Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Furniture delivery delays are no a new thing. I can remember 16 years ago, finding the perfect little set of three nesting tables in a local furniture store (part of a largish national group). Asked if I could take them home with me (easily go into my car). 'No', I was told, those were just for showroom, would have set delivered direct to my home within a fortnight. Over the next three months, I kept being told that delivery was imminent....... These did have a particular design that matched my dining table, so did not want to cancel. Eventually, did lose patience and went back to that showroom with my order sheet. 'So sorry' , I was told, 'Manufacturers are no longer making this item - would I like to have the ones in the showroom at a discount?'. That I did, and they put them in my car and they gave me a largish money off.

I have no furniture items that I need anywhere in my flat - although at some time in the not too distant future, that nest of tables may need replacing.

We have been having problems getting a plumber to look at and tell us what is wrong - internal water leak. Did leave this to the Cttee Chairman and her hubbie, but have taken this over as they were getting so stressed out. Does not effect my flat at all - in another area of the building. Even when we have paid (in advance) a call-out fee to a plumber, they still phone up and cancel late in the day. Fingers crossed, the one I contacted yesterday will actually come - and (fingers and toes and everything else crossed) can find out what is causing this leak - and be able to fix it. As a Management Committee we do have a good building insurance, but hope that it will not be too expensive a job.

Heigh!!! whilst typing this. the plumber phoned to say he is just finishing a job and will be with us within one and half hours. Lovely Man!!!! I gave him parking information and can let other people know now we have a time.

Great news Franbern, I do admire you taking on this task. Lockdown has affected my tolerance and patience levels, I seem to very low at the moment!

I've finally bitten the bullet and changed one of the dead spotlight bulbs, feeling very pleased with myself. Three more to go. Watched a few videos and luckily it's the type with a 'spring'. Hope I can still buy this type of bulb in the future with all these bulb changes, I've got very behind on lighting

The housing market is crazy. Those two properties we viewed have both gone under offer. We got contacted to ask if we wanted to put in offers over asking price as both had numerous offers and they were going to final bids. We declined. The house on main road I cant understand, it was about 150 yards from large roundabout with 5 exits one directly on to a bypass and traffic braked heavily or picked up speed right outside. In case you wonder we aren't buying near coast or in the south of england. It's just madness.

So sorry kissngate, something much lovelier is just round the corner! There is a lot of discussion on MSE about the house market, one poor woman has just exchanged and been told she's redundant at the end of this month. As she's only been in the job for a year she won't get any redundancy.
She is applying for every job she sees poor woman.

I've just come down off the ladder - battery had gone in the smoke alarm in the hallway, I really can't bear that high pitched pip noise it makes. It's just pipped again but I put a new battery in - perhaps it's the kitchen one again? I have to move the ladder to the electricity box to switch off, then lug it over to the smoke alarm, then back again to switch on.
Lucky I wasn't electrocuted in the rental cottage, I didn't switch off the electricity when I changed the batteries in those ones!

Shandy please be careful going up and down ladders/steps. Do you have the ones with bars up each side and at the top for you to hold on to. I do have one of those, but even with that I am very, very careful. Have had so many bad falls in the past from indoor step ladders.

I do not have wired in smoke alarms. Find that the little ones that I purchase and just hook up onto a nail, etc. in suitable places, so much easier to get to for such things as testing and battery changing.

Had an exhausting day yesterday with the pumber. He was very good, and polite and really appeared to know his job. Had to go into four flats to find the one from which the leak was occuring - unknown to them. Then get a replacement part and fix it. He was working here from 10.30 when he arrived until he left just before 2 pm. For the first couple of hours I was accompanying him, but then when in the flat to do the repair I left him as I had things to be done.

This morning we had our three commercial sized black bins cleaned by a company who does that sort of work. Very disappointed in them. They returned them into our cupboard, each with a large pool of water in their bases, and NOT even really clean. One of the Committee member s had to spend an hour using towels to dry these out etc. Will not use that company again and am awaiting a reply from their Area Manager. Fortunately we did not pay in advance, so will challenge their bill when (if) they send it after my email.

For the last twelve months I have been talking about replacing my mobility scooter. I do use this a great deal, -most days. Needed something to make me act and yesterday one of the wheels on my existing one broke. So, this morning my daughter drove me to our local mobility shop and I came home on my new scooter. Will get the old one repaired and transported to my London daughter's home to live in her garage for my use when visiting.

