Help calm me. House buying and selling stress. Part 6

Teetime, what a shoddy thing to happen to you, gutting is not strong enough a word, Its the whole re-wind back to viewings and keeping clean, this is so stressful. What a dreadfil system we have in this country

I have had a super productive and happy morning, got to meet with another lovely widow and did masses of garden clearing and chopping. I also carefully transplanted 2 baby nettles, they are so beneficial in the garden and I have the perfect shady space for them

Winter flour came, I have to order it because I use mainly wholemeal spelt and rye. All safely packed in airtight boxes and stacked in the garage in the dark.

Oh dear Teetime, this is the nightmare we all dread when selling. So sorry, it shouldn't be allowed. All you can do is to pick yourself back up and get your agent to find a new buyer asap.
Once sold, the stress dissipates quite quickly, but just occasionally the odd scary memory crops up. Our dd's move was a far less complicated chain than ours though coronavirus threw in some more challenging issues. Like what if London went into lockdown, what if anyone got sick and had to quarantine? Their builder was great and once they had exchanged he carried out all their requirements in 10 days. It does all come together in the end. I swear we could collectively write a great house-moving book, followed by a few chapters on purchases for our new homes.

Teetime, I'm sorry you lost your buyer. It's so awful when it happens. It's so common - happened to me as well.
Franbern, I'm glad your bathroom is going so well. I wish I had had such a clean worker when I had my bathroom done at my last house.
Shandy, I'm sorry Kent is not for you after all your effort but at least you know that you don't feel comfortable there.

Just killing the last half hour before bed, tv is very dull again and I`ll doze if I read

The three unsold houses on my development are now sold sstc, very exciting news. There are no more houses ready for occupation, 4 more are in process of being built. Prices have gone up

Teetime sorry your buyer has pulled out. Hearing stories like this make me so pleased that under our system that could not happen without a substantial consequence for the purchaser.
We have a binding contract with a date for settlement done at the time a purchaser accepts an offer. Everyone then knows what the time frame is and can plan for that date.
There is enough stress in any system but I'm sure the system you have makes buying and selling homes much more stressful.
Fingers crossed it will all come together for you soon.

Thank you for your kind comments. Viewings have started again but I was a bit surprised that the first one yesterday billed as Mr X looking for an investment turned up with his wife and three small children in tow- no masks, nothing and they weren't looking for an investment but were out looking 'for a nice house but I am fussy' said Mrs X- exasperating!!!

Teetime I found some viewers awful. Don't know what comes over some people. They become monsters. When people viewed my house I had a no shoe past the porch rule. Some on here didn't agree but until exchange it was my house. My estate agent told all viewers that . So I had no problems. Also as I lived on my own asked for no more than 2 adults at a time. Only let my eventual buyers after accepted their offer to bring the young woman's parents. They were all very nice.

If you want adults to wear masks tell your estate agent and they will let viewers know that is what is expected. In the present climate that is not an unrealisable request.

Wish you all the best for future viewings.

I sent my tax papers off and am going to be so neat next year, I won`t know myself. All those notes I wrote in my little notebook, so confusing months after writing. I couldn`t fathom my writing. I closed 4 accounts between 19/20 because I used them all to keep my house money safe ie in separate accounts. I have made notes for next year, capitals and not double writing. 2 of them have added interest to be declared next year for 20/21. It will be simpler next year

It has taken me all morning and is pouring down. Shandy will be home tonight, good

Whiff - my agents insisted on no shoes when viewing my house. I hadn't even thought about it. I'm not a shoes off person but had just put down new carpet so it was a good idea. I admit I hated it in the only house I viewed that insisted on shoes off. I find it painful walking on wooden floors without shoes and difficult to do up my laces again when putting shoes back on without anywhere to sit.

Evening all, great to catch up with your news.

I left Kent at 1.30 pm and got back here at 7.30 pm, it's so very wet here and was getting dark outside the train windows at 6.00 ish because of the storm clouds. Passenger assistance at Kings X was great, I wouldn't have been able to get on without the customer services agent, the 'lazuma' train is so streamlined there is a huge gap. I was scared to get off too, but the step was big enough. Puss cat is OK, collecting my dog at 9 am tomorrow so don't have to go out again tonight, thankfully. I must buy some slippers, my feet are cold, too lazy to go upstairs for socks.

