Help calm me, house buying and selling stress. Part 3

Jane10 that sounds lovely, we are lucky enough to have had an M&S open nearby, I will treat myself soon!

The wind here is really frightening, I can't escape it anywhere because of the open chimneys. I've got the door of the woodburner closed but the wind is battering the chimney, and the paper filled black sack in the coal fire chimney is being sucked up and down. Only eight more days, thank heavens!

Thanks for the septic tank warning craftyone, we had a dispute with our neighbour over the septic tank soakaway pipe, and I have the original plans. I've downloaded the rules, thank you for the link, although I seem incapable of understanding what I'm reading at the minute

I fancy some of that chocolate fondant pud Jane10 . Whatever the question, chocolate is the answer.
I have sent DH out for wine.

shandy, I really don`t want to scare you but you need to know this and tbh it is a huge reason to get this property of yours sold as quickly as possible at auction. It seems that some buyers never even view a property never mind having a surveyor so this could slip through and really it is `buyer beware`
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=6091815

You don`t need to declare this in the auction, just keep quiet and hurry the auction along as much as you can

My dd has an old septic tank and I would love to tell her but won`t because of the stress as they also have to pay a lot of money `out of the blue` to the tax people. They are not moving so ignorance is bliss right now

My friend who works for HMRC told me to always check their figures as they so frequently get them wrong!!
I wish this wind would die down. I've had to turn the subtitles on on the TV as I can't hear it over the wind roaring and the big windows creaking and whistling. ???.
On another note - I splashed out and had an M&S melting middle chocolate fondant pud last night. With unsweetened Greek yogurt. Sheer bliss. So many calories though. Wish I hadn't read the packaging. Ultimate comfort food.

I think I told you all in 2017 I was upset my husband's pension company didn't tax me correctly, and I had to set up a three year 'repayment plan' for the £1K I owed.

I was upset late last year to discover the 'plan' had not been implemented, so I still owed the money.

Now I've had a letter from HMRC saying I owe them £3K! I know I can't possibly owe them that, so rang. I was determined to wait for my call to be answered, 32 minutes later I was put through and the young lady said 'oh yes, I can see what's happened, you phoned in the figures as well as the bank and building society, they've duplicated the figures, I can't change it but will get it referred.

It obviously happens regularly, she didn't seem at all perturbed by it Shocking maladministration. Is that a word?

Thanks for the tip craftone about the damp. I've got the damp seal paint, roofer recommended I get it after the roof repair, I painted the ceiling that had been leaked on.

Sadly I can't hide this, the plaster is blown and falling off, it's so bad the electric cable to the plug is exposed too. The surveyor who oversaw the annexe conversion had the platform floor raised to accommodate the plumbing/electrics, so it is rising damp due to the level difference.

I'm comfort eating tonight, finding this wait for news unbearable.

Gale force winds out there so might have to sleep on the sofa, but at least it's not as cold.

hang onto that bright side grammaretto, I firmly believe that fate has a hand in everything we do and shandy, good about your finances, about them not being as bad as you thought. We are a glass half full group.

That damp in the annexe needs hiding, dilute bleach and or damp proofing paint . Bicarb in a tray will help absorb scent of damp

Fingers firmly Xed for you Shandy
Thanks for the empathy.
My mini kitchen is arriving next week so if the worst happens and the wee family are homeless at least my tiny emergency flat will be ready.
I've just been to see the film, personal history of David Copperfield. It was really very good.
I only fell asleep once.

I am sorry to read that Grammaretto, but the sale may fall through, all is not lost yet. I'm looking at the House Buying, Selling and Renting forum on moneysavingexpert. some people on there are having the most dreadful time.

I'm just pottering around putting things in boxes. I pulled out the chest of drawers in the annexe bedroom and the damp in there is becoming worse.

I still haven't heard anything from the buyer, it will be two weeks tomorrow when I forwarded the damp report email. I am feeling very impatient now, I just want to know if someone could get a mortgage.

I am feeling a bit better about my finances as I've looked back at my original meeting with the IFA and seem to have spent as he predicted to year three. The costs of helping my son and daughter, plus the emergency repairs to the house, has scared me. I would rather help my kids whilst I'm here.

I wanted to let you all know Downton Abbey is finally out on DVD - I've just ordered it from Argos for my aunt. Hopefully she'll be in and I won't get the moaning about the walk to the post office!

