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Original poster

Buyers remorse...tell me it's normal

240 replies

DavetheCat2001 · 02/06/2019 18:47

I've been reading back on old threads about this, it does seem to be 'a thing', but I am slightly freaking out about us moving into our new house this coming Friday.

Canned version of events: it has taken over 4 months to get here, lost a set of buyers on our place, lost a solicitor along the way, had financial issues etc..won't go into detail as not really relevant, but we REALLY wanted this house and finally exchanged last week.

Went in there yesterday morning with the kids to measure the windows for blinds, and as soon as I walked in it felt cold, dark and gloomy. It's Edwardian, and it's been empty for over a year and not loved, it's a project house and in my head could be beautiful but the truth is we are stretching ourselves to our absolute limit financially, and will have nothing left over after completion.

OH is going to do a lot of work himself (when he can fit it in working FT), and we save for things as we go.

It was such a beautiful sunny day yesterday, but walking in there was like going into a musty cave. Both DC's were bickering and youngest had a meltdown when she saw the room we were thinking of for her..stomped around the house on raw floorboards making a racket and saying she hated it etc..

OH and I have been bickering too..think the stress has got to us, and best of all it appears that the vendor has for some reason since the last time we saw the house (mid April) ripped down the fusebox in the hallway, leaving us with no working plug sockets in the house???!!?

We couldn't test the grotty oven that is being left and so as it stands we move in on Friday into a house we cannot plug in our fridge/cook anything/heat etc...fucking nightmare.

Obviously we raised this with the EA on Saturday, but in his typical fashion he never came back to us despite saying he was going to contact the vendor immediately to find out what he is doing.

So tomorrow morning we get onto our solicitor to let them know...vendor has to make good and I have said there is no way I am moving into that house on Friday with my kids if no electricity, FFS.

That would put us in breach of contract with our buyers I'm guessing, so the whole thing is a nightmare.

Came back to our light, bright flat yesterday and just wanted to cry. Been here 14 years, had my kids here and made this place lovely.

I don't want to go..what were we thinking??? We need more space for sure with 2 growing DC's (5 and 8), and I thought I loved the house but I don't think I do anymore. Rang my mum for advice and wise words and she said I was the same when I bought our current flat as it was a state too, and I apparently spent many weekends back at her house as didn't want to be here either!

Can anyone please just bring me down and reassure me that this will pass and it will all be ok?

Packers come in on Thursday to pack us up, and we have a cleaning co booked to go into the house on Thursday too to deep clean it as it is minging....obviously they cannot do this if no bloody power in the house!!

Auuugh..just want to crawl under my duvet and it all to go away.

OP posts:
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steppemum · 03/06/2019 14:27

we moved into a house that needed serious decorating. the girls room was the worst, so I did that first.
2 days solid painting, and then we set it up with furniture and over the bed drapes etc. When they went in, they were enchanted. Totally different room, all it took was pollyfilla and a paintbrush.

Once they were happy, I offered to do ds room, but he had got used to the dark bleurgh colour and his old curtains and duvet and he didn't want me to change anything!

with familiar things, they will stop noticing the walls etc, and then once their rooms are nice, they won't care about the rest.

Love the idea of camping out together in one room while you paint the others

Original poster
DavetheCat2001 · 03/06/2019 16:10

*The utilities will be sorted don't worry. That's easy.

What did the agent say?*

From the EA:
He said that it was the meter company that had removed the meter and the fuse board. It’s probably best to make the request through your solicitor.

*** is going to the property tomorrow, he will check the electrics and turn the gas on.

Let’s see how it goes tomorrow and go from there.

Best regards

OP posts:
Attache · 03/06/2019 16:28

We tend to decorate the living room first. We just don't move into it until it's decorated - clearing the living room to paint is such a faff.

Redred2429 · 03/06/2019 16:54

I love your new house op trust me it will feel like home in no time

Bluntness100 · 03/06/2019 16:57

Why would they remove the fuse board, was it unsafe?

