Help calm me, house buying and selling stress part 2

mosaics I am going to be really cheeky. I put in a RM search for properties in your nearest small town and have seen a few well within your range which are obviously empty or have no upper chain. I put between 200 and 250 and used the property type filter for bungalows. There are 2 lovely bungalows that are almost move-in ready and are empty. One is epc C and the other is epc D. Both look very nice and have garages

Hope you don`t mind me being cheeky, I want to help

Mosaicwarts everyone is giving really good advice. I hope you start seriously looking for a new home and its vital you do all the paperwork as quickly as you can. Hopefully have it back to the solicitor by Friday. If you don't mine me asking but why didn't you decide what part of the country you wanted to move to when you first put your house on the market? I know you have been coping with things going wrong with the house and having to organise having them put right but I would have thought that would have been the first thing you decided on. Has your daughter started sorting out her belongings? If not she needs to do them also help you with yours. And start packing. It takes longer than you think. I hope your buyer goes through with the sale as you need to move. You sound so overwhelmed with it all. Take care of yourself the last thing you need is to get ill .

Thank you so much craftyone, what a nice virtual friend you are, not cheeky at all!

I have been thinking about my inability to find somewhere and think it's because I've been living in such isolation and privacy here for so long, I'm a bit scared to be 'amongst' people again. Such a contrast, we were in a tiny terrace in London, could hear the neighbours snoring! The thought of having neighbours that might slam car doors at night/disputes over fence and hedge boundaries/the curtain twitching of 'bin out days'/parking problems does scare me. My dog is also used to barking a lot as there is no-one to disturb here, I'm worried about him too. And my elderly cat has lived here for fifteen years safely - a farm cat visited once or twice, but she's never had to fight for her territory.

Whiff, I thought about your question, and my initial thoughts when I went on the market were that I wanted to go home to Whitton, in Middlesex. I think what has happened is that my initial hopes have been dashed as the price kept plumetting, and I haven't kept up with the location and accommodation changes I need to make to meet my new financial circumstances. My Dad used to have a horrible saying that I had a 'champagne pocket and a water purse'. Sadly true now.

Since I went on the market in September 18 the price has dropped so much from being valued at £600K fully renovated, that's the crux of the matter I think. I was marketed at £500K for six months because of the renovations needed. Six months later EA recommended I drop the price to £450K and May 19 I had an offer of £390K. Unfortunately he withdrew under odd circumstances. I changed EA in June so I could be on RightMove and they recommended 'offers in excess of £400K'. My cash buyer in September 19 offered £365K and disappeared 3 weeks later as you know.

My current prospective buyer saw the house the same week as the cash buyer, and only returned with his offer in late November. I am so curious as to the mortgage valuation today. The house was valued at £330 ten years ago when we remortgaged.

I do so appreciate all your input, it's so nice of you to take the time, I am just a bag of nerves. A nice thing happened in the shop today - a woman I haven't seen for a long time said she was talking about me to her Mum today - apparently I gave her Mum a packet of biscuits on the bus a few months ago. Such a small world here, I'm glad I did something nice!

I did spend the afternoon looking at different properties locally whilst the surveyor was here so I could stay out of the way. I have seen two I'm going to view, and will sit and start the solicitor's pack tomorrow. I'm going to sort my clothes out Ellianne and I will start packing.

I do think he will proceed and I have to stop dithering.

Night friends!

All the best mosaic really hoping it happens for you this time.
With all the questions they ask on the forms remember you can answer D/K don't know saves hours of searching for some of the answers. Xxxxx

Thanks sazzl, I am concerned about finding paperwork. I've found a lot, but only made it through one of my four boxes.

Night night, so cold will have to go to bed. xx

lots of hugs mosaics. I am glad you are going to see some properties.

It is so difficult but expectations going forward need to be different to the past. Most important is the area, must be quiet and the bungalows are more likely to be in quiet, reserved areas. An enclosed garden for your pets, a garage for the overspill. Then storage and a slightly older place will likely already have built storage. The number of bedrooms is personal but surely 2 would suffice for your own comfort with a sofa bed for ds when he visits. Many bungalows end up with a loft room, so think ahead to possibilities in the future

Try and draw a line across now and let some excitement come into your life for the coming new year. It is going to be a complete change, you have the chance to be cosy with minimal ongoing expenses. You will have the opportunity to enjoy your life, grab it with both hands my dear. Main thing is not to think of dd and ds right now, they have their lives in front of them

Craftyone as always wise words. Both my children only asked for me to live closer to them and said you only need 2 bedrooms. 10 mins from my daughter and 30 from my son via car. Glad they live close by after my 2 visits to A&E. Personally I like living next door to someone who has a dog. When they bark you can't tell which house they are in. Great alarm system.

Sazzl how are the puppies?

