The decluttering, cleaning, vacating, pandering, nailbiting antics of the stressed out house sellers continued...

[CuddyMum]

Thought I'd better start a new thread... :)

Help - my solicitor wants my title deeds, I've a TR1 is that it? What am I looking for?

I'm sorry doglover. That's rubbish. How much work does the other bungalow need? Perhaps you could describe it and we could all pitch in with our experiences of doing various types of renovations if that would help?

Well, this list might not be exhaustive but here goes (3 bed / 2 bath bungalow - partially renovated but am unsure of 'quality' of what's already been done! It's been empty for nearly 2 years.

*re-wiring
*replacing a couple of ceilings
*total replaster walls / ceilings
*new combi boiler
*renew one small bathroom
*repalce skirting boards / architrave
*total redecoration (it's totally RANK and DISGUSTING!)
*all floorings
*new backdoor
*new front door
*re-fence the jungle of a garden
*new garage door

The following HAVE been done:
*soffits and fascias
*kitchen (not great but liveable-with for the foreseeable future)
*one bathroom
*dg windows/patio doors

Any rough quotes etc or your experience of any of the above would be SO APPRECIATED. We do not have expensive tastes and will probably have a budget of approximately 25k. Does this sound feasible? Replies would be great because I'm feeling pretty down tonight.

Crikey that bungalow sounds like one we were initially interested in (ages ago now). We didn't get as far as costing everything though as too many other people were interested including builders. When you get an offer on yours maybe you could visit with a builder to get a rough guide for him doing the whole lot unless you are handy of course. I can lay floors and we could do skirtings and decoration but that is where it stops really. It does really sound like a great project though. I always thought we would end up in a doer-upper like that - well that was the original plan. Keep positive. Perhaps thinking about how you could live in this bungalow will help you focus. Like I said, I've been there. You kind of go through a mourning period when you lose a house you like but you really do get over it and sometimes you are relieved even. Sending you some !

Slurp! (That's the wine!! !!) Yes, we intend to view again at the weekend with a builder friend to give us a rough idea of costs. We're prepared to do paint but our skills are otherwise pretty limited. Many thanks for your reply it does help to know that we'll get the house for us ....................... eventually!!

Aw no doglover, sorry to hear that. We havent had a great day either. Got home to find out that they have made an offer but its 25 grand lower than the lowest amount we can let it go for. tis shit. Think dh had some harsh words for them. Apparently if these people wont buy it no one will, which I personally think is a load of bollocks. Ah well, best hope they come up with a much higher offer!

I think up to £25k is realistic for that work. The good news is that if if it is in a state you don't need to worry about making more mess by renovating!

Our house was disgusting when we moved in. I wondered if they had been chopping up bodies given there were blood stains on the carpet..... Seriously, it was horrid. A good clean when we moved in instantly improved it and from there it was nice to bring it back to life and choose everything for myself.

Plasterers have really dropped their rates as work is thin on the ground. I had conservatory taken from bare brick to fully done for £200 and my friend is being charged £40 per wall for skimming.

You could easily do skirting and architrave yourself if you invest in an electric, circular saw with an angle guide at the base. Ours cost about £40 and even I can cut skirting with it and I'm rubbish at anything requiring accuracy.

Decorating yourself will save lots of money.

My sister has just paid £2,000 for new fencing on her detached property and it has made a real difference.

The only thing I'd be wary of is the garden..... Ours was a mess and we intended to tidy it up ourselves but in the end we had to pay a landscaper as it wasn't even ground and was so overgrown it was just too much for us.

Taking a builder is a really good idea. As cuddy says you could get a quote for the lot and look to reduce it by doing some work yourself if it seems too expensive.

You could get a full survey too which would highlight any hidden issues?

You are a Rightmove addict Ruby! I am a recovering Rightmove addict and only look once per day now and not twenty times

Dog, how crap

I am going to look at some houses this week.

Still no viewers booked. Hopefully something will come up for the weekend.

Well, interesting times here. Dh has just had a letter telling him he is receiving a 50% pay cut for the foreseeable future as the company is in trouble. It's only the execs, so only three of them, and the other two are independently wealthy, whereas we live on our monthy pay and it's already very tightly balanced.

Feckity feck. He is livid. In theory, if the company bounces back, he will get all the back-pay, but no timescales. If not, then no one gets paid anyway.