Your solicitor should ask why. I've never heard of a utilities company removing the fuse box, that sounds illegal, it's not theirs?

Original poster
DavetheCat2001 · 03/06/2019 17:20

There were 2 boxes, one for upstairs and one for downstairs as I understand it. He was renting the bottom half of the house out to a couple for a while over a year ago. Apparently an electrician removed one of the boxes, and the reason it wasn't all working when we went in on Saturday was because the electricity was turned off at the mains (along with the gas). OH going in there on Weds to check its all working.

Before and after pics of the electric boards.

Buyers remorse...tell me it's normal
Buyers remorse...tell me it's normal
OP posts:
Original poster
DavetheCat2001 · 03/06/2019 17:23

And here it is in the fireplace!

Buyers remorse...tell me it's normal
OP posts:
steppemum · 03/06/2019 17:30

To be honest, that looks as if an electrician has adapted it from a 2 flat system back to a one house system.
The white boxes look as if they are the correct things to reunite the cables, so you now have one system for the house.

I was expecting wires ripped out!

If it is done properly, then the fuses will be part of the second box now. And if you look the second box has been replaced, it isn;t the same.

So, while I wouldn't take the agent's word for it, and would want it confirmed, it looks as if the previous owner has done the right thing.

steppemum · 03/06/2019 17:31

by white boxes, I mean the round white things.

(I am not an electrician by the way)

Bluntness100 · 03/06/2019 17:35

I'd agree, I don't think they've removed the fuse box at all, it seems the power is just off, you don't need to separate metered units as one house.

GooodMythicalMorning · 03/06/2019 17:38

Its beautiful. from the sounds of it you'll have a beautiful working house when you move in Smile

SparklingSaskia · 03/06/2019 17:40

Forrest Hill? It’s a lovely big house, and it’s going to be fab. No worries.

Original poster
DavetheCat2001 · 03/06/2019 17:47

@steppermum and @Bluntness100, apparently an electrician did remove it, hoping we have some paperwork to verify that. Phew..thanks ladies..feeling bit calmer now (although that might be the G+T I'm currently drinking).

@SparklingSaskia..not FH, but not too far from there.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 03/06/2019 17:49

I lived as a tenant in the house I'm buying for the last 10 years and even I'm having doubts about it.

Original poster
DavetheCat2001 · 03/06/2019 17:49

@steppermum..you're right..the second box isn't the same is it? I hadn't even noticed that..thank god for MN!

OP posts:
Attache · 03/06/2019 17:55

We have 2 boxes for one house - one for downstairs, one for upstairs. You need plenty of circuits.

It seems a bit suspicious to me, especially if you had concerns anyway about the safety of the oven. Hopefully they were putting something right but I would be wanting to confirm exactly what's been done and why. If the oven can at least be disconnected you can manage with a portable hob ring and microwave for a bit if you have to.

Bluntness100 · 03/06/2019 17:59

Our house is large, three stories, and it doesn't need two fuse boxes. Plenty of circuits yes, but one box is sufficient.

As there used to be two supplies into thr house, for two residents, and in future will be one, I'd assume that's why it's been done.

Of course the op has to check, but I'd assume that's what it is. No utility company will rip out your fuse box and no seller is going to pay for an electrician to doit as an act of vandalism,

Chickencellar · 03/06/2019 21:33

Looks like the one on the left has been moved to the right and they have moved the meter.
I had a sneaky look on right move OP your new house is massive , I'm sure when it's finished it will be great.

WBWIFE · 03/06/2019 23:46

OP it is SO normal.

First house j bought was a doer upper. It was very very old but luckily very.clean and livable. First 3 weeks I wondered what I had done!

Second.house, beautiful and needed.nkthing to do in it. Great area. Regretted it for maybe a week after moving in, I would go to bed and just had a feeling of dread come.over me, thinking had I done the wrong thing

Third house we moved last Wednesday, complete Reno project. We knew it needed work but not quite how much. We walked in to an empty house that people were heaving at, at the front door. 1930s bungalow and it stunk to high heaven. We had piss and shit on and under the carpets. Dead flies everywhere, shit all in the garden it was awful. All our family came round and were like wtf why have you gone from a lovely house to this.

