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Original poster

Can't find anything we want to buy! Anything else we can do?

33 replies

MrsJamin · 08/02/2013 13:09

We accepted an offer on our house a few days ago (to FTBs who don't seem to be in too much of a rush), but the market for 3 bed semis seems to be very slow... what else can we do to find a house, and how long will our buyers wait for us to find somewhere? We've gone from excited to really stressed and under pressure to like things that we don't really feel that much for. Anybody done anything out of the ordinary to find a house that's not just listed on rightmove?

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LadyKooKoo · 08/02/2013 13:19

What area is it?

Original poster
MrsJamin · 08/02/2013 13:26

Staying in same area of Reading - would rather not say anything more specific!

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MyMelody · 08/02/2013 13:31

can you rent somewhere for 6 month s?

Original poster
MrsJamin · 08/02/2013 13:37

We need to buy straight away to keep our good mortgage rate - otherwise we might consider it. We sold really quickly, so I am not worried about losing this particular buyer that much. Does anyone do anything else but just register on estate agents and get rightmove emails?

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LadyKooKoo · 08/02/2013 13:38

That's ok :) was just asking in case it was some incredibly remote area. As it isn't, I would suggest going into all of the estate agents that service that area and letting them know exactly what you are looking for and that you are looking to move quickly. If your area is tiny (a couple of roads only) then put notes through peoples doors telling them you are looking to buy and call you if they are planning on selling (as many people will hold out till March/April).

TomArchersSausage · 08/02/2013 13:42

I have heard of people mailshotting houses they like on the offchance someone might want to sell.

In fact I know someone who did this and was successful.

Original poster
MrsJamin · 08/02/2013 13:42

Does the notes thing actually work? DH is very skeptical but I am keen as we can think of some very specific roads near DS's school that we would love to live on. I worry that as there's so little around anything that does come up would get snapped up very quickly, and that could be a way to get ahead of others in this respect.

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MyMelody · 08/02/2013 13:49

it could work, there's nothing to lose and if someone is thinking of selling it would save them all the hassle of having to put theirs up on the market etc so they might be really happy to do it .

TomArchersSausage · 08/02/2013 13:53

Ah well no-one can say for sure but if someone was dithering about going on the market and then hey presto a buyer comes along, then it could nudge things along, especially if you are in a strong position to move.

The only thing is that it kind of puts you on the back foot a bit. Hard to drive a hard bargain if you look too keen.

Could be worth a try. This time last year I considered doing it but luckily the house we loved became an option.

Original poster
MrsJamin · 08/02/2013 14:08

I see what you mean TomArchersSausage. Overly keen = they might drive a hard bargain.

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Dillydollydaydream · 08/02/2013 14:20

We're in a similar position. Sold to ftb's buy cannot find anything we'd remotely like to even view let alone buy!
Out house went in the market on the Monday on the Thursday we had a viewing and 4 more booked on the Friday. Then we had an offer from those viewings. Honestly thought it'd take longer!

I've got 16wks til I'm due to have a baby and wrongly assumed we'd still be here when baby was born, now I'm not so sure. I don't want to buy any old house just for the sake of it but as time ticks buy I'm panicking a little.

Original poster
MrsJamin · 08/02/2013 14:28

You do worry a little that your house search constraints are unreasonable... But there's huge areas of housing without anything for sell, let alone houses that are too much money. We are going to keep remembering that we can stay here until we find somewhere we like more - anything less than that is just stupidity. It makes it worse that we made our present house look lovely to sell it - and now we realise how lovely it is (albeit too small for us).

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Oxtailchambermaid · 08/02/2013 14:38

Have you tried houseladder.co.uk? I might be incredibly naive here but I'm not sure if that feeds into rightmove. It's one of those websites used by people who don't use an estate agent.

CuddyMum · 08/02/2013 16:02

We're in the same position - where are all the houses when you need them?

WifeofPie · 08/02/2013 16:04

Call Kirsty and Phil, of course!

Dillydollydaydream · 08/02/2013 16:30

I'd love to go on Location, location, location. They'd show us houses £25k over budget insisting there's a 'deal to be done'.

Original poster
MrsJamin · 08/02/2013 16:33

It would be a bit pointless as the location isn't the problem, just the fact that there aren't any houses in our chosen location!

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Dillydollydaydream · 08/02/2013 17:27

Ah but they also show you houses outside of your chosen area that you're supposed to consider even though it'll add miles to your commute Wink

CuddyMum · 08/02/2013 17:32

I have agents looking through their "reserve" drawers for people who might still want to sell. This has produced one property so far that isn't on the market. If you check the details of the street(s) you have targeted on Zoopla, it is possible to see the property history (look for the little purple H) and this can often show you the date the property as last marketed, who with and the details/photos. So you can assume if the property was marketed but there's no sold price after that date that they have withdrawn the property and who knows, may consider putting it back on again.

lolalotta · 09/02/2013 06:26

I know it is hard but try and not get too stressed, lots if estate agents have told me that things won't properly get going until March/ April...so keep looking but I'm sure lots more will come onto the market in the Spring and you will have lots more choice! Good Luck! Just try and reassure your buyers that you are looking/ looking/ looking so they don't worry needlessly!

Original poster
MrsJamin · 09/02/2013 08:25

oh thanks lolalotta, that is reassuring and we do need to give regular updates to our buyers so we know we are searching and viewing things. I am personally pinning my hopes on persuading some friends to sell us their house which they are renting out at the moment - it is so beautiful and perfect for us that it makes my heart skip a beat! A long shot but its worth a try!

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Bilbobagginstummy · 09/02/2013 17:59

Me too! I have sold v quickly to cash buyers (everything crossed for it going ahead) and can't find anything I like enough at the place I'm relocating to.

Lurching from considering renting, to being desperate to buy my own place up there, and back again several times a day week. Very stressful.

Original poster
MrsJamin · 09/02/2013 21:29

We saw something today that I just wasn't taken with but DH reckoned it was definitely worth a second viewing. I was really disappointed with the garden and the layout was just odd and felt very personal to the family- lots of photos around. Ugh.

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CuddyMum · 10/02/2013 18:53

Despite offering close to the price we were told the vendors would accept, they appear to have moved the goalposts and now don't seem interested in selling at all and have even refused viewings this weekend. The agent seemed embarrassed really! So, I'm back to re-emailing agents - it makes a nice change for me to hassle them instead of the other way around.

Original poster
MrsJamin · 11/02/2013 07:16

Oh that's rubbish. At least you know now rather than when you'd done a survey etc. I really hope something comes up this week that I like as much as DH does.

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