Gazumped

[Bunnyfuller]

The vendor of the property we were buying (6 weeks into the process) accepted a higher offer from another buyer, He said ‘she wants to move rapidly’ and doesn’t seem to grasp that the time it takes is just that. He’s lived in the US most of his adult life and can’t understand why there’s a delay. He even took a call from our surveyor on Friday and accepted a booking from them, knowing all the time he had accepted another fucking offer.

The house is a wreck and needs doing up massively and we just can’t borrow any more or it eats into the budget to do it up.

We’ve spent all weekend on RM trying to find something, as well as doing some drive bys.

This is the house we’ve lost: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-93332942.html

We were 12.5k under asking price, this other buyer has gone in at asking and given him ‘cash as a sign of commitment’. The house is his mum’s and he’s taking her to his home overseas to live with him.

Our chain below us is only 2 with bottom one a cash buyer so we just need to find somewhere!

So exhausted with this.

That looks like a shit hole tbh but it is worth the asking price - it’s priced low because it needs work so I’m not surprised you were gazumped really. Try Rushden or into Northamptonshire for somewhere closer to your budget

No advice OP, but a conciliatory handhold.

We weren’t gazumped, but our vendor decided to pull out of our sale after 4 months. I was fucking furious very disappointed, but three months later we found something bigger, better presented and cheaper than the original house. We’ve been in two weeks now and I thank my lucky stars the first vendor got cold feet every day!

Hardly a shithole, just outdated, £20k would bring it up to standard as long as roof etc is sound.

Had a look in that area and there’s plenty in better condition for similar prices.

@SBTLove

Hardly a shithole, just outdated, £20k would bring it up to standard as long as roof etc is sound.

No way would £20k put in a new kitchen, bathrooms, flooring.

It's a lot of house for the money though. Can't buy a 2nd mid tce for that here

@MJMG2015
It can be done on a budget if you’re wanting in quick or take your time and go more expensive, kitchens don’t need to cost £20k+, bathroom for £1k max.

I don't know about prices in that area. But it is an ideal house to buy as a doer upper. Four months is quite a long time if you weren't moving towards completion.

Sorry it was somebody else's house that was taking four months.

We were fully intending to take it on as a doer-upper and had 40k set aside for renovation. Do people think the bathrooms and kitchen could be done for 30k?

There is a lot locally in better nick, but the village is beautiful and it’s a non-estate location. At the moment we have asked him if he will accept us at asking price, but I’m not sure he will (the estate agent is furious with him).

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-96010823.html

We’ve sold this, which was a similar mess a couple of years ago, £100k cheaper than we sold it for

@SBTLove do you have the links for the similar places in better condition? We need to be no further than 5 miles from Sharnbrook as DCs in exam years, can’t move them.

No advice but if you think that house is a wreck, then you've never seen a wreck! It's just dated decor.

Do people think the bathrooms and kitchen could be done for 30k?

Yes. House similar size here, new kitchen, wall removed and steel fitted, one new bathroom, whole house plastered downstairs, upstairs skimmed, new carpets, paint, 60 sq m of Karndean glued down and a full rewire. I had change from 30k.

Thanks @hauntedvagina that’s useful to hear. See how tomorrow goes.

I had another look at the house you were in the process of buying. Could you not do it up over a period of time. Rather than need all the money set aside now. Even the kitchen cupboards could be sprayed/repainted at a cost far less than a new kitchen. I agree that it's not a wreck compared to others just hideous decor. I think you did a very good job of the house you sold. It looks lovely

@Bunnyfuller thanks.

A kitchen doesn't have to cost thousands and thousands. My advice would be to go for decent carcasses that will stand the test of time, we went for the best worktops that would fit our budget and plan to replace them in five years or so. I'm happy to do that because I know that the units will last.

Kitchens get expensive when you start going for gadgets, crazy pull out cupboards with rotating bits, etc... a standard cupboard and some clever Ikea bits works just as well, if not better as there's less to break in the long run. Think long and hard about how often you use something in your kitchen and question if it's really worth the money, for example I didn't bother with an integrated microwave because I rarely use one, I have a bog standard microwave in the garage.

Buy your own appliances, don't get them from the kitchen manufacturer. Shop around and haggle.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-97231835.html

Cheaper, needs updated, good amount of space to work with.
Do you prefer older rather than new built?

@hauntedvagina
Agree on kitchens, I’m always horrified at MN with their £20k kitchen budgets, often houses with older kitchens have really decent sturdy carcasses which you keep and get new doors, counters, half the nonsense kitchen showrooms try and punt you don’t need and probably will never use. Bathrooms; you don’t need £500 taps!

Your house is gorgeous, why did you sell??

@SBTLove it's bonkers isn't it. I think that sometimes people get so carried away they forget the actual purpose of the room, to keep and cook food.

Corr your house is amazing! Why are you moving?!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-96619925.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72127329.html

Hi @SBTLove

Yes, they’re all in massive new estates with everyone overlooking everyone else. It’s not the older house, more the location. As you say, there’s plenty cheaper and in better shape but what can you see out of the windows?

It’s a lot harder finding affordable places that are in the North Beds villages. We’re moving because circumstances around finances are forcing us to. This was meant to be our forever home..

I did notice there seems a lack of older houses in the area unless you have a lottery win🙄 does it need to be 4 beds?

[quote SBTLove]@MJMG2015
It can be done on a budget if you’re wanting in quick or take your time and go more expensive, kitchens don’t need to cost £20k+, bathroom for £1k max.[/quote]
Only if your renovations are ‘Homes under the Hammer’ standard, cheap and not very cheerful.

Your house is gorgeous!