Page 39 | Anyone not being picky - and STILL can't find anything?

PessimisticOptimist · 2021-09-11T11:03:22+00:00

We've been on the hunt for 18 months. In that time, we've expanded our search area and budget. We've offered on four houses - three times we were outbid by developers and one time they decided not to sell. But nothing has come on for us to view in the last couple of months. I guess I'm looking for a support group on here to commiserate with me 😂 Everyone we talk to says: - The market is crazy right now - It will settle down - More will become available eventually - Just be patient But I worry about getting priced out of the market if we wait too long. How long do we wait for the "right" house?

MummyJ12 · 03/01/2022 22:05

I was alerted on Boxing Day that 6 properties had come onto Rightmove. A good range of prices between 4.75 million and half a million! So fingers crossed that we start to see more activity now we’re into the new year…..we have had a tip off about something. It’s a curve ball but may be interested. I’ll keep you all posted.
Happy New Year everyone. Here’s to us getting sorted in 2022!

Eastie77Returns · 04/01/2022 12:26

It’s not looking good. Solicitor hasn’t replied to my email today (still no sign of the report) or answered calls and she usually at least responds.

I emailed the EA asking if they had any updates (I have no idea if my solicitor has even sent enquiries as bizarrely neither she nor her assistant will even answer that question) or know what is happening with the vendor’s purchase and he hasn’t replied either. Again, he normally responds very promptly to me via WhatsApp(!)

The last time it went this quiet the vendor had decided to pull out.

BennyBean · 04/01/2022 13:02

@Eastie77Returns

It’s not looking good. Solicitor hasn’t replied to my email today (still no sign of the report) or answered calls and she usually at least responds.

I emailed the EA asking if they had any updates (I have no idea if my solicitor has even sent enquiries as bizarrely neither she nor her assistant will even answer that question) or know what is happening with the vendor’s purchase and he hasn’t replied either. Again, he normally responds very promptly to me via WhatsApp(!)

The last time it went this quiet the vendor had decided to pull out.

Same with us no reply from my email to the solicitor they have had 2 weeks off and thought that they would have updates today NOT it's been an anxious time all over Christmas waiting for them to return to work I hope you hear something soon i know how you feel keep us updated sending good luck hopefully everything will be okay for you

Eastie77Returns · 04/01/2022 13:54

@BennyBean sorry to hear you are going through this too! Keeping everything crossed that you get a positive update soon.

After several calls I finally got through to the Solicitor’s assistant. My actual Solicitor continues to be elusive.

Conversation was quite frustrating
Me: I’m calling following my e-mail this morning
Assistant: umm, which one?
Me: The one chasing the report I’ve been waiting for almost a month. You said you were typing it up and would be sent last week.
Assistant: Oh yeah…they are still typing. It will be finished today and sent to you as soon as (Solicitor) has reviewed it. That will be today at some point.
Me: (no idea who ‘they are’) I thought she already reviewed the report and it just had to be finalised and sent to me?
Assistant:
Me: Ok, can you please answer my question about the enquires?
Assistant: What was the question?
Me: HAVE YOU SENT ENQUIRIES?
Assistant: Oh. No we haven’t sent them
Me: When do you plan to?
Assistant: Ummm…after we send you the report.

It shouldn’t be this hard to get answers should it?!

The EA also responded to say the vendor is proceeding, she is buying her vacant onward property cash and so has decided not to bother with a survey.

areyouhavingagiraffe · 04/01/2022 14:14

@Eastie77Returns, that sounds absolutely ridiculous. WTF. I was such a pain in the arse to my Solicitor during my Sale, calling for weekly updates. They were a nightmare, but yours sound on another level. I hope they pull their finger out

BennyBean · 04/01/2022 14:24

[quote Eastie77Returns]@BennyBean sorry to hear you are going through this too! Keeping everything crossed that you get a positive update soon.

After several calls I finally got through to the Solicitor’s assistant. My actual Solicitor continues to be elusive.

