Page 13 | Thread 2: "Anyone not being picky - and STILL can't find anything?"

Starseeking · 02/02/2022 14:08

@Eastie77Returns I'm going to start ringing round the bathroom companies I spoke to a few weeks back in the hope that someone can fit us in asap post completion. I need to put a walk in shower in as my DD has additional needs and I can't keep lifting her over the bath. Hoping to move in by the end of March at the very very latest. I'm going to work from home from my new house during the daytime though, to get used to the place.

My vendors onward purchase, which is the estate of the deceased in the leasehold sheltered place, basically told my vendor exchange and complete in 2 weeks or we are pulling out! They'd had enough too. Vendor is apparently blaming the estate agent for all the delays, saying she wanted to be in by Christmas, and that they never rang her

Regarding the deposit transfer, depending on how much you are sending and how organised your purchase is, it could be done online. My bank has a £10k per day online limit, so I'd have needed more than a week to send it all through online banking, and I only had it confirmed this morning that it needs to be there by this Friday. I went into the bank and sent the lot by CHAPS same day. Cost £20 though. My solicitor confirmed she received it within the hour.

I hope your purchase is smooth sailing now the insurance stuff is getting sorted, you can't have too much more left in the way of enquiry resolution?

Starseeking · 02/02/2022 14:09

@EmmaH2022

Star do you know why they shelved the long gap between exchange and completion?

This bit was meant to reply to your query:

My vendors onward purchase, which is the estate of the deceased in the leasehold sheltered place, basically told my vendor exchange and complete in 2 weeks or we are pulling out! They'd had enough too. Vendor is apparently blaming the estate agent for all the delays, saying she wanted to be in by Christmas, and that they never rang her

How's everything going with you?

Starseeking · 02/02/2022 14:11

[quote TulipsfromAmsterdam]@Starseeking congratulations to you and your family.

Where is everyone else at on their buying/selling journey?
We sold last Aug but pulled out as we couldn't find anywhere. Tried again October, offer accepted on a house but sellers couldn't find anywhere so after viewing house just before Christmas with small chain went for that. Hoping to complete March/April.[/quote]

Thank you. I hope all goes well with your purchase. How many in the chain, and is anyone in it going into rented/staying with family/buying cash to help it along?

EmmaH2022 · 02/02/2022 14:22

Star I thought about replying to your query to say someone should put a rocket up them! 😂

I'm at the waiting stage - which is a long stage IME!

RidingMyBike · 02/02/2022 14:31

@Thethreeofusandpooch
Welcome! Obvs a lot depends on circs if your vendors would actually move into a rental but what we found about doing that (ours was a relocation for work so had to move by a certain date so didn't have much choice but to get a rental in new location):

There isn't much available out there. A lot of landlords sold up with the stamp duty holiday and increased requirements. We struggled to find anywhere we could fit into.
Competition for rentals meant we had to take a 12 month tenancy, whereas we'd have preferred a six month we could then have rolled on if necessary. That instantly feels like a lot more money, especially if you're also paying for storage.
My mum, in her 70s, downsized last year and refused to contemplate renting because she couldn't afford the rent (she'd been mortgage-free for years and couldn't contemplate spending money on rent). There was also very very little coming on the market that was suitable - bungalow near shops and public transport. It took her 18 months in the end to get from house going on market to moving/completion.

Thethreeofusandpooch · 02/02/2022 14:35

[quote RidingMyBike]@Thethreeofusandpooch
Welcome! Obvs a lot depends on circs if your vendors would actually move into a rental but what we found about doing that (ours was a relocation for work so had to move by a certain date so didn't have much choice but to get a rental in new location):

There isn't much available out there. A lot of landlords sold up with the stamp duty holiday and increased requirements. We struggled to find anywhere we could fit into.
Competition for rentals meant we had to take a 12 month tenancy, whereas we'd have preferred a six month we could then have rolled on if necessary. That instantly feels like a lot more money, especially if you're also paying for storage.
My mum, in her 70s, downsized last year and refused to contemplate renting because she couldn't afford the rent (she'd been mortgage-free for years and couldn't contemplate spending money on rent). There was also very very little coming on the market that was suitable - bungalow near shops and public transport. It took her 18 months in the end to get from house going on market to moving/completion. [/quote]

Thing is, they’ve said they would rent if they haven’t found anywhere in a month. Equally on the TA6 form they ticked the box that said they didn’t need to complete on our transaction and their onwards transaction at the same time…

On the understanding of the above, we have offered asking price and ploughed on with searches, surveys etc. We also have a son who, for one reason or another, needs to have stability sooner rather than later. I totally get the vendors position but we can’t wait 18 months…I know you were just using that as an example…

RidingMyBike · 02/02/2022 14:50

Admittedly my mum does take ages both times she's moved - 18 months both times! All my house moves have been a lot lot faster!