I am glad I managed to see the majority of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate from the Loop bus, as well as walking around. I did 18000 steps a day and think I got a good feel for the place, so glad I had the chance to have a look around and cross it off my list of 'possibles'. I had a good time in the Turner, and eventually found the Shell Grotto, underground tunnels decorated with 4.6 m UK shells. When I went down the stairs as the ground sloped downwards I suddenly got the screaming ab dabs at being enclosed, but was determined to see it - absolutely beautiful. It was discovered in 1835, and to this day, no-one knows who made this marvellous place.

My two house viewings were during the height of the storm, I did ask if they'd like shoes off as it was so wet. Both vendors were very pleasant . I gave nice feedback to both EA's and asked them to take me off their books.

I'm going to relax over the weekend and spend next week packing all my bric a brac.

I'm having my first soup of the year now, and a cornetto and the rest of 'The Fall' on Netflix. Stay warm and dry!

PS I've just had my review from my Airbnb owner - she said I'm the best guest they've ever had! Isn't that nice

You must be very weary shandy, a couple of days rest is needed. Welcome back

Shandy57 glad you got home safely. That was nice of the Airbnb owner to say that. Look I've tried via PM's to help you. So I will say it here. Stop packing and seriously looking for new home. Wish you had someone to say this to you face to face. You are wasting time. I know you want to go south. But from what you have said time and time again money is tight. Can you really hand on heart say you can afford prices in the south. Not just the purchase of your home but day to day living expenses.

If you can honestly say you can and afford up to £30 to get the home as you want it. As many of us who have moved have said the first year just eats money. I will shut up.

The some of the bungalows I mention have gone. But there are plenty of others that haven't and more are coming on the market plus houses . Will you at least look and research the areas I mentioned. I do have your best interest at heart. I would hated for you to still be in your rented accommodation at Christmas. You need and deserve your own home. A place were you can find peace. How much did this trip cost you and to be honest it was wasted money.

Before any of you jump up and down saying I shouldn't have said what I have some have of you have already tried but not as bluntly as me.

Shandy57 be honest with yourself. Get a pen and paper and work out your finances. You are only a year older than me. You say you get a private pension but it will be years before getting your state. I will shut up now.

Shandy, Whiff is right you do need to put your skates on and go looking seriously if you ant o buy your own home. I know that is is easy to become complacent while you are renting. We are in exactly the same position. I am very comfortable where we are and really need to remind myself sometimes that this place is a mere stop on our journey.
I understand that it is easier for me as I'm not doing it o my own, however, in some cases that can make a decision harder too.

If we were able we would be out looking at houses every weekend but with our lock down -no inspections and only allowed to travel 5 kilometers from home - we cannot do that and nothing is coming on the market. In spite of our lock downs which have been in place to some degree now since April we have managed to do inspections of 8 houses as well as numerous rentals.

We have, hopefully, just another 3 weeks of the current restrictions and fingers crossed that in house inspections will then be allowed and together with the Spring weather we will be able to seriously look again.

You are the only one that can choose what and where you buy but everyone on here who have given suggestions have done so with your interest in mind.

I always had a large box of those overshoes disposable shoe coverings - so if anyone coming to my house did not wish to take off their shoes, they could just use a couple of these. The are several reasons why people may not wish to take off shoes, and these enable them to keep them on, and still protect carpets, etc in the property.
Shandy, do agree with what Whiff wrote. What did you not like about Kent? Packing can take place when you know WHEN and WHERE you are moving to. You have until the end of March next year to COMPLETE on a property purchase in order to get the Stamp Duty Free bonus - finding your new property should be number one priority every day.
Would, once again, emphasise how much money is spent that first year in new property and do think that something like twenty to thirty grand should be allocated for this purpose. If it is not spent - wonderful, you will just have that much more in your savings.
Whereas, property prices down south are, undoubtedly, more expensive than up north - do not think that living costs are necessarily any different. In fact, heating costs in warmer South can be a lot less.
Have you actually sat down and really worked out how much money you have for your purchase? - and also do not forget that every month you pay rental it is that much less you have.
Yesterday, was a fraught day with my bathroom. I had to go to hospital for a 9 00 am x-ray appointment. Arranged for my daughter to be contacted so that she could let them into my flat. (The Residents Association, strongly disaproves of us giving out the main front door (high security) key to workmen). Got back by 9.30 and there were two of them there. They finally left at 6.15 that evening!!!
Changed all the radiator valves for controllable ones ( of course needed to drain down the system for that). Got bath plumbed in, took down large radiator in spare bedroom and replaced with small one. One went off the collect all the tiles and the laminate. Felt that every room in the flat was involved. Did manage to make a couple of Chola loaves of bread ready for weekend.
When they left noticed I had missed a couple of calls on my mobile, from people I really wished to have a chat with - when I was at the hospital I had put it on Vibrate, and forgotten to change it back to ring...........Silly me.. So, spent most of evening catching up with those people.
Plumber were so good, they have put the loo back in the bathroom, so that my daughter can use that at night - and have stacked EVERYTHING ELSE, all the boxes of tiles, etc. etc. back in there, much of it in the bath (I gave them an old blanket to put down there to protect it. So the spare bedroom is completely clear now.
They are not sure if any of them are coming in this morning - the tilers are due in on Tuesday. Then the electrician has to return to finish off his work. Will be good when it is finished.
Hope you all have a good Bank Holiday weekend - shame the weather forecast is not good

