Help calm me. house buying and selling stress. Part 5

My experience with EAgents - not just over the past few years, but back 17 years ago when I sold the big family house, was that they really want you to sign up to them being the sole agent (lower fee paid), so give you a very inflated valuation.

Then, once they put it on the market - if they do strike lucky, then wonderful for all, but usually this does not happen, so after about three or four weeks they come back to you saying the amount is far too high and lowering it. Efffectively, you lose that first month AND it never looks really good to see on rightmove those words ' Reduced on....'

As I say this happened even all those years back, I had kept a close eye on local prices and was astonished when the agents were thirty grand above that. When they came to me with that spiel it got reduced to the exact amount I had first said I thought it should be - and it sold quickly.

This time around, the second time I actually pushed the agents to market it a lower price than they wished, still felt it was too high (and it was), no offers, reduced a lot, but it was too late.

It was interesting that last year I told the E.Agents the price I was not willing to go below (a reasonable one), they marketed it and the agents I from the previous year came to me saying they would easily sell it at that price if I went with them!!! But, they had blown their chance the year previous.

So, I priced it towards the lower end of what I knew it could get, despite would-be purchasers messing me about, each time one fell through a new purchaser came within a few days and I the offer that went through finally, was virtually at the price I had requested.

This morning I have a zoom U3A coffee morning, then this afternoon my daughter will come over to use my internet to hold her weekly team meeting (whilst she is still employed at the local college), then stay on for a meal (Tuesday evenings was always our time together).

I most disturbed that my younger g.children are all very unhappy - even in floods of tears - that they will not be able to have any return to their schools (they are all primary aged three in year 5, and one in year 4). Going to school, particularly at that age, is so much more than about education - note that the United Nations Rights of the Child include the Right to Education. Ours will have been denied this for six months by September. And it is nothing to do with having lessons on line or not - it is about so much else. Amazing that shops can open, McDonalds and Primark can have queues, but we cannot get all the nations children back into even as much as half a day schooling per week. And, I know some parents will not want their children to go to school and nobody should force them at this time, but there are many other parents who really want this to happen.

Oh Franbern I expressed those identical thoughts on a different thread. Our poor grandchildren, they need to see their friends again now and get back some routine. It did occur to me that in future there may well be a turnaround in attitude for many, and going to school will be seen as a treat and a pleasure, no more moaning about homework and exams!
I dread to think how many EAs we have instructed throughout our various moves. They all have the same old tactics and spiel. Luckily our very new neighbours who had just moved in gave us advice on EAs from a buyers' perspective. Although they didn't buy through the one they recommended he really was by far the best in pricing and making things happen. As buyers they said they could never get hold of Purple Bricks to make appointments.

I always think that you should get 3 EAs around and get an average, however you do need to do your own research, it’s too costly too just go with what an Agent tells you.
It’s all about making yourself do some homework not only on the selling side but the buying side as well.
It amazes me that on TV the house buying programmes the presenter often says “well the agent has said that he is sure the owners will take less than the asking price” I wouldn’t be happy if that was my Agent.
Re the schools, my 2 GCs can’t go back as their half sister is having Chemo, but they are well provided with work and zoom lessons at home, thank goodness for Broadband!

Yes, Ooopsadaisy that silly comment always grates on me. But my favourite one is Phil Spencer's "full asking price, but take it off the market now". It does work as a tactic, anyone in a strong position is entitled to say that.
Glad your GC have each other for company and support.

Morning all, overcast again here.

Tanith, I echo others on here. In the end a house is only worth what a buyer will pay for it.

Look very carefully at the past selling prices for houses comparable to yours, check if you have extras which may command more ie downstairs toilet, garage etc.

My whole selling journey was affected by my belief that my house was worth £600K fully renovated - two out of three EA's said this. I rue the day they said this, just sales blurb.

Oopsadaisy3 I also disapprove of the house buying programmes saying this, it makes a farce of it all.

Re schools, I really feel for the children. I was born with a squint and missed lots of school when I had the op, it's a horrible feeling not seeing your friends.

Enjoy your day whatever you are doing

It is to do with concerns about the viral load ie number of virus in a confined space without airflow ie the typical classroom. Outdoors is very much safer. The bigger the viral load the worse the consequences and adults are very much the targets for very severe illness.

Schools are back here and there has been several cases from about 4 or 5 schools in Victoria since.
On the other side though my GS went back to school three weeks ago but the rest of the family were still at home. Son working from home but 6 yo GS struggled at school because he felt the rest of the family were doing things without him. It is complicated times indeed.

I took my daughter’s car out yesterday for its battery boost drive - funny noise from the tyre. Got back and tyre flat ? Got up this morning and Ive got a nail in my car’s tyre! Sitting at garage waiting for new tyre to be fitted. I can’t believe my bad luck!

Nails in tyres do seem to be just one of those things. At my last house, twice that happened to me as I drove of my own driveway. No idea where those nails/large screws came from.
Shandy, there is something called a trickle charger which goes onto the front windowscreen of a car, plugs into socket in there and keeps battery charge up in a car which is not being used much. Think Craftyone had something like this. Might be worth getting one they are not expensive, and would save you having to take your daughters car out at all.