Surprised to hear how the housing market has suddenly had a boom. My brother in law had his house on the market at far too high a price - and at the beginning of this week asked the Estate agents why he was getting no viewings and did not like their reply (that it was just far too over-priced), and took it off the market. Do not think he told his wife - and she is very eager to make this move back to London. She is coming to visit me later tonight for the weekend, and I do not think I will mention this to her.

We have stand alone smoke alarms that are just one step on the step ladder away to change the battery. No electricity connected to turn off.
I use a broom handle to press the test button (not as often as I should).

Our house hunting friend has had an offer accepted on a bungalow in the next street to us. Close but not too close.

The carpenter has phoned to say he has a cancellation, so DH will have his shed in the first week of September.

We have bought the paint etc for the kitchen diner and have already primed the bare plaster where the door was bricked in. DH makes such a mess so I am taking over as he is away next week. I hope the weather stays cool!

Afternoon all, I read too late again last night and didn't wake up until 10 am. Doesn't matter luckily as nothing planned for the day, I have lots of lists of Things (I don't want) To Do!

I haven't bought a good ladder yet Franbern, and must asap as both the lounge/kitchen/bathroom are spotlights in the ceiling. I've still got my husband's 30+ year old ladder which did tip when I was rescuing a butterfly at the station, I''m going to have a look on-line this afternoon. I'll be getting one with a shelf on top, I had to put the bulbs down my bra rather than going up and down I hadn't come across 'wired' smoke alarms before the rental, I must buy some more replacement batteries.

Glad the plumber found the leak, now I'm on a meter I'm assuming I'll know as the bill will increase. Good to think of you on your new mobility scooter, I do worry about a neighbour who drives his on the road, he wears a beige mac and can't be seen easily in bad weather. Enjoy your SIL's visit, I hope the weather is good for you both.

Enjoy your painting Pittcity, I'm painting my kitchen tomorrow, hope my wrist doesn't seize up. I've bought rollers so I can alternate with a brush.

Friday the 13th - does give me the shivers!

Shandy for taking things with you up and down a stepladdder, an old largish should bag is useful.
Had a pleasant and interesting weekend - my SiL has just lost very short-memory facilites. She was unable really to climatise herself to my flat - and I kept the light in the bathroom (nealy oppposite the spare bedroom she was using, on all night when she stayed with me so that she could 'find' it. Her daughter had driven her here, and she (and her teenage son), stayed at my daughters' house, a few minutes away. Saturday morning, my SiL had a slight panic attack as she told me she could remember who she needed to contact about picking her up to take her home. Cannot count the number of times, that day I had to 'remind' that we (adults) were going out to a restuarant that evening.
Apart from that it was a lovely day - weather was glorious. Showed her WsM during the morning,and we relaxed at home and just chatted in the afternoon. She is still very much in mourning for her eldest child (he died from Cancer in April last year - just days away from his 50th birthday). Her husband is one of those 'strong, silent' types and is totally unable either to voice his own emotions, or cope with such things from others - so she has not really been able to talk about it very much. I know from my own dreadful time when my youngest son died, how important that talking can be. Think the weekend was some sort of help and release for her - her daughter sent me text when they had returned to say how much her Mum had enjoyed herself and that she even did seem a little more relaxed.

Adding to her problems is the fact that about six years ago she and hubbie moved from London - where she had always lived to Norfolk. Lovely house, BUT location is not good. She is increasingly home-sick for London - still calls that 'home'. Her husband is not entirely happy there either and has now been persuaded to consider a move back. However, he is totally over-valuing the house and ignoring EA's advice as to how much it can sell for - so no viewers. He even took it off the market last week (has now returned with a different EA). My SiL is confused and thinks that 'putting it on the market' is synonymous with it being 'Under Offer', and is convinced that they will be moving anytime soon.

I have a busy week, as two slots at the library (my volunteer role with the Suimmer Reading Challenge), a visit from the Fire Brigade on Thursday as they do their regular check and assessment at the flats, on top of my usual weekly group meeting.

Morning, quite cool here today.

Good tip about the shoulder bag Franbern, why didn't I think of that! Hermes have just knocked with my curtain liners, so I'll be putting them up today.

Glad to hear you had a nice weekend, how nice your SIL's daughter sent that text. I did look at Norfolk as my kids had such happy memories of holidaying there with our good friends, but I was put off by the lack of good public transport as I'm such a nervous driver. I was shocked to find out recently my friends have sold, not sure where they are are moving to. They had a huge house with a few acres of land, I thought they'd be there forever but expect they are downsizing. They couldn't come to the funeral because the husband has throat cancer. Good luck to your SIL and husband selling and enjoy your busy week.

Wishing everyone good luck with their conveyancing.

