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

oh yes, whiff is right. I was fooled when selling. Ask EA if they are `cash in the bank` buyers and has she seen the paperwork. A mortgage in principle is not a cash buyer and ask if they are chain free and has evidence. If there is a chain and they are awaiting exchange and they have a mortgage in principle they are just normal buyers

In 2015, my EA put a value of £425.000 on my house, in June that year I accepted an offer of £416.000. Unfortunately EA had not checked his finances carefully, and by the following January I pulled out. Back on market with different EA in Summer 2018 they said £525.000 I laughed at them and said NO WAY - told them I wanted them to market it at £475.000 tops. Eventually they put it on the market at £515.000 which I knew was outrageous. Not a single viewer. After two weeks I pushed it down to £490,000 which I still felt was too much Three viewers over next month - no offers. I pulled it.
In March 2019 I went back to original EA, different branch, told them I wanted a reasonably quick and painless sale at a reasonable price and we agreed on Offers in Excess of £450,000. Row with my eldest daughter who had a similar house in a better part of the borough, and with more up to date floor layout. (Mine had through lounge and long galley kitchen - hers had separate front Living Room and combined kitchen/diner at rear. Yes, hers close to High Street and Station, etc would be worth more. Mine was worth what people would pay.
Lots and lots of viewers, many offers, some ridiculous £420000. None went IN EXCESS of......
Accepted offer of £441,000, (had two of those), and when this fell through it went back on the market without those silly IEO initials. Finally sold it at £444,500 - I was more than happy, purchasers were happy, EA was happy.
That year when it was first advertised in RM, the EA from the previous year got in touch with me saying they would be delighted to be my EA at that price of 450,000!!!! Had they taken notice of me nine months earlier then that is the price I suggested to them then.
However, during that four years I took the opportunity of improving the layout of the furniture in my living room and also noted comments made by people viewing and did some minor repairs and decoration, which I am sure helped eventually. And also did loads and loads of de-cluttering.#
Of course because of a very stupid decision I had made when I was under loads of stress selling the family house in 2003, half that sale price went to my ex-hubbie who had never lived there, never contributed a single penny to its upkeep, etc. But still left me with enough to purchase my lovely flat in WsM.

Morning all, very, very windy here.

Makes me feel stressed for you reading your story again Franbern, isn't our system appalling. I'm so glad you are in your new flat and so happy now.

I've just popped in to say I'm seeing a local bungalow on Tuesday, £230K, might have gone by the time I get there as all Monday and Tuesday morning is booked. I really don't like dealing with Yopa sales, it's so impersonal. I could walk to the local supermarket and gym, as well as my favourite second hand bookshop. Town is another half mile from there.

I'm having a housework day today, I've let it slide. So frustrating I can't find the scissors!

Enjoy your day

Franbern what a nightmare process. I count myself fortunate ours went so well at the start with full asking price, (above what we wanted), but the stress at the end with some idiots in the chain was unbearable. That is when I joined this thread. Then the awful removers! Argh!

Good luck with your viewing Shandy. You are now making the home or away decision fall into place. It will all be down to your instincts on location.
As for Exmouth and your dog barking in a flat, don't be too put off. There's hundreds of four legged creatures in the town, all pretty friendly!!

Thanks Ellianne. I am feeling a bit wobbly about visiting next Monday, and a bit fed up I've booked an Airbnb so far out of town. I do think the locations should be more accurate when you are booking. The Douglas Avenue flat is a probate, so could be tricky, I'll view it and see.

reading Franbern`s story made my stomach lurch, its very easy to forget about all that stress but there it still is, lurking below the surface

Re probate, our family home buyer wanted the house and said she was waiting for probate. We were very patient and it took more than six months, then she wanted to move by christmas so we got a rental and arranged a move just a week before christmas. I was younger and coped, couldn`t be doing with that now

Good luck with viewings shandy, I do feel as though you are much closer to a new start in life

Shandy57

Thanks Ellianne. I am feeling a bit wobbly about visiting next Monday, and a bit fed up I've booked an Airbnb so far out of town. I do think the locations should be more accurate when you are booking. The Douglas Avenue flat is a probate, so could be tricky, I'll view it and see.

Can you unbook the b & b Shandy with some excuse that you have no transport to get into town? Is it on a bus route?
The Premier Inn is in a great location.

Have you considered this?

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70484599.html

Shandy I have been reading today's newspaper. You are in very fortunate position as a cash buyer, because all the major banks etc have pulled the plug on cheap mortgages i.e. all those requiring less than a 10% deposit. Also for all other mortgage applications, because of the stamp duty rush, applications are taking 30 days to be looked at against the usual 10 days.
I think this is something that puts you at the top of the list, if you see a property that you want to purchase and something you could use as a bargaining chip if there are others interested in the same property.

Maybe there is someone out there who lives in Richmond on Thames or Twickenham to advise me? I have finally decided to move from North London and buy something in Richmond as my children live in Surrey, however, now I am a bit concerned as I do not know anyone who lives there and not sure what part of Richmond is the best for me. I am 70 but very fit and do drive but want to be near Richmond town or St. Margarets as do love to walk around and afraid still like to browse the shops (when things get back to semi normal). Any ideas which is the better area to live in for access etc? and I hear some areas are not so good for flight paths to heathrow?

I have pmd you undecided

Thanks Ellianne, I have asked to view.

