Page 39 | Thread 2: "Anyone not being picky - and STILL can't find anything?"

EmmaH2022 · 23/03/2022 18:21

Paddington blimey, two of them

One flat I looked at was on a small close. I got there early. A man rode his bike round and round the close, staring.

Then me and the EA saw him from the window. He had paused and was looking up at the window.

Then I chatted to the EA outside for a bit. All the while, the man cycled round and round the close...it could be a perfectly fine place to live but made me feel very uneasy. There were other things going against it but I wonder if that man lost sales for a few people in that road!

Paddingtonthebear · 23/03/2022 18:32

Yeah it was that type of road, I would worry about nightmare neighbours or being burgled!

ToodlesMcGee · 25/03/2022 05:15

Confused. How do you judge people looking "sketchy" @Paddingtonthebear? Parking opposite would have put me off but I'm guessing you didn't think it would be bad until you saw it in person? I don't know how to judge area on a viewing because you don't see it long enough and I think any area can look good or bad for an hour! Ah well just have to hope hey

ByeByeMissAmericanPie · 25/03/2022 07:52

Gosh…you lot have been busy! I’m not sure I’ve contributed to the discussion on this thread. Will post more on Thread 3!

Still looking. Still cash buyer. In rented. In South East.

I can’t quite work out how the local housing market is doing atm. Stuff that was sold is coming back on. Houses that were being marketed discreetly are now plastered all over RM.

Off to see a house today, and another tomorrow, both of which could be distinct possibilities.

Some relatives own a business in Bath which is closely tied to the property market, and they’ve had 4 out of 6 big jobs put on pause recently…

Paddingtonthebear · 25/03/2022 07:52

One person loitering by a bin drinking lager, another pacing up and down the pavement. It was in a small back road with a mix of houses and commercial units. Enough time to see a scruffy road overused for parking. We only saw the house online the night before the viewing so didn’t have time to see the road beforehand. And on the listing the street view wasn’t set at the right location.

sadlyrefreshingrightmove · 25/03/2022 13:17

Joining this thread! We are under offer, looking for 6 weeks now, buyer is waiting for us so far. Have completed rightmove in our target areas, now just waiting for things to come on the market.

Can't work out what's going on. Feels like very little is still coming onto the market. Property either goes in 2 days or (the more overpriced or challenging ones) lingers for months. But the sellers of the lingering ones being bullish on price.

Quite a few price reductions for some of the more ambitiously priced properties, think the market is getting a bit crazy or buyers seem a bit more cautious.

Our estate agent says it's either feast or famine at the moment, a few days of frenzy and then suddenly very quiet.

Not good at being patient, just willing something to come on!

dubyalass · 25/03/2022 18:15

Offered asking on today’s viewing, but I don’t expect to get it. They have more viewings tomorrow so I’ll hear back next week if it’s going to go to best and final offers. There are quite a few compromises but the location is great (city centre) and it has parking. Lovely views at the back. As above, quite a few places coming back on or being reduced; nothing I want to buy though!

EmmaH2022 · 26/03/2022 18:44

dubya how do you feel about it?

Still no solid news on my situation. I think the vendor will keep flip flopping about various things. Started looking online. A couple of chain free places look suitable.

I was just going to stay put if this fails, but now not sure. A chain free person who is willing to get on with things quickly...I could move in June if they're like that.

Not sure what to do, as in theory, where I am buying is chain free with a vendor who wants to get on with things.

dubyalass · 26/03/2022 19:04

I'm in two minds tbh. It ticks the boxes for location and parking, plus it's modern and will be relatively cheap to run, but it's definitely smaller than I would have liked and the gardens are tiny. However, I could turn over some of the massive parking space to growing veg, and I might be able to convert the roof. I could make it work and I think I'd enjoy living there, but I am wondering if I might want to move again in a few years. It will probably be decided for me when it goes for £30k over asking at best and finals 🙄

Are you thinking of booking some viewings?

EmmaH2022 · 26/03/2022 19:29

dubya yes, I guess it might be a choice that's made for you.

I would have viewed the other properties but...they are both via the same agent as the one I want to buy.

Logic says be patient, as the one I'm buying is bigger and I might just end up going from frying pan to fire. Or to another frying pan.

