Help calm me. House buying and selling stress *Part 9*

Nice to hear all the positive moving stories and Happy birthday to your D Fran

My move was very stressful, but luckily, I had my son to help me, and he was a tremendous help, don't know how I would have done it without him. I have a lovely garden and lovely new patio doors to look out onto the garden, so that's really nice. Find it hard though going from a large 4bed house with driveway and lots of storage to this small garden flat with no storage or driveway. As you already know I dislike the road a lot and would move if I had the money to, but that would take a big lotto win!

Perhaps I should add that I was fortunate with the actual sale of the house and the purchase of the new one.
A cash buyer bought my house which meant that my purchase was straight forward, no waiting for approval re mortgages etc.
Initially I was going to buy a completely new build which would not have been ready until August, 2019. As my sale was scheduled to go through in February 2019 I would have to rent something in the interim.
After going through the process of clearing out all the stuff, I decided that I was not up to moving again in 6 months time. I then began to look at other houses on the same site that were being sold privately
The one that I bought had been empty since the previous June and had been a rental. Obviously, the Landlord had decided, for whatever reason, that the renting out was no longer viable. The house had been on the market for a few months when I put an offer in December, 2018, which was £3,000 below the asking price.
I asked the advice of the estate agent re what solicitor to use. I wanted someone that would be quick. In fairness the solicitor she recommended started the process in December, and the actual date of purchase was 22nd February, 2019.
I am glad that I did buy this house and not the one I was going to buy initially. This is in a better spot and being 4 years old, there were no snags to worry about.
I realise now that I was very lucky compared to some of you that have posted, it must have been very hard at the time to have the strength to carry on.

My youngest daughter and hubbie have now exchanged contracts and will be moving house next Monday. Their sixth move (okayj that does include three rentals between moved), in ten years!!!! Do hope they will make this the last one for a long time.

She will be coming to the overnight stay at a hotel this coming weekend to celebrate a sister's 50th birthday, but will leave directly after breakfast to get back home to finish off packing, etc. Fortunately, the move is just three miles from their present house.

I contacted the son of the former owner of a flat in this block which is empty and awaiting probate to give him the phone number someone who I showed around here and is very enthusiastic about buying a flat here, but needs to sell her house first. She is so excited when he contacted her. Could work out well, with him having to await probate and she having to sell her present house. Fingers crossed all round. And, no need go any involvement of an Estate Agent!!!

Winter is settling in and I have actually needed to have my heating on for two or three hours in the evenings now. Trees outside nearly bare now. Notice that the bulbs in the pots on my patio are pushing up through the compost. They and me looking forward to Spring!!!!

maytime, oh yes I do agree that a genuine cash purchaser is quicker but many say they are and then decide that they will hang onto some of their cash and get a small mortgage, at last minute. Cash buyers do tend to use cash as their leverage ie deductions in price. Mine ended up not being the cash buyer that she said she was. It gave me an awful amount of stress and added weeks to the selling process

My neighbours bulbs are showing too, good signs of spring ahead but right now november is dismal and the rain stops me going out as much

Last three years I had so much to do in this house, so much still to be sorted and off loaded then but all that is done and walking around with a duster is not enough for me now. I keep looking for things to do but the upside is that my drawers are done and cupboards are next

I am still faffing with banks, trying to squeeze the most from my savings. I shoved all into ns&i, after moving, which is safe but the interest rate is now comparatively lower. I have a shawbrook easy access account at 2.3% but saw a shawbrook 120 day notice account at 3% and opened one and am now in process of getting my ns&i account down to minimal. Trying not to open any account with any other new bank or bs. None of the banks or building societies alert customers to new accounts with better rates

Thank you Karmalady. I knew from the beginning that she was a genuine cash buyer as she had sold a large property through the same estate agent. I don't know where she was going to live, but she bought my house so that her son and wife could have a house of their own as soon as they were married.
I had kept my house in good order and bought only the best that I could afford re central heating boiler, 4 year old bathroom and kitchen etc. The estate agent told me, when he valued the property, that I had spent too much on the fittings and could not recoup those in the valuation of the house.
I didn't mind as when I had bought them selling up was the furthest thing in my thoughts, and I had bought them for my own comfort and peace of mind.
Karmalady are the bank accounts that you mention only available on line or can one apply in person. I ask because I have a very small Nationwide account and when I inquired about moving to a better rate I was told that it was for on line accounts only. I would never do any on line banking. In my opinion there hasn't been a programme designed yet that cannot be hacked.

