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Original poster

Should we pull out of this purchase?

106 replies

Thursday37 · 09/03/2022 14:31

I'll try to keep this short-iash as it's quite a complex lot of circumstances that led to us moving in the first place, but not all relevant to my post I guess.

We live in a tiny hamlet in an individual new build, it's big enough for us but we don't love the area and there's a practical issue with schools. We didn't have DD when we bought it (she was an unexpected bonus). House was built in 2018, has air source heating with all sorts of fancy smart tech which keeps running costs down. EPC rated C. Everything is new so maintenance free.

We are close to exchange on a thatched cottage in our most perfect village, we've wanted to live there for years. Slightly smaller than what we have now, but schools are perfect. It has oil heating, single glazed, needs a new kitchen and we are waiting on a thatchers survey as well as RICS level 3 to come back to see what sort of state it is in (ridge was done recently and the oil boiler is fairly new so house is E rated which could be worse for a cottage). It is stretching our budget to the max. It's also beautiful.

We knew running costs plus mortgage were going to be higher and kitchen will have to wait but with everything going on it's now looking insane to buy it. We are stretching ourselves to buy it and we have 2.5 years left of nursery fees. After that we will be much more comfortable, but we are now really worried about going ahead with all the uncertainty over energy and the economy. Heating oil costs are terrifying and it would not convert easily (house is not listed, but even so).

Houses where we are looking to move to are a rare as rocking horse poo - this is the first one that's come up in 9 years so it's not like we can defer it for 12 months and try again. If we stay here we will have to run the gauntlet of applying for out of school catchment as we can't use the local school (long story but it's an absolute no for practical reasons). The new house has guaranteed excellent and suitable schools at primary and secondary so it is a long term move for us.

I feel sick at the thought of pulling out but also sick at the thought of the costs to live there and the risk it places on us. Do we stay here or take the risk that things settle in a year or so and it will all be fine? We don't have long to decide as the mortgage is in place and the searches etc all done. I know wobbles are normal but this is not your usual wobble.

OP posts:
Ariela · 30/03/2022 14:59

I'd move, the oil price is temporary, given the Saudis etc are upping production, given a hot summer spell if you try to only fill up in a heatwave the price will come down considerably IMO.

TabithaHazel · 30/03/2022 15:03

Don’t pull out! If you wait two years you may find yourself priced out of the area. Tighten your belts for a couple of years and things will feel a lot different once your nursery fees are over. A house that perfect for you might not come up again for another 15 years!

whyisitsohardtochangemyname · 30/03/2022 23:17

Sounds really positive op. We moved last year to a doer upper in a great location with the land we wanted for our 5 horses. House is a bit of a money pit but nothing that needs doing today... we've gotten used to the quirks and are working our way through the jobs. Winter showed us how tough it is to live completely rurally and we are confident we can cope and use the better weather to improve things and be more ready for next winter. In short... I hope it all works out for you and you get to live in your dream location. It's been tough for us but we don't regret it at all. We left a house that was as "done" as you can get, lots of space and modern kitchen and bathroom, triple glazing etc but it wasn't our true home. The half derelict but very cosy place we're in now feels like the place we were meant to be.

P.S. have you considered saving costs by finding a grass livery set up for your horse. One of mine is ancient and is now looking better than he has in 10 years since living out with a good shelter.

Best of luck for you and your family, i'll cross my fingers it works out perfectly for you.

Original poster
Thursday37 · 30/03/2022 23:29

@whyisitsohardtochangemyname

Sounds really positive op. We moved last year to a doer upper in a great location with the land we wanted for our 5 horses. House is a bit of a money pit but nothing that needs doing today... we've gotten used to the quirks and are working our way through the jobs. Winter showed us how tough it is to live completely rurally and we are confident we can cope and use the better weather to improve things and be more ready for next winter. In short... I hope it all works out for you and you get to live in your dream location. It's been tough for us but we don't regret it at all. We left a house that was as "done" as you can get, lots of space and modern kitchen and bathroom, triple glazing etc but it wasn't our true home. The half derelict but very cosy place we're in now feels like the place we were meant to be.

P.S. have you considered saving costs by finding a grass livery set up for your horse. One of mine is ancient and is now looking better than he has in 10 years since living out with a good shelter.

Best of luck for you and your family, i'll cross my fingers it works out perfectly for you.

That’s good to hear thank you.

Unfortunately grass livery is impossible as her issue is EMS and arthritis, she’s not tolerating any grass at all at the moment (negative PPID), but keeping her off grass isn’t helping her arthritis. She’s on a very strict regime of weighed, soaked hay and need full livery during the week as she has to be fed little
and often and walked inhand regularly. I’m doing £150 a month just in shavings (she needs a deep full stable bed). I’m probably going to have to make that call at some point sadly. I love her dearly but if her quality of life isn’t improved soon it’s not fair. And quite frankly with her livery and vet bills it’s unsustainable financially. Last month with her blood tests included and a new box of bute she cost me over £1k Sad. It was a particularly bad month but £600+ Is a lot for one you can’t get right.

OP posts:
JaniceBattersby · 31/03/2022 00:00

Please please please don’t scrimp on getting the chimney swept regularly, esp with open fires.. My husband is a firefighter in a rural area and has gone to so many thatch fires recently due to unswept chimneys.

