House buying stress (10th of these threads)

Franbern glad you have kept this thread going. 5 years have flown by .And we all moved and are happy moving for all the dramas we went through getting there. You all where a lifeline for me when I need support ,advice and friendship. 😊🏠

Hi movers reunitied!
Happy as a sandboy here, and not just because I spend most of my time on the beach!
Love my property, the neighbourhood, the scenery etc. The challenges of moving are well forgotten now. Is it really 5 years?
The icing on my moving cake was our daughter and family following us out of London, and our son moving within 10 minutes too. 3 moves within 12 months, along with covid, was some feat! I count myself an expert thanks to the support we had on here, and I hope others might be encouraged to ask questions about the process. 🏠
I'd be happy to do another meet-up, but I think we are spread far and wide.

Oh, and I'm still addicted to rightmove even though I have no intention of selling up for a long while!

In front of me there are 7 yellow envelopes "House of Commons" from our former MP, in answer to heartfelt pleas to have the law changed to bring it in line with the rest of the world. Nowhere is the system so archaic, unreliable and open to abuse as in England.
Mr Google will inform you that up to 40% of sales "fall through" {ridiculous phrase} for a variety of reasons. We have begged that the law be changed, so far to no avail, but if Scotland can have a fail-safe method, why not England?
Vendors accept an offer, the buyer has 7 working days to retract but if not, 10% is paid to the solicitor, which is then forfeited if the buyer pulls out for no reason. "Changing your mind" does not exist in the 6 countries, 3 Continents where we have previously lived, Transfer takes place 90 days after the 10% paid, when everyone, buyers and sellers [or their PoAs] meet to sign. Works unfailingly. Everyone satisfied.
On the day of Exchange of Contract, half an hour before signature, our miserable buyer insisted on a £15,000.00 reduction otherwise she would not sign. Blackmail!

The day before we were due to exchange contracts, our buyers came round ‘to have a final check’(!). Their solicitor phoned us (not our agent) the next day saying they’d noticed a couple of things they weren’t happy with. I was just waiting for the usual ‘reduction request’ but stopped the solicitor in his tracks by saying we were thinking of taking our house off the market. The buyers exchanged contracts later that day.

Probate for a normal property just took 6 months, worth bearing in mind if you want to purchase a house that is in probate.

When my sale fell through the second time I emailed the housing department at the government about changing the rules and setting a time limit so buying and selling was done quicker and buyers and sellers locked into going a head . They told me the rules worked perfectly as it was and had no plans for changing selling and buying in England and Wales .

My brother and sister in law brought their bungalow via modern auction and everything was done with in a short time frame the only draw back was they had to put down a non refundable deposit and pay the sellers estate agent bill and something else but forgotten what it was but they said it worked out more than the normal way to buy but it was worth it to move quicker and know their new home was theirs.early on.

My move gave me a new better life and more importantly found me again . And my bungalow is home . When my husband died our home just became a house as he was my home .

I had everything I set out to have done in my bungalow in the order I planned everything to be done . From my first night here had a proper night's sleep . And every night since I fall asleep and went have my nightly visits to the loo fall straight to sleep.

Even my son estranging me in May 2020 his choice I never saw it coming hasn't mard my happiness living here. Only a few weeks ago I normally put my bin out first thing if a morning ready for the next day . I forgot and was out all day but to tired to do it straight away. I was going to put it out later but I forgot. My door bell rang at 9.30 . Put my outside lights on and saw it was my neighbour from 2 doors away . He had put my bin out but wanted to check I was alright as he knew I always put my bin out early. And that sums up how caring my neighbours have been since I moved here.

I love my bungalow and the people up here and had no negativity towards me . Plus the healthcare here is brilliant and only because of my move finding found out in 2022 what my disability was and it's rare and only because my new neurologist had my whole genome genetically tested. But the blood got sent off in January 2020 but because of covid didn't get the results until March 2022 but better late than never . Plus my GP sent me to see a cardiologist 2020/2021 and found out I was also born with small hole in the side of my heart and have PAF . On tablets which help with both conditions.

