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

998 replies

Momniscient · 10/01/2022 18:38

Just spotted the first one is full Shock 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

OP posts:
RidingMyBike · 27/02/2022 16:15

Crikey. After an exciting afternoon of updating our details with 34(!!!) EAs, one emailed straight back to say they have a house about to go on the market and would we like to view tomorrow? No pics or floorplan available yet.

Just looked it up - last sold March 2021 for £270k. Looks like a probate property. Now going on at £525k.

Trying to ascertain whether they've extended it or something?!

dubyalass · 27/02/2022 18:22

Whaaaaaat?? That must have been some doer-upper...

newnameforthehousehunt · 27/02/2022 18:57

I have found my people Grin

We have been looking for a house for about a year now and have only viewed about 10 I think. We have viewed 4 this year (I think).

We loved one and offered the full asking price and we’re prepared to go higher, and the sellers pulled out the next day Angry

One was lovely but was on a main road and we have an outdoor cat, so that put me off. One was absolutely filthy and top end of our budget so no thanks. And one was ‘ok’ but it just didn’t feel like it could be home.

Last house we viewed was last Saturday and nothing new to the market since then. We live in a desirable postcode in Norfolk and kind of limited to this area due to DC school, they’re in high school and I don’t want to move them at this time. We’ve started looking at neighbouring postcodes but nothing coming on there either.

Everyone has said it’ll pick up as we get nearer to Easter but we are about to go into March and I see no shift yet.

RidingMyBike · 27/02/2022 20:18

Just been and peered at the astronomical price increase house in the dark as it's near where we're renting. It looks like they may have done a loft conversion?

From the March 2021 photos it looks like they'd have needed to do new roof, kitchen, bathroom, install central heating. EA told me they'd converted the garage to a home office. So it's gone from 3 bed/2 reception semi to potentially 4 bedrooms, 2 receptions and a home office? Have no idea of layout inside though. Is that enough to justify the price hike though?!

Viewing it tomorrow!!

Starseeking · 27/02/2022 20:36

Ooh sounds intriguing Riding. Good luck with the viewing tomorrow!

J417 · 27/02/2022 20:57

@Eastie77Returns

Well there has been a significant increase in properties in my area this morning on Zoopla/RM. Looks as if that Spring bounce might be coming. Keeping fingers crossed that those of you still looking see a similar improvement in your areas.

CheltenhamLady Sorry you are still in the pre-exchange limbo. I won’t offer empty platitudes such as “I’m sure it will happen next week” as I know how pointless that is when we are at the mercy of this horribly opaque system😒.

J147 oh no, how annoying. It’s amazing how so many vendors who are chain-free, willing to move into rental etc when offers are accepted suddenly morph into more complicated situations further down the line. Fingers crossed your chain is not too stressful.

The EA 'updated' me after my survey is done.

When I pressed for timeline of exchange/complete of that probate property, he said it's still early days so can't say and could touch base in a few weeks time and said might be it is earlier than May (the original timeline we said during offer) . The seller is 'busy' and I haven't seen the draft contracts yet, we are on week 4 after offer acceptance. Is that normal?

I am so tired of this system.

I felt so stupid to honour my last offer and passed those chain free one. Yes, it is in hindsight, but THREE of them, yes THREE all completed and I saw the builder are working on 2 of them .

Can't stop crying. Sorry! Allow me to rant here please.

Eastie77Returns · 28/02/2022 11:33

Happy Monday all.

Best of luck to everyone with viewings this week. Riding it sounds as if they've done a significant amount of work conversion-wise but that is a really big price hike in less than a year!

J147 this is your place to vent so shout away! I think for the sake of your sanity you have to forget the three chain free places you passed up on though. I know it's a complete nightmare right now and completely understand your sense of regret but onwards and upwards....fingers crossed this latest place works out!

Still no word on my purchase. Today was the day we were meant to complete. Ha. We still haven't even exchanged. Everything is apparently in order, we are just stuck as allegedly the vendor's solicitor still isn't answering calls or e-mails. My solicitor couldn't sound less interested if she tried and I have no idea how frequently she is chasing.

J417 · 28/02/2022 12:06

@Eastie77Returns

Happy Monday all.

Best of luck to everyone with viewings this week. Riding it sounds as if they've done a significant amount of work conversion-wise but that is a really big price hike in less than a year!

J147 this is your place to vent so shout away! I think for the sake of your sanity you have to forget the three chain free places you passed up on though. I know it's a complete nightmare right now and completely understand your sense of regret but onwards and upwards....fingers crossed this latest place works out!

