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Original poster

How is best for us to proceed to get this property?

70 replies

hugsandpugs · 16/06/2025 08:14

We currently rent but DH will be getting some inheritance soon so is looking to use it towards buying a house for us. We would be looking to just get a small mortgage.

We have seen a house online on an estate agents social media which says it’s coming soon. It’s absolutely everything we are looking for. 4 bedroom, big kitchen, decent sized garden etc and it’s an absolute steal at £119,995.

I know there’s going to be a lot of interest in it so is there any way to make our chances of getting it higher? We are first time buyers so are not in a chain. Should be getting a mortgage in principle from our financial advisor at some point today.

thanks in advance for any advice

OP posts:
Original poster
hugsandpugs · 26/06/2025 16:58

housethatbuiltme · 26/06/2025 16:28

We looked at a probate house like that and we got gazumped on it before the survey but I remember thinking how weird it was to not have a loft hatch and how we would deal with it as the roof was leaking so needed to be accessed.

Creating a hatch probably isn't that hard but they won't let you do it until after you buy. The biggest problem is you will be buying blind on the state of the attic and thats the place where most issues are (every house I nearly bought had roof issues, some are much easier fixes than others though).

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Would a surveyor be able to look at the condition of the roof itself without accessing the attic? (I’m not clued up on these things as you can tell).

our offer has been accepted

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housethatbuiltme · 26/06/2025 19:54

hugsandpugs · 26/06/2025 16:58

Would a surveyor be able to look at the condition of the roof itself without accessing the attic? (I’m not clued up on these things as you can tell).

our offer has been accepted

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Not really, most things that go wrong on a roof are INTERNAL so things like ridges, beams, rafters etc...

They will check the tiles, flashing, chimney, facia, sofits etc... from outside but while there might be hints like sagging etc... they can't see the cause of anything that could be structural damage from outside.

For example the house I bought turned out to have several snapped rafters in the attic.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 27/06/2025 13:23

hugsandpugs · 26/06/2025 10:28

Update : finally viewed the property yesterday and we’ve decided to put an offer in. Looks like it just needs a bit of time and money spent on it to update it a bit.

However I noticed there’s no attic hatch on the landing or in any of the bedrooms.

I’ve queried this with the estate agent and they’ve asked the seller. Their response was that they’re parents never used the attic so when they had some work done to one of the from bedrooms the attic hatch was plaster boarded over when a new ceiling was done.

They said there is the potiental for a hatch to be created if we needed the loft space which we would for things like Xmas decs, sentimental things and also camping gear etc.

Does this sound plausible? The reason for why there is no access to the attic I mean? Or do you think it’s suspicious?

I can believe that reason for no attic hatch. On the other side my mum recently added a new attic hatch and drop down ladder to make it easier for herself and it was a reasonable price and quick and easy to do.

notag · 27/06/2025 13:32

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 27/06/2025 13:23

I can believe that reason for no attic hatch. On the other side my mum recently added a new attic hatch and drop down ladder to make it easier for herself and it was a reasonable price and quick and easy to do.

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@BaronessEllarawrosaurusdo you know how much it was for new attic hatch and ladder? Need to get this done too

Tootrad · 27/06/2025 15:57

Is this the only property you have viewed op in your current house search op?

Original poster
hugsandpugs · 27/06/2025 16:50

Tootrad · 27/06/2025 15:57

Is this the only property you have viewed op in your current house search op?

It is. We had others lined up but we were pretty much set on this place as soon as it was listed - only a couple of streets away from my parents. (The main reason we want to head to this area as dad is ill with end stage cirrhosis atm). The village is 2 min walk away and nearest train station 5 minute walk so it’s ideal for the eldest two children to get back and forth school. The added bedroom is a bonus as it’ll mean the children can have a room each whereas currently the boys share a small bedroom and DD has her own

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Bepatientandiwillreturn · 27/06/2025 17:47

you are a FTB, which means that if this is the only property you have viewed in your hunt…. It is actually the only property you have ever viewed.

In your shoes OP, I’d be viewing others. You have absolutely no benchmark whatsoever.

Original poster
hugsandpugs · 27/06/2025 17:56

Bepatientandiwillreturn · 27/06/2025 17:47

you are a FTB, which means that if this is the only property you have viewed in your hunt…. It is actually the only property you have ever viewed.

In your shoes OP, I’d be viewing others. You have absolutely no benchmark whatsoever.

The other places we booked viewings for were not really everything in our tick boxes of things we are looking for though. This is the only one we’ve found that ticks all the boxes. It’s possible that something else might come up but id be surprised x

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Bepatientandiwillreturn · 27/06/2025 18:08

I would urge you to step inside other properties rather than make an offer on the one and only property you and your husband have ever viewed.