Conversation was quite frustrating
Me: I’m calling following my e-mail this morning
Assistant: umm, which one?
Me: The one chasing the report I’ve been waiting for almost a month. You said you were typing it up and would be sent last week.
Assistant: Oh yeah…they are still typing. It will be finished today and sent to you as soon as (Solicitor) has reviewed it. That will be today at some point.
Me: (no idea who ‘they are’) I thought she already reviewed the report and it just had to be finalised and sent to me?
Assistant:
Me: Ok, can you please answer my question about the enquires?
Assistant: What was the question?
Me: HAVE YOU SENT ENQUIRIES?
Assistant: Oh. No we haven’t sent them
Me: When do you plan to?
Assistant: Ummm…after we send you the report.

It shouldn’t be this hard to get answers should it?!

The EA also responded to say the vendor is proceeding, she is buying her vacant onward property cash and so has decided not to bother with a survey.[/quote]
OH MY GOSH, that was a hard conversation you had with her i'm surprised you kept your cool !! What is wrong with these people, we have the same problems, also when i ring my solicitor (who i have spoken to lots of times) never remembers what he has sent me (don't think he even remembers me )or which part he is on with, i have to prompt him with everything i am really loosing confidence in them but have to stick with them now i keep looking at my messages or emails but nothing through yet just a little update would be nice pretty please
good news your vendor is still going ahead i'll keep my fingers crossed for you
keep us updated
sending good wishes

Starseeking · 04/01/2022 14:35

What a nightmare @Eastie77Returns, you must feel like tearing your hair out, that conversation sounds was like pulling teeth! Also, it's surprising that they are in a position to provide the report if they haven't yet sent enquiries; I thought they were supposed to be included

My solicitor is really good, my vendors solicitor, not so much. I've emailed mine proposing exchange in 2 weeks and completion the week after. My solicitor has promptly come back to say she's away the day I proposed, but she could do the following Monday, which is fine with me.

Contacted my EA to also ask her to suggest the same dates to the vendors solicitor, not yet heard anything. Today marks the start of WEEK 25 of my purchase in a chain of 3 (me, my vendor, and the estate of the person she is purchasing from) all the delays are in the middle, which is the most frustrating thing.

CheltenhamLady · 04/01/2022 14:45

@Eastie77Returns

It’s not looking good. Solicitor hasn’t replied to my email today (still no sign of the report) or answered calls and she usually at least responds.

I emailed the EA asking if they had any updates (I have no idea if my solicitor has even sent enquiries as bizarrely neither she nor her assistant will even answer that question) or know what is happening with the vendor’s purchase and he hasn’t replied either. Again, he normally responds very promptly to me via WhatsApp(!)

The last time it went this quiet the vendor had decided to pull out.

This is exactly what is happening to us.

I think they forget who is actually paying them....

Totally fed up of the whole thing.

dubyalass · 04/01/2022 19:59

Finally! A house that’s the right size, in my preferred location, with parking and a decent sized garden. Needs a bit of work, including swapping out storage heaters, but that’s ok. Waiting to hear back about a viewing but I suspect it will be popular as it’s close to a primary (though a long way from secondaries).

That said, I’ve checked the title plan as it has a blue section, and it looks like there’s a minerals and mining covenant from 1920 on that bit. It doesn’t run under the house, which is a bonus. Anyone dealt with one of these before? Mining-related issues are very common down here; as far as I know there aren’t any mines in that part of town but so much of it is undocumented.

areyouhavingagiraffe · 05/01/2022 09:23

@dubyalass, haven't had any dealings with that sort of covenant I am afraid. Hopefully someone else can help?

So no surge in properties here. I am getting RM alerts, for new stuff, but because I increased my search radius (just to make sure I get everything), a lot of them are not suitable. Trying to remain calm; it has been so nice not having viewings and stressing over this for the last two weeks. But I am worried in the back of my mind, whether I will ever get BACK on the property ladder. I have the funds, just need to find something suitable, so I need to be positive.

In other news, I had a dream that I was living in my new house. It had no windows, and sort of looked like a cave and was a total sh*thole. But I was soooooo happy. Just me, in my cave house. So dreamy.

YukoandHiro · 05/01/2022 09:26

We've been trying to sell for months, on and off the market, but have gone under offer yet. Throughout that time we've also been looking. We found three places we we liked and would have offered on, and one that was a maybe back in April last year, but we couldn't proceed as we weren't under offer ourselves. Now there's nothing. It's a nightmare. We have viewings again this week and next and will take what offer we get as we're desperate to move, but who knows where to....