I'm pretty sure I've seen stories of people taking forever to get a chain free purchase with no real reason. My sister somehow took nearly a year but it happened. A neighbour told me when he bought here, the vendor went AWOL for six weeks and resurfaced with the explanation that they'd been busy!

thefatpotato · 26/03/2022 20:49

@dubyalass

I'm in two minds tbh. It ticks the boxes for location and parking, plus it's modern and will be relatively cheap to run, but it's definitely smaller than I would have liked and the gardens are tiny. However, I could turn over some of the massive parking space to growing veg, and I might be able to convert the roof. I could make it work and I think I'd enjoy living there, but I am wondering if I might want to move again in a few years. It will probably be decided for me when it goes for £30k over asking at best and finals 🙄

Are you thinking of booking some viewings?

Where are you looking? Those sound like not ideal compromises. Depends on how much you want to grow but I was astonished at how much our friends could grow in their little London postbox garden!

Two houses viewed today. The first I thought would be absolutely The One was a bit of a disappointment. It's been cheaply tarted up so while it is ready to move into, it's certainly not the high-end finish in the photos. We've requested more information on elec safety certs as we're worried the tarting up has meant elecs/plumbing have been neglected and it's at the top of our budget so we don't want too many hidden surprises.

Second was more of a look around as there is so little on the market. DH liked it much more, and I was pleasantly surprised, but we're not going to offer.

Trying to get into one more next week which is again top of budget, but a fully extended and converted terrace.

EmmaH2022 · 26/03/2022 22:22

Just posting this article about London if anyone's interested
There's a list of the cheaper parts of boroughs at the end of the article

www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/property-news/buying-in-london-cheapest-areas-every-borough-b987268.html?itm_source=Internal&itm_channel=homepage_trending_article_component&itm_campaign=trending_section&itm_content=2

dubyalass · 26/03/2022 22:34

I've got a fairly small search area - only looking in one town but am up against a lot of competition for the bigger houses. Perfect house would have two or three beds, large garden, off-street parking. But probably not going to get everything in my budget unless I live on the edge of town, and I'd really like to be within walking distance of everything.

areyouhavingagiraffe · 27/03/2022 12:34

Hey team! I need to catch up on everyone's news. Just checking in to say all my stress about not having the final completion statement as evidence of my funds not coming from selling drugs was for nothing. I sent my solicitor so much information relating to my sale, it seems to be fine. She also confirmed I don't need a gifted deposit letter (although I have this ready just in case she changes her mind).
Meanwhile, it's been four weeks since offer was accepted. I've had my mortgage offer which is valid for 6 months, and 2 weeks have lapsed. Vendors not sent draft contract so we cannot do searches, chased EA who said they would chase. I am in touch with vendor who said they have been advised not to send until they have found somewhere. For those who are in an onward chain, is this usual practice? I'm a little new to this, never been in a chain before.
I still have my Rightmove alerts on but not actively looking. My Broker is stressing me out saying that I should still keep looking as usually chains collapse.....I know the vendors are actively looking. Just stressed but I know it's out of my control. What are you guys doing if you are in a chain and it is normal to get draft contracts when vendors have onward purchase sorted.

thefatpotato · 27/03/2022 13:01

@areyouhavingagiraffe

Hey team! I need to catch up on everyone's news. Just checking in to say all my stress about not having the final completion statement as evidence of my funds not coming from selling drugs was for nothing. I sent my solicitor so much information relating to my sale, it seems to be fine. She also confirmed I don't need a gifted deposit letter (although I have this ready just in case she changes her mind). Meanwhile, it's been four weeks since offer was accepted. I've had my mortgage offer which is valid for 6 months, and 2 weeks have lapsed. Vendors not sent draft contract so we cannot do searches, chased EA who said they would chase. I am in touch with vendor who said they have been advised not to send until they have found somewhere. For those who are in an onward chain, is this usual practice? I'm a little new to this, never been in a chain before. I still have my Rightmove alerts on but not actively looking. My Broker is stressing me out saying that I should still keep looking as usually chains collapse.....I know the vendors are actively looking. Just stressed but I know it's out of my control. What are you guys doing if you are in a chain and it is normal to get draft contracts when vendors have onward purchase sorted.

