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Original poster

About to put our house up for sale...anyone else? Part Two!

973 replies

InTheCludgie · 13/09/2022 14:58

Hi everyone here is the new thread for those of us who are about to, or are currently trying to, sell our homes!

So we are now back on the market and have a viewing tomorrow morning, plus one for early next week. This week is a bit tricky as it's DS's birthday so have had to say no to a couple of suggested times for viewings.

How is everyone else getting on?

OP posts:
parkrunner1977 · 05/10/2022 10:06

123deepbreath · Yesterday 19:41
FFS, our sellers solicitors want certified copies of ID and proof of address that have to have been sent in the post and can't be printed bills from online accounts - we don't get any paper copies! I've asked if the solicitors will accept a bank statement with our address on if it's been printed by the bank rather than off my computer as that's the best I can do 🤦🏼‍♀️

I'm a bit confused as to why your sellers solicitor requires this from you? Part of your solicitors job is to confirm your identity and advise the other sols that they have done so as part of the sale transaction?

Volterra · 05/10/2022 11:43

@Halstead so sorry to hear that. It is such a horrible process 💐
@123deepbreath agree that seems weird for the sellers solicitor to ask for that, our solicitor did our ID and our buyer’s solicitor did theirs. Our solicitor did say that they would accept our estate agent sending it over and in the past a solicitor has accepted it from our mortgage broker.

ThorsBedazzler · 05/10/2022 12:23

Our seller's solicitor asked for ID, data protection and money laundering requirements. We confirmed ID with our solicitors but they couldn't send that over due to data protection, and under money laundering both ends of the transaction have to be satisfied there's no money laundering.

Original poster
InTheCludgie · 05/10/2022 12:35

@ecochiroptera I got one of those 'we buy any house' letters on Monday, was tempted to look them up but DH would never go for it! He confessed at the weekend that he really isn't that fussed on moving. While a driveway and extra room would be nice, he wouldn't care if we had to stay in our current house.

Had a call from EA this morning to advise us of a second viewing. This particular person (cannot recall who they are at all) was holding out to see how they got on with their own sale and are wanting to come back for a second look on Friday. Keep everything crossed for us!

OP posts:
Volterra · 05/10/2022 12:39

Everything crossed @InTheCludgie 🍀
@ThorsBedazzler our seller’s solicitor must have been slackers then 😀

ThorsBedazzler · 05/10/2022 14:10

@Volterra I'm at the stage now where I'll show my ID to anyone who asks!

Just had mortgage application meeting, it's already been submitted via financial advisor, just confirming details. Really hoping everything goes smoothly as it still doesn't feel real.

ThorsBedazzler · 05/10/2022 14:11

Oh fingers crossed @InTheCludgie ! Hope that this is the buyer for you.

123deepbreath · 05/10/2022 14:12

@Volterra and @parkrunner1977 our solicitors, the auction house and estate agents have all had our checks but it seems there solicitors want extra, such a pain, luckily I've got someone who can happily certify tonight, I've found a phone bill for my husband and an invoice with my name on so I'm just hoping that that's acceptable!

@ThorsBedazzler ahh that could be why then!

Volterra · 05/10/2022 14:14

@ThorsBedazzler I hear you, there’s a lot I would have done by the time we were finished😀Good luck, fingers crossed for you .

Halstead · 05/10/2022 22:29

Thank you @Stayingstrongish and @Volterra

Such a shit system.

Ladyofthelake53 · 06/10/2022 08:07

Viewing 2 properties at the weekend, best of a bad bunch. Nothing in my my budget these are slightly over budget but am hopeful if I like one I coud make an offer. Fact I am proceedable and no mortgage needed I hope will be to my advantage.

Now worrying I won't find anything and will have to stay put. My buyers are aware of my situation. Depends how long they are willing to hold on for I suppose.

Considered renting if I have to but I have 2 dogs so won't be easy finding somewhere that allows pets.

On the flip side I don't want to feel pushed into buying just any old thing.....

manateeandcake · 06/10/2022 12:20

Just when I thought we were in the "sit back and wait" stage, having accepted an offer and had ours accepted, things have got complicated again. I got in touch with a surveyor to get a quote. He very helpfully ran a search on the house on the local council's planning page and found out planning permission for a loft conversion was refused. The loft has been done, so either it was in contravention of planning or plans modified to bring it within permitted development. But I'm as likely to get a straight answer out of a turnip as out of the seller's EA. They are the worst of the worst, and have been slow, dishonest and slippery since DH first viewed the house. EA actually just said to me on the phone: "the plans meet with permitted development in her [seller's] mind" 🙄 Oh, that's reassuring then! 😡

Meanwhile, a rival EA has been practically begging us to put in an offer on another house nearby. It is also a lovely house and is in many ways in a better location but has not been extended so has less space, and it's not definite we could afford to extend any time soon.