maytime, my accounts are online. I don`t have any banking apps on my phone. Online accounts are very secure and doubly secure with an internet security programme. I unplugged my landline phone as that was the source of lots of phishing calls, my mobile phone with vodafone, does not ever get these phishing calls. Actionfraud, which is run via the police, excellent site for scamming information

I had a new kitchen in 2015, we had already ordered it and then my husband died suddenly but I went ahead with it, not realising that I would sell the house within four years. Top of the range everything, my dream once in a lifetime kitchen. Cost a lot and looking back, I wish I had not spent all that money but so be it. My kitchen now is ok, perfectly functional but I learnt my lesson from the last house and will not be upgrading it, or anything else. I have peace of mind, thinking that my kitchen helped sell that house

Karmalady you were up very early this morning. Hope you are okay.

I have done on-line banking (incldung on my smartphone), for many years now, never any problems whatsoever. Obviously all accounts are actually 'on-line' because that is how the banks hold them. Last time I had any problems with my bank account was to do with cheques being written withdrawing virtually all the money in my account. Fraud involving someone in bank itself stealing these cheque books. So, maytime you are really missing out on all the convenience of on-line banking for no good reason.

Off to my BSL course this morning - then packing this afternoon ready for my weekend away celebrating my middle childs 50th birthday (actually last Sunday). All my children are coming, as well as the adult g.children. Hotel was chosen for two reasons, one it hosts a Murder Dinner on the Saturday night and the second was that it has a nice swimming pool spa. Just had notification saying spa is closed!!!! Giving us some bottles of prosecco as compensation!!!

Never mind, we will just sit in the bar as we arrive tomorrow afternoon and have a good family chat

Fran, I get up between 5.30 and 6 every single day. I see the sun coming out and am raring to get out on a cycle ride today

Ds is IT banking and they have very frequent security meetings. Actionfraud person said at my u3a talk, that many scams come via phone and `making friends` with whoever is calling, also via interest sites, when people join because of a shared interest. Grooming in other words

Lovely sunny dry day today. I must do the same Karma re savings, mine are low % compared to the offers out now. I only do on-line banking but wouldn't download an app onto my phone as the banks wants, as I feel that's where fraud could take place especially if you lose or get your mobile stolen. Do you not need your landline for your internet Karma?

Have a fabulous weekend away Fran for your DD birthday bash.

No yogi, they gave me a landline number but I just unplugged the landline. Have not needed it since. I am with plusnet, I have a phone package plus broadband, all in all it was the cheapest with broadband. That plus phone contract= essential relatively high cost but needs must in this day and age. Almost everytime I pay anyone by card, I get a sims code on the phone. Essential belt and braces security

I got myself out cycling, dread the first hill in one mile but I coped. Anything after that is do-able.

Banking aps on phones re only accessed, on each occasion,h with security number. One of mine has six figures - do not think any amount of trial and error would find that, the other one for my credit card) is five figures. Again, not sure of odds for someone guessing that -but must be prety long odds. So, even if I lost my 'phone - they would have to know my security no. to get into the phone, then the different numbers to get into those aps. All before I had the opportunity of reporting the phone lost. Mind you I have NEVER lost a phone.

I'm with plusnet Karma never use my home phone and thought if you disconnect, you'd lose your internet, I'll try it. No one has my home phone number so on the rare times it has rung I ignore it as must be a cold caller.

I am now back home from a lovely family weekend away, celebrating my ,middle childs 50th birthday. All five of my AC children were there as were the adult g.children, just the three youngest not there. So lovely being with them all for those few hours, we do not really manage a big family get-together like this very often. Probaby ext time will be in 2025 when the twins reach 50 years.