I would say not at all usual. We have nowhere to move on to but have instructed our solicitors for our sale to get that ball rolling. We are selling a leasehold flat though, so I would imagine the paperwork is more involved, and we feel lucky to have the offer we do so are happy to move into rented rather than potentially lose our sale by holding things up too long. We will go back to our solicitors when we have an offer accepted and they will then start working on our purchase.

Sounds like your vendors are a bit wishy-washy.

areyouhavingagiraffe · 27/03/2022 15:05

Thanks @thefatpotato. When I sold last year, I also got the ball rolling asap, but I too was selling leasehold, which can be a pain, and to be truthful it was a pain.
I suspect that they will not move into rented (they have a young child), but I haven't asked to be fair. I am living with my parents at the moment, so whilst no rush, I am conscious of my mortgage offer and it's expiry date. I dunno what to do, perhaps continue to keep an eye on RM, and view properties which may come up which I like.....which is essentially the same position I was in a few weeks ago

EmmaH2022 · 28/03/2022 11:33

giraffe that is a tough spot. My view was, what's the point looking unless I'm actually going to offer on something else?

Though now I wonder if I should have. I am glad that I don't know what I missed, so to speak.

I still can't shake the feeling that I should pull out of the purchase.

I think what's happening is the other side are collectively slow - the vendor, EA, amd solicitor. I also know I won't get a two bed in that price range.

It's like a silly feeling that the universe is telling me not to move, which is mad, because I hate the idea of staying here.

Doubleraspberry · 28/03/2022 13:54

Any news, @dubyalass?

Our house is finally about to go back on RM, a week after it came off. Our second viewing at the weekend clearly went nowhere but we've had no feedback from it at all.

Instead, I've had to get the agents to correct a typo that made the listing look like we had one fewer bedroom than we do, and which I had to point out to them as they couldn't see it. I've also asked if they can order the photos so they actually flow, rather than a totally random selection of photos thrown on, with a superfluous second photo of the front of the house in there. The whole listing looked like minimal care or effort had been put in. It's causing me so much stress.

Two weeks till I can give 28 days' notice - I have no expectation at all that they will sell this house for us.

dubyalass · 28/03/2022 13:59

Thanks for checking in! Nothing yet… I’ve decided I won’t get involved in a bidding war with this one, I’d be happy to go up another £5k but beyond that it doesn’t make financial sense, too many compromises.

dubyalass · 28/03/2022 14:00

Oh and your agents sound absolutely rubbish!

areyouhavingagiraffe · 28/03/2022 14:07

@EmmaH2022, I know what you mean, I don't have any intention of offering on anything else, and even if I did it would have to be chain free. I think I just need to pray to the property gods that they will find somewhere. And hope that is the end of the chain.

dubyalass · 28/03/2022 14:10

Excuse my language, but for fuck’s sake: yet another gone to best and final offers. I have stuck with my original asking price offer. No doubt I will lose out to yet another cash buyer who can just drop £300k like it’s pocket money. So bored of this now.

thefatpotato · 28/03/2022 14:54

So very interesting turn from the viewing we had on Saturday- no offers as yet according to the agent. Maybe the tide is finally starting to turn?

Desperate to get into another one in our search area which is the same price as the house we viewed on Saturday, but I think meets our needs better. It's been on the market for a week and a half and the agent still don't have the keys for viewings! It's a chain free, empty house, not sure what they vendor is playing at!

EmmaH2022 · 28/03/2022 19:38

giraffe it's hard to know at what point to say "enough" but there seems no point in changing course to wind up in the same place...or even a bit behind.

fatpotato that's interesting, is it already overpriced though? With houses, I've heard theories about over pricing to compensate for what might change post survey.

areyouhavingagiraffe · 28/03/2022 20:13

@EmmaH2022, that's what I am thinking. My Broker is telling me to put pressure on however, it will be four weeks since they accepted my offer this week Thursday. So it's not as if loads of time has passed. They won't send paperwork until they have found somewhere (to be fair I don't think I sent my paperwork for my sale until I found, as house hunting was my priority), but they have said they will deal with all this asap when they have an offer accepted. Gonna try not to worry about it and just browse my RM alerts, and hope that all the stars are aligned