Undecided, I envy you, I love Richmond and spent many happy hours at L' Auberge on the hill in the 70's. I really like St Margarets, which is within walking distance of Richmond. Lovely houses with the bonus of Marble Hill Park on your doorstep.

I'm going to sound like a serial mover here, but my parents lived in Queens Road, Richmond before they moved to North London. I loved the park with the deer, and when I was little I used to get taken to the Star & Garter home to dance for the ex soldiers!
You may find Heathrow is a bit quieter these days undecided!

Shandy and anyone who has had a dog, watch Fenton in Richmond Park. Nightmare! Poor bloke!
I know it's not nice for the deer, so sorry if it offends.

Hi all, well, Yopa are a wash out. My 12 noon appointment tomorrow is still 'pending'. I have emailed the agent to ask when she might confirm.

I've phoned two agents in Exmouth, one for two viewings, and the other to ask if pets are allowed at the Cyprus flat. No response after four hours, it's so bad.

I'm currently holding on for NS&I, trying to find out what my reference number actually is as the one on my letter differs to the one given to me on the phone yesterday. HSBC has blocked my transfer four times now, such a faff.

I did see Fenton Ellianne, how terrifying for all of them.

Devon is slow Shandy. Think of it as part of the charm!

ha ha I'll be there by the time they phone me!

Suppose the delay with the question re pets at the flat is that the agents have to make contact with either the seller or the Management company to find out rules re pets. Can take time if the seller is at work. However, if NO pets were permitted it would be laid down in the conditions of the Management Company. The garden makes it good for pets. Hope it is okay. If they do not reply this afternoon, give them a further ring before they close tonight,.

It is gorgeous here today, really very summery. Sun is hot. I did my Sainsburys shop this morning. Needed to post a letter this afternoon, and whilst out took advantage of getting my Vit D by trundling down to the Promenade. Was surprised how many people were around. On the beaches some families with very young (pre-school) children, but mosty just adults, lots of elderly people. On the beaches,everyone was so very far apart, the closest were about 20 metres, most a lot more.
I did treat myself to an ice-cream. then dropped part of the melted choc log on my white top - had to get home quickly then to change it..
I am getting myself ridiculously excited at a visit by my son and daughter in law this coming weekend. My son helped me in the final couple of days in London and then drove down here to ensure I arrived safely. He only stayed for half an hour whilst everything was being moved in, took a lot of pictures and then went home. They are not staying WITH me, but at the very nice hotel juts a few minutes walk away.

It's a sorcher here too, 25 degrees when I last checked. Our seafront is busy, but like Franbern says, mainly couples as often is the case in September. I think many people are getting in that last break of the year as who knows what is to come next
Your son will notice a big difference in the flat Franbern. Hope you have a great time over the weekend and that their hotel is good.
PS I've just thought, silly us, Shandy's EAs are all down at the beach!

It's 23° in my living room. It was lovely yesterday as well. Thought I was having a pain flare up but wanted to weed the back garden. Managed to do 2.5 hours . Looking better. Pleased what I did. Should have taken notice of my body but being stubborn and don't like my body dictating what I can do. Paid the price by the evening. The only draw back to my new anti seizure tablets is when I have a pain flare up its worse than ever. But I will put up with the pain not to have the seizures going out of control and taking me weeks to recover. Swings and roundabouts like most things in life.

The last of my shrubs arrived today so went and planted it. Had already prepared a place for it yesterday. So didn't take long. Apart from that haven't done much. Amazes me how the time flies by even when I haven't been busy. Hopefully I will have a productive day tomorrow.

Hope your viewing goes ahead tomorrow Shandy57. It looks lovely.

Thanks Ellianne, they are booked into what is generally regarded as the best hotel in WsM.
I have tidied up my patio balcony and got some pots ready for planting the spring bulbs.
Like Whiff, it astonishes me how even though I do not do much, the time flies. I have booked into a new Futurelearn course, and am having trouble finding the time to do that -which is silly!!!

Evening all.

For anyone thinking of investing in NS&I, banks have introduced new measures to 'check' where you are sending your money, and at the moment, it seems they are 'blocking' NS&I. Not great when I want to transfer my house sale money. I held on for ages to HSBC today and gave up in the end.

I've now got a confirmed time for tomorrow's viewing of the local bungalow, phew, thought I'd missed it. Very manageable artificial grass garden, I absolutely hate mowing the lawns here, it keeps growing back It will be a good lock up and leave property, when the pandemic is over there are still a lot of countries I want to visit.

Saying that, I'm still looking forward to visiting Exmouth to see if that suits me.

I've finally managed to book in three viewings in Exmouth, two with one agent, one with another. One terraced house, one bungalow, and one ground floor flat. I've come to the conclusion it does make sense to live as near to the sea as possible so I can walk down, I really do hate driving. I've tried to plan it so I'll do them in a sensible sequence as I have to walk between them. I'm going into the estate agents to see them when I arrive on Monday. I know I'm old and grumpy but it annoys me that I've filled out all of their questionnaires to register with them but get asked the same questions every time I ring. And some of them don't know the area because they are in Exeter, how are they given the responsibility of arranging bookings without a knowledge of the area, honestly.

Off for my final dog walk in a minute, the night's are drawing in fast, I'd better charge up my dog's 'light' collar.

Have a nice evening