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Original poster

Just put in an offer on a house. Scary!

56 replies

BudaBones · 28/10/2009 09:56

First time ever. Put in offer that I know is lower than owners want but am hoping that we can meet halfway. We can be very flexible on taking possession and they are waiting for a house they are building to be ready so we are hoping that they will be sensible enough to realise that avoiding possibly having to rent something short term and moving twice may sway it for us.

Very nervous! Only other property I have bought was a new build which was a very different process.

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Original poster
BudaBones · 28/10/2009 17:18

You 'know' a good builder do you Orm?? We may need to talk!

Well agent has just phoned. Crossed wires somewhere along the way with regard to completion and banking money and interest but that was soon sorted. Offer IS too low (as I expected) but I reckon with the clearing up of the crossed wires issue we may be within very close reach of a deal!!!!

We are all sleeping on it all and will talk tomorrow. We are happy to go to what they want but may well try 5K less depending on how bolshy we feel in the morning. We do feel that the flexibility we can give them about their actual moving out date is worth a lot. We are offering to complete asap and let them still live in the property till their house is ready. That has to be worth a lot. Otherwise they could be looking at renting somewhere in the meantime which they had mentioned when we first saw the house.

But it is all positive. I think we will reach an agreement.

And yes somewhathorrified - you may well be twisted! I am not really enjoying this bit. But I might tomorrow!

Off to do dinner for DS and I - DH is out tonight.

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OrmIrian · 28/10/2009 20:37

I would say that has to be worth a lot buda. I am sure they will see it eventually.

I no longer 'know' a builder in the Biblical sense as DH is now teaching not building, but the company he worked for is very good (also very busy atm which is a good sign in the current climate). If and when you are ready to go ahead I can give your their contact details.

nikos · 29/10/2009 08:23

This might not be a problem for you as buying a house at that price - but I would imagine you would have to insure the house even when the previous owners are living in it? And someone would be liable for council tax? Are you letting them live there rent free/have you agreed a time scale? I would want a very hefty discount for this arrangement.

Themasterandmargaritas · 29/10/2009 10:21

So what did you all decide this morning Buda?

I too am curious, if you are going to let them carry on living there after completion you are going to have to have some kind of shorthold tenancy agreement, are you not? Because otherwise they could become sitting tenants, eek!

I'm sure you've thought through all the scenarios already and yes if you are planning to let them stay in the house until theirs is finished then that is a HUGE incentive for them to accept your offer.

Original poster
BudaBones · 29/10/2009 10:40

Hi guys

Hadn't thought about insurance or council tax really but had def planned on a legal agreement. Our thoughts were that they would continue to pay for everything as they have been doing tbh. We would insure the house though I think. Better safe than sorry.

I think we feel relatively relaxed about the agreement as they are not exactly moving far - they will be our neighbours! And they have already said that they would be happy to keep an eye on the house for us when they move out and they house is still empty. It seems win-win all round really.

DH has said he is not willing to be very flexible on the price given the huge flexibilty our plan would give them. Haven't heard from agent yet. Have been shopping for dinner party tonight (AND got a sodding parking ticket!!!) so have had mind on other things.

TBH they seem like decent people and the wife was very excited to hear that our DS would be going to the same school that her DCs went to and also the DCs of the previous owners. She really wanted a family to buy the house. I think it will all be fine. If I don't hear anything by mid-afternoon I will call the agent.

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HouseHunting · 29/10/2009 13:28

Any news Buda? The house looks very nice

Original poster
BudaBones · 29/10/2009 14:14

No news yet. DH says not to ring today if we don't hear. He says we should leave it till tomorrow. Not sure I can!

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OrmIrian · 29/10/2009 14:35

Ah buda! He's a hard man! Please tell your DH that there are people on MN who are dying to find out what happens...

Original poster
BudaBones · 29/10/2009 15:44

I know!!!!

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Original poster
BudaBones · 29/10/2009 17:07

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just bought a house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Themasterandmargaritas · 29/10/2009 17:09

Hooooorrraaaaayyyy! Massive congratulations, how very, very, very exciting!

Can we come and stay when we come over?

OrmIrian · 29/10/2009 17:10

Excellent new buda!