Bollocks! Surveyor has reported traces of aqua foam on the timbers at the new property. Typically, Nationwide are the only lender who will not issue a mortgage if this is found. I have spoken to the surveyor who informs me that if the vendor can physically remove all remaining traces that he can reinspect. Am awaiting a call from the EA to advise when this can be done by. Then I have to process it all via the Nationwide call centre who currently have the property valued at £0 and might cancel the whole application. Urgh!!

ALFW that sounds awful. I'm sorry.

Cuddy. What is aqua foam???

I had 50 minutes notice of a viewing this afternoon. Negotiated up from 'now'. Poor 17 month old DD was strapped in high chair for most of that whilst I madly rushed round.

Stuck at soft play now while agent shows couple round. I'm having a rest and she is recovering from the high chair restraint and being forced to help change bed linen.

Been on market a week now and this is 4th viewing which I think is positive but really hope we sell soon as I don't think I can take many more short notice viewings!

Pasta - last minutes viewings are awful. It does sound like you are getting a fair amount of interest though.

Well this aqua stuff is something that was used to insulate the roof and rafters. When the current vendors moved there over 15 years ago it was brought to their attention and they actually put a whole new roof on. From what I am told, the product isn't harmful and there really is only a trace of it on the rafters but it's something that only the Nationwide object to.

Poor you, CM. I do hope you manage to resolve this issue. You've been so supportive of so many of us recently and it's horrible to hear of this glitch. Good luck.

Oh bugger ALFW and Cuddy. I thought I was having a bad day. Will keep everything crossed that it can all be resolved quickly for you both.

Here's a each!

Thanks Monkey and Dog!

The vendor is going to speak directly to the surveyor tomorrow to establish exactly what he needs to do in order for it to be acceptable for the Nationwide. I have to say that our vendor does seem a lovely, genuine person and he's probably mortified.

Other than that, as far as my solicitor is concerned the sale ought to be straightforward but he will need to clarify the extent of the party wall and is awaiting the fixtures and fittings form. The searches have been requested.

ALFW - that's awful news. I am sorry. Will this affect your move?

No idea, Cuddy. Am hoping not, as if it continues, the house move is weirdly the only thing that will keep us afloat longer (as our outgoings will stay the same, but we can use the equity we were going to use for renovations to pay the mortgage instead...)

Thanks for good wishes. Have been running some numbers and I think we are about £750 a month short at the mo, so I have some monthly outgoings to slash so that we don't jeopardise anything... Goodness only knows where though. It seems like a heck of a lot, but I don't want to fall further into debt...

Thanks Ruby. I'm feeling a bit agitated as I haven't heard anything yet. I am guessing that the vendor is having trouble getting hold of the surveyor. I just need to know so I can communicate with the Nationwide. I can't bear the thought of starting a new mortgage application elsewhere and certainly can't fork out for another Homebuyer's report. I wish I'd just gone for the valuation survey now.

Meanwhile, I'm packing up the dining room as the furniture has been sold and is being collected this weekend. We will use the empty dining room to start storing packed boxes. The trampoline is due to be collected tonight (daughter has pocketed the money for that) and we are selling our rower and cross trainer too. Two things less to dust! Will probably start on the study next week. I've have tried to persuade DH that we really don't need real books anymore. I have thousands on my Kindle. Alas, it appears these will be coming with us along with the Billy Bookcases - although I feel an Annie Sloan makeover and new handles coming on :)

Can I join you?

My buyers just pulled out yesterday, having offered in January!! I am So frustrated. They were being slow but I thought we were getting there.

House I am buying is still ok, they're giving me a couple of weeks to find someone else.

Has anyone managed to finance a new purchase while keeping on the old mortgage? If so, how, and who was your lender? Am currently with Halifax.

Fingers crossed that Nationwide come to their senses today, Cuddy x

I had never heard of aqua foam. The things you end up filling your brain with is unbelievable!!

NFN - we have asked our current mortgage lender (Barclays) if we can take across our existing product (v v low rate) and just get a new mortgage to make up the difference of the place we buy. They have agreed to this in principle. Is this what you meant?

I still haven't heard if the vendor has spoken to the surveyor. Until I have a date for reinspection I can't speak to the Nationwide. I can just feel the time ticking away.