Moving house

Yes, it’s not just you - everything has become way more bureaucratic now. I sold my mother’s house last month and honestly thought I’d drown in paperwork. The only time I felt like I could finally breathe was after getting in touch with conveyancing-solicitor.co.uk. They were quick, clear, and handled all the transfer documents without any drama.

Re .Indemnity policies. Just wondering if anywhere, at any time, have one of these been actually used by purchasers. As far as I can make out none have.

Back in 2019, towards the end of a long arduous selling/buying time, I had a phone call from my solicitor trying to persuade me NOT to purchase the flat I wanted as, he told me, the garage is not listed on the Land Registry. When I insisted I was going ahead, he told me I would need to sign an Indemnity letter, etc. Later that same day, one of my daughters, read all the paperwork sent to me by that same solicitor and found the land registry listing for the garage. When I rang and told him, did not get as much of an apology.

We ended up living in our holiday caravan for 2 weeks on a holiday site. Our furniture went in storage. One week before completion on our house we were buying the sellers booked a last minute 2 week cruise for their 25th wedding anniversary! Apparently it was a very cheap deal
I was so stressed as our dog was pregnant and due pups in 2.5 weeks. Our buyer refused to change the date and threatened to pull out if we changed it despite no chain. So we lived in the caravan with a large awning. When we moved in dog had her pups in a cupboard under the stairs with the door taken off and lined out with perspex sheets. Not ideal but best we could do.
Having things in storage was good as we brought home a few boxes at a time to unpack. It was much easier

Yorkshirepudding4ever

We are currently all packed up & good to go, just waiting for a date to exchange, and feel frustrated that the solicitors seem to sit on paperwork for ages before actioning anything. The most annoying thing has been requests to buy indemnity policies to cover eventualities which will more than likely never arise, e.g. this week we were asked to pay £270 for a policy because when our house was converted from a barn in 1986, we don't hold a certificate to show that building regulations consent was obtained at that time. We were never given such a certificate when we bought the house 10 years ago. My sister's house was built in 1632, so I am unsure what documentation she would be expected to hold, should she decide to sell!! My daughter is currently selling her house which is 20 years old and has been quoted £140 for a similar policy, of which £75 was a fee for the solicitor for setting up the policy, which was probably done in a 5 minute phone call. I have decided I have been in the wrong job!!!

Yes, indemnities are the latest get rich quick scheme for solicitors, Dd had to take over £500 worth of indemnities on her new house.

Our house was built in 1467 and is listed. Now listed buildings are meant to be EPC (the energy assessment) exempt, but our buyer's solicitor said that although Listed buildings are exempt because nothing can be installed that would change the look of the house or compromise any historic features, there might be things that could be done that would not compromise the building - LED bulbs verywhere, for example.

Well, we had it done, and it turned out that there was nothing that could be done to the house to improve its insulation value that we hadn't already done - so that was a waste of money.

I expect we will need to have an indemnity on our wood burning stove. because we cannot produce a HETAS installation certificate, because it was installed before these certificates came in.

nanny2507

I'm trying to sell but I haven't had any viewings at all. 4 weeks on market

Change your estate agent, compare the current price on your house with the price of similar houses in your area. Our first agent misjudged the marke and overpriced our house - and we did not go on the market at the highest price.

Look at RightMove regulalrly and check whether houses in your area are going under offer, it could be that houses are just ot selling in your area.

Is there anything about your house that will discourage buyers. This can be things out of your control, traffic noise, being on a busy road, being in a high crime area. it could be something about the house, does it need a lot of updating? Is the garden overgrown?

If push comes to shove you could sell it at auction, as Foxy ferret did. perhaps PM her and ask about that?

I'm trying to sell but I haven't had any viewings at all. 4 weeks on market

Good luck! Its a simpy loathesome procedure these days. I downsized almost a year ago and probably had the world's worst solicitor. They called me 2 days before moving date and asked me 'what day are you moving'!! Since we were completing and exchanging on the same day, due to their slowness, I was not impressed by that. Very much hope you get through it all without too much stress.

I moved house all on my own with three children under four years of age because my husband was working away from home for six months. I packed everything myself, lofted carpets and made all the arrangements. Just got on with it and didn't find it very onorous that was in 1971.

It was put on the right move website so people could see what they were bidding on.

Yes Monica, we got what we wanted for it. It was a small cottage and the energy certificate was not great. We had estate agents round before we went to auction and got the same price as they quoted. We only had one bill from the solicitor and he paid the auctioneers.

I would live to downsize but a small.place anywhere I would like would cost a lot more than I can afford. I'm almost taking comfort from being reminded of a the legal matters I'd have to contend with.

We are currently all packed up & good to go, just waiting for a date to exchange, and feel frustrated that the solicitors seem to sit on paperwork for ages before actioning anything. The most annoying thing has been requests to buy indemnity policies to cover eventualities which will more than likely never arise, e.g. this week we were asked to pay £270 for a policy because when our house was converted from a barn in 1986, we don't hold a certificate to show that building regulations consent was obtained at that time. We were never given such a certificate when we bought the house 10 years ago. My sister's house was built in 1632, so I am unsure what documentation she would be expected to hold, should she decide to sell!! My daughter is currently selling her house which is 20 years old and has been quoted £140 for a similar policy, of which £75 was a fee for the solicitor for setting up the policy, which was probably done in a 5 minute phone call. I have decided I have been in the wrong job!!!