Off to Chester today. Should be fun. The Christmas market is on. Haven't been there for years. Yesterday at craft group the woman who runs it knitted us all a Santa tree decoration put it in a bag with a few chocs it was a lovely surprise.

Have a good day everyone.

Have spent an interesting couple of hours scrolling through the original board for these postings, right from when Craftyone put in her original post. So very interesting to see the journeys so many of us have had this year, fortunately, many of us with successful outcomes.
Note - on the way - people have popped in and out with a little of their own stories and do wonder how these people have done. So if any of the following still follow these postings, do tell how it is all working out for you -
HildaW, Marieeliz, Chewbacca, RiversideGirl, NanTopsy.
For those who feel they were put off by some of our on-going sagas, could I just say to them, that - YES - it is all very stressful - BUT - the final outcome for all of us who have moved - make it all so very worthwhile. I cannot emphasise how happy I am and glad that I persevered.
Mw - Good Luck - hopefully, you will soon be joining out happy band who have made the move

Mw = having close neighbours can be good, not bad in the way you list.
When I downsized 16 years ago I deliberately went into an inner-terrace 1930's built house (Small CLose of just 17 houses). During all that time, never had any disputes or problems with my neighbours.
Indeed, they were all wonderful. Lady on one side who insisted on giving me her mobile tel no, so that if I had any problems when out on my mobility scooter I could contact her for help, Lady otherside - who always took it on herself to ensure my flat roof over my utility room was kept clear of any growing bushes (I could not reach this area as I am forbidden to climb any ladders) . Wonderful young family opposite to whom I went in tears when my sale fell through so abruptly - and included me in her coffee morning with her friend and their young children. Each year there was a Close New Year party at someones house (we all provided food and drink)_. Bins were always put back for me in proper place on my frontage when I was not well. We were not the sort of neighbours who were constantly in and out of each others homes, but were there for each other when needed.
Having them so nearby gave me a wonderful sense of security.
Now settling happily in block of 25 flats I get the same sort of feeling. Built mid 80's of Weston stone, they are very solid and thick walls, no noise whatsoever from above or either side - yet in the foyer I can meet up with people and know that there are people near to me.
For myself, I would hate to live somewhere isolated. And, most people are lovely and helpful.
Never, ever experienced any of the problems with neighbours that you list above.
Hopefully, you will enjoy your house viewing and find something you like -or, at least, give you a good idea of what you are looking for. Do ensure you keep within your budget noting that you will almost definitely need some extra money to spend when you do move. Good Luck.
I would suggest involving your daughter in completing those forms. When I did mine I found it far less stressful to sit at the table with of my daughters, reading each question out loud and putting down answers and collecting paperwork (if I had it). Took a couple of hours and then I was able to put the whole lot in a large envelope and hand them over to the Solicitor. They will come back with further questions, but at least get this big one out of the way.
Will be good for your daughter to assist in this way and will also be an excellent life lesson for her for the future.

Whiff, my son took me to Chester last summer for the day, What a wonderful place that is - the Christmas Market there must be amazing.

I loved Chester when I visited a few years ago. I too can imagine a Christmas market would sit well there, though not as wonderful as the 58 Christmas markets Gregg Wallace visited in Vienna last night on TV.
mw you're right that going back to the London area would now be out of the question due to the soaring increases in house prices. As this will probably be your last move you do need to maximise your assets to the full as there will be no more chances to make any profit on property. Don't drop any lower, you've got to look after your own interests. Glad you've started sorting clothes. I found that relatively easy and it gave me the push to tackle the other things.

I used to live near Chester, did my shopping there. My sister still lives by there. Its a perfect atmospheric place for a christmas market and being NW will be happy and energising with lots of happy people

I am thinking I might put my bright red tablecloth onto my dining table this year. The first year that I have actually really felt like celebrating christmas but mostly celebrating solstice and the coming new year. It feel as though I have been energised after such a long time. New beginnings starting with the salvation army band in an outdoor concert in a couple of days

Morning all, the buyer withdrew by email last night.

The EA phoned him this morning and it seems the structural surveyor has quoted him a low end value price, once the work is done. He has also had ridiculous figures for quotes. The EA has compiled a list of house sales in the area to show him, but as my house is unique, it's value is difficult to assess. It's 2600 sq m, I think the surveyor has just worked on the price per sq m.

My daughter and I have had a discussion this morning and we are going to move out. I can just about afford it for a year if I'm careful, hopefully the house will sell at auction during that time for whatever price I can get. Desperate measures now I think.

I've found a rental locally that takes pets, and am going to view it with my daughter as soon as possible, the young lady that deals with it is off today and I wasn't able to secure it with the staff in the office, she's the only one that deals with it.