there is one bungalow in exmouth at 230 but it looks as though it needs updating and lots of overdue maintenance. Note also the `hidden` line of leylandii on the side of the garden. A row of young leylandii next door once made me say no to a brand new build lovely bungalow, I was the first viewer and I walked away after viewing.

The other houses are terraced and/or in built up areas that quite honestly look as though they could be full of children/teenagers/youths. Some look as though they are ex-rental as many landlords are giving up due to restrictions. Those ex-rental are called re-furbished, a lick of paint usually and a new cheap carpet

Sigh, I have to say that I don`t want to add to worries shandy.

You can do this Shandy, the obstacles aren't that insurmountable and everyone here will give you a helpful push from different directions.
So, Exmouth. That bungalow crafty mentions is not in the right place. You need to look around the Avenues and any roads off, like Cyprus, Stevenstone etc. All this is a nice area ... trees, easy walk to beach and shops, buses, health centre. There are many beautiful large houses which have been converted into flats. There are also purpose built flats. I wouldn't discount a ground floor one with a bit of garden space. The beach would be your main playground. Alternatively, going over towards the A376 is good because you have estuary views and the bus and train into Exeter.
Exmouth is cheaper than Sidmouth, Budleigh and Lympstone unless you would consider a little cottage in somewhere like East Budleigh or Woodbury. Otterton is the prettiest of all villages, but expensive and not easy for transport other than by car.
Oops I'll shut up now too because I am sounding like a guide book.
Good luck!

Shandy - I am curious as to what it was you did not like about Broadstairs. Was it the gut feeling that the feel or atmosphere of the place wasn't you or was there something specific? It would be easier for other people to make suggestions for you if they know.
Personally, I like Broadstairs. I like walking along the promenade at Viking Bay and sitting by the harbour. I'm not so keen on Margate or Ramsgate.

Landlords bought up larger properties in Exmouth several years ago to rent to students. Rolle Teacher Training College used to be there and became part of the Plymouth University camous located in Exmouth. Then Plymouth University campuses were all relocated to Plymouth a few years later.
No students meant that many landlords were left with large houses on their hands so presumably they were converted into flats to sell or rent.

Yes, *Callistemon Rolle was a loss to the town in some ways, but since then I think the town has regenerated itself for the better. The big houses around the Avenues were far too good for students!

Afternoon all, thank you for all your comments.

Just back from walk number two with my dog, he's very tired, I think he's been barking all week.

I'm pleased to say I've finally been able to book my 'advance tickets' to Exmouth, I did manage to get onto the early train. Unfortunately the autumn timetable changes from Sunday 20th September and there is a chance the time will change, will have to see what happens.

Thanks for the heads up about areas to check out Ellianne, the reality of walking versus looking at it on a map hit home when I was trying to run across a very fast country road in Margate

Have a nice BH every one, always rubbish for me as it was when I had my husband interred at the cemetery.

The big houses around the Avenues were far too good for students!
Nothing was too good for my DD * Ellianne*!
Some landlords needed taking to task, the accommodation was not up to a good standard.

That's a shame about the accommodation Callistemon because the location is fabulous and the facades look good. I must admit I've only been inside immaculate family owned properties round there.

I think that Plymouth University left for good in 2008, so all those houses would have been refurbished by now (I hope).
I wondered what happened to the brand new (very expensive) Arts Hall?

The Exeter Deaf Academy took over the buildings Callistemon. They didn't require any of the houses because it isn't a residential school.