So, back home now I have a few tears (so silly), been looking forward to this weeken for along time and now it is all over.......!!! I do see them all individuallyj reasonably often, and have now been sent a whole file of lovely photos taken ny my son and DiL who have become the families official photographers.
My youngest daughter is moving house tomorrow, we all sat at brekkie this morning in the hotel having a very long chin wag, but she and her twin had to leave reasonably early to get back to finish packing for tomorrow.

Have unpacked, downloaded this lovely file of photos, had a mug of tea and some of this lovely cake - awaiting my Sainsbury order now.

Yogi, just letting you know my plusnet cost, fibre and I have the same as my neighbour. £24.50 pm for 18 months. I had to go on fibre this time. Vod for mobile phone and they seem very good at fielding scam calls.

Fran, what a lovely weekend for you. I know, it is now an anticlimax and tv is rubbish again today, which does not help

My youngest daughter successfully moved house yesterday. Fortunately, only three miles away as there was a hitch. Their removal van arrived at the house into which they were moving, early afternoon. Just second in small chain, the monies had gone through and they were now the owners of that property. However, their sellers removal company turned up at 1 pm insteady of the arranged 8.30am, so their lorry was still moving everything out.

Was another two hours before they were able to start moving all their furniture, etc into the house. As they had opted not to pay for having things like beds, etc taken down/put up by the removal firm, prefering to do it themselves, they just put mattresses on the floor to sleep on last night.

Still they are now in. unpacking will start today as soon as the girls go off to their schools, (now within walking distance for them - the main reason for the move).

Next year is the plan...am sorting and discarding stuff, tho having already downsized previously, not so much as some have at all.

But I'm wavering between thinking of a bungalow or a flat depending on each day and the energy I have at the particular time. I've lived in a flat before with rather thin walls so know the snags if you dont get ti right.

I'm in a city but in suburbs where nothing is close by - GP, shops, cafes, library, my gym etc without a car, and have a "target area" where friends already live. The "when" depends on me becoming clearer as to what I want.

Fran so nice to hear you had a wonderful weekend, sad once it's all over and you're sitting on your own isn't it. Your poor D with her move, well she is in now and will get settled for Xmas.

Wyllow Well my advice would be to get a bungalow not a flat.
When I first moved into my ground floor garden flat, I got on well with my upstairs neighbour. This is a semi-detached house, so just me downstairs and him upstairs. We have had a few arguments recently and it made me realise the pitfalls of living in a flat. I have always lived in a big 4–6-bedroom detached or semi-detached house, so such a difference here, but beforehand I wondered about what it would be like and was intrigued. The most important thing was for me to be mortgage free, so unfortunately that didn't stretch to a nice bungalow. Strangely, when I first started looking to move, I viewed quite a few bungalows, but not in this area, it was Canvey Island which is a lot cheaper then where I am now.
Good luck with your house hunt.

Different to Yogi, I would recommend a flat. Not all have those paper thin walls - indeed our block is built from Westonstone, very thick.

I find that the security with a flat is so mkuch better than any individual house/bungalow. Feel so very safe here, and can leave windows open (in summer)_ when I am out. The external doors to the block have security keys which cannot be copied by locksmiths without very specific permission, so extremely difficult for anyone who should not actually to get into the building - let alone into our individual flats.

We are like a small community (25 flats approx three dozen occupants), can be as friendly with people as you wish, or as distant if that is your wish. Obviously, less energy used in heating each flat as we benefit from each other. And, no worries about gardens, gutterings, pipes, roofs or external walls and fence maintenance, etc.

