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Original poster

Anyone else wake up and think 'today is the day my new house will come on Rightmove!' and yet, it never is...

79 replies

ThatIsQuiteACrane · 12/08/2021 09:42

Anyone else in the same boat? We've been house hunting for roughly 4,000 years. Every day I scroll the house websites with excitement, certain that today will be the day we find our dream house. It never is Sad

Next baby due very soon and nowhere to put them once they're out the bedside cot. Absolutely nothing coming on the market that is remotely suitable, even with a wide ranging search area and a healthy budget.

We also haven't sold (as I don't want to be homeless with 3 children) and I'm paranoid that when The One comes onto the market they won't accept an offer from us as we haven't sold. We think we would sell in a matter of days, but they would need to trust us on that.

We leafleted the potential candidates near us but didn't hear back. Stuck for other ideas except another leaflet run.

DH is ridiculously fussy as well which is hard work...

OP posts:
MummyJ12 · 12/08/2021 15:06

We recently sold our house in a week, the sale also flew through so had little time or chance to find somewhere. We’re now in rented which is no fun but hoping that something comes up soon. I’ve seen my dream house but the snag is, it’s not on the market and probably never will be, because the buyers will know they’re in the perfect house! I’m now homesick and wondering if we’ve done the right thing!
Our estate agents screened prospective viewers but only asked for proof of funds for offers. (We had a few) People can slip through the net if they say that they are “cash buyers” and don’t have to sell. We found that they were the time wasters but I’d find it weird if our estate agent asked for proof of funds to view even though we are towards the top end of the market…..

Greenybluetowel · 12/08/2021 15:12

There ar time limits specified in our documents but those are just guidelines and I don't think this is Covid related. When the chain is complete, all parties are proceedable (mortgage offers in place) and all enquires are satisfied, missives conclude, it cannot happen before hand. We bought this house in 2017, it took 10 weeks from offer to moving and I explicitly told my solicitor I wanted missives tied up early so we were all locked in, 3 house chain. We were still sat in their offices at 4pm the day before moving day and she could give no guarantees that it would 100% happen the next day as our buyers solicitor still hasn't accepted an answer to an enquiry! Missives were concluded at 10am when half our belongings were in the moving van, it was stressful!

SoundBar · 12/08/2021 15:20

If you're relying on searching Rightmove you will be too late. The good stuff gets sold before it ever goes public. Ring all the agents 1 or 2x per week. Really annoy them!

RedToothBrush · 12/08/2021 15:21

@DeeplyMovingExperience

When we sold recently we wouldn't even let someone view who wasn't proceed-able. And by that I mean had already sold their house or accepted an offer from another proceedable party. If you're serious about moving, you need to sell up.
This.

If you want to move, and be a serious candidate for a dream house (that if its that amazing is liable to be wanted by others) you need to be in a position where you've started the process or you will miss out anyway.

If you haven't seen your dream house, are you sure it even exists? And is it realistic you can afford it and that it's likely to come on the market.

If you are leafleting target houses and thats what you have your heart set on, you aren't being very realistic. You obviously have a very set rigid list of criteria for what you want. Getting this also depends on luck.

Asking 'but where will we live' if you sell but haven't found your dreamhouse just reflects that naivety and lack of flexibility.

You need to be serious about moving if you need to and be prepared to compromise, which it doesn't sound like you are. And if you are holding out for 'the one' be prepared to rent in the shortterm.

ReeseWitherfork · 12/08/2021 15:26

Interesting that you don't have yours on the market but you're getting frustrated at the lack of houses on the market... There may be someone out there who is waiting desperately for your house.

MummyJ12 · 12/08/2021 15:29

@SoundBar

If you're relying on searching Rightmove you will be too late. The good stuff gets sold before it ever goes public. Ring all the agents 1 or 2x per week. Really annoy them!
This is a great point. We are on the list of all the estate agents, our estate agent also plays golf with other agents and is keeping an ear and eye out! The best houses usually sell off market. Although smart estate agents like ours always wait until the Rightmove launch before accepting an offer because they achieve the best price. We could have sold off market but found better buyers in a short chain by launching.
Neverrains · 12/08/2021 15:31

@ReeseWitherfork

Interesting that you don't have yours on the market but you're getting frustrated at the lack of houses on the market... There may be someone out there who is waiting desperately for your house.
This is very true. Someone needs to bite the bullet and get it all moving!
sosickofthisshit · 12/08/2021 15:32

@ThatIsQuiteACrane

But selling our house won't magically make suitable properties come on the market? We'll just end up with nowhere to live...

