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Original poster

Dream house has come up for sale!!

136 replies

specialone · 25/10/2014 23:42

My dream house has come up for sale. Been to see it and am seriously in love. We are in a good position as ours is under offer etc

Only problem is that DH is away with work (abroad) for another 2.5 weeks.
I've sent him the details and he wants to view before making an offer. Argh.

House is beyond stunning. It's even been in an interiors magazine. I think they've had lots of viewings and I think it will sell quickly.

I am literally beside myself. What do I do?? Do I talk to agent and explain about DH and that if he likes it then we will be offering?
I've tried to persuade DH but he doesn't feel ok with offering until he has seen it.

Any advice please??

OP posts:
Riverland · 26/10/2014 01:35

Yes, sorry specialone. I didn't mean maybe he would like the house if you drew up a list of pros and cons. I'm being vague..prolly need to go to bed!

I meant maybe he would feel more solid and secure about your certainty and even getting the ball rolling before he gets home, ie putting in an offer in his absence if you drew up a very concrete list of pros and cons.

Some people respond to spreadsheets more than effervescence!

Anyway I'm warbling on, here, and looking at these nice windowed houses in beckenham when I need to clear the kitchen, turn the lights off and zzzzz.

It's a beautiful house, good luck with it. Keep us posted!

VanGogh · 26/10/2014 01:57

Bloody hell woman!

STOP THINKING AND BUY THE HOUSE!!! and then invite me to stay

HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs · 26/10/2014 01:11

I didn't know houses like that existed!! Looks amazing!
And I'm sure I saw those bean bags from the living room in Dunelm Mill today...

CadleCrap · 26/10/2014 01:25

I assume there is actually a door into the upstairs bathroom!

Booboostoo · 26/10/2014 03:31

I'm with you OP, I think it's gorgeous and, sorry to say this, but I think it will sell quickly. This is the insane London market and all bets are off.

Would DH be satisfied if you took a laptop and Skyped a tour through the house as suggested above?

MrsHoolie · 26/10/2014 07:45

Sounds like you'll have to hang tight. By all means go and have another viewing though.
We go to Kelsey Park a lot (we're in Sydenham) and I love nosing at the houses on Manor Way.
I would love to live in a house in that area.

Original poster
specialone · 26/10/2014 08:31

Booboostoo. Confused Don't say that!!! (Weeps).

Mrshoolie. It is a lovely area. Sort of why we've been honing in on it.

OP posts:
burnishedsilver · 26/10/2014 09:15

Level with the agent. Tell the them that you're interested but your husband is away, can he/she keep you in the loop with any developments. It should buy you some time.

The owner is unlikely to accept another offer (unless it's ridiculously high) without knowing what you're prepared to offer.

It's a beautiful house.

Original poster
specialone · 26/10/2014 09:33

Burnished. Thanks I will tomorrow.

You're right. Can't offer or do anything apart from that until DH is back. (Wibble).

Tough one.

OP posts:
SquinkiesRule · 26/10/2014 10:34

Make another viewing appointment for the day after Dh gets back so at least they know you are coming back to look.
I think it's gorgeous, but the detached one Philoslothy posted first is more my style.

Original poster
specialone · 26/10/2014 11:05

Squinkies. Grin Yes. I am on the phone first thing tomorrow to make that appointment. Wish me luck. Hopefully DHs work doesn't drag on and he really will be back in 2.5 weeks!

We've been to see the first one Phildolothy first posted. Pictures are shall we say overly flattering. And it's very very small. 500sqft smaller than the terrace we are moving from. Garden was ok though. But everything needed doing. And there was a damp issue from what we could see (and smell).
That said its several months since we saw it so that may have been repaired by now.

Argh. All so frustrating. Such a bad time for DH to be away (this happens a lot!).

I might go and see another couple
Of houses in Beckenham which have come on the market last week. As a back up plan.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 26/10/2014 11:31

OP - I just meant that picture 9 (I think it was - the big vaulted ceiling) would be what sold it to me.