Added to which, you sound rather unenthused about it following your viewing of this one

heldinadream · 27/06/2025 18:18

The thing is @hugsandpugs there can be a huge difference between the boxes a house appears to tick and how you feel about it when you actually see it. I've had the experience of not wanting to see a house because maybe it didn't seem right and then being completely wowed on seeing it.
I agree you should at least view a few more. You can leave your offer as it is but go and look at a few more. And then you'll either be sure about this one, or you'll see that there are other contenders and if you're quick there's nothing wrong with withdrawing the offer. We withdrew an offer the day after making it because I had a sleepless night knowing the house was wrong for us even though it 'ticked all the boxes'. Then we found one that kinda doesn't tick ALL the boxes, but feels like a better house for us.
It's such a major purchase - this is your life! Don't rush into it unless you're sure.

Original poster
hugsandpugs · 27/06/2025 18:29

heldinadream · 27/06/2025 18:18

The thing is @hugsandpugs there can be a huge difference between the boxes a house appears to tick and how you feel about it when you actually see it. I've had the experience of not wanting to see a house because maybe it didn't seem right and then being completely wowed on seeing it.
I agree you should at least view a few more. You can leave your offer as it is but go and look at a few more. And then you'll either be sure about this one, or you'll see that there are other contenders and if you're quick there's nothing wrong with withdrawing the offer. We withdrew an offer the day after making it because I had a sleepless night knowing the house was wrong for us even though it 'ticked all the boxes'. Then we found one that kinda doesn't tick ALL the boxes, but feels like a better house for us.
It's such a major purchase - this is your life! Don't rush into it unless you're sure.

Ok I can see where you’re coming from. Maybe it’s worth us keeping an open mind for the first few weeks it won’t be until next week we will see our financial advisor anyway to talk about the first steps!

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Original poster
hugsandpugs · 27/06/2025 18:30

Bepatientandiwillreturn · 27/06/2025 18:08

I would urge you to step inside other properties rather than make an offer on the one and only property you and your husband have ever viewed.

Added to which, you sound rather unenthused about it following your viewing of this one

We love it I was just a bit concerned about the attic thing as never had this with any houses I’ve rented previously etc!

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Bepatientandiwillreturn · 27/06/2025 18:46

Have they taken it off the market or still accepting viewings?

Pigletin · 27/06/2025 19:58

Just be careful that they haven’t plaster boarded the access to the attic to prevent buyers from seeing issues with the roof…like spray foam insulation!!

Original poster
hugsandpugs · 27/06/2025 20:58

Bepatientandiwillreturn · 27/06/2025 18:46

Have they taken it off the market or still accepting viewings?

yes taken off the market with sold subject to contract on the listing

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Original poster
hugsandpugs · 27/06/2025 21:04

Pigletin · 27/06/2025 19:58

Just be careful that they haven’t plaster boarded the access to the attic to prevent buyers from seeing issues with the roof…like spray foam insulation!!

I hope not! There is a brand new set of attic ladders there unopened as the seller told the estate agents he was eventually planning to get a loft hatch created on the landing …. Just hope he’s being truthful

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Bepatientandiwillreturn · 28/06/2025 06:18

hugsandpugs · 27/06/2025 20:58

yes taken off the market with sold subject to contract on the listing

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Well then don’t go with that EA when you’re viewing others!!

but for heaven’s sake op…. You and your partner have one ever viewed one property, ever! I can’t believe you aren’t at least curious about other properties let alone actively want to research more the biggest purchase you have ever made.

Twiglets1 · 28/06/2025 06:37

Bepatientandiwillreturn · 28/06/2025 06:18

Well then don’t go with that EA when you’re viewing others!!

but for heaven’s sake op…. You and your partner have one ever viewed one property, ever! I can’t believe you aren’t at least curious about other properties let alone actively want to research more the biggest purchase you have ever made.

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I agree it is better to have viewed other properties.

It helps you appreciate when you have found the right one if you have others to compare the house to.

user1471538283 · 28/06/2025 12:53

The attic thing would worry me. I'd want my surveyor to go up to check the joists and the roof. It might be damp, leaking, infested. Your sellers could put even a hole in the ceiling so you could see.

Original poster
hugsandpugs · 28/06/2025 17:38

user1471538283 · 28/06/2025 12:53

The attic thing would worry me. I'd want my surveyor to go up to check the joists and the roof. It might be damp, leaking, infested. Your sellers could put even a hole in the ceiling so you could see.

Yes we are definitely not going to proceed with the sale if he refuses for us to check it out one way or another

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