This year had my first holiday in 19 years in May Monday to Friday via train had a brilliant time . And as soon as I came back booked to go away in September for the same length of time via train . Already booked my hotel room for May . I stay at premier inns because they have accessible rooms for walking disabled like me and wheelchair users . Plus I have the meal deal for breakfast and dinner. Have it on Flexi pay as that way it can be cancelled up to 1pm on day of arrival and get a full refund. So have been to Berwick upon Tweed and York . May going to Llandudno and planning on going to Harrogate in the September.

I don't want to go anywhere I went on holiday with my husband as those memories are precious.

I see my daughter and her family regularly. They came yesterday and my grandsons had made biscuits for me because I always made them some . Shortbread men with milk chocolate on top they burn cut out and decorated one each themselves.

For all stress and tears like Franbern and everyone else who moved we did the right thing and are happy and that is priceless.

Lovely to see you starting this thread Franbern and especially nice to read that so many are settled and happy, having gone through that dreadful and difficult process

I love my easy-going house and my now-established and productive garden. I keep on top of maintenance and have fixed the few problems I found

Five whole years, gone in a flash. I do think of you all, you were such a good support and so wise during those dreadful buying/selling months

Dotty123
We have done that twice. Both were rental properties and mortgage free. Lovely feeling. 😁

I have my name down for a local allotment, I really miss the allotment I used to have. Has to be local now, cycling distance

Lovely to see old gang posting . karmalady you inspired me to grown my own veg . Even have a greenhouse. Hope you get your allotment. My brother and sister in law have one each . They wanted their garden just to be a garden . On my brothers plot he has fruit trees and greenhouse . Had a good year so far. My sister in law's plot my brother made raised beds for her to access in her wheelchair chair or use her stool if she feels up to it. Plus they have a cockerel . Another allotment holder had 3 and asked my sister in law if she would like one and pick which one she wanted. They have 4 rescue chickens which have not stopped laying . My brother made their enclosure fox proof and their house my sister in law calls an eggloo.

Their friends have hives on their plot and make and sell their honey and it's delicious. Cloudy thick set honey 😋.

Only problem they have pest wise is mainly muntjac deer which ate there gooseberries and mange tout.

Hope all movers are happy in their new homes . And all the worry and stress is well worth it .

escaped

Oh, and I'm still addicted to rightmove even though I have no intention of selling up for a long while!

I view Rightmove regularly, would love to move, hellish neighbours on either side, have run properties down, hence no chance of me selling. One can but dream.

Ah yes Rightmove! I dream of moving to a seaside bungalow on the South coast and going bohemian and a bit artistic and crazy. But can do that here.
The housing market has gone quiet it seems. Suppose everyone's waiting for the budget.

I flit between a Georgian house in the country à la Jane Austen, a swanky flat in Mayfair and a fisherman's cottage in Cornwall.
They also advertise overseas properties for sale!
In my rightmove dreams, of course.

PS. I used to love their tv advert where the old man had to regularly keep climbing the stairs in his big house, and started to look exhausted. Then the end bit where the front door opened on a new owner and a little toddler ran in to climb the stairs in no time!
Very pertinent. Properties to suit all!

I always follow my local Rightmove - probably more expert on flat prices in my town, than most local estate agents!!! Also check in Rightmove 'Properties sold in my post code' to find out prices flats in my bloc have actually sold for.
Since I became secretary to our own Management Company , and have to deal with Solicitors whenever any our flats go on the market. This is usually (not always) due to present owner dying. Even once probate is completed and an offer is accepted, it can take six months plus to complete.

When I moved here in 2019 it took just three months from when I put in an offer to when I moved in. Solicitors are asking so very many more questions these days, they seemed almost reluctant to complete on leasehold properties.

However, even with freehold properties, the bad system in England that a would be purchaser can pull out right up to the time of actually signing the contract, does lead to so many problems and so much extra expense and extreme stress. When will someone, somewhere do something about this.

Franbern

I always follow my local Rightmove - probably more expert on flat prices in my town, than most local estate agents!!! Also check in Rightmove 'Properties sold in my post code' to find out prices flats in my bloc have actually sold for.
Since I became secretary to our own Management Company , and have to deal with Solicitors whenever any our flats go on the market. This is usually (not always) due to present owner dying. Even once probate is completed and an offer is accepted, it can take six months plus to complete.