Grammaretto we have all felt like that on here. When everything was going wrong with the sale of my house I thought the Rightmove advert with the old man was mocking me. Foolish I know. Hang in there your DD will find a new home. Put my house on the market March 2018 finally moved August 2019. Unfortunately it takes a long time to buy and or sell .

DD's hopes dashed as ea says vendor has accepted a reasonable offer. Viewings tomorrow cancelled.
Why do we get the feeling the world is against us!
I'm trying to llook on the bright side. It wasn't meant to be.

Thanks Whiff, I have got a few of those somewhere, but have lost the 'clip' you slide along to close them. I've filled the big boxes they supplied with my bedding instead, I've now crossed off lots of things so hopefully will be acceptable. I had originally said 'bags of bedding'.

I am worried about the corona virus spreading, people can be very self interested and tell lies to avoid the inconvenience of quarantine etc. When we had foot and mouth here in 2000, a casual worker knew he'd been on a farm with it, but as he needed the money hid the fact and worked on my friend's farm. He was ousted and all her sheep were SOS - shot on suspicion. I was horrified at the way the men were dealing with it, unfortunately I was on a school bus with the children coming back from their swimming lesson. A dreadful time for all

Having something with brown and orange lumps out of the freezer, hope it's homemade chili!

I used those same bags whiff, especially good for fluffy things like pillows and duvets but not with feathers which can be broken. I keep woollen things in those bags now, keeps them safe from moths

I have to be honest, I was trying to run food stocks down but have decided to add to them, things that will keep a long time. Me, I am always belt and braces and prepared for anything. This time I am ready to hunker down, to avoid crowded places and buses etc

Breaking news
www.express.co.uk/news/world/1235146/coronavirus-latest-news-world-health-global-emergency-who-human-transmission-update

We studied pandemics and they escalate very fast after what seems like a slow increase at the start

Good news re council tax Craftyone.

Shandy57 I used some bags I got from Lakeland. Once fastened you use a vac and suck the air out. They are brilliant. Do different sizes..

ha ha craftyone, have another peek at those buty boots!
I'm band D and saw Martin Lewis's recommendation to check your council tax band, but no point here as nothing to compare me to in my post code. The 'railway cottages' alongside me are band A or B, I won't be reduced to that.

Not having a nice day here, it is so very cold, I put the heating on early today. I burnt the top of my index finger on the fire months ago, it's turned into a really itchy chilblain or a chap, so sore.

My daughter came home at lunch time to pack her things, but only wants me to take her bed down to the cottage with me now. She has sorted out lots of clothes for charity and ebay selling. I'm not looking forward to trying to make the house look good for the auction viewings, just the grandfather clocks going has made it look very odd. I'm sure I'll find some inspiration later, just a horrible process. I did discipline myself when I was packing all the photo albums, I only looked at a couple.

She has just driven herself to the gym in her new car, glad I've had a text saying she's arrived safely, first time she's driven in a year. I did get her refresher lessons in 2017, but she hasn't driven here since, just a bit of quiet country road automatic driving in NZ this summer with her ex boyfriend. Saves me running it around today to keep the battery going, I'll be doing it tomorrow.

Off to try to squeeze a gallon into a pint pot - why is bedding so big and squashy even when you fold it perfectly!

How mean Franbern. When we appealed, the valuer came out to inspect. Can you try again? It is a nonsense if the houses are identical, surely.

I put an appeal in for lower band at my house when my next door neighbour, and the one next door to them told me they were on one band lower. Amazingly, this still got refused..... the other side, had not appealed, and that was the one they used as an example to refuse me.

That's a brilliant turn up for the books craftyone.
We appealed, and won, our very high band when we first moved here. It seemed ridiculous that a castle worth millions was the same band because they counted the number of rooms, I think. We have a lot of rooms but several of them are not lived in. are big cupboards It's a one off house so they couldn't compare with others similar.
We are so glad we are on a lower band because the rate has gone steadily up over the years. We would have benefited from the hated poll tax which charged every adult.