Good luck - as others have said, unless someone comes along with asking price plus, the owners are likely to want to hold on to see what your offer would be.

Original poster
specialone · 26/10/2014 12:08

Stealth. Thanks Thanks for saying that. Makes me feel better about my long wait.

I see what you mean about vaulted ceilings. All the bedrooms and both rooms upstairs have vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. Stunning.

I'm still going to look at the other two which came on the market last week. One really in Clockhouse/Penge and is smaller over more floors. The other needs a lot of work. You can see the damp patches on the ceilings. Not sure I'd want to pay £1.99m for house riddled with damp though.

This www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48783089.html one
And this www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48840719.html

And in the meantime try not to stress. Smile

Still if I don't look I won't know will I.

OP posts:
FamiliesShareGerms · 26/10/2014 12:20

I'd go for the first one at £1.7m that you have just posted over the one you have fallen in love with - proper sized bedrooms, rather than the large master suite and quite small other ones in your dream house

FamiliesShareGerms · 26/10/2014 12:21

Plus I think it will hold its value better - having lived in a place that we loved but was quirky and not to everyone's tastes, don't underestimate the stress of selling when you know the market for your house is limited

Philoslothy · 26/10/2014 12:26

The 7 bedroom house needs a lot spending on it, IMO - although I think the awful furniture and decor may have made it look worse than it is

molesbreath · 26/10/2014 12:26

How do you work a handle less kitchen ????

Philoslothy · 26/10/2014 12:29

Families we built our own home and allowing for the fact that it is not in London it is probably in a similar price range to the ones on this thread.

Our home is highly personal and if we wanted to sell it we may have problems, I was told by a MNer that I had the taste of a serial killer Grin. However it is our forever home so it does not matter. I think people need to remember than their home is exactly that - a home and not an asset to be maximised and sold on.

VivaLeBeaver · 26/10/2014 12:35

I much prefer the Elm Rd house.

Philoslothy · 26/10/2014 12:42

I would have thought that most modern kitchens are handless. Some work with a groove, although I would worry about crumbs. Some have a recess and other tap. All our storage is handleless. In a modern house it works.

enWoooquethesythebearingwizard · 26/10/2014 12:49

I wouldn't contemplate buying a house on a private road where the property had full responsibility for repairs and maintenance of that road (if that's what you're saying)

Is the market moving as quickly in Kent still as it was in London? I'm not so sure you need to panic OP, although to be fair that view point is formed from not liking the house at all, sorry.

Riverland · 26/10/2014 12:52

Very good point about road maintenance. I much prefer Elm Road house, too!

Original poster
specialone · 26/10/2014 12:55

Philoslothy. Yes that 7 bedroom one looks like a major project. Not really what we were after. Probably best leave it to the developers. Grin

I've had a copy of the title extract regarding road from agent and everyone who uses the road have to contribute an equal share to up keep and renewal. So I'm not worried about that so much.

Problem with the Elm rd one is that it isn't in Beckenham. It's Clockhouse/Penge which is far grittier and the sort of area we are wanting to move away from. I know it looks close on the map but there is a massive difference between the two sides of Croydon Rd. It's also much further away from the school I've got DC 1 into (St Christiphers.). So we would have to drive rather than walk.

There are always compromises. It's just a question what your own preferences are.

OP posts:
Original poster
specialone · 26/10/2014 12:58

Enwoo. I can see that this house is a love it or hate it sort of place. Whenever anything has lots of features, period or otherwise, it's like that.

I think it's still fairly fast market wise. A couple of houses I saw 10 days ago have gone under offer. Hard to say.
I had hoped with autumn coming things would slow a bit Wink

OP posts:
WeAreEternal · 26/10/2014 13:01

In your position I would tell DH that you have spoken to the agent and someone else has shown serious interest/made an offer, and you are panicking that you may loose the house so need to make an offer now or risk loosing out on the dream house.

My DH works away a lot too, I have been in this situation but my DP was happy for me to buy and move into a new house without him seeing it.

And you definitely need that house, it's lovely.