Then I remembered it was the garden I loved, loved big private garden, garage and enclosed front driveway safe for our daughter.

You will love it once you've put your stamp in it just as I will. Trust me, you just get a feeling when it's the one.

WBWIFE · 03/06/2019 23:47

OP it is SO normal.

First house j bought was a doer upper. It was very very old but luckily very.clean and livable. First 3 weeks I wondered what I had done!

Second.house, beautiful and needed.nkthing to do in it. Great area. Regretted it for maybe a week after moving in, I would go to bed and just had a feeling of dread come.over me, thinking had I done the wrong thing

Third house we moved last Wednesday, complete Reno project. We knew it needed work but not quite how much. We walked in to an empty house that people were heaving at, at the front door. 1930s bungalow and it stunk to high heaven. We had piss and shit on and under the carpets. Dead flies everywhere, shit all in the garden it was awful. All our family came round and were like wtf why have you gone from a lovely house to this.

Then I remembered it was the garden I loved, loved big private garden, garage and enclosed front driveway safe for our daughter.

You will love it once you've put your stamp in it just as I will. Trust me, you just get a feeling when it's the one.

BeauticianNotMagician81 · 04/06/2019 18:31

@DavetheCat2001 wow. I can't see any pictures but the floor plan is amazing. I've thought about pulling out of our purchase on numerous occasions. It's a big house, bigger than we should be able to afford. Houses don't come up like it often in our area. But it's a project. It's dirty, there is furniture and rubbish everywhere which I fear may be left behind and it looks dark and gloomy. We have four dcs and nowhere to stay while we do work so it's going to be stressful for a while. I think the darkness will be easily resolved as lots of the windows are covered by furniture but it needs redecorating and re flooring throughout and then eventually we too would like a big kitchen/diner.

You have to be able to see the bigger picture of your beautiful finished house. I think it's not the house itself that any of us get stressed over but the thought of all that work and prolonged stress. We won't be moving again. If my husband mentions downsizing I'll just remind him of the amount of grandchildren we could possibly have. Failing that he can downsize himself into the garage Grin

I agree with other posters that the electrical board just looks like it has been changed to all run from one place. Hopefully you get that checked and can get excited for Friday.

Original poster
DavetheCat2001 · 04/06/2019 18:37

@BeauticianNotMagician81 I asked MN to remove the pics as I think you can reverse search on Google and find the house on RM, and I didn't want to completely out myself!

I'll post more pics as we start working on the house..been on to a few builders today as we want to try and get the front 2 reception rooms knocked together and sorted asap so we have at least one room 'done' for us/the kids/visitors!

Wow 4 DC's! I've only got the 2 and am preparing myself for chaos! I'm wondering how we will get them to bed on Friday night! They'll be living for school from the home they have always known, and returning to a new, big, strange house!

Anyone been there/got any tips? They're going to be sharing one of the bedrooms initially until we manage to get their rooms sorted, which I am hoping will help.

OP posts:
mysteryfairy · 04/06/2019 21:58

For the DC any hope they can go and play at a friends after school on Friday? I think the straighter you can get it before they come home the better, even if it’s because a ton of boxes are stashed in one reception room.

I know you have taken the photos down but I think there was a glass and wooden frame type thing between the kitchen and one reception. If so could you knock that out and have some freestanding extra kitchen type storage in there? Love unfitted kitchens even if only temporary! (Have not spent my day mentally returning your house, honest!)

Original poster
DavetheCat2001 · 04/06/2019 22:51

haha no worries @mysteryfairy ! Thanks for the suggestion.

I have managed to arrange for my lovely mum-friends to pick up the kids from school and give them tea on Friday, next Monday and Tuesday so we can have full days to try and get the place in some kind of order. OH is off work now until next Thursday.

OP posts:
tethersend · 05/06/2019 18:51

Good luck Dave- hope all goes well Smile