Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Enjoy your knitting craftyone

Just popped in to say still no contract in my emails, but I've checked RightMove and it is now labelled as SSTC. It's a small office with reduced staff, I won't email about the contract again.

I have already contacted my solicitor and surveyor, just have to be patient now. I found the planning application for the extension, unfortunately the builder wasn't mentioned. There was a small garage originally which was removed for the extension.

I had my first open fire last night, hope the ash is cool enough now. I do miss my wood burner, it did kick out a lot more heat. The fireplace 'hole' here is massive!

I have been swept along doing some sorting again but have cleared the landing of a few things I had dumped there and cleared the sewing and spare rooms, everything is now in cupboards. It started because I stopped labelling stiff prior to moving, it became a case of just stuffing into a boz and bringing stuff here, trouble is they were all really useful boxes that I neatly arranged on shelves, they never called to me

I found all my spare spectacles, all my overglasses to protect my eyes from sun, all my old specs too. What a relief. I had been looking for some marvellous alpaca that I had bought at roughly half cost from a seller on ravelry. John arbon alpaca supreme. She had all the right colours for a shawl I wanted to make one day. The pattern was not in the pack when I found it after an hour, phew, I had filed it safely, 2 copies
www.jarbon.com/product/stars-in-the-sky-shawl-by-emily-foden/

The yarn alone would have cost £100 and I got if for <£50. I value JA yarn very much, so lovely to work with. So my next project is that shawl and I will do slow calm knitting. This is the one I just finished in JA devonia
www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/regan-4
I love the simplicity, the figure hugging at the waist and the shorter length

I love that Martin Storey is Britsh and lives in Ilfracombe
www.martinstorey.co.uk/story

Crossed posts. Shandy get onto the estate agent about the sales memorandum of you haven't had it yet. Also contact your solicitor. You need to make a pest of yourself. It's hard but it's the only way to get things done at times. Hope your toe feels better soon.

Franbern hope you enjoy your meeting . Will the price your flooring guy gives you be held at that for February fitting?

pittcity, your husband is still in younger brain mood, he still needs to accept that he is getting older. While there just look up the stairs and ask him how he will get a king size bed up there. Then keep quiet and let it sink in, meanwhile finding some figures to leave around in plain sight, showing gas and electric comparisons. It does work, feed them with a bit of info and let their brains digest it, so that they think they have come to their own conclusion

Re your own house, put your foot down hard with the estate agent. I did, I re-wrote the RM description. It takes just one day for the RM site to update. Leave out any words that gives a pre-visit picture ie family, double bedroom etc. Just say x number of bedrooms. That will make viewers look at the actual measurements

Shandy keep at it, pester a named person at the EA

Franbern the date for Amtico floor came back Nov 30th.

That's silly to say a house is too small. Our DD's friend sold her titchy house in 4 hours yesterday. She is very artistic and somehow made it look more roomy and appealing by adding extra colour, cushions and pictures. I'm sure the right person will come along soon Pittcity.
Spiral staircase sounds a bit of a challenge!

Pittcity I had a lot of feedback it was to small which it wasn't. Very large master with study off it, shower room and loo separate. Double size 2nd bedroom and single 3rd. Medium sized kitchen. Large living room. Long hallway and a porch in which you could have fitted 8 people in for a party. Drive could take 4 estate cars. Large garage . Very large garden on 3 levels. And still people said it was small. It was on the market for £220. They where just game playing. Had 2 buyers pull out on me but just before contract exchange but that wasn't anything to do with the house. The couple who finally went through with the sale couldn't get over how big it was.

When we sold our parents house we had a lot of people just wanting a nose around had no intention of buying.

When I was looking for my bungalow I always said positive things. Even found something positive about the bungalow I didn't want to go into when viewed from the outside. Because it would have been rude.

It only takes one person to love it and will put in a sensible offer. Like I said you need to develop a thick skin.

