Support thread for MN's trying to buy a house

[financialwizard]

I can't find another thread like this, and I thought we could do with a sister thread to the trying to sell.

Thought I'd kick off with my rage!

Currently exchanged on the house that I have sold and living in husbands work accomodation so my situation is not dire, but still.

We offered on a property in August. It is a vacant property, and we said that we would like to exchange contracts 18th October with a view to complete no later than 1st November. We got the house at 95.8% of the market price.

So far we have not received the fixtures and fittings list, even though the vendor completed them the week before last. I have been back several times to measure up for lino in the bathrooms/curtains/take pictures of holes in the wall (for my decorator - there are lots). Went back this weekend just gone to check a couple of things (I always forget something) and the vendor has taken all of the bathroom fittings (toilet roll holder, etc), all of the curtain poles, all of the blinds. Now I am beginning to get a bit worried she is going to pull up all the carpets as well (not budgeted for them). I know I am going to have to wait until I get the F&F list but I am feeling slightly nervous at the potential cost of replacing things like carpets now (the whole house - 5 bed is carpetted). Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhh.

My old man is going away for business just as we are due to complete as well, so it is going to have to be me to deal with it all. Really looking forward to this move.......NOT!!!!

Never EVER doing this again.

Thanks bumbez! Yes, we are very lucky because our vendor is very, very straightforward and also we know good builders locally. Getting an independent surveyor to do the damp and timber, as he has no vested interest in recommending a damp proof course. I can see us having to decorate ourselves, though, to save money for any structural work...ah well, not the end of the world. Waiting for the reports is frustrating though. Glad I'm in work this coming week, it'll stop me going all over the internet trying to get more information.

Bumbez if I could do the decorating I would but with a DC2 in tow and a husband working away until the week we move in it is nigh on impossible. In the end I went with the guy off of rated people instead of using my Dad's friends contact. Have really pissed people off but I no longer care whole other issue .

Went to the house yesterday and the boiler has a pressure fault, so will have to call out British Gas this week (it is maintained by them). Oh the joys. Not even moved in yet.

TheMethren Thanks for the advice. I spoke to my broker on Thursday and expressed my frustrations. My broker is absolutely fab though, it's the building society who are being a pain in the backside. We have now directly applied for a mortgage with another building society and stopped the previous mortgage from going through (apparently we were on the verge of being offered a mortgage with some stipulations attached!)

My DH and I said no thanks and felt quite awful about the hard work that our broker has put in in order to get us the previous deal.

Oh FW what a nightmare. I hope that the boiler can be fixed very easily.

And don't worry about annoying people, do what's right for you.

Bumbeez - "the estate agents should tell you the reason ." - I heard something on the radio about that awhile back. A survey came up that a house had a mine under it. The estate agent knew this and didn't tell the buyers (I guess the previous potential buyer had pulled out because of the mine). But the estate agent was breaking the law by not telling. So legally they have to tell you why a house has gone back on the market after being "sold". But it seems like a lot of estate agents still don't tell.

Sorry I mean 'bumbez'. Bit tired, long half term.

Thanks London I am not too worried about annoying people, but neither my Mum nor Dad is talking to me now whoops Although thinking about it it might be peaceful for a while!

Hmm I like your thinking FW

But why aren't they talking to you?

Whole other story!

The mortgage valuation & building survey is taking place today!! We've only just applied for the mortgage with the new lender. Had to fork out for both surveys just so that the vendor will not put the house back on the market

I'm hoping that the valuation will be in the region of our offer and that there isn't anything wrong with the house. Surveyor said that I can ring him close of play today to find out his thoughts. Please send me your good luck vibes.

How is everyone else getting on?

FW have you got the quotes that you've been waiting for?

For the tiling? yes, got 1 other quote. Practically the same as Dads friends SIL. However it is a friend of mine and my husband doesn't want to mix business with pleasure anymore so I have contacted the place where I got the tiles from and they gave me a couple of recommended local tradesman and their numbers so I have called and left messages for them to call me back and discuss my requirements.

We're hoping to get out agreement in principal today (fingers crossed).

OUr seller wants a bit more time to think about our offer, I think that's a good sign! :)

Wooooooooooooooooh good luck rubydoobydoo

Grrrr the mortgage adviser has been away, hopefully agreement in principal tomorrow now!