I am glad you have taken that decision mosaics, this needs to end. No words for that `buyer`

Oh dear. Carry on with the moving plan, it is what it is. Glad you might have found a rental locally.
Make sure the auction agent really advertises your property to the full. You never know who will be looking for a project and it only takes a couple of prospective buyers bidding to make the price rise considerably. These people will at least be serious about it, no more silly faffing about.

Thanks craftyone, I am glad I had you all to tell my woeful news. Sadly all about the profit to be made as a business investment, as the auction sale will be. I am sorry a family won't be living here. My friend who works at another branch of the EA was kind enough to phone me, so nice of her, she is so very busy. The mortgage valuer yestereday loved the house, but did make a face about the renovations. I made a mistake about the size - 2654 square feet, not metres!

I must rise above it and count my blessings today and text my friend who lost her stepson last year. I've known her for about forty years, and realised yesterday that I've never cooked her a meal - I found out she didn't like peas! Her late Mum used to feed me when I was starving in a bedsit, marvellous fry ups, yum! I'm sure I had her Mum's dinner too sometimes, they weren't wealthy.

I wish the young lady had been in today and I could have rented the house immediately, I have to phone at 9 am tomorrow. If I do get it, I can slowly move portable things in, and leave the things in the house I want to sell so it still looks like a 'home'. No more mad cleaning and going out at odd times, but I will still have to pay for gardening help.

Have a good day whatever you are doing - and thought of you yesterday Whiff, I bought a box of 'xmas' choc brownies to make! Hope your craft group enjoyed them!

Mosaic - I'm so sorry to hear that your buyer dropped out at this late stage. I'm glad you have another plan now.

So sorry to learn that your sale has collapsed -but it does seem to have galvanised you into action and a new plan. Probably auction for such a unique property is the best way to go, No need for you to care how that property is being used after you finally sell it. Do hope that the rental property is good for you and it gives you the time and chance to take full stock of everything.

So sorry to hear that news but going to auction sounds like a good idea. Hope 9am tomorrow goes well. xx

Does anyone know if things can be left in a property for auction? I have seen them on tv, full of stuff. I am only thinking that all the stuff that might be unsellable and not wanted, it might be a good idea to leave it there and that at least would mean a lot less carrying and shifting in the car. Maybe in that case, dedicate a room on each floor to stuff that you don`t want and cannot sell, just somewhere to shove stuff so you don`t have to keep moving it about

This is a torrid time for you mosaics and for your dd.

Thank you very much for all your constructive empathy.

Just had the boiler bill - a whopping £331 for the motor and pump, VAT adds such a lot doesn't it, I didn't expect it to be so much. Thankful boiler is working though, I have a horrible feeling we are going to get snow, very dark outside already, I've asked my daughter to ask if she can leave early to catch the local train. There must be five hundred crows on the field opposite the house, so hard for them to find food in this weather.

I've just phoned the local EA who deal with auctions, shame I've missed the December one which apparently is the busiest of the year. Hopefully I will get a call back this time, I did screw up my courage and phone a while ago and didn't hear anything. It's like flogging a dead horse, I am just so tired and disheartened, but am forcing myself to do things!

Mosaicwarts so sorry your sale fell through. But glad you have a plan of action. At least going to auction means it will sell and everything is dealt with quickly.

Had a great time in Chester the Christmas market was lovely. The wooden huts where by the cathedral. Hope the stall holders had heaters as it was very cold. Brought a dress with the help of my daughter. Last time I wore one was when I was in my late 20's. That's the advantage of now being a size 16 instead of a 32.

I often wondered to how the other movers were getting on in their new homes as well.

OMG! mosaics But as we all "hated" that "Buyer" anyway, I guess it was never going to be him.

Your decision to move out is sensible isn't it.

Be careful to drain the water before leaving - of course you will but I know of someone who didn't and the gable end of the house blew off when the first fire was lit as the pipes defrosted. That was the big freeze of 2010.
I'm cheerful as ever.

DD is house-hunting at present so I'm still looking on here to get tips! They have to move by the end of January and will have to put their house contents into storage.

mosaicwarts I am sending you big hugs. Have followed your story and felt for you. Will send good vibes and fingers crossed that you get the rental tomorrow.

The EA rang tonight and she has spoken to the buyer again - apparently he was able to speak to the mortgage company today, and they won't do anything until a damp/timber specialist report has been conducted. The EA have researched and supplied him with details of local PCA registered businesses, but I doubt he will follow them through.

If he does, I hope he appreciates how obliging I've been considering the time of year. I wonder if they'll check my christmas tree too ;) The auctioneer did phone me, lovely man - initial outlay to them for taking me on approx £90, and if I sell, 3 per cent plus VAT.

I need chocolate - double rations I think, as it's the night of the 'scary drive' and it's icy out there.