Hope you can talk your husband round about that property. Spiral staircases are lovely if you are young and fit . No good for children or anyone over 50. Wish you luck with your house hunting.

My water is all back to normal. The water here is soft which is lovely. Don't need to use as much laundry liquid and shampoo etc goes a long way. In the Midlands the water was hard. Was forever descaling the kettle.

Glad your grandson is doing well at his new school Ellianne.

Made 7.34lbs of blueberry jam. The sun is out here so after I finish my cuppa going to get up.the leaves and spread my last bag of compost.

Hope your buttons come Craftyone.

Have a good day everyone

Pittcity, you would not get me viewing a house with a spiral staircase. I am scared of falling on them and will not use one. Is it worth viewing if it's not what you want?

Spice101, I'm sorry you lost out on the house.

Morning all.

Glad you got your water sorted Whiff. Our water in Northumberland is good, my daughter definitely noticed the difference at Uni in Leeds.

No contract yet, a week and a day since my offer was accepted. Paper at Sainsbury's has gone up to £3.50, was £2.00 a few months ago!

Pittcity I'm sorry about your feedback. I always had a copy of the details in the house for the viewing agent to refer to, often people didn't bring them with them. Could you ask your EA to change the description considering the feedback?

I loved a house with a spiral staircase too, but couldn't imagine how I'd get the furniture upstairs! Would your husband agree to do a list of 'must haves' and 'nice to haves'? Enjoy the viewing.

Very glad my chiropodist has squeezed me in tomorrow to help with my poorly toe. This month has been full of unexpected expenses, going to have to make the pasta stretch!

Enjoy your day

Pittcity Good luck with the viewers coming this weekend. Also hopefully, actually seeing the house you are going to view will prove to your hubbie how unsuitable it is for you at this stage of your lives. Head needs to rule heart!!! Think that a lot of new builds are going to be electric only, as the idea is to phase out gas in domestic properties (except for those that already have them) over the next few years.
Spice Good luck in starting again, but all that you have seen will give you a much clearer idea of what you really need.
Shandy - at the stage you are every day will feel like a week, and every week a month. Once this week (half-term) is out of the way things should start to move a little faster and you can arrange your survey. Do try to get your Solicitor to arrange with vendors solicitors that completion MUST be before end of March at the very latest.
My children and older (ie: teenage) g.children all receive cash from me at christmas, so the only pressies I have to purchase are for the three youngest and I do those from their Amazon wish lists (not necessarily purchased from Amazon though, try to get something from local shops). My daughter is going to see her son at Uni later this week and will also be going to see one of her sisters on the south coast - so have given her the birthday present for that g.child for her to take and leave (birthday in December). I do not do a great deal of decorations, but none will be done until 1st December as usual. I have recently purchased some outdoor lights (just plan white), to go on terrace on large wall on balcony.
Am getting ready to attend my residents Association meeting this morning. Tomorrow I have the fitter from the flooring place coming to measure up, discuss with me how I would like the flooring tiles laid, and give me a proper costing. However, as it will be very disruptive (My living room and hallway), I do not want the work undertaken until February half-term.

Looks nice and dry here, but rather windy and chilly. Nothing to go out for, will just stay at home today in the warmth.

All our feedback has been the same. House smaller than they thought. Why don't they look at the measurements? We told the EA that this happened the last time we tried to sell 10 years ago but he dismissed it and has marketed it as a family home, which it is if you have one or maybe two small children but no more.
DH has set his heart on an entirely unsuitable property. Its miles from anywhere and has a spiral staircase with an upstairs loo. It is an estate with a ground rent to pay and has electric heating with a very low EPC, so it will be expensive to run. The idea is to save money not spend it. We are going to see it at the weekend while our EA shows more Londoners around our house.

Onwards and upwards to all.