Foxyferret

I sold my mothers cottage at auction, it seemed much easier than going to an estate agent.

But did the price you got compare with what you would have got if you sold it through an estate agent?

I sold my mothers cottage at auction, it seemed much easier than going to an estate agent.

We were all ready to put house on the market a few months ago. Had estate agents round to value it etc.

But knowing how much red tape is involved and all the aforementioned problems , we decided not to proceed.

I honestly think that I would have had a nervous breakdown if we had gone ahead. Also, at the age of 80, it’s not the best time to uproot oneself.
The reason in wanting to move was to be nearer DD.
She thinks if either of us pop our clogs, then she is nearer.
Although she lives in a pretty village and ideally it would be lovely.
But to be honest, I don’t think I could have handled the stress of it all.

My DS bought his first property last July he had a mortgage in principle agreement with 2 days of starting the buying process as he was told he couldn’t put an offer in until he had this which wasn’t a requirement when we moved 34 years ago. He moved in about 3/4 weeks later or should I say he started replacing the carpets and painted all the walls. I think that’s the benefit of the Scottish system we really don’t have chains as much as in England and Wales.

Moved house more than 20 times home and abroad but all done with DH. I need to downsize after becoming widowed. A huge wrench to leave the place we chose together as our last home and having read this thread I'm dreading it even more.

Selling a south facing flat, on the 14th floor, overlooking the canal in Birmingham a few years ago, the solicitor sent a letter on the day contracts were due to be signed, to ask what size garden shed could be put on the Juliet balcony.
It still makes me smile at the stupidity he showed

You have my sympathies and you re not a grump, I’ve just moved house, sadly things didn’t go according to plan. I found somewhere I liked close to my daughter, everything was going well, I sold quickly, had a date for exchange of contracts organised removals, address changes etc, then my buyers buyers changed their minds and pulled out, I lost my dream home and had to put my house back on the market and lost a lot of money in the process not to mention the stress involved, I m 68 and no spring chicken so could have done without that. To cut a long story short I sold eventually to my original buyers even tho I had another offer on the table as I didn’t want them to lose out and I went to live with my daughter for 3 months and put my stuff in storage. I moved into my place just before Christmas and while it’s not my dream home, it’s lovely, my neighbours are nice and I m enjoying making it mine, so hang in there and you ll get there eventually but I’d like to never have to do it again, the stress has been enormous 🤷‍♀️

Good luck with your venture, Smintie

We've sold our chalet bungalow twice now, once in April 22 then again in April 24 - only to have both sales eventually fall through by October in each year. The estate agents blame solicitors who pull your offers if your sale falls through but I blame the estate agents who won't let you view a property until yours is at least "Under Offer" so the chain just gets longer and longer with those at the front of the chain getting frustrated by the delays and they pull out. At this point your solicitor seems you "unprocedable" ( is that even a word?) and you have to start again. We've wasted £10,000 on our two failed sales and since our last one stamp duty has been raised so we're staying put

I'm selling an empty, mortgage free flat to a first time buyer, so no chain, and it's still a nightmare! Long, long forms to fill in with details about which I have no idea and questions with legal vocabulary that I don't understand. Solicitor and Estate Agents are very willing to charge but are very little help so far!

Our buyers solicitor rang the day before we were due to exchange querying a couple of things. I got the impression the buyers were hoping for a reduction although not directly asking. I said we were thinking of putting house back on the market. They exchanged the next day. Hold your nerve!

Karmalady that is excellent advice, thank you. I’m very glad you have found your new home and enjoy it so much.

The whole process has become complicated, slow and tedious. I sold and bought 6 years ago when I was 71 and widowed, I packed everything myself as I could not have faced the box mountain. Every box was labelled and some with expensive tools etc were just numbered because things can and do `vanish` en route

I would recommend that anyone selling should search for any and every bit of paperwork to do with your property, the certificates for any job you have had done etc. I had to find the planning permission for my last property, a new build eco house, we were there for 9 years and had never been given that bit of paperwork. Make a very comprehensive file

A scale drawing of my new property was very useful, together with scale drawings of furniture I wanted to keep. I did decide not to actually downsize much because I wanted a sewing room, wellness room, guest room, lots of storage and a garage for my 3 bikes, all of which I use.

Garden and position are important, not being overlooked, in a nice setting not dominated by houses casting shadows. My situation is east/west with a garden that is mainly s facing. Things that put me off when house hunting, trees/leylandii next door, hot tub next door, no garage, noisy situation, heat pump fixed below the main bedroom etc

I am very happy in my 4 bedroom, pretty detached new build. I live in a very small ancient town, lovely ambience and all facilities. I did the research and turned one 30s house down after a thorough survey, lead pipes, potential asbestos etc and too isolated

Ouch CountessFosco! Hope you told them no!