Page 38 | Thread 2: "Anyone not being picky - and STILL can't find anything?"

ToodlesMcGee · 21/03/2022 08:06

@KathieFerrars I agree with people here my worst nightmare is a house that's been priced to take into account a new kitchen but I hate the style. Style is so personal there's no point trying to guess. We just had an offer accepted on a 1930s house (yay!) and the kitchen has been there for more than 20 years but we're planning on doing a big extension out the back for a kitchen so we really don't care how it looks right now. Same with the decorating every room needs repainting and some love but that's what we love about the house so I think don't redecorate yours because new people will want to put their stamp on it. Unless you have a very very dark room then maybe throw up some white paint to make it brighter but honestly no need. If you say that the roof and the bathroom has been replaced so the water damage is old then that should persuade most people. Actually ours has water damage from a funny window and the vendor explained it's just been done and had receipts and everything as he showed us round! Get it on the market I think

Coffeesnob11 · 21/03/2022 12:08

I would prefer people didn't update their kitchen I would rather do it myself and it wouldn't affect the price too much at the moment as everything is going. I would sort the paintwork for the water damage though. I always have a structural survey done but most people don't.

Paddingtonthebear · 21/03/2022 16:44

We can’t afford to rip everything out and replace it so we need something that is relatively up together and liveable. Dated kitchen and bathroom = fine. Ancient kitchen, ancient bathroom, ancient windows frames, ancient carpets, damp patches, dodgy electrics, dodgy roof = nope

thefatpotato · 21/03/2022 17:16

@Paddingtonthebear

We can’t afford to rip everything out and replace it so we need something that is relatively up together and liveable. Dated kitchen and bathroom = fine. Ancient kitchen, ancient bathroom, ancient windows frames, ancient carpets, damp patches, dodgy electrics, dodgy roof = nope

Same. With young kids I'm happy doing cosmetic things but it needs to be livable while when we move in!

We are going to view The House on Saturday and I am so anxious about it! I drove past today as I have some time to kill between nursery pickup and school pickup and there was someone else scoping it out. It's very accurately priced for the area and I have a sinking feeling it's going to go to best and final silly offers 😞

Paddingtonthebear · 21/03/2022 17:27

Ugh good luck. It’s soul destroying isn’t it? We viewed a property very accurately priced, phoned straight after our viewing to make a full asking price offer, then it went to full and final offers, then the vendors decided to reject all offers and remarket it at £40k over the original price. They made us wait 5 days before they came to that conclusion though. It is sold now. I wonder what they got for it. It’s so hard not to feel pissed off about it all.

thefatpotato · 21/03/2022 18:07

@Paddingtonthebear

Ugh good luck. It’s soul destroying isn’t it? We viewed a property very accurately priced, phoned straight after our viewing to make a full asking price offer, then it went to full and final offers, then the vendors decided to reject all offers and remarket it at £40k over the original price. They made us wait 5 days before they came to that conclusion though. It is sold now. I wonder what they got for it. It’s so hard not to feel pissed off about it all.

Oh my goodness, people are ruthless!

EmmaH2022 · 21/03/2022 20:15

@Paddingtonthebear

Ugh good luck. It’s soul destroying isn’t it? We viewed a property very accurately priced, phoned straight after our viewing to make a full asking price offer, then it went to full and final offers, then the vendors decided to reject all offers and remarket it at £40k over the original price. They made us wait 5 days before they came to that conclusion though. It is sold now. I wonder what they got for it. It’s so hard not to feel pissed off about it all.

Sorry to hear that It happened with a flat I didn't bother viewing ...it was a tad under priced and it was so obviously going to bidding war and I needed to rearrange work etc so didn't go ahead, thinking I'd view later in the week if it was still on.

They had a bidding war, then remarketed at a higher price.

Just had a look at properties online with a view to pulling out of mine as they have done nothing for two months.

Everything is so over priced, there's not much point pulling out.

I don't object to the ruthless as much as I object to the painfully slow!

EmmaH2022 · 22/03/2022 17:51

Okay, here is the full story if anyone is about

I was initially told the property had had the lease extended

I was then told they were in the process of doing it

Later on, I was told that actually they weren't making any headway because they couldn't get hold of the freeholder, which frankly I didn't believe.

I would not have cared about an 89 year lease anyway (and the property is somewhat underpriced).

Today I am being told that the process hasn't really been started.

I am actually thinking that the property is sufficiently underpriced to count for the necessary lease extension. It's by far the biggest place I have seen in my price range. It's a two bed and most one beds are coming in more expensive than this.

I know my solicitor will warn me against buying it now.

I am interested to know what you guys think. I see other flats in the building have sold and they seem to be on 189 year leases. I wonder if the vendor just couldn't face doing it...said she would in order to market it.

It's not a huge amount different than places going for best and final.

My rational brain is saying chain free, I can extend the lease, it will be hellish trying to look again....my irrational brain is saying that there's something a little off here.

dubyalass · 22/03/2022 18:41

Do you need a mortgage and if so, will your lender accept a short lease? That on its own wouldn't bother me so much, but a short lease and unreachable freeholder would give me pause, based on friends' struggles with an absent freeholder.

EmmaH2022 · 22/03/2022 18:59

@dubyalass

Do you need a mortgage and if so, will your lender accept a short lease? That on its own wouldn't bother me so much, but a short lease and unreachable freeholder would give me pause, based on friends' struggles with an absent freeholder.