Sorry to hear about the house Spice, but onwards and upwards in the search of a new one. Glad to hear the lockdown has worked well.
Hope your water is ok Whiff. I remember as a child living in London I always had to take my grubby teddy on every trip to my grandfather's in Wales to wash him in the soft water.
Keep the pressure on * Shandy*, I've read a few scaremongering reports that there's a back log of sales going through, and from now on some will be in a race to complete by March 31st.
Off to the beach today with GS, then an ice cream. He is still in holiday mode from moving to the coast from London and he thinks his new school is like a holiday camp because they play all day! Ironically, he has actually made far greater progress in 6 weeks here than in a year at school in London, so play must be the answer!

Shandy, here auctions are common and just lumped in with other advertised properties so will definitely look at one to be sold at auction if suitable. This is where our Buyer’s Advocate will be good as he would do the bidding and avoid the pressures auctioneers put on bidders.

I’m disappointed we did not get the house yesterday but not shattered. I think it’s more about having to start again instead of seeing the end in sight.

spice what a disappointment, they tried to get a bidding war going. Three cheers for strong women with decisive minds

I well remember UU whiff, I think they were the water co when we lived in the lake district. Talking of water, I feel so lucky to have nice water, nothing could beat the south wales water but this water here is also good. My dd in wiltshire has the hardest water and cannot get a nice cup of tea without a layer on top.

I am just about finished for christmas too, the decs are de-cluttered and I have added a few new porcelein baubles as I felt like treating myself. I am prepping a box of goodies for each dd, half full so far, much is stuff that I already had in, son in scotland is vegan so is getting a small vegan hamper direct. I could not resist, I ordered one mon cherie box of chocolates for me, they always remind me of my mum, her most favourite chocolates at christmas.

It isn`t going to be a nice day here, in fact there is rain most days, not nice to be out cycling, the lanes get muddy too. 30 minutes of indoor cycling today and am hoping the buttons come for my newly knitted cardigan

Your cushion sounds very lovely whiff

Well my clear water didn't last long but was back to normal by 7. I was very impressed by United utilities which is my water supplier. There website had plenty of updates and even a couple of pictures of the burst pipe. A representative phoned last night to check I was ok.

Making blueberry jam today . If it stays dry I will get up some of the leaves that are covering my heathers in the front garden as they are in flower. And brush the leaves off my lawn as it's artificial.
Apart from that it's a quiet day.

Whiff Your cat cushion sounds so original and delightful. Any possibility of a photo.

Shandy I've got nearly all my Christmas presents. Plus cards and paper.

I've got clear water again. The burst was in a different post code but it affected 4 areas. They had to get specialist equipment as it was deep underground.
My fresh fish arrived nice man large plaice filleted and boned and large fillet of haddock also boned. Excellent quality. Came to.£19 . The plaice fillets where large so cut each in half and cut haddock into 4. 8 dinners for £19 excellent value. I will order some smoked haddock to come next week as I want to make a fish pie.

Spice, really sorry to hear that you missed out on your house. Do hope that something else will come up in the near future. At least now you can look forward to the summer months and no lockdown.
Wiff, I totally agree with you regarding voluntary euthanasia -dreadful that our pets are treated so much better than humans. I do have an Advance Directive in place, but this will not cover all eventualities.
Finding it strange to realise that exactly one year ago today I moved into this flat. Obviously a strange and surreal year, but am so very happy here. Such a good decision.
Been to local large garden centre this morning, only indoors
sections due to rain. Driven there by daughter and g.child. Obviously, very many other people had the same idea, it was very busy - not how I like it - I enjoy just meandering around. After about an hour we gave up and came back to mine for lunch. They have gone now. Think I will drive myself there once the schools go back and just wander around.
As forecast said, rain has now stopped and drying up, but no intention of going out again today.

Afternoon all, as usual the time difference is affecting me and I was up late, but I'm taking my vitamins

No emailed contract of sale yet, I must learn to be patient. A week today since she accepted the offer. I need to buy paper for my printer, so hopefully it will be here by the time I'm back from the shops.

Sorry about the burst Whiff, what a shock! If we were kids we'd have been out playing in it.