When I moved here in 2019 it took just three months from when I put in an offer to when I moved in. Solicitors are asking so very many more questions these days, they seemed almost reluctant to complete on leasehold properties.

However, even with freehold properties, the bad system in England that a would be purchaser can pull out right up to the time of actually signing the contract, does lead to so many problems and so much extra expense and extreme stress. When will someone, somewhere do something about this.

meeting our new MP on Saturday, but who knows what her reaction will be or whether she will actually do anything?

Dotty123

The day before we were due to exchange contracts, our buyers came round ‘to have a final check’(!). Their solicitor phoned us (not our agent) the next day saying they’d noticed a couple of things they weren’t happy with. I was just waiting for the usual ‘reduction request’ but stopped the solicitor in his tracks by saying we were thinking of taking our house off the market. The buyers exchanged contracts later that day.

Dotty123
Last time we moved, which was years ago, it was the vendors who moved the goalposts at the last minute just before exchange of contracts, after messing us around considerably during the whole process. They decided to renege on promises to leave certain items and take them with them - including the garden shed! We quickly found a new-build house which in fact we liked better and we could move swiftly because we were in a short-term rental property.
When our solicitor told the original vendors that we were pulling out, they backtracked but we decided we didn't want to be messed around by them any more.
We bought the new house and have lived here ever since.

It took those vendors a long time to sell their house.

For some reason, on the market keeps sending me bungalows.
The thing is they are often out in the country on new estates.
How do people survive when they can no longer drive?

I think "almhouses"were a better idea. Small units in the middle of the village.

loopyloo

For some reason, on the market keeps sending me bungalows.
The thing is they are often out in the country on new estates.
How do people survive when they can no longer drive?

That is a scary prospect for many loopyloo

I practise that now and only use my car to visit DDs. It will happen one day so I want to be used to bus travel and walking or cycling anywhere fairly local. So far so good and the bonus for me is staying relatively fit. I am very content not to be going hither and thither.

Just over t wo yearas of moving here, I decided to give up my car. Never thought I would ever be able to do that. I enjoyed driving and the freedom it gave to me. However, I had always hoped I would not be one of those people who wait until a series of small accidents, (or one big one), makes them realise they h should not be driving any more. Nothing like that had happened to me, but I realised that I was not enjoying driving any more, was using my car less and less and not undertaking any long journeys any more. It was a sudden decision, but I know, the correct one.

Fortunately, when I moved here, I had checked public transport. Station less than half a mile away, bus stopped outside my flats. Could not walk or cycle anywhere, due to mobility problems stemming from the fall I had a year before I moved when I fractured my spine.

Again, thank goodness I had picked a flat located in the town centre, so everything within easy reached mobility scooter. I also purchased a small electric wheelchair which could go on to buses and trains. My garage provided storage and charging facilities for these.

How many people, even elderly ones, think of this sort of thing when saying they are 'future proofing' their living arrangements? Not many sadly - and many then become isolated due to the very normal mobility problems that so often come as part of the aging process.

With my scooter and wheelchair, and my location I can remain happily part of very many groups, get up to London by myself to visit family, etc. I have also become part of the local campaign group for accessibility and am the EDI officer for our large u3a.

I really would urge people involved in the process of oto ensure that their new home does not become a prison in times to come.

Wise words, Franbern, and we should have real infirmity in mind when choosing where to live late in life. Unfortunately things can change - our doctors’ surgery moved elsewhere to bigger premises and the bus service now is minimal; taxis are a possibility but only at certain times as they make a regular income from school transport so getting to GP appointment (remember them?) or to a local hospital once I stop driving will be very difficult. What looked ideal ten years ago now seems much more complicated so perhaps I didn’t look far enough ahead.

Priorities change over the years. A house, any house, with big garden close to a park for dogwalks used to be my number one priority .
Now I am really old and have long ago given up driving I seek a smaller garden for one small elderly dog, and a bungalow near where son lives.
I am too frail for the stress so my Rightmove is only a hobby.