HouseHunting · 29/10/2009 19:06

Woo hoo I am thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!! Congrats

Original poster
BudaBones · 30/10/2009 07:30

Thanks guys! Had people over last night so didn't get back on here but drank far too much wine to celebrate!

And now I need to organise survey and solicitor.

Orm - do you know a good solicitor along with your builder???

What happened in the end (for those of you who want to know!) was that DH came home and I asked should I ring agent and he said call and see what they think about our offer of completing and still letting them live in the house but don't offer any more money. So I called and spoke to agent. He said vendors were very happy with offer of not taking possession till they were ready and were thinking about our offer and how much they were willing to accept. So I asked if he had any idea of what they were willing to accept and he said probably 600 would do it. So I said I would speak to DH. I did so and he suggested that as we offered 595 and the agent had said they were looking for around 610 that we should split the difference and offer 602,500. So I did. Agent reckoned it was a very fair offer given the level of flexibility we are offering them. He then called back 10 mins later and said "you have bought yourself a house!"

Obv I know it is early days and things could still go wrong but I am still letting myself get excited!

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OrmIrian · 30/10/2009 07:56

A good solicitor?

Nope but I can find out.

Original poster
BudaBones · 30/10/2009 08:05

LOL!

Thanks!

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MamaG · 30/10/2009 08:40

ooh Buda how exciting! It's SO nerve wracking, that time between making an offer and waiting for acceptance isn't it?

We're in teh process of buying/selling and my nerves are absolutely shot. We are saving every last penny and may well be moving just before Christmas but it will be worth it.

MamaG · 30/10/2009 08:41

(I love Taunton too. I haven't been for a few years but used to love rummaging around the 2nd hand book shop)

Themasterandmargaritas · 30/10/2009 08:54

How fantastic Buda! We have a solicitor in Yeovil, perhaps a bit too far away though....

MamaG we too are in the middle of buying, here in Kenya for our sins . We are waiting to here if we have completed possibly today, possibly early next week. After completion we have to have the title deeds registered and then it is ours. Given it is Africa I'm trying not to get tooooooo excited until the deal is as formally sealed as it could be.

nikos · 30/10/2009 08:57

We moved just before Christmas last year and it was absolutely fine. In fact, because we knew we had to keep Christmas simple it was one of the most stressfree I've ever had!!! Top tip though is to start packing early and label everyb box. Stack them in your garage ready to go and then removal day is pretty painless.
Worst bit is the unpacking at the other end, especially for those awkward boxes where you don't know where to put the things and they lie around for ages.

MamaG · 30/10/2009 09:00

oh really nikos? Thanks for that, I am dreading it really. I said to DH last night that the only way to survive this would be to be UBER organised!

good luck wiht your purchse themaster - I keep thinking about decor etc then stopping myself!

Original poster
BudaBones · 30/10/2009 09:18

Thanks all for your good wishes.

I was in midst of dinner party preparations when we found out the offer was accepted and first thing I did was post on here to DH's bemusement!

Good luck with your move MamaG. Just before Xmas? You are brave!

The masterandmargaritas - good luck!!! Wow to buying in Kenya. Does that mean you will be there permanently? We came here to Hungary full of plans to buy but didn't see anything that wasn't ludicrously expensive. The house we are living in now is amazing and was on the market at 1.2 million euros!!!!!! It didn't sell funnily enough - amazing as it is, it was totally overpriced.

I am so excited about being able to decorate to MY taste.

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GrapefruitMoon · 30/10/2009 09:33

That house is beautiful Buda

I didn't know you had plans to move - have you thought about the most important thing which is what your new MN name will be?!

I think you were right to go for the town rather than a village - our house is not ideal but the location is great as the children get older and can go into town by themselves...

Will your ds go to a school that carries on to secondary or will he have to change after a year?

Original poster
BudaBones · 30/10/2009 09:47

Thanks GrapefruitMoon!

Hadn't thought about a new name! Oh well - I have till summer 2011 to do so.

DS will go to a school that carries on into secondary. And it is walking distance of the house which I am really pleased about. And apparently there is a safe cycle path route too for when he is a bit older.

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GrapefruitMoon · 30/10/2009 09:50

That's good about the school - you won't need to worry about applying for secondary as soon as you get here then!

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