Had my zoom coffee meet-up, posted birthday card to g.daughter, been to ATM, spent an hour on my Futurelearn course, had lunch and am now waiting now for daughter to come over for a few hours.

Children have to return to school sometime, really we cannot wait for a vaccine, which might never happen, otherwise they could be out of school for years!!!! Perhaps improvements in testing, and all teachers to be tested weekly. but we really must get the schools properly open as quickly as possible.

Despite so many gloomy prophecies of behaviors that were going to lead to a new spike (V day celeb rations, going to the beach, demos, etc. etc.) it is good to see the death rate really starting to diminish now. I realise that is due to all sorts of reasons, but not the least is that there is much improvements in the medical knowledge as how to treat those with this virus.

But, think that our nations children and young people need to the priority now - back to school, learning once again how to socialise, so many of them are now terrified of being anywhere near to anyone else.

Thanks for the info on the trickle charger Franbern, I remember craftyone mentioning it now

New tyre on and I'm now £80 out of pocket because of a tiny nail, honestly! No idea what my daughter's new tyre will cost, it was about £50 last time. But needs must, I wouldn't be able to live here without the car. I went to put diesel in afterwards and looked for the gloves … the cashier beckoned me over and said they were kept in the office now, people had been stealing whole boxes of them. Honestly, some of society is a disgrace, what is going on in these people's minds.

The tyre place is near a huge second hand bookshop, luckily for me they opened yesterday. I had to wear plastic gloves, and did have my mask, and dogs are allowed so I spent a pleasant hour, almost alone, perusing the shelves. I had taken in books during decluttering and had £40 credit, so was enjoying the fact whatever I chose would be 'free'. I've treated myself to 'Trains and Buttered Toast', broadcasts by John Betjeman, he waxed lyrical about several seaside towns, including Sidmouth, in the early fifties. So romantic, I'm enjoying it! He'd be horrified to visit now. Sidmouth Community page isn't inspiring, I do think I'm going to have to lighten up about crime.

Enjoy your afternoon. I have the tv on for company and love the little Father Brown drama, the clothing is fabulous! Oh to have a waist again!

There's crime and there's crime Shandy. Before we left London there was a violent attempted contract killing in the next road, the door on the mini Sainsbury's next to the tube was smashed weekly, cars were stolen from drives, there were drugs raids and all this in an area of £1million+ houses. As a child we lived next door to Ross McWhirter who was shot on his doorstep by the IRA, once again in a posh area, and later my best friend a GP was murdered in the road by a suitor she rejected. As shocking and tragic as all these things were, they never really frightened me and I lived alongside them with no fear for my safety, mainly because they were all targeted crimes and went with the territory.
What does scare me, however, especially as I get older are volatile situations which get out of control, irrational behaviour and random theft causing bodily harm (like handbag snatching). This can happen in a quiet country village or in a beautiful coastal resort just as much as in a town.
You can look up crime statistics for areas where you are looking to move to. It shows the types of crimes and even the roads I believe. Try not to let it get to you too much.

Shandy you could just get the tyre mended. I drove over two screws last year and was able to get them mended, took very little time while I waited. Much cheaper than a new tyre.

The nail was stuck in the outer rim unfortunately midgey, couldn't be fixed. I've been going to this man for over ten years and don't think he was taking advantage of me.

yes it depends where the nail is. I have had a screw in mine twice and both times was lucky and it was fixed for £25

Gosh I am zonked, it happens from time to time and I didn`t sleep well last night, shoulders again, every time I do some carrying. This means the rest of today and tomorrow will be rest days. Maybe it is the impending rain and air pressure but I have just taken some ibrufen and know I will be pain free soon.

My trickle charger plugs into a normal socket in the garage and I have to have the bonnet up. You connect to the red terminal first then the negative connection connects to somewhere on the cars chassis and then you switch on. Make sure that the connection is on bare metal and not painted metal

My daughters trickle charger was charged off the cigarette lighter type thing in the car, and also was a solar power one, so sunlight also charged it. Approx £15. few years back. They used it a lot when they had a small home caravan type thing so there were various items that used the vans electricity.

Trying to make some arrangements for a few weeks time to try to see my younger g.children. Hoping we can find an interim place where they can go from the south coast and we can get to from here. Then, of course, we have to hope for dry weather so we can meet in a park.

Back home after my weekly Sainsbury shop, all sorted out and put away and I also had to fill up my car after its trip to London and back last weekend. Previous to this time, I always sat around at home on the morning I was going shopping, often not actually getting out until about tenish, then by the time I got home and unpacked, all the morning had gone. This 'oldies' hours has made me get up and out early. I am hoping I have the strength of character to keep this going when rules start to relax and I can go shopping whenever I wish.

This afternoon I will be visiting my local curtain shop, hopefully to select materials for both my living room windows and for my bedroom blind and drapes.