From the other POV we sold our house in November and got to completion in 30 days.

You probably won't have any idea, but do you know how seriously they've considered renting? It's one thing to say they will but another to actually do it. I suppose it also depends how much housing is available that matches what they're looking for. We've viewed 4 houses so far, all of which were either probate or elderly owner who could no longer cope with stairs/garden, so it may be a lot of demand for bungalow type places?!

Fingers crossed for you, anyway.

Thethreeofusandpooch · 02/02/2022 15:09

@RidingMyBike

Admittedly my mum does take ages both times she's moved - 18 months both times! All my house moves have been a lot lot faster!

From the other POV we sold our house in November and got to completion in 30 days.

You probably won't have any idea, but do you know how seriously they've considered renting? It's one thing to say they will but another to actually do it. I suppose it also depends how much housing is available that matches what they're looking for. We've viewed 4 houses so far, all of which were either probate or elderly owner who could no longer cope with stairs/garden, so it may be a lot of demand for bungalow type places?!

Fingers crossed for you, anyway.

To be honest, we’ve no idea. According to EA they have been out “actively” looking for property for the past three weeks. They are downsizing and moving further out of London. They will be cash buyers. Apparently it was looking more positive last week but EA said they were out looking again this week. Dunno.

We pushed them on an answer when we got the TA6 form back and it indicated they didn’t need to be in a chain. Since then, EA contacted them to query it and they said that they would like to tie in a purchase but they will move into rented if they haven’t found in a month in order to “not stop the process”. We feel they are keen to move as the house has deffo been de cluttered. All I know is we desperately want this house and we have a very very small search radius - driven by our sons school - he simply cannot move schools!

newboe · 02/02/2022 15:28

Hoping it's ok to join, nice to have others in the same boat!

We put our property on the market mid December - sold on first viewing. We however have a few 'serious' issues with drainage on the property and the surrounding properties which we disclosed to the buyers prior to them putting their offer down. They still offered but below asking price which we happily accepted. 3 days later they pulled out.
This happened twice more, at this stage we had already reserved a new build which we have 12 weeks to exchange contracts on. This was done on 11th Jan.
We had another offer yesterday, which we have now accepted.

We are hoping and praying this one is the one, the buyers brought a surveyor with before they put an offer down so seems they're more likely to stick with the purchase despite the issues.

We now have 9 weeks to exchange contracts on the new build. Hoping this gives us enough time. Im thinking they'll be slightly flexible as they will only be ready in September. Our buyer is a first time buyer so we have no chains which should hopefully make the process a lot smoother 🤞🏼

EmmaH2022 · 02/02/2022 15:35

thethreeofusandpooch "We pushed them on an answer when we got the TA6 form back and it indicated they didn’t need to be in a chain"

Sounds good. A couple approaching 70 just moved from mum's road, they went into rented to ensure the sale.

Doubleraspberry · 02/02/2022 17:50

Congrats, @Starseeking! Your vendors sound like a nightmare.

We are putting our house on the market in a fortnight, we've decided. But our tenants want to be in till June - I'm assuming conveyancing may crawl (and although we're chain-free, we may well have buyers who are not) but slightly worried that we'll put people off who want to move fast. It's a family house so presumably a lot of people will be looking to move for the new school year and start looking now? So hard to know what to do as I suspect we won't sell quickly, but you just never know.

Starseeking · 02/02/2022 19:29

Thanks @Doubleraspberry. It's been really frustrating, as my vendor is in her mid eighties and has lived in the property for over 45 years, so I was prepared for it to not move quickly, but I hadn't anticipated just how slow. Nearly there now.

From what I've read, you'd get a quicker sale if you waited until your tenants left first (although I appreciate you'd lose out on rent). If you put your house on the market in June as soon as tenants have gone, you may be able to catch the pre-holiday rush.

Are you moving from the house you live in as well as selling the other house? What kind of move are you making? Upsizing/downsizing? Staying in area or moving far?

