Just accepted an offer on our house & had an offer accepted on another house. Anyone want to join me in a hoping it all goes OK/preparing to move thread?

[jenduck]

We have just accepted an offer on our house of 183k, not too bad as it was on for 189k. The buyers say they are cash buyers with money in the bank (although my dad, our conveyancer, says always to be wary of people claiming this until you've seen the evidence ). We have also had an offer accepted on another house of 223k (was on for 239k). The vendors are 2 brothers who have rented it out & have to give a 2-month notice period.

From our side, there shouldn't be any problem with the legal side of things as my dad is our solicitor, plus I work there 1 day a week! Our mortgage has also been agreed in principle, have to go in at the weekend to sign some more forms.

We would like to be in the new place in time for the first May bank holiday, as there is a lot of work to do. Ddad says this is entirely realistic, given the chain-free nature of things.

I am, however, panicking about packing everything up in such a short time! We have tons of junk stuff & I don't know where to start! I also am mainly SAHM to DSes 4.2 & 22m for 4 days a week & can't really do anything with them around - DS2, in particular, will just unpack anything I pack! Thinking of asking Dgrandparents to come round for an hour once a week, to take boys for a walk or just sit with them while I go up in the loft of doom

Think I will start tomorrow by taking a few black bags of clothes to the cash for clothes place nearby whilst DS1 is in pre-school. We are putting any cash we get from selling things into a tin you can only open with a tin-opener & will then use it for furniture for the new house (Ebay!)

Is there anybody in a similar situation who wants to join me???

[flow4]

Sounds very frustrating Jayne, and suggests to me that someone is dragging their heels somewhere. Have you asked the EAs and your solicitor exactly that question too?

[kid]

I got things moving by phoning my solicitor to ask what the hold up was. She then got on to the other solicitors and that's when the loose ends were chased up and contracts were exchanged. I spoke to my solicitor daily for almost a week before we finally exchanged contracts. It was worth the hassle though as it got me my completion date.

[Jaynebxl]

Flow I think I need to ask some questions after the Easter holiday.

Thanks Kid, will give that a go.

[kid]

Just read through the last few posts.
jenbird, you are more than entitled to cry after all that has gone on lately for you. Maybe you'll feel a bit better after a cry?

I'm getting my keys tomorrow, have to wait for the solicitors to phone to give the go ahead to collect the keys. I will still be packing over the weekend but will split my time between current home and new house (1hour drive away)

Good luck to everyone, hope your plans are all coming together nicely.

[flow4]

Any news, Jayne ?

[Notyetthere]

Hi All, we made our full mortgage application yesterday. It took 3.5hrs bse the banks computer kept on crashing so we had to do it all over again a few times. Also their hard sell on home insurance, life and critical illness insurance took an age! Did you all get this hard sell? It felt like if we did not we might not get the mortgage. we only took the life insurance which I still feel we might have got cheaper somewhere else.

Solicitors were instructed yesterday afternoon so now the waiting game starts again. From reading a few posts on here looks like we need to chase solicitors every couple of days. We would like to complete in 6 wks. Our vendor is moving into an empty house.

[Jaynebxl]

Nothing yet Flow, we are on holiday til Friday but I will make contact then.

Notyet I think they have to go through all that but don't really expect anyone to buy it all.

[Jaynebxl]

Jenduck are you still on track to be in by May bank holiday?

[flow4]

I'm using q broker. I umm-ed and ahh-ed about it, but I'm doing buy-to-let as well as a standard mortgage, and I liked him and found him clear and straight-forward, and in the end was persuaded he knew far more about it all than me and would save me time and stress and probably money. So far it's working: I got agreements in principal before I'd even met him, just from phone convos; and the residential mortgage was approved subject to survey within 20 mins, with him doing it all online. And no hard sell at all. :)

[ninjanurse]

Updating after my last post a couple of weeks ago - mortagage survey has been done and is all sorted from that side of things. However, I chased our solicitor on Wdnesday and they havent sent off the searches yet as they have not had confirmation from the vendors solicitors yet!!! I chased this with the agents and apparently it has all been sent off today. It bloody better be as my lease on this rented place ends on 25th April and it looks like Im going to have to overstay my lease. Letting agent keeps ringing me to remind me to sign and return my 12 month contract (yeah right!) and I keep ignoring them! Once we have a bit more confirmation from solicitors we will acknowedge them that we will be staying here til completion! Nightmare! Only 2 of us in the chain - should be straightforward!

[kid]

After our offer was accepted, we went to view our house a second time and I exchange email addresses with the vendor. I am so glad I did as when his solicitor was unable to give my solicitor any information, which was slowing the process down, I got in touch with the vendor and he chased his solicitors.
It also gave us the opportunity to ask him any questions about the house and to arrange any more viewings without having to go thorough the EA. We have started decorating the new house, I am blown away by it and still can't believe its mine!

[Notyetthere]

Received a text from bank last night ( are they still working at that time or computers doing their nightly duties?) saying that a valuation has been booked for 16th April. Does this mean that the underwriters have finished their checks and that they will lend us the money 'subject to survey?

I'm also thinking of being present when the survey is being done in the hope that surveyor will say more than he will public in the report. It also gives me a chance to view the house and take note of where to put things. we offered after 1st viewing and we have not been back since.

[flow4]

Sounds like a good idea, Not. Might try that myself. :)

[Goodwordguide]

Yay, we're in and it is fantastic! Loving the space and still feel like we managed to buy the nicest house we saw.

Moving day was pretty horrid though the removals were excellent (they're in SE London, called Les Hinks, I thought they were ace and a bargain if anyone wants a recommendation). A couple of 'surprises' about the house eg, one shower leaked straight jnto the kitchen, we still haven't quite worked out the hot water etc but I was expecting worse to be honest - at least the heating works, whichis good, given the snow outside!

Thanks for all the help on this thread and the property bpards and best of luck with all your moves!

[flow4]

How exciting Good! Hope it all goes well... Enjoy your new home!

[monkeytennismum]

Goodwordguide congratulations on your move! Hope you're very happy in your new home. We're in SE London and preparing to move - is it Hinks Removals in Lee that you used? Always good to get a recommendation.

[Goodwordguide]

Les Hinks in SE London - not sure exactly where but theynhave a website if you google.they were recommended to me and they were great and very cheap and also very calm when their van couldn't fit through the ates of our new home!

Hope your move goes well.

[imonkey]

I'd also like to join as a latecomer.

Had our offer accepted on 12th Feb, mortgage offer went through quickly and smoothly, the valuation was booked within days but it threw up all sorts of things which needed checking out in more detail with experts.

So I'm up every night stressing about building regulations or lack of, and whether or not the house is likely to fall down if we go ahead and buy it. We can't seem to get straight answers from the 'experts' and are left utterly confused about the whole situation.

And to think our EA estimated our completion at 5th April- hahaha!

Please somebody reassure me that this level of stress is 'normal' for a house purchase.......