We're trying to decide whether to go for the full structural survey or the homebuyer's report. We're leaning slightly on the side of the full survey - I think the house was built around the 60's (after googling house styles from different decades!) - there's a bit on the side with a flat roof (looking at other houses in the street it looks like it used to have a garage that's been converted then extended over on the first floor too). There's also a strange sort of lean-to bit on the back - so I think I'd like to be reassured that none of the extra bits are going to fall off any time soon!

Things are slowly creeping forwards here. DH spoke with the bank yesterday and they've now processed our application. Mortgage offer was put in yesterday's post, so we should hopefully receive that today and can sign and send it back tomorrow to arrive Friday.

Should I take a copy of the mortgage offer and show it to the solicitors? We still haven't got an estimated date for exchange/completion, but with the mortgage offer in place will they be able to give us one..?

Still really hoping to be in before Christmas! It's feasible, right? We're the end of a chain of three, and everyone is motivated to move ASAP. Not heard of any delays further down the chain.

Your solicitor will also get a copy in the post and be sending you a pack with other boring stuff to agree to.

It is perfectly feasible to get moving before Christmas, just keep pushing your conveyancer and the EA.

I had surveys done on 2 different houses before deciding, and went to a solicitor only after deciding which house I wanted. The one I chose was ready to move in, but my solicitor phoned me after I had moved in to say the council could not find a building control certificate for the rear flat roof extension, although there was planning permission granted. After a year the flat roof had to be redone completely as was in a terrible condition despite surveyor saying it was in " fair condition", and had leaked down the ceiling light in lounge.

ps flat roof was 30 years old and never been re-done.

Offer accepted at 5% below asking price! (doing happy dance) Just waiting on the mortgage now, but our adviser says it's pretty much in the bag, he's just trying to get us a slightly better rate.

Our flat roof is over the master bedroom, hope it's ok. I'm trying not to get TOO excited yet but can't help planning what colour I'm going to paint the kitchen! MY kitchen - yippee!

Congratulations, rubydoobydoo! Hope it's all smooth running from here.

Happy here; There was a bit of a dispute about carpets/flooring for our new house. It currently doesn't have any, as it's a new build now being sold off by the bank after the building firm went bust.

The advertising states that a choice of flooring is available and we specified with our offer that we would want flooring laid.

For a while it looked like they might refuse to lay flooring, or that they would but it'd be cream carpet throughout. Not good with a toddler and hopefully more DC to come!

Got a call back yesterday that instead I'll be given a budget for mid-range flooring throughout and can work with a local supplier to choose what I want in each room.

Result!

I like a bit of colour, looks like I'll get it. Cream or neutral throughout, combined with the currently pure white walls until we can get around to painting them, would have driven me bonkers. And been filthy within a week.

Hi all!

Have spent the art few weeks being a regular lurker but hoping to join you now. My husband and I are currently in the process of buying the rented house we currently live in. Am a FTB although we tried to buy another house in 2007 which we loved and got gazumped the day before exchange. Survey was done days ago and nothing back from that yet but whole process was started weeks ago. I just want some sort of answer now, it has been a hugely stressful experience. Our mortgage offer went through fine before but I seem to be really worrying this time round.

Good luck to everyone else going through the house buying.

Good news from me, the painter and decorator has started work today and the boiler got fixed so I feel like we are moving forwards. Still not heard anything from the tiler so I am getting my husband to call him tomorrow and if no response I am going to book someone else. Getting pissed off with them now.

We're thinking of switching mortgage advisors- ours has now promised to call us for the last 3 days - and every time we've finally called HIM we get excuses and he says he'll call us tomorrow!
We're getting a bit frustrated now - our lovely house now says "Sold STC" on the details but they won't remove it from the market without the agreement in principal.

If you haven't got the agreement in priciple yet ruby I would be going elsewhere. I don't work in the mortgage market anymore but I can recommend a couple of good brokers if you need me to.

We got a text from the tiler (Dads friends SIL) to tell us that he doesn't have the time to do the tiling. Lucky we had already started looking at alternatives. Frustrating!

How is everyone else getting on?