Slightly outing and I hope you won't hate me, but yes, following my father's death, and with family loans, I am a cash buyer

I don't believe the story about the unreachable freeholder tbh
Clearly the other flats who extended their lease managed to reach them

What puzzles me more is why it's taken two months to get a proper response

That could be the EA at fault.

If they want more money, they should have just asked. But apparently the flat was on sale before I saw it, but at a higher price, and got no viewings at that price.

This is silly but the time it's taken to establish this....are they trying to conceal something else? Or is it that someone is overwhelmed, also selling the property of a deceased parent, and just hadn't got to this conclusion before?

Starseeking · 22/03/2022 19:05

@EmmaH2022, have you had a survey already?

If the price is reasonable I'd be tempted to knock on the communal door and ask one (or more) of the other flats which have been extended how it all went. Their answer would help me decide.

I had a nightmare with an absentee freeholder who became very a present freeholder after I purchased my first flat which was a Victorian conversion, but that doesn't sound like your situation.

EmmaH2022 · 22/03/2022 19:31

[quote Starseeking]@EmmaH2022, have you had a survey already?

If the price is reasonable I'd be tempted to knock on the communal door and ask one (or more) of the other flats which have been extended how it all went. Their answer would help me decide.

I had a nightmare with an absentee freeholder who became very a present freeholder after I purchased my first flat which was a Victorian conversion, but that doesn't sound like your situation.[/quote]
No survey planned. I'm not going to do a full structural on a flat and everything else, I can check for myself.

Re knocking on doors, what sort of information do you think
I should ask for please?

Also, if you don't mind me asking, what were the issues with your freeholder?

dubyalass · 22/03/2022 19:45

Don’t feel bad about being a cash buyer! Plenty of people are, the only reason I have a good deposit is because of an inheritance. Makes life easier not having to deal with a mortgage company!

Starseeking · 22/03/2022 20:29

My "absentee" freeholder meant I was unable to obtain service charge accounts and any details regarding communal costs pre-purchase. My useless solicitor didn't advise that this was a huge red flag, just told me to get an indemnity policy, and being young, I had no idea of anything to do with property other than I needed to get on the ladder.

When I completed, the "absentee" freeholder turned up on my doorstep the very next day demanding 6 years back service charges, though she couldn't produce any receipts for any work done. She never produced any receipts, though I started paying her £50 per month. Communal areas were disgusting. I went to sell a few years later and the purchaser pulled out because it was such a nightmare. I sold at a huge loss just to get rid of the place.

Starseeking · 22/03/2022 20:31

Regarding knocking on doors, I'd explain you are thinking of moving into a property there, and wanted to know more about the landlord's engagement with the lessees.

EmmaH2022 · 22/03/2022 21:18

Thank you Star

What a nightmare

There's a mgmt co for this flat so I have that information.

Since posting, I've had an email from my solicitor confirming that negotiations were indeed happening between the vendor and the freeholder and she has that in writing- so either vendor or EA is lying. Or possibly genuinely in a muddle.

I suppose it's also possible they weren't happy with the price but again, you'd think they could just tell me if that was the case.

I'm wondering if I ought to offer my email address to the vendor. If EAs and solicitors are screwing this up with incompetence and slowness, it might help. Normally I am very protective of giving that info so will think on it.

RidingMyBike · 22/03/2022 21:44

We've hit a [hopefully small] delay. Having been told our purchase was effectively chain-free as the seller already had a place in retirement housing and we're currently renting, our solicitor rang today to say the seller has to wait for probate to be granted on the place he's buying so there will be a delay whilst that takes place. Apparently probate is now taking 4-6 weeks which at least is an improvement on what I've heard from last year!

And I'm pleased the solicitor rang us with an update without having to be chased!

EmmaH2022 · 22/03/2022 23:38

Riding you are much kinder than I am, I'd have been annoyed about that.

Fingers crossed it comes through quickly for you.

Paddingtonthebear · 23/03/2022 09:32

Received a marketing email last night from an agent about a property. I can see via social media that it has been remarketed a few times in the last year so obviously they have lost a few buyers for whatever reason. I called this morning and arranged a viewing for today (it’s vacant). They mentioned they have some others viewings booked in. I’ve now just noticed the price has gone up by £10k since last night.

EmmaH2022 · 23/03/2022 09:50

Paddington blimey. Who else makes ten grand for a night by looking pretty on a website!!

Paddingtonthebear · 23/03/2022 10:00

A property with at least 3 fallen through sales, and the price has gone up. Only in this market would this happen 😆

EmmaH2022 · 23/03/2022 12:09

@Paddingtonthebear

A property with at least 3 fallen through sales, and the price has gone up. Only in this market would this happen 😆

Wonder what happened though. Must be pretty rubbish for them!

I don't think I'll hear anything concrete about mine this week.

No point speculating as I can't do much about it except wait for confirmation of what's going on. I can't push because I don't want to lose the place.

Paddingtonthebear · 23/03/2022 14:48

Well that was a first. Didn’t even go in the house as we disliked the road so much. Did let the agent know though.

EmmaH2022 · 23/03/2022 15:40

Blimey Paddington
What was the road like?

Sorry it turned out that way.

Paddingtonthebear · 23/03/2022 17:43

Scruffy street/houses/gardens, overcrowded parking situation directly opposite plus two sketchy looking people wandering about separately. It was under budget but we thought we would keep our options open. Nevermind!