YukoandHiro · 05/01/2022 09:28

The whole going over asking price isn't happening in south London anymore - we have dropped our price massively just to get interest and everything we looked at but couldn't offer on actually went under asking price in the end. Seems like the market is completely insane everywhere, I can't keep track of what's happening

areyouhavingagiraffe · 05/01/2022 09:39

@YukoandHiro that is interesting. So, are you under offer? Do you mind me asking how much you have to reduce by? I am also looking in London and I can't understand what it happening, are things really going for hundreds of thousands over asking, or is this just an urban myth.

beguilingeyes · 05/01/2022 11:43

If any needs an EA recommendation in London..we used Simon Taylor. He was amazing he was our vendor's EA. When we viewed the house ours wasn't even on the market. We made an offer and he told us he could sell our house in ten days....and he did!
We complete next Wednesday.

www.propertywithsimon.com/

Doubleraspberry · 05/01/2022 12:44

@YukoandHiro same for us. We need to sell this year and will be putting our house on the market as low as we can possibly bear just to get it sold. Reading about all these bidding wars everywhere else is very envy making!

Doubleraspberry · 05/01/2022 12:44

We’re in South London I should say.

RidingMyBike · 05/01/2022 12:56

Got a missed call from an estate agent and voicemail asking me to call them. Got all excited as thought they must have a new property about to come on market that meets our criteria. Started mentally clearing diary to fit in viewing.

No, they wanted feedback on the house we viewed before Xmas which we'd already given them feedback on!

DanisEndo · 05/01/2022 14:53

after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing we have had our offer accepted!!
we've ended up agreeing to the asking price without the driveway being done ( why mention they'd do the drive if they werent willing to do it?!) but they've agreed to fix a list of snagging we've requested.

All in all happy and excited to get the ball rolling before the stress kicks in! Already wracked with anxiety in case it all falls through (again) and we're back to square one....

Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone that is still looking!

areyouhavingagiraffe · 05/01/2022 16:20

@RidingMyBike, they are so incompetent. @DanisEndo, amazing news! I am pleased that it went for asking, and not £50-100k over asking, which seems to be the general trend (or maybe an urban myth created to cause panic and anxiety!)

DanisEndo · 05/01/2022 16:31

@areyouhavingagiraffe so am I! We would have had to walk away if they wanted more than asking.... but I think we got soooo lucky circumstance wise as they were keen for a specific onward purchase.

Other than the driveway being laid it doesn't need any work doing which is a godsend as neither of us our very DIY savvy and this will wipe our savings.

Now just have to hope nothing goes wrong.

RidingMyBike · 05/01/2022 17:18

Oooh well done @DanisEndo and fingers crossed for you.

GoinSouth · 05/01/2022 17:39

@MiracleBaby2022

Just want to say that I'm depressed. Might start searching for a house abroad instead!

If it wasn't for a dependent, that's what hubby and I have discussed.. Turkey or Morocco.. cheap as chips but got to look at the pros and cons.

MiracleBaby2022 · 05/01/2022 18:56

@GoinSouth how old is he/she? Could you not take your child/dependant with you? I'm still really depressed about the whole housing situation here. English houses are soooo tiny. And so cold. And lots of other things. I'm European so it would be easier for me to move than most, but England has still been my home for over 25 years now so it would be hard to start again.

YukoandHiro · 05/01/2022 19:18

@Doubleraspberry @areyouhavingagiraffe

No we're not under offer yet. We have more viewings in the next fortnight so fingers crossed.

We marketed too high at first, I should have trusted my instincts on that. But since then we've changed agents and we've dropped by £150k from initial valuation. I think it's now on v cheap for its size and potential. Its as low as we can afford to go really. I really hope we get a bite.

South London doesn't seem to be a sellers market anymore. I'm hoping we can negotiate on anywhere we buy but the midmarket is very bare. Lots of £1m plus houses but nothing around£700k that isn't a total wreck

Doubleraspberry · 05/01/2022 20:05

We tried to sell twice last year without success. This time we’ll come right down to where I wanted to be the second time (and where we rejected an offer the first time) but the agents said we’d be robbing ourselves.

We’ll be selling a 3/4 bed decent-sized house for about 150k more than some three bed flats sold for this year.