Doubleraspberry · 02/02/2022 21:02

From experience June is pretty dead for family homes as people are unlikely to be in by September, especially with conveyancing delays. We can’t really afford rent and mortgage (we’re currently renting in the place we’re moving to) for very long so waiting till they’ve left to even start viewings isn’t really financially feasible anyway!

We’re part of the London exodus to Yorkshire and we’ve already made the move, so at least we’re chain free sellers and then will be chain free buyers, although that doesn’t seem to make much difference.

Coffeesnob11 · 02/02/2022 22:46

I have now exchanged on mine and sorted a storage unit but there is nothing out there. Inwas due to out a post of a Facebook group when someone else put up something identical. I am now writing letters as there is nothing for sale at all. Thank goodness my mum can have us stay temporarily.

J417 · 03/02/2022 11:20

Viewed a house.

There is a planning application for flats of 7 storey at the end of the road, about 200 meter from the house. The houses in the area are mostly terraced, semi 2 storey properties.

The planning permission have been rejected by council

I would expect they will try to scale back and apply again

Should I be worried about the impact of that on the house price?

If they got permission to build, how long would I live next to a building site?

J

areyouhavingagiraffe · 03/02/2022 12:55

@Starseeking, amazing news, congrats. Glad to see there are some happy endings!
@newboe, fingers crossed for you. What is the "serious" issue with drainage btw?

ToodlesMcGee · 03/02/2022 13:00

First viewing on the year on Sunday wish us luck! Apparently we'll be shown around by the seller so I'm a bit worried about that but apparently that's fairly normal in some places. Anyone have any tips? Can we still be nosy and open cupboards to check things?

Doubleraspberry · 03/02/2022 14:56

Good luck! But in my experience, being shown round by owners totally puts a lid on (justified) nosiness. Some are sensible and just leave you to wander, but others will follow you round, trying to 'sell' the house at every turn, and inhibit you.

areyouhavingagiraffe · 03/02/2022 14:57

@ToodlesMcGee, as someone who has seen about 6 billion properties in the last year, I can tell you I PREFER to be shown round by the Seller. You can strike up a rapport with them, ask about the neighbours, how long they have lived there, what the situ is regarding onwards purchase. In my experience EA just talk a load of BS

ToodlesMcGee · 03/02/2022 15:54

If the neighbours were horrible would they say anything though?

RidingMyBike · 03/02/2022 16:39

Seems to depend on area - where my Mum was buying/selling all viewings were by the seller unless totally unavailable ((the cynic in me says cheaper area so EA got less from each sale!).

All of ours in New Place have been by EA - and highly variable. One didn't know why the owner had it on the market (so no idea about chain?!), one I think I knew where things were from staring at the floor plan better than the EA showing us round! They're often also unable to answer questions about things like age of boiler or whether the loft is boarded!

Doubleraspberry · 03/02/2022 17:32

I reckon the ideal is viewing one with estate agent so you can look round without being anxiously watched, and then second viewing with seller. In the old days when second viewings were a thing of course.

I’d never look to an agent to be anything other than a chaperone in someone else’s house. I don’t expect them to know anything, say anything but potentially untrue bullshit, and annoy my vaguely by doing things like opening cupboards and say ‘this is a cupboard you can keep things in if you want to’.

areyouhavingagiraffe · 03/02/2022 17:33

@ToodlesMcGee, I don't ask for their opinion of the neighbours, I ask for who the neighbours are...i.e. family, eldery person / couple. That's all. EA's don't really know that stuff, in my experience anyway. As PP has said, they never know when work was carried out, when boiler was serviced, they know bugger all to be honest

RidingMyBike · 03/02/2022 20:18

Interesting. The EA we used for our sale (on the basis of recommendations) spent ages going round the house making notes on things to tell potential purchasers about boiler age, when windows were installed etc. He then sent two other EAs (separately!) to do the same thing, so they were briefed before doing viewings.

We haven't bought via him so don't know how this works in practice though! One of our viewings from a few weeks' ago was EA led but the vendor was sat on the sofa reading a book, which felt a bit awkward. The EA interrupted him to answer questions about the loft!

Starseeking · 03/02/2022 22:26

Good luck with it @Doubleraspberry, I hope all goes well.

Thanks @areyouhavingagiraffe. How are you feeling? I think I saw you'd pulled out of the main road property, probably the best decision if you weren't 100% sure. Have you seen anything else in the last few days?