We've been looking for a year and viewed 3 or 4 things on the off chance they were better in real life.

We are in Scotland as well where chains etc are not really so much of a thing. You sign missives which lock you into a contract, it's then up to you to fulfil that contract (ie by selling quickly).

Nope this is wrong. You don't 'sign' missives and you're not locked into any contract until missives are concluded, which will not happen on a purchase until you are sold, missives concluded on your sale, all finance is in place and you have evidence of it, and the contract clauses agreed. Ours didn't conclude until the day before we moved nearly 9 weeks after offering. Ultimately, you will need to sell your property before anyone will entertain you as a serious buyer. I've just been through the process myself, and the market here is brutal, everything going to closing dates and going for 10-20% over home report value (Greater Glasgow area).
Original poster
ThatIsQuiteACrane · 12/08/2021 15:40

You don't 'sign' missives and you're not locked into any contract until missives are concluded

They are signed on your behalf by your solicitor... And that's exactly what I said - when the missives conclude you are bound by contract.

I've not worked in property for ten years or so but when I did, missives were concluded well before the entry date unless something was going to shit behind the scenes. A few people here have said it was very close to or on the entry date - that sounds very stressful!

I'm not selling up before we buy. Financially we don't really need to, depending upon what level we buy at. Even when we do sell it will be within weeks at most. There's nowhere to rent in the meantime and I have a young family.

There is very, very little coming on the market to buy, that's all I'm frustrated about.

OP posts:
ABrushWith · 12/08/2021 16:12

I could have written your post. Also Scotland, similar budget to you at the top end of the market and we don’t feel we can sell until we find a house. I don’t know anyone who has sold first in my area so most buyers are in the same position as us according to the local estate agents. Houses are getting snapped up for crazy high prices so selling our house quickly shouldn’t be an issue but we could end up renting for years if we sell before finding a house - there is just nothing coming on at all. Our house is ready to go on the market and I’ve been looking for so long I’m practically best friends with all the local agents. There just isn’t the supply of houses (which yes I appreciate we are adding to by not selling). It’s deeply frustrating.

Jasmine11 · 12/08/2021 18:32

The house we just bought didn't even go on the open market, you need to make friends with your local estate agents so you get shown properties before anyone else. Although you really need to be proceedable for them to want to do that. Why can't you go on the market, but not accept any offers until you find somewhere yourself? At least you will look serious and have more chance of having an offer accepted.

lking679 · 12/08/2021 19:26

Why can’t you get a buyer then wait to actually move when you find a house? Know it’s different in Scotland but in current market buyer will probably hang on and if they decide not to are you liable for them changing their mind? Don’t think so.
I am chain free and registered with estate agents but after the same family houses as everyone else and I have asked to view 2, the second within 5 hours of it being listed on Rightmove, and they won’t even let me view. The second had 30 viewings booked and they weren’t taking anymore. That’s how crazy it is. They won’t let you in the door of any house you like to view it unless you’ve sold yours. Don’t get tied up in knots about setting a date with your own buyers that leaves you homeless!

ReeseWitherfork · 12/08/2021 19:36

You do put yourself in a risky position by not being on the market. If your dream house finally comes up and you're not on the market then sellers may be reluctant and go with another buyer. For me, it wouldn't even be about the finances, I just wouldn't want to sell to someone with an unknown chain. Too much of a control freak to have the possibility of there being ten families involved.

But all irrelevant really, if you're only interested in a couple of streets then you could be waiting years, so of course putting your house on the market is daft. Especially if they're larger family homes (which it sounds like they are!).

Good luck OP. Think you just know you need to be patient. Hopefully something comes up.

Blossomtoes · 12/08/2021 22:02

The house we just bought didn't even go on the open market,

The vendors are fools then. If you don’t put your house on the market you’re limiting the price you can get for it in a situation where bidding wars are common as they currently are. The buyer has been extremely fortunate.

Jasmine11 · 12/08/2021 22:10

@Blossomtoes

The house we just bought didn't even go on the open market,

The vendors are fools then. If you don’t put your house on the market you’re limiting the price you can get for it in a situation where bidding wars are common as they currently are. The buyer has been extremely fortunate.

They had found somewhere they wanted to buy (they were downsizing) and we offered what they wanted which we also thought was a fair price, and we were in a position to proceed quickly. Not every vendor is greedy and after a bidding war!
Blossomtoes · 12/08/2021 22:13

Not every vendor is greedy and after a bidding war!