Spice101 I am so terribly sorry to read your news, this 'final offering game' is so stressful. As you sold at auction, is it worth looking there? Some local properties here that I know are in good order are now in auction, the owners want to relocate due to their jobs and just can't wait any longer. You would be able to have a survey in advance of bidding? Best of luck.

Not sure if anyone is buying Christmas gifts yet but I've just collected my 'star' gift from Boots, a Yankee candle set for my son's girlfriend. Smells lovely, even through the box!

Enjoy your day

We crossed posts Spice glad you are out of lockdown.

Spice sorry you are back to square one. Hopefully you will find somewhere else soon.

On another matter, we are finally out of lockdown as of tomorrow. Still a few restrictions but basically, retail, hospitality and most other things will resume with social distancing and limited numbers in place as well as masks still being mandatory. As of next week we will be able to have visitors in our homes - 2 at a time plus their dependents. This lockdown lasted almost 4 months at the highest level, prior to that there was 3 months of less drastic but still restrictive lockdown. Our second wave was caused mainly by the government's failure to manage the quarantine situation. Our cases went from a few new daily cases to 723 in only a few weeks and accounted for over 20,000 cases and 800+ deaths. However today for the second day in a row we have had no new cases and no deaths. That is all great news what is not so great news is the collateral damage to the economy, businesses and people.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.

Hate that you can lose what you have just wrote. I will start again.
Had a Grr morning due to burst water main. Lovely brown water. Luckily had my shower earlier before it happen. But will need to run dishwasher and washing machine again once water is clear. Emailed my water company as I don't want to be charged for running extra water as they advise as I am on a water meter.

My aunt had rheumatoid arthritis from when she was 28. She had to have a lift as she wasn't steady enough for a stair lift. People don't realise what an awful disease it is. Due to the fatty deposits on her organs ( I do know the correct name it's amalyods but don't think that is spelt correctly) her kidneys stopped working in the last 10 years of her life. She had kidney dialysis 4 times a week. Eventually her lungs were affected by them and she had a choice spend the rest of her life on a ventilator or let nature take its course. She loved life and going out in her wheelchair. She believed in the quality of life and not quantity . So refused ventilation. And died a few hours later she was 61. But she died struggling for breathe. In a just world she would have been given and injection to end her life. She died 20 years ago.

I know a lot of people believe at life at all cost but I am not one of those. Since my teens I believe in euthanasia. And some on here will disagree with me. But if you have nursed people you love 24 / 7 until they die in agony I am sure you would change your mind.

Shandy hope you managed to email.your surveyor.

Pittcity hope you got some feedback. But don't take anything negative to heart. Some people viewing your house will be awful but some will be nice. Some are game players and say things just to get a reduction in price.
Anyway hope you get lots of viewings

Finally finished the cushion I was making for my friends Christmas present. Only taken me 6 weeks. It has 41 cats on it and has the word cat on it in 30 languages. All done on 14 count Aida . Backed with a pre zipped back and lovely soft cushion inner. Hope she likes it. She has 4 cats. Some one mentioned Green pebble cards. I brought one and framed it as the rest of her present.

Better go and see if I have çlear water yet.

Have a good day everyone.

Good morning all,

I think I'm going to change my name to rollercoaster as that is what I've been on for the last few days.
It was a year on Saturday since we sold our property. None of us would have seen what this year would have brought but boy has it been an up and down ride.

We missed out on the house. We put in an offer yesterday and all offers were put to the owner last night we were contacted to say there was an offer above ours and did we want to increase the offer. We decided to up our offer to the owner's highest asking price. We made the offer conditional in having a satisfactory Building and Pest inspection within 3 days of the offer being accepted. This effectively means the offer was unconditional as there is a 3 day cooling off period. However another purchaser was prepared to pay $23,000 more than the asking price and that was accepted.

So, back to square one for us.

Welcome to LondonMzFitz and Pittcity, I hope you find some useful tips here and I know there will be lots of support as you share your ups and downs.