Still no word on my purchase. Today was the day we were meant to complete. Ha. We still haven't even exchanged. Everything is apparently in order, we are just stuck as allegedly the vendor's solicitor still isn't answering calls or e-mails. My solicitor couldn't sound less interested if she tried and I have no idea how frequently she is chasing.

@Eastie77Returns

Thank you. Yes, I do need support here.
Yes I know I have to forget

I hope the vendor's solicitor surface out soon.
Being ghosted is the hardest feelings/position to be in.

Doubleraspberry · 28/02/2022 16:53

Tell us about the ex-probate house, Riding! I think if they've done lots of work in this rising market the price rise COULD be justifiable...

I really hope you get good news soon, @Eastie77Returns.

Paddingtonthebear · 28/02/2022 17:26

Estate agent email: “Here is a fantastic property that matches your search criteria”.

Me: “It looks ideal, but it is £25k over our budget (that I gave you last week). Is the vendor open to offers??”

Agent: “No, unfortunately this vendor is very set on the asking price”

Me:

EmmaH2022 · 28/02/2022 17:58

Hello all
Sorry for all the ongoing frustrations
If only I could do more than sympathise

Riding I am really mystified by that one, interested to hear what the reasons are.

Eastie77Returns · 28/02/2022 19:30

Vendors solicitor has finally risen from her lair and wants to exchange tomorrow. Thank you everyone for the positive vibes, fingers crossed I can pull this off.

Paddingtonthebear so annoying when EA’s do that. I’m assuming they think you’ve given a max budget below the amount you actually have available and can magic up extra £xxx for the ‘right’ property.

I’m viewing properties with a friend who is currently buying (I’m now considered a veteran/expert amongst my house hunting friends). She is looking at a house that sold for £395k in Dec 2019 and is now on sale for £825k…

RidingMyBike · 28/02/2022 20:14

Viewed it! OK, so it's now a lot more house than it was. The most recently sold on that road late last year was a 3 bed semi that had been refurbished but was still a 3 bed/2 reception semi. It was on for £395k (don't know what it actually sold for). This was £270k a year ago and was in quite a state judging by the RM archive pics. I am not totally convinced it's now worth £525k but who knows in this crazy market?!

So, what they'd done - turned garage into home office - floor, insulation, decor, guttering, electrics but no heating. House completely rewired, all new double glazing, new roof, new heating system and boiler installed. Knocked dining room into kitchen and moved it around to create a lovely open space with big windows onto the garden. Refurbished original floorboards throughout ground and first floor. New bathroom suite installed on first floor, plus a big cupboard to house a washing machine/tumble dryer stack. Loft conversion so there's now a master bedroom up there with en suite shower room and eaves storage. Outside was going to be landscaped to create front garden with two parking spaces and back garden with patio. They haven't done that yet - we saw it before it's on market on the day the EAs were there writing blurb.

So, it was a 3 bed semi, now it's a 4 bed semi, with two receptions and a home office. We're not going to put in an offer though, as there's no downstairs loo (fairly crucial for family life with 6yo and visiting granny) and I'm not happy at the idea of sleeping floor above DD, who sometimes still has nightmares etc. We're also aware that immediately opposite the house is going to be a building site and new housing development fairly soon with probably months of disruption.

I'm glad we viewed it though. I liked seeing what they'd done, and the EAs were really nice and chatty! Another one popped up in our Zoopla alerts today so we're viewing that on Thursday.

EmmaH2022 · 28/02/2022 21:59

Riding that's really interesting but it almost sounds like the price point was too low initially?

RidingMyBike · 28/02/2022 22:48

I'm not sure. It sold for £200k in 2012, but don't think that owner can have done anything as it didn't have central heating and the kitchen was basically a sink, a freestanding electric cooker and a table! Last year's price is also not that different to other prices down same road.

The area is also changing quite a bit - it seems to have been quite dodgy not that long ago (I found some 'interesting' older threads mentioning it on MN when we first relocated to this area!) but is now gentrifying. One end is more upmarket and that seems to be spreading further down the road!

It'll be interesting to see how quickly it sells. It's got parking and is walking distance to the city centre and station so I imagine it'll be snapped up.

Alrightqueenie · 01/03/2022 06:21

@Eastie77Returns

Vendors solicitor has finally risen from her lair and wants to exchange tomorrow. Thank you everyone for the positive vibes, fingers crossed I can pull this off.

Paddingtonthebear so annoying when EA’s do that. I’m assuming they think you’ve given a max budget below the amount you actually have available and can magic up extra £xxx for the ‘right’ property.

