Thread 2: "Anyone not being picky - and STILL can't find anything?"

[Momniscient]

Just spotted the first one is full so have set up thread two so we can keep talking with minimal delay. Hoping that tagging works regardless ...

RightMove addicts, and serial refreshers of other property websites, share your troubles!

Posters from last two pages in the thread and OP:
@PessimisticOptimist
@Eastie77Returns
@RidingMyBike
@beguilingeyes
@DanisEndo
@EmmaH2022
@dubyalass
@BennyBean
@ByeByeMissAmericanPie
@areyouhavingagiraffe
@CheltenhamLady
@doubleraspberry
@YukoandHiro
@TulipsfromAmsterdam
@MummyJ12
@starseeking
@GoinSouth
@MiracleBaby2022

Original thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4346330-Anyone-not-being-picky-and-STILL-cant-find-anything

@Boobicoosg

When do people think fresh houses will come on the market this year? March?

I saw an over budget house come fresh online on Wednesday this week, and was toying with the idea of ringing to go and see it. Today it's sold on RM 2 days!!!

@dubyalass

Just had a viewing and I really liked it. Some compromises but the location is great, it's detached and I'm not put off by the work that needs doing (rewire, new heating system) - it's liveable as it is. It is overpriced and they don't have any offers at present so I'm going to go in at 5% under asking and see what they say. Does that seem sensible? I think any lower and they wouldn't consider it.

If it's been on for a while, I'd put in the offer you suggest and hope for the best.

I'm being a bit slow today, and just saw your most recent updates @Eastie77Returns, so ignore my questions!

I didn't realise going for more viewings was something people did after agreeing the price, although on reading it here, it absolutely makes sense. It's great that you've been able to arrange that.

I'd quite like to ask for another viewing of the house I'm buying before we exchange, as I only had one, for about 15 minutes, almost 7 months ago. The trouble is I think it would spook my vendor so badly, she'd likely pull out. I really can't risk that happening given the price I locked in at, so I'm going ahead without. I've driven up and down that road past "my" house so many times now I'm sure the neighbours recognise my car!

In some ways I'm fortunate that my purchase has taken so long, meaning I've been able to save up quite a bit of money, so will use that for any unforeseen works.

Still watching the thread and hoping that everyone starts to have more luck this year. @areyouhavingagiraffe and @Eastie77Returns so glad you’ve both found somewhere! After a bit of a whirlwind this week it looks like we’re exchanging on Monday! With completion in about 4 weeks time. I’m going to do a viewing today to just make sure everything is as it was on viewing (not been inside since October!!) and I’m so excited. I know it’s not final until completion but Monday will be a massive step for me in a very, very long journey :D

Offer in. The agent didn't quite suck their teeth in response but it wasn't far off. Anyway, we shall see!

Looks like lots of progress for some posters - exciting!

Had to cancel a viewing this week because I got Covid but not too fussed about it as there were a few things we didn't like about the house.

I've been using all the time lying in bed when I'm not asleep to follow local EA on Instagram (I didn't even know they did this until this week!). Also joined local FB groups and NextDoor to find useful (?!?!) comments about some local areas. And also seen others recommendations for local trades in case we need them.

Has anyone else used the instant online valuation tools to check a house price? I've just tried the OnTheMarket one on the house for the viewing we cancelled which came in at £126k less than it's on the market at and the house we just sold which it thought would sell at £183k more than we sold it for!

It's good to see others' sales/purchases are progressing. There still isn't much coming on here - got a few alerts this week but nothing right for us. I'm hoping it'll pick up after half term.

Guys, I think I am pulling out of the property I saw on Monday. Just don't have a great feeling about it. Worried about renovation, it is a project property and also have had two further visits to the outside of house and the traffic is bad. It's on a main road but the traffic is heavy outside of peaks and everyone is speeding. Also I feel like on a main road there is no neighbourly feeling....

giraffe really sorry to hear that. Heavy/speeding traffic on a main road is not ideal. I guess you could overlook it if you really love the property but it sounds as if you are quite ambivalent about it. Fingers crossed something else comes up soon.

Congrats on reaching this milestone Knittingbaker! Very excited for you. Hope all goes well with the viewing

Starseeking I can’t get over the similarity between our elderly vendors. I also know my request for a pre exchange viewing will have flustered my vendor and imagine the EA had to talk her into it. To be fair to her I did have the Homebuyer’s Survey only a couple of weeks ago and there were no issues but I’m really not comfortable exchanging without another viewing as it’s been so long since I saw it.

EA has now sent the EPC which was the last remaining document required from the vendor and asked both solicitors if we can please confirm proposed date for exchange. Complete silence from both!

hi all

Could I join the club here?

I offered last summer but vendor couldn't find a place

So I am starting to look and trying to stick to chain free property, if any
Market is hot here and all go over asking the next day after viewing, before hitting RM

Congratulations @Knittingbaker, I bet you can't wait for the confirmation to come through from your solicitor that exchange has taken place. That is exciting news!

Fingers crossed your offer gets accepted @dubyalass, if not, do you have any room for manoeuvring upwards?