Isn't it wonderful, that science has so very quickly started to find help with this virus!!!! Brilliant news, and a real hope for the not too distant future. Perhaps, we can even start to believe that real normal will maybe return with 12-18 months,

Shandy - at least it was only a nail. I recently ran over something at the side of the road and wrecked both near side tyres, necessitating the AA, a tow to our local garage, and a hefty bill. Not a good day.

Like others, I take the car on the scenic route to the supermarket once a week, a round trip of about twelve miles, which keeps the battery charged. Gives me a little time on my own as DH can’t come to the supermarket and helps keep the car on the road. What’s not to like?

Morning all, foggy again and spitting here. So marvellous having this laptop as I'm out in the garden, I had to have the old one plugged in all the time, as well as the additional keyboard!

My daughter rang yesterday, looks like she'll be coming over for the car in mid July. She's moved into a nice house, her room seems larger than her last one. I talked about Devon and thank you Ellianne, I do think Exmouth is better because of the railway station, I just liked the romance of the Byes - she has a few friends in Exeter and is excited for me. I've changed my rental search to Exmouth now.

Something nice has happened! The council rang and are sending a 'team' to collect my green bin, as it was left last week. I'm really thankful as it does pong, cat food packets.

Photographing and putting books on ebay today, my friend recommended I use Collect+ to post them.

I seem to be going to bed later and later, I've only been up half an hour, must get back to some sort of routine.

Have a good day everyone

Sounds a busy day there Shandy, I’m with you on the getting up late and not sleeping, I think it is the weird times we are living in.

I do try to keep to my normal (pre-lockdown) daily routine, with regards to going to bed, getting up and times of my meals. Think this does help to me me focussed,.

My landline suddenly rang - unusual - but there was an automated voice informing me that they were from my 'credit company; and had noted a £600 withdrawal 15 minutes ago being sent to another country. Got as far as them telling me to press '1' before I rung off.

Obviously, did go on-line to check both my credit card account and bank account, Equally obviously no such transaction had been attempted. Sure, if I had pressed '1' I would have been asked for all sorts of information.

Thought I had better still inform my credit card company of this attempted scam phone call, and, when I did I noted that I had never actually updated my records with them with my current landline number, they still had my London one. So, the scammers are not so very clever are they??

Does give a little fright, but thanks to having everything on line I was able to re-assure myself very quickly.

I do remember some years back, when my card was really fraudently used, and the credit card company got in touch with me so quickly to check these transaction, and sort it all out for me very painlessly. It is since then that I have made a habit of checking that account several times each week,

Exemouth is lovely, Shandy, friends of mine from London moved there few years back and I have visited them on several occasions. They have visited me in this flat (just prior to Lockdown), as it is an very easy, less than an hour, drive for them. Sometime, later this year I hope to visit them.

Exmouth beach Shandy is a dog's paradise. (Photo just before lockdown). A nice town.
If you give us your list of must haves I'm sure a couple of interested people on here can help you on your way. I'm embarrassed to say I lived in Exmouth, and Exton, Exminster, Exeter - old houses, modern houses - ......... such a rolling stone gathering no moss. My friend used to say I moved house every time the curtains needed washing.
Hope you get a visit to the Devon seaside soon Franbern. The cliffs in the distance go round to Dawlish Warren and beyond.

Exmouth, lovely choice

I had to go out in the car and passed 2 real roma travellers with their round caravans with 2 beautiful coloured ponies grazing by the side of the road, it did lift my heart. I am so glad that we still have some of the genuine roaming people of old here. They did have a good horse lorry nearby, not a flash one, just one in good order and big enough to shelter the two ponies at night. Maybe someone local lent it to them. They could not go to the traditional place, it has been taken over by the hippy brigade with filthy broken down caravans, you do not get genuine travelling people like that, they take good care of their lovely transport

Big cheers for DH and I this morning as our solicitor rang to say we have exchanged on our bungalow in Bury St Edmunds to day. We move in on the 22nd. We went to see it the day before lockdown, both really liked it, the agent agreed a price for us with the vendor. So from then on everything was rather difficult because solicitors etc were working from home, but eventually it all came together. We were so relieved because our house sold very quickly and there was gazumping on a previous property we liked so we pulled out. I know we couldn’t have done it without the help of our children, they have done so much. It’s about 10 minutes from DD1 who is looking forward to helping us choose new furniture. Roll on next Monday.

That's exciting millymouge, time to pack up those last bits and then off you go. Keep us all posted with the removals and your new property. I saw Bury St Edmunds on a property show recently. It looked nice, Suffolk isn't it?

Oh how very exciting for you, millymouge. On top of all the normal stress over these past few months, you have had that added one. Good to hear it has worked out well for you.

I know Bury st Edmund, (I would not say well, but ran some courses at the gymnastic club there few years back and was always hosted by the owners of that). We would spend ages just gossiping and would walk her dog very late at night still gossiping!!!

Busy week coming up for you, but be lovely to be in your new home with plenty of the summer still to enjoy. Do keep us all up to date as to how things go.

I have now ordered all my curtains, rails, blind etc. etc. Now trying to find a matching border for living room walls. Approx four weeks for these curtains to be made and then hung. Cost a fortune, but I am sure I am going to delighted with them.