I’m viewing properties with a friend who is currently buying (I’m now considered a veteran/expert amongst my house hunting friends). She is looking at a house that sold for £395k in Dec 2019 and is now on sale for £825k…

Shock ShockConfused now that is a mark up and a half. What on earth warrants such a steep increase in the asking price.
J417 · 01/03/2022 09:17

@Eastie77Returns

Vendors solicitor has finally risen from her lair and wants to exchange tomorrow. Thank you everyone for the positive vibes, fingers crossed I can pull this off.

Paddingtonthebear so annoying when EA’s do that. I’m assuming they think you’ve given a max budget below the amount you actually have available and can magic up extra £xxx for the ‘right’ property.

I’m viewing properties with a friend who is currently buying (I’m now considered a veteran/expert amongst my house hunting friends). She is looking at a house that sold for £395k in Dec 2019 and is now on sale for £825k…

395 -> 825?

Modernised? loft ? kitchen? or a secret passage to Mars for safety if there's a nuclear war?

J417 · 01/03/2022 09:21

@RidingMyBike

Viewed it! OK, so it's now a lot more house than it was. The most recently sold on that road late last year was a 3 bed semi that had been refurbished but was still a 3 bed/2 reception semi. It was on for £395k (don't know what it actually sold for). This was £270k a year ago and was in quite a state judging by the RM archive pics. I am not totally convinced it's now worth £525k but who knows in this crazy market?!

So, what they'd done - turned garage into home office - floor, insulation, decor, guttering, electrics but no heating. House completely rewired, all new double glazing, new roof, new heating system and boiler installed. Knocked dining room into kitchen and moved it around to create a lovely open space with big windows onto the garden. Refurbished original floorboards throughout ground and first floor. New bathroom suite installed on first floor, plus a big cupboard to house a washing machine/tumble dryer stack. Loft conversion so there's now a master bedroom up there with en suite shower room and eaves storage. Outside was going to be landscaped to create front garden with two parking spaces and back garden with patio. They haven't done that yet - we saw it before it's on market on the day the EAs were there writing blurb.

So, it was a 3 bed semi, now it's a 4 bed semi, with two receptions and a home office. We're not going to put in an offer though, as there's no downstairs loo (fairly crucial for family life with 6yo and visiting granny) and I'm not happy at the idea of sleeping floor above DD, who sometimes still has nightmares etc. We're also aware that immediately opposite the house is going to be a building site and new housing development fairly soon with probably months of disruption.

I'm glad we viewed it though. I liked seeing what they'd done, and the EAs were really nice and chatty! Another one popped up in our Zoopla alerts today so we're viewing that on Thursday.

@RidingMyBike

->The most recently sold on that road late last year was a 3 bed semi

You could call the EA who sold it to ask the sold price

EmmaH2022 · 01/03/2022 10:26

Eastie crossing everything for you today.

CheltenhamLady · 01/03/2022 12:07

@Eastie77Returns, great news!

We are still waiting.....

Doubleraspberry · 01/03/2022 12:13

I can't see this house on RM, @RidingMyBike!

We are viewing our first house tomorrow. Our place goes on the market this week and it's a house right by where we're renting. I was honest about our position with the agent and she said they are getting people viewing now who aren't on the market - people are scared to sell before they've found somewhere so won't take the risk. We are tied into rent until December but would I think take a few months of double counting if it meant getting the right house.

Doubleraspberry · 01/03/2022 15:50

Four viewings booked so far for our house this weekend, before it's gone on the market. This feels different to last time we tried to sell.

Eastie77Returns · 01/03/2022 16:47

We've exchanged! The words I never thought I'd write.

I had to do a pre-exchange viewing in the morning before giving the go-ahead. The vendor was actually unwell but she was really nice which was unexpected as she had been a bit tricky before. Ushered me in, made tea and answered all my questions as I checked the house was still standing. DP arrived to also view and then I was keen to leave so she could rest but she insisted on us staying so she could tell us more about the house, the neighbours and meet the cleaning team doing a deep clean prior to completion (they turned up a week early as she gave them the wrong date but nice to know she has organised this..) We ended up almost having to force our way out after 2 hours of talking and countless offers of tea. She said she loves the house but it has been lonely for her on her own for many years. Keeping fingers crossed Completion also goes smoothly!

@CheltenhamLady - I am so hoping you hear good news soon. I truly understand how tortuous the wait is. Have your buyers indicated if they will accept your offer to settle the open issue?

@Doubleraspberry - great you have so many viewings lined up, this is hopefully a good sign!

EmmaH2022 · 01/03/2022 16:52

Congratulations Eastie

Glitterball
Doubleraspberry · 01/03/2022 17:10

@Eastie77Returns that's brilliant! So pleased for you, and really nice that she's getting the place cleaned for you.