I'm sorry to hear that @areyouhavingagiraffe. My last house was on a main road, allegedly 30mph, but they all did 40mph. Front door was always locked as I was terrified the DC would run out into the road. It was also really noisy in the front bedroom, I started sleeping in the back bedroom towards the end, and couldn't believe how much quieter it was. We had really great neighbours, I'm still in touch with a few now, but I made the effort with them, if you see what I mean. From my experience, I wouldn't live on a main road again, but if your house is set well back from the road (mine was only a car width away), it could be fine.

Hopefully you will hear positive news on Monday with the date @Eastie77Returns. If there's absolutely nothing else left to do, they should. I'd be ringing morning and night to chase up if I were in your shoes (and am quite likely to be this week!).

Welcome to the thread @J417, here's hoping your perfect home comes to the market soon!

@starseeking I do have a bit of room but I wouldn’t want to go much higher. Anyway it might not matter anyway because the agent emailed to say they’d received another offer this morning. They obviously didn’t give me any info about how much, their position etc, just that there was another offer for the vendor to consider. I think mine was probably too low in hindsight but oh well, it’s done now!

Whatever happens, my offer will remain on the table and I’ll keep on looking. I’m definitely struggling with head vs heart. This property is a sensible buy - modern, cheap to run, easy to sell on - but my heart would love a period property with character etc. Sigh.

Viewed a house today at the top of our budget. Photos looked good and it was described as “presented in super condition”. It needs updating all over, could see some damp, the attached house next door looked derelict, the road was generally scruffy, and they want £145k more than they paid for it 9yrs ago.

Sigh. The search continues.

Welcome along

I have told mum and best friend about offer being accepted. I wanted mum to have some cheer up news, but I made her promise not to ask about it constantly. My experience is you nothing happens for ages, then happens suddenly. Whatever it is that happens!

I'm getting cold feet about the house I offered on. I think they're likely to reject it anyway so no biggie, but I'm starting to think I've compromised on the wrong things - the big plus is it's detached, but the compromise is less space inside (could only afford a two bed detached) and the garden isn't very private. I might need to rethink. It wouldn't be a bad buy, but I think I would want to move again in a few years.

dubya I thought they had rejected it already?

No, they couldn't get hold of the vendor by the time they closed for the day. They'd received another offer that morning but no decision on either.

I think there was another offer on the table for Dubya’s house but no confirmation as to which one the vendor has accepted? Apologies if I’ve misspoken Dubya.

Seems the main open issue on my purchase is the fact the building insurance has expired. Vendor is adamant she will not renew at this late stage, my solicitor maintains we cannot exchange on an uninsured house. EA proposes that I insure it a couple of days before exchange so it is insured on the day itself. Claims this is common practice (but not something I’ve heard of before!). Anyway, I guess I’ll go with that option. Solicitor doesn’t seem to happy as anything can happen to the house between now and a couple of days before exchange but it is what it is. The vendor has been tricky all along so none of this is a surprise.

Welcome J147. I was waiting for a vendor to find somewhere last year and eventually pulled out as it was dragging on. Found a chain free probate house but it all fell apart when it turned out the deceased owner was still alive. Don’t ask! Best of luck with your search, the market is hopefully opening up now.

Sorry, cross post Dubya

Found a chain free probate house but it all fell apart when it turned out the deceased owner was still alive

Hah, that's the case with the place I've offered on - one agent said it was probate, the other said oh no, the owner has gone into a care home! That could have been awkward.

Posted earlier this week about our building survey and lots of work reported. We have agreed to go back and see for ourselves this week. DH is not as keen as he was but I love it. It's a Victorian semi with plenty character but he is now thinking we should go for a new build with no work to do!

Dubya oh I see, hopefully that'll sort itself

Eastie that really alarmed me at first but now I'm guessing a Power of Attorney sale?

Re the insurance, your solicitor is probably thinking it could burn down before exchange? Are you around on exchange day to make sure it hasn't? I know that sounds weird but I can see the issue. Can you even insure a property that doesn't belong to you? I am surprised there isn't an indemnity that covers this but going to see it before seems the best option, though I don't then know who is responsible betwen exchange and completion.

Just namechanging (thread regular) as this could be very outing but a friend of mine is in this situation: she is between exchange and completion and part of the roof blew off in the storm last night. She took on the buildings insurance at exchange but can’t now get into it to secure it as she hasn’t yet got access, and the owner lives abroad. Another storm is on its way and there’s a big hole in the roof. I also suspect the insurance company will wriggle like hell as it’s been empty for years but their insurance was designed for them to be living in it, the brickwork is in poor condition anyway, and it’s listed. The whole thing is a nightmare.

TooSpotty oh my goodness, your poor friend. This is the kind of scenario I am worried about.

Emma I have requested another viewing so could arrange to do this just before Exchange when the insurance starts. But a good point asking if it’s possible to insure a house you don’t yet own - will need to check.

Re the false probate sale: no idea what happened. I viewed an empty house and was told by the EA the owner was dead and his kids were selling up. My offer was accepted. Then received a call from EA saying the ‘dead’ owner had turned up alive and kicking and he didn’t want to sell. He changed his mind so the sale was back on then changed it back again to no The whole episode was an utter farce.

to both TooSpotty’s friend’s awful situation and Eastie’s ‘dead’ owner - what a nightmare!