Good morning.
How do you decide which Estate Agent to choose?
I've had two valuations, both similar, but cannot decide which one to go with. Both are established businesses in our town.
Does it really matter which one I choose?

I chose the wrong one out of my three estate agents and wish I'd done more research. Mine couldn't afford to advertise on RightMove, only Zoopla and Onthemarket.

Have a look at RightMove and key in your area with the filter for 'under offer of SSTC', find the estate agent you like, and see how many they have successfully sold. If I had my time again I would want my viewers screened very carefully, and the agent to do all of the viewings.

I meant to add see if they work over the weekend, I had a few weekend viewings and was unable to contact them as they finished working at 12 noon on Saturday.

Have a look at a website called Getagent. That gives details of number of houses sold, reviews and other information about all your local agents.
Do you feel more comfortable with one agent? Sometimes you can tell it would be easy or difficult to work with someone.
Have you compared how much commission they charge? I emailed my two favoured agents and told them they were on a shortlist of two and what was their best offer?

I would add, read their terms and conditions carefully before signing up. When I was selling one agent (national coverage) wasn’t at all happy that I wanted time to read through the contract before signing. What hadn’t featured in all the sales talk was that if someone made what the agent thought was a reasonable offer after a certain amount of time, but you didn’t want to accept it, their commission was immediately payable anyway. I didn’t sign but he was so confident I would that next morning a photographer he’d instructed phoned to make an appointment! I see them advertising a lot and often wonder how many clients know what they’ve signed up to.

That's interesting Elusivebutterfly, I've just tried that Getagent site and it's bought up an agent I'd never heard of.

Thanks for all the very useful replies everyone, I'll follow up on your advice before making my decision.

I went with the one I found friendly and would give me a fixed price and no sale no free. Also no fee to pay if I changed my mine about selling not that I would. They advertised everywhere including the local free paper.

I was lucky I picked the right one. They went above and beyond their remit. Especially as I had 2 buyers pull out on me just before exchange.

Also picked the right solicitor. They didn't charge me any extra even though I had the buyers pull out.

Both professions kept me informed all the way through the awful process.

Meant to say you need to develop a thick skin as viewers can be brutal. Also be prepared for going through one of the most stressful times in your life.

Good luck with buying and selling.

Thanks Whiff.

My brother and sister in law and her dad are about to join the ranks of sellers and buyers. They are both putting their houses on the market and moving to the north east. They will be buying a 4 bed bungalow together . My sister in law's youngest son lives with them . So they will have a spare room for visitors.

I have send them an email with as much information I could think of plus how much I paid my solicitor and estate agent 2 years ago just to give them a guideline. Plus loads of tips from all of you .

I may not post often now be read what you are all up to everyday. Lovely to see all the moved making their new homes theirs. And feel for all those in the process of selling and buying. No amount of money would get me to move again.

Anyway love my bungalow and my new life.

Last month was my first visit to the West Midlands also my last since I moved. As once my brother and sister in law move there is no need to visit again. Anyway I felt nothing for the place. We went pass my old road and felt nothing. Here is my home .

I got my identity back moving and found peace. Also new friends.

?

I did have a look at that GetAgent site last night, and put in my details to see if my agent came up - they did.

Guess who phoned me about an hour later, trying to persuade me to engage someone to value my property!

Sorry Nana3 I meant to say stay calm when you receive an offer.

If you've read through this thread you will see that many of us received offers that fell through, some sadly on the day of exchange. I had a man who texted me at 11.30 pm at night (agent had given him my number without my permission), he was a supposed cash buyer, but he ducked and dived away from the EA trying to get him to prove his funds. He finally admitted he didn't have the cash and withdrew - by email, the coward. During that three weeks I'd sold a great many things in haste as I thought a cash buyer would be pushing for a fast completion.

I have had a design for a new kitchen from a local company. It included an eye level oven which I have never had before and would be good for my back. However, the only place to put it is really inconvenient for other reasons. The designer said 90% of people now have an eye level oven.
I wondered what other people have and would welcome opinions.

By choice I'd not have anything else. I'm assuming what you call an eye level oven is what we call a wall oven. I had one for 40 years but the house we moved to in February has a freestanding oven. I find it difficult to get things in and out of and there is no way I am able to get into it to clean the oven.

My old one had a door that opened down and slid into a cavity under the oven so it was easy access to the oven. Reaching over a door that opens down is not so easy. You also need to make sure that when it is installed the height suits you. The one we had in our rental was too high for me and together with having to reach over the door (that one did not slide in) caused several burns. We can also get ones that the door lifts up which also give easier access.

A new kitchen sounds really exciting.