PinkPlantCase · 06/10/2022 13:36

manateeandcake · 06/10/2022 12:20

Just when I thought we were in the "sit back and wait" stage, having accepted an offer and had ours accepted, things have got complicated again. I got in touch with a surveyor to get a quote. He very helpfully ran a search on the house on the local council's planning page and found out planning permission for a loft conversion was refused. The loft has been done, so either it was in contravention of planning or plans modified to bring it within permitted development. But I'm as likely to get a straight answer out of a turnip as out of the seller's EA. They are the worst of the worst, and have been slow, dishonest and slippery since DH first viewed the house. EA actually just said to me on the phone: "the plans meet with permitted development in her [seller's] mind" 🙄 Oh, that's reassuring then! 😡

Meanwhile, a rival EA has been practically begging us to put in an offer on another house nearby. It is also a lovely house and is in many ways in a better location but has not been extended so has less space, and it's not definite we could afford to extend any time soon.

In most areas you can convert the loft and roof lights and/or add a dormer window to the back without planning permission.

So unless you’re in a conservation area, national park or the house has had its permitted development rights removed you should be fine.

manateeandcake · 06/10/2022 17:46

Thanks @PinkPlantCase It's not in a conservation area. What the surveyor noticed was that they applied for planning permission twice for the loft and had it refused, then went ahead with the work in some form anyway though possibly within permitted development. It's all v unclear.

Positivelypatient · 06/10/2022 18:27

Oh joys, buyers survey highlighted poss asbestos so now having a survey for that plus they didn't realise loft conversion didn't have building regs even though it was only ever marketed as a loft room. Loft room windows leak - they don't but are quite old. They want to know if I'll renegotiate on price. I've said I would consider it once more details/estimates given.

Ladyofthelake53 · 06/10/2022 20:25

Regarding the planning permission re lofts. My buyers are asking for proof of planning. My loft conversion has no dormer, not in conservation area and was signed off legitimately by the local Council. I have given them the sign off papers.

You don't have to have planning for a straight forward loft conversion and the fact that it's been signed off surely backs that up or they wouldnt have signed it off.

Also been asked for proof of dropped kerb permission....no dropped curb as such. Village with no pavement so off my drive straight onto road. They'd have seen that when they viewed

Doubleraspberry · 06/10/2022 20:30

My dreadful estate agent rose to new heights today. He called us to say that our buyers still don’t have probate granted on the inheritance property they are selling to fund their purchase but HE has talked them into borrowing the money for the deposit to keep things moving.

Except that he told us both WEEKS ago that they’d exchanged on that sale, and in fact told us when they offered that they were fully progressed on the sale, so he’s been lying to us from the start. He’s now ‘optimistic’ that we’ll complete by the end of the month - we told him last week we were hoping to exchange tomorrow and he gave us no reason at all to think that couldn’t happen, when all along he knew the buyers didn’t have funds. Twat.

Karmatime · 07/10/2022 09:01

We have 10 viewings booked in for tomorrow. I’m hoping this early interest is a good sign? We did a big decluttering for the photos on Monday but would welcome any tips to help it look / feel its best. We will be out and leaving the agents to it. Friday night is usually (homemade pungent) curry night but we are skipping that!

Original poster
InTheCludgie · 07/10/2022 10:51

Wow 10 viewings that's fantastic @Karmatime ! Hopefully one of them is your future buyer, good luck

OP posts:
Karmatime · 07/10/2022 11:48

Thanks @InTheCludgie I really hope so too! It’s a very popular area and little houses like ours usually sell quickly but I’m nervous about buyers being nervous in the current market.

Doubleraspberry · 07/10/2022 12:31

Good luck! That does sound very promising.

Stayingstrongish · 07/10/2022 14:16

Doubleraspberry · 06/10/2022 20:30

My dreadful estate agent rose to new heights today. He called us to say that our buyers still don’t have probate granted on the inheritance property they are selling to fund their purchase but HE has talked them into borrowing the money for the deposit to keep things moving.

Except that he told us both WEEKS ago that they’d exchanged on that sale, and in fact told us when they offered that they were fully progressed on the sale, so he’s been lying to us from the start. He’s now ‘optimistic’ that we’ll complete by the end of the month - we told him last week we were hoping to exchange tomorrow and he gave us no reason at all to think that couldn’t happen, when all along he knew the buyers didn’t have funds. Twat.

Oh jeez, why string you along like that.

manateeandcake · 07/10/2022 20:48

@Ladyofthelake53 The loft conversion has a building regs certificate, which is great. But planning/permitted development is something different. The seller applied to the council for a Lawful Development Certificate before starting the work to show that the work fell under permitted development i.e. didn't need planning. This was refused by the council but they went ahead anyway. They say the council miscalculated the volume and it actually does fall within permitted development. I am hopeful that this isn't the end of the road for us and this house, but surveyor has advised caution (he hasn't performed a survey or been to the property, just searched planning history). I suppose that's their job!

LionessesRules · 07/10/2022 21:38

@manateeandcake you can get indemnity policies for lack of planning / permitted development. They will kick up an stink as the Council probably know about the work, but it's doable.
How long ago was the work done? There are things about 4/7/10 years where potential issues become less problematic.
Not happy to go further in public, but DM me if you want the gruesome details of our purchase - yes, we bought it.

manateeandcake · 08/10/2022 07:32

@LionessesRules I will DM you before I go down a rabbit hole of planning jargon most of which I had never heard of two days ago!

Best of luck to everyone who has or is doing viewings today. I hope the sun is shining, damp towels are hidden and houses look their best.