Wanting the best possible price for your main asset isn’t greedy, it’s good business sense. You were very fortunate to find such naive vendors.

spacejam · 12/08/2021 22:36

Won't this cost you an absolute fortune in taxes if yours doesn't sell in time for buying the new one?

SD25 · 12/08/2021 22:38

It is possible some people care more about other aspects of the sale than the final price. Someone in my family just sold to a lower bid as they were local, good family with plans, rather than a London couple who... weren't as nice.

MummyJ12 · 12/08/2021 22:40

@Blossomtoes

Not every vendor is greedy and after a bidding war!

Wanting the best possible price for your main asset isn’t greedy, it’s good business sense. You were very fortunate to find such naive vendors.

Totally agree. It’s just good business and it’s a lazy estate agent that settles for the first offer….
Jasmine11 · 12/08/2021 22:50

@Blossomtoes

The house we just bought didn't even go on the open market,

The vendors are fools then. If you don’t put your house on the market you’re limiting the price you can get for it in a situation where bidding wars are common as they currently are. The buyer has been extremely fortunate.

I don't know if that's fair to call them fools - they bought the house in 2004 and are selling it for 4 times what they'd paid for it, they are moving to a smaller house in a less expensive area and wanted to secure the house they had seen ASAP and we were straightforward chain free buyers. Maybe they could have got a bit more for it, but that obviously wasn't their priority. I got the impression that their retirement funds would not be particularly affected by missing out on a possible extra £10k they could have got via a bidding war🤷🏻‍♀️ They wanted a quick hassle free transaction as we were able to give them that at a price they were happy with.
MummyJ12 · 12/08/2021 23:01

Whatever the vendor paid should not always be a consideration. We sold for double our purchase price 4 years ago but we spent £300k on renovations. Besides, it’s all relative in the current market. To say it’s greedy to want to achieve the best price for your home is nonsense. We found buyers with a shorter chain and achieved a higher price by not selling “off market”, we were patient and waited a week…..We found the loveliest of buyers. I know we were lucky but it’s not all about greed.

Jasmine11 · 13/08/2021 08:08

@MummyJ12

Whatever the vendor paid should not always be a consideration. We sold for double our purchase price 4 years ago but we spent £300k on renovations. Besides, it’s all relative in the current market. To say it’s greedy to want to achieve the best price for your home is nonsense. We found buyers with a shorter chain and achieved a higher price by not selling “off market”, we were patient and waited a week…..We found the loveliest of buyers. I know we were lucky but it’s not all about greed.
Well nothing structural was done to it so I can't see them having spent anywhere near £300k on it! The decor is pretty dated too so there was no high end refurbishment with expensive fixtures and fittings either. And we are paying £25k more than a similar house on the street sold for in December last year, so it's not like we've scooped up a bargain from a seller that has been ripped off by taking the first offer they got.
Hipt · 13/08/2021 08:37

@ThatIsQuiteACrane

I'm not sure how the market is where you are but down here things are moving fast. People are making offers on houses they haven't seen, we have missed out on houses because they have come on rightmove only been available for viewing that Tuesday between 1:00-4.00 etc and gone straight to offers

We've had to prove we are proceedable and second viewings like you mentioned are unheard of. Houses just aren't staying on the market long enough.

The last house we saw went on right move on the Monday, viewings were only on the weds in a 3 hr slot, best and final offers in by the next day at 9.am complete with mortgage in principle and proof of deposit. We didn't get it

cupofdecaf · 13/08/2021 08:44

You have my sympathy OP.

I think a lot of people don't appreciate that the Scottish system doesn't allow you to back out of selling your house if you can't find anywhere.

We're selling in England and didn't want to go on the market before we found somewhere either because of how quickly ours would sell compared to how often the kind of house we wants comes on.

We thought we'd sorted it and found somewhere that accepted our offer, we went on the market and sold within days. All great until the vendors decided they wanted more money. We were already paying what their agent thought it was worth (more than we thought it was worth).

Interestingly I've found the pictures online of when they bought the house. In a decade they've not even painted a room or replaced a carpet. Yet think it's top spec.

So now we're exactly where we didn't want to be, great buyers waiting for us to find a very rare house.

Ijustcalled · 13/08/2021 09:29

OP I’m in Scotland too. We sold in April, had loads of viewers and they were a total mix of those who had sold and who hadn’t. It wouldn’t have occurred to us to refuse viewers who hadn’t sold yet. We also viewed a few houses before we sold without any problems.