mean my first thought was did the buyers not like the surveyors report… but would the estate agent lie about this?
aibu to not go ahead and put an offer on this house? We’ve been looking for almost a year and properly for the last 6 months and nothing compares. Anything else like this is too far above budget.
I can’t help but wonder if I’m talking myself out of it because I have had to do over the last few weeks thinking it had become someone else’s, or if I’m being really sensible by admitting that it’s just too risky.
what would you do?