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Help! I have to get this house!

302 replies

Rhubarbgarden · 25/06/2012 18:06

I am tying myself in knots and looking for advice on a strategy to get an offer accepted. House came on the market last week, we knew pretty much straight away it was The One just from looking at the details. Viewed it on Saturday, during the open house. Fell in love. DH wants it as much as I do. Put in an offer this morning of asking price. I'm not messing around - this is the house I want my kids to grow up in and DH and I to grow old in. The agent has just rung back now - offer rejected. They are having two more open houses this week and if there is a lot of serious interest it will go to sealed bids after that, unless someone makes a really good offer in the meantime.

What is our best approach? Up our offer slightly? Offer our maximum now, and give them a short window to accept in the hope of nipping a bidding war in the bud now? Or will that just give other interested parties chance to outbid us? Do we play it cool and wait till after the weekend in the hope no-one else comes along with 'a really good offer'? If it goes to sealed bids, how much do we offer?

Aargh, I have to have this house! It blows all the others out of the water. There were a lot of people at the open house. I know there will be a lot of interest. It's a doer-upper in a terrible state with a Heligan garden, bags of history and character, and is in a peach of a location where not much comes up.

Shock Confused Shock

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tricot39 · 26/06/2012 19:37

lovely house!!
if you are really interested in it but would want to make alterations to live in it you might need help to get permission. you probably know that grade II* puts it into the top 3% of heritage assets in the country so you will be limited to what you can do. someone higher up said that it would be a gut and start again..... but the listing will prevent any gutting.

having said that, you will be able to make changes if you can justify them historically. if you are not sure how to do this ask Kirstie at Ptolemy Dean Architects to help draw up a conservation plan and
LBC drawings if you get an offer accepted.they can sort the drawings and technical bits but they will bring out the character of the house and make it even more magic than it is now!!

if you don't know much about listed buildings then read this by the spab

i hope you get it - it looks lovely!!

oshuk · 26/06/2012 20:50

Thanks for the link. It is a lovely house, but I was surprised to see how much it is up for. Not far from my neck of the woods but no way could I afford that sort of money. I hope you keep us availed of your progress.

Rhubarbgarden · 26/06/2012 21:04

Fantastic tips Tricot, thank you. That's incredibly helpful.

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Iwannamovenow · 26/06/2012 21:05

I can't find the sodding thing on rightmove, can someone pm me please :)

Rollmops · 27/06/2012 00:11

Good luck, OP, hope you'll get it!

We bought a Grade2* house not long ago and it was true love at first sight.

The house attracted enormous amount of interest, everybody loved it - but nobody was brave enough to take it on I suppose -the house was built over 600 years ago (and according to the specialist survey, it'll stand at least another 600) and looks rather special moneypit.

We were very clear that the offer (under asking price) we made was the only offer and proceeded to see other houses with the same agency. 3 nervewrecking weeks later it was accepted,

Local conservation officer was terribly helpful once buttered up flattered to high heavens and within 4 months we- received planning permissions for internal works/changes that would make this house a rather cosy place less freezing in winter, despite 7m high ceilings in couple of rooms. Have invested heavily in Woolly Sock Co.

We love it and tis' the house we'll grow old etc etc. It's HOME.

Rhubarbgarden · 27/06/2012 05:40

Aw, Rollmops, that's v nice to read. 7m high ceilings? Wow.

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BalloonSlayer · 27/06/2012 06:54

That's a really good tactic of Rollmops, I reckon: "we made was the only offer and proceeded to see other houses with the same agency".

(Don't look at those for 1.5 mil though or they'll think you can go up to that!)

Cathynclaire · 27/06/2012 07:26

Lovely house, think the agents are being a but cheeky photographing it from behind the wall in the opposite side of the road! Smile

Iwannamovenow · 27/06/2012 09:40

Lovely house, hope you get it :)

anniewoo · 27/06/2012 10:46

Which house?

feelinghappynow · 27/06/2012 13:54

I'm sure I've found the house. I know you said you're in love with it, but there seemed to be one or two a fraction more that look fabulous too. Why have you ruled them out, or are you after a doer upper? Just curious .... Good luck with the bid.

kensingtonkat · 27/06/2012 14:14

Agree with feelinghappy - the done up houses seem to cost less than the do-er uppers!

I'll be surprised if you have much competition; surely there can't be many people in West Sussex prepared to take on such a big project in such an uncertain economy Confused

QuintessentialShadows · 28/06/2012 08:21

Proceed with caution. At that price, a total refurb, is not a bargain.

I agree you need to get a surveyor out, and talk to the heritage people.

(Thanks for the link Angel)

Rhubarbgarden · 28/06/2012 10:12

Feeling happy - all sorts of reasons, mostly to do with architecture or location. We've been looking a looong time so have a very clear idea of what we're looking for.

Quint - it doesn't have to be a bargain. It's more important to me to get the right house in the right location.

Well, this house is now on the market. Feels weird seeing the for sale sign outside.

OP posts:
feelinghappynow · 28/06/2012 12:17

It's such a big purchase it has to be right - good luck with the sale of yours - hope you get some interest soon!

noseynoonoo · 28/06/2012 12:42

If you do get the house - can we have a before and after thread in a few years time?

oreocrumbs · 28/06/2012 13:19

Ooh great idea noseynoo! I think Rhubarb should have a weekly thread to keep us updated Smile.

Rhubarb how are you managing to keep your house ready to sell with two little people? I can't keep mine ready for the postman never mind viewers!!

Did you hear anything else fro the Brighton house? Just wondering if sod's law had come into effect now you have fallen in love with a different house?

SoupDragon · 28/06/2012 13:27

I can't help thinking a monthly update would be sufficient :)

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 28/06/2012 19:50

Right, I think I've found it.

It is a great property and in a lovely location. I can see why you love it so much and hope that you can get the specialist advice that you need re:changing the internal layout etc that you need. It would be a massive undertaking, but if you're in a position to do it then i can imagine that it would be hugely rewarding.

Good luck, and do let us know how things are going.

Rhubarbgarden · 28/06/2012 20:03

Hah! I don't know about a weekly thread but if we do get it I'm sure I'll be posting lots of renovation questions! Point taken though Soupdragon. Blush

We haven't heard a peep out of the Brighton house. I've been expecting that too! If this one falls through we'll probably revisit it.

Blooming nightmare keeping this place tidy with two small kids and an impossibly messy DH. It helps that I'm already a bit anal and shouty about things being kept in their homes so I've just ramped that up a bit.

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EdgarAllenPimms · 28/06/2012 20:35

Found it :)

my, what a little treasure...

It needs huge amounts of work...

I have a wardrobe just like that one (pic 5)- i wonder if they're selling that too?

wish there were more photos of the interior - love the room with the big bay!

fronts on to main road - doesn't that bother you? no sign of crashes into front of house though.

EdgarAllenPimms · 28/06/2012 20:44

you would need a FT gardener for a couple of months wouldn't you?

location wise village centre so what you wanted on that score...

the other downstairs room pictured -kitchen? must be - they didn't show whatever horror the units present!

LoveBox · 28/06/2012 20:56

Tried googling the clues to find it! Thinkkkk I found it- does it have stairs in the kitchen? If so- it's beautiful!

LoveBox · 28/06/2012 21:00

Ah, wait, no, NOW iv found it!!

Your area has some lovely houses- they were all nice!

Rhubarbgarden · 28/06/2012 21:07

Edgar - I'm a professional gardener Grin

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