Crafty that's just FAB!!! Well done the new owner (actually, they owe you one after the stunts they pulled when they were buying it lol)

Thrilled for you - you should treat yourself with your unexpected windfall

my grapevine tells me that the person who bought my house has applied for lower council tax banding and she has been given it, she appealed because her last house in the same district was at the same banding and was very much bigger. I applied many moons ago and was refused it but had nothing I could appeal with

This applies in retrospect and the council tells me that I am on file to be notified and be refunded as soon as they get the official notification. I believe that it will be over £3000. Not counting any chickens yet but she did cheack the last 4 digits of my bank account

wow

newnanny, well done - but I am astonished that both you and the vendor managed to find solicitors that worked that quickly, dealing with all the searches, etc. Most delays in property purchase does seem to be down to these people.
Estate Agents are instructed by, and work for, the vendors - NOT the purchasers.
Shandy -I must say that I have never come across any EA contract which allows them to charge for so long - they usually ask for a contract for something like three months, as soon as they period is over, then any contractural arrangement with them is finished. Back in the long distant past we had our house on the market for three months, did not get suitable offer and took it off. A month later a man knocked at the door, saying he had seen the For Sale sign previously, and asked if it was still for sale. He agreed the purchase that day and we agreed to share 50\50 what would have been the cost of the EA fees and were now no longer needing to be paid. Perhaps things have changed now, but both in 2018 and 2019 I signed for Sole Agency arrangements (a different agent each year), and each time it was just for three months. So, do read through the agreement you signed with care - you have said in the past that your solicitor is a neighbour, might be a good idea to ask his advice on this.

Shandy 57 I think the EA agreement will mean that if you sell to anyone they previously introduced within 2 years you will be liable for their fees. This seems an extremely long time to me, most agreements are for six or so months after withdrawal. I would hate for this buyer to buy it at auction and for you to be presented with two lots of fees. You need to check.

I do think that is a very unlikely scenario though, as he seems very tight on funds. You need a buyer who has a large amount of cash and is not so dependent on the mortgage provider. I do feel for you Shandy, it is all so stressful.

I can add that not all sales have to take a long time. i bought a 3 bedroom house from lady who's husband had died a year earlier and she wanted to sell at once but sensibly waited a year in case she changed her mind. She was moving in with hr daughter who livec about 1 hour drive away. I went to see house as soon as itcwas put on to market, liked it so put in offer forcfull asking price dependent on survey. The lady had three other viewinfs booked for later in week but cancelled them as accepted my ofer. Survey came back fine. I compked on house five weeks and three days after first viewing. Vendor and I both compleded all paperwork and returned by post. Very easy purchase and I yook some cuttings of fushias she had in garden as her husband had grown them for her and she mentioned she would miss garden. She was very pleased with little cuttings to plant at her daughters garden. Buying and selling does not have to be fifficult if both vendor and buyer motivated and no chain.

shandy, I am thinking of a formal letter to the EA, signed for and sent by post. Give the date on which you accepted the offer, the fact that the buyer has not started any legal proceedings to buy. Tell the EA that in view of the time lapse that you are giving them x days in which to get the legal process rolling. If it has not started legally then you will withdraw from the agency as they have not acted in your best interests

Obviously I cannot think of the correct words here but your EA must be pinned down so that you can leave without incurring any fees. Thay have not done the job contracted to do. There must be a sample letter somewhere online, perhaps someone else here can help with the legal language

I get very cross on your behalf Shandy. I think we all do. You have been and are still being Messed Around.
The market is soon about to wake up. I am getting rightmove alerts daily so surely that means other prospective purchasers will appear or auction goers. If this so called buyer can't come up with the funds he shouldn't be encouraged.
His finances should not be your business anymore. You have plenty of your own to consider.

Meanwhile DD has seen that a house she looked at and liked months ago and was told was under offer, is back on the market at £40k less. Why were they not told by EA?? You do wonder who the EAs are working for.

I may look at it today if I hurry up and make my marmalade. I think I have bought a mini kitchen for my spare room. There was one reduced and I can't resist a bargain.
If DD somehow buys the house - it is a project so she will need to stay here, at least temporarily, from March.

Morning craftyone, I was going to move into the rental and recalibrate (thought you'd like that word as a techy!) in Feb, planned on the March auction. I still have to give the EA notice, the contract seems to imply I will still need to pay them if I sell within two years! Will be looking at it properly later, I'm reading without understanding at the moment, stress levels are too high. I look forward to the day I'm pottering around my herb garden, without a care in the world

Enjoy your new blinds, the back of our house faces west and the sunshine in the summer is blinding. I feel guilty you've cleaned and dusted already, I'm not even dressed!