The problem with a thatch is you literally can’t put it out. Once the underneath bit starts smoking you will have an hour or so to get everything out of the house but as sure as eggs is eggs, it will go up along with the contents of your house.

JangolinaPitt · 31/03/2022 08:27

The OP is not struggling financially. She has zero options for schools and childcare if they stay where they are and houses in this location come up rarely

If she wants to move there, this might be her only chance.

Incidentally, posters on MN have been predicting a market correction for years. Still not happened.

This!!! I can’t believe how miserably pessimistic and cautious people are. The problems (I’d they even do out to be problems) are temporary -the benefits immediate and permanent.

thegcatsmother · 31/03/2022 08:35

Go for it. Oil has dropped to 0.98 where I am.

whyisitsohardtochangemyname · 31/03/2022 12:22

"That’s good to hear thank you.

Unfortunately grass livery is impossible as her issue is EMS and arthritis, she’s not tolerating any grass at all at the moment (negative PPID), but keeping her off grass isn’t helping her arthritis. She’s on a very strict regime of weighed, soaked hay and need full livery during the week as she has to be fed little
and often and walked inhand regularly. I’m doing £150 a month just in shavings (she needs a deep full stable bed). I’m probably going to have to make that call at some point sadly. I love her dearly but if her quality of life isn’t improved soon it’s not fair. And quite frankly with her livery and vet bills it’s unsustainable financially. Last month with her blood tests included and a new box of bute she cost me over £1k sad. It was a particularly bad month but £600+ Is a lot for one you can’t get right"

Sounds a nightmare. Is there a grass free track livery near you? I've heard they have fantastic results for lami prone arthritic horses. Gawsworth Trach Livery has a good facebook page with examples of grass free living. Not the cheapest option but could be more cost effective and fewer vet bills.

Original poster
Thursday37 · 24/05/2022 09:01

Just an update- we finally exchanged yesterday and complete on Thursday. All a last minute panic for some reason. We had a wobble and almost pulled out as there’s a threat of redundancies at work. But in the end we decided we would carry on.
This is the link to the house for anyone nosy
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119222597#/?channel=RES_BUY

Thank you for all the comments and opinions, time will tell if we made the right decision 😬

OP posts:
HappyHappyHermit · 24/05/2022 09:40

Congratulations, we moved to an old house a couple of years ago and haven't regretted it for one second, it feels like a proper home! I hope you are very happy there (once the hell of the actual move is over!)

Antarcticant · 24/05/2022 09:54

Oooh, that's my dream type of house! Congratulations!

Subbaxeo · 24/05/2022 09:56

For me, the peace of mind over schools plus having a beautiful house in a lovely village would make me move. Imagine how you’d feel if the vendor decided to pull the house off the market-would you be terribly disappointed or would you heave a sigh of relief? Does the village have nice social facilities-pub and village hall? You’re in a comparatively comfortable position compared to many people with young babies so if it were me, I’d go for it. But you have to do what’s good for you and your family.

Subbaxeo · 24/05/2022 09:56

Ahhh sorry, old thread! Congratulations!

Theala · 24/05/2022 10:05

Yay, glad to read your update! It looks beautiful and I hope you'll all be really happy there.

tcjotm · 24/05/2022 10:35

Congratulations! Lovely house, enjoy!

Oldandcobwebby · 24/05/2022 11:47

My MIL lives in a thatched cottage. It's pretty, but it is the coldest place on God's earth. We dread visiting. She has just had the roof refurbished, and the costs were mind boggling. Likewise, she is constantly moaning about the cost of heating. I wouldn't want it as a gift.

Theala · 24/05/2022 12:48

Oldandcobwebby · 24/05/2022 11:47

My MIL lives in a thatched cottage. It's pretty, but it is the coldest place on God's earth. We dread visiting. She has just had the roof refurbished, and the costs were mind boggling. Likewise, she is constantly moaning about the cost of heating. I wouldn't want it as a gift.

How nice of you to share that thought with the Op at this point in time. 🙄

failing40s · 24/05/2022 13:05

Beautiful - congratulations. That kitchen can be transformed with a lick of paint on the cupboard doors if you want to improve it while you're saving for a new one. I did a dated pine kitchen with chalk paint. Took them all off the hinges, lightly sanded them, wiped them down with sugar soap and then painted them all over the course of a weekend.

Onlythelaundryfairy · 24/05/2022 13:09

Move. Do it, the nursery years don't last that long. Oil - you can buy half a tank at a time if necessary and use the fire places.

Onlythelaundryfairy · 24/05/2022 13:10

Ooh congratulations!

Ferngreen · 24/05/2022 13:12

School, school, school, school.

CornishPorsche · 24/05/2022 13:13

Well done OP, that looks beautiful! I don't think the kitchen is ugly, just a bit dated but still in keeping with the house (country kitchen type).

How's your horse doing?

Ferngreen · 24/05/2022 13:15

Don't run it like a modern house - radiator in every room. Have a wood burning stove going in middle of house.
Or what about pv panels in the garden

TokyoSushi · 24/05/2022 13:18

Oh it's beautiful! Enjoy OP!

MadeForThis · 24/05/2022 13:20

Congratulations