All the flat here are pretty roomy, so not that feeling of being hemmed in. I had not lived in a flat since I left parental home in 1964 so it was a leap into the dark, however, I absolutely love it, cannot find a single downside.,

On paper thin walls, I would comment that when we moved into a new build terrace house in 1972, the walls were so thin, that I could hear my next door neighbour plug in her electric kettle and she could hear me run my early morning bath, on the days I was going out to work. Definitely no privicy for any arguements in those!!!!

re flats. It very much depends on who is running the management company and the consideration the owners have for each other. Fran`s block is very obviously well managed. I have been in a development when some apartment owners were very put out because several owners put tenants in and suddenly cycles and prams were left in the bottom hallways and the bin area became just a rubbish area. Other tenants stole electricity from hallways. We had a townhouse in that development

It was very good while all the apartments were owner occupied

The walls in the flat I was in before were not paper thin (70's properties notorious1) but thin enough to never feel quite private. Agree totally if you are in a block where there are a high % of rentals - ie the owners bought as an investment.
and very wary of who is managing the blocks.

a lot then depends on neighbours - had one lady in my block who was a nasty piece of work and it was a shadow that never quite went unless you have totally thick skin. She complained if you so much as twitched.

But as you get older choice is limited by things like - are there lifts? I'm not, at 71, ready for the "McCarthy and Stone option". Part of the reason is that certainly our local one is for over 75's only and isolated community wise.

Yoginimeisje I share your limited resources as regards a bungalow - waiting to hear if my sister is prepared to part -own one in the area I'm interested in.

One thing I am aware of after living here - don't buy a property that needs a lot of work doing of it!!! Takes all time and energy not just maintaining but having necessary work done on house.

Other thing about flats - its all about "location" within a block. End top floor, for example, is best option privacy and noise wise.

Wyllow I moved to a 2 bed bungalow from large 3 bed house in 2019. For all the stress ,buyers pulling out etc. Best thing I ever did . I love my bungalow. They are more expensive to buy but cheaper to run and keep warm. I could never live in an apartment. So never looked at apartments as I knew I couldn't live in one.. I knew I needed a bungalow for health reasons. And have a gardens I can look after myself even brought a greenhouse and got winter crops growing in it. The first night I slept here was the first good night's sleep I had had since my children where born and my daughter's 39. I fall asleep every night as soon as my head hits the pillow. I moved 100+ miles to the north west. Love it here it feels like I have always lived here. And the people are wonderful. I existed in my old house after my husband died but here I live my life to the full. Health care is brilliant here and at the age of 64 finally found out what my neurological condition is and I was born with it all because of my wonderful neurologist who had my blood genetically tested also found out I was born with a whole in my heart thanks to my cardiologist having various tests done. My GP sent me to see the right experts.

On a water meter here and saves me money. I live 10 mins away on the bus from the shops and my GP is just a few more miles away the bus stops opposite it that's why I choose that practice.

I remember years ago on here someone said you get bunga knees living on one level. And they are right murder on my knees going up stairs . But I wouldn't change my bungalow for a million pounds.

Has anyone heard from Razz I have emailed her but had no reply ? Just wondered if she was alright.

horses for courses. Fran is over 80 and not in the best of health, her apartment obviously suits her down to the ground. An well managed apartment like hers would suit a lot of reasonably mobile over 80s, while keeping them out of McArthy stone.

I need a house and garden, whiff needs her bungalow. It is not only about down to what we would like but cost and many are unwilling to move to a cheaper area that in reality could well be better

I am very much hoping that razz is just having a well-earned break away from GN. I miss her interesting posts

Very cheering, Whiff.

I am in no doubt however that when I am well into my 80's or even before I'd go for the supported flat option. My 89 yr old friend lives in one and its ideal.

My target area isn't very posh, just a bit up from where I am now. Its because there are friends there, GP, shop, friendly cafes, ageing hippies like me with a touch of eccentricity wandering around instead of endless "burbs".

Last of the jiggling this morning.

Moving, then up to finally 100% settling in my new home took a long time, in reality about 5 years. First the clearing, then the selling and buying, then the moving and then the three years it needed to change things, add things and to settle

In process my savings were depleted and any existing interest rates were stagnant. the lower rates were quietly in place. Not any more, I have moved and jiggled almost all my savings. I did manage to keep some existing accounts that were lying low with just a few £ in them and lo and behold good attractive interest rates are now available

I opened two new accounts, just plain and simple christmas savers but they will stay open afterwards even if by just keeping a few £ in, so much easier than going through the applications for any in future.

I have put as much as I dared into fixed rate bonds, I cannot see interest rates going up again. So today am back on that level playing field and have made a chart, showing the interest vehicle layout that