We're in that we make an offer, they laugh in our faces stage. Please talk me through it.

[LibertyGibbet]

I know it's the dullest thing in the world but we've made an offer on a house (well 2 actually) and they've both been turned down.

Come and tell me all about the fact that estate agents lie bend the truth like the wizards they are to try and get you to part with every penny you own.

Because 'the vendors are hoping for more or will consider renting it instead', 'we've had a couple of investors show interest' and 'you're close to what they're hoping to achieve' is all EA game playing isn't it?

Please help. DH is in crown court all day (at work, he's not a criminal) and I'm supposed to be calling them back. I panic you see. I'll offer 10% over the asking price, a portion of my soul and my firstborn because I don't like bargaining and just want this over with. Somebody stop me.

What do I do now?

Yup.

Liberty, where's the sound of champagne corks popping

Congrats, if that's the right word

Book another viewing and get yourself hyped up again maybe?

Oh I'm happy. I am.

It's just terrifying. First house, tied in to a mortgage, new town, new people etc.

The house is lovely and everything that we want out of a first buy.

And I really do hate moving house.

Oh good Liberty, I thought you were having second thoughts.

Moving is a pain though, just get the best removal people you can afford, they really are worth every penny.

Just think though, your own place, the opporunity to have it just the way you want it and an investment for the future!

Ahh, I'm chuffed for you

That might be where I'm going wrong. We borrow a van from BIL's work and move ourselves. It's probably easier if you hire somebody is it? How does that work then?

Thank you.

I'm tentatively excited. Not there yet. Contracts and surveys and whatever other hoops there are.

Ooh decorating. DD wants a pink room apparently.

Ooh, it's hard work doing it yourself, though obviously cheaper if you can borrow a van.

We did all of our own packing, the removals people provided the boxes (including cardboard wardrobes - so easy) so you still have the small stuff to sort out, though you can pay more and they pack it for you.

Then they just turn up in the morning, carry all your boxes and furniture out for you and pack it up in the van whilst you have a cup of tea Then they unpack for you at the other end, put all the boxes in the designated rooms, put your furniture where you want it etc. They're so quick, you can be sat down drinking tea again after just a couple of hours.

If you pack well, you can just make sure you've got all the essentials easily to hand and upack the other boxes as and when.

The cost depends on who you use, how much stuff you have and how much you're prepared to do yourself. We paid around £200 I think for a 2 bed flat, so it's not cheap but honestly, the best money I spent in all of the move.

I'm detecting a little flicker of excitement now - so pleased for you. You can start picking out the pink paint now

Congratulations! I know what you mean about getting cold feet the instant an offer is accepted. I wonder what that was all about earlier, when they said they'd accepted an offer and you didn't think it was yours? Surely if it were yours they'd have told you?

Anyway, sympathies with moving. I hate it too.

Ohh look at these murals.

DD's spent 3 years living in a white bedroom where we can't decorate or even hang pictures. She'd love that.

I am excited. The bath I like is half price in the bathstore too. And I've picked some lovely, chintzy wallpaper that dh will hate. Must remember we're doing it up to sell in a couple of years. Chintz not the way forward. Well, maybe a little bit of chintz.

I'm going to have a look at the removals companies local to here. It's not cheap I know but might be worth it. Especially as we have to hire somebody anyway to move my piano. Last time we moved, we nearly divorced. DD was a baby though and it was hellish trying to pack between hourly feeds on little to no sleep. It might be easier this time.

Oh God, it's really happening.

I think they were planning on accepting, just ironing out details with the vendor before telling us (and it was the weekend so the staff that we were dealing with weren't there).

Liberty, those murals are amazing - I can't believe the price of them

I wonder if they're hard to put up? My DH tries, bless him, but he's no Handy Andy.

I bet your DD would love those, have you shown her them yet?

Oh and a little bit of chintz is good

Just noticed the instructions - doh!

Sounds easier than ordinary wallpaper, no cutting anyway. I'll show them to DH tonight. Thanks Liberty

I am a whizz at wallpaper. Have put up one of those murals in a friend's house. I don't know if that site does it but if you google around you can get them to fit a wall's dimensions exactly. They look brilliant.

DD has seen them. She wants princesses and jungle and the sea and a farm. She's v excited and at the grand old age of 3 has no concept of time so thinks we're moving later today.

Oh the excitement has settled in now. I'm eyeing up flowery wallpaper and a couple of new throws. DH will be aghast when he comes home and I've spent the budget for moving.

Congrats!

If I can be cheeky (and obv don't mention actual figures, what % under did you offer?)

V excited for you.

And don't worry about chintzy - neutral is SO over..!

6% but we get cashback on completion so actually 7%.

Let the chintz commence.

www.decowall.co.uk

This site has a FANTASTIC range of stickers. My kids are obsessed with the penguins and fish ones!

Congratulations! I'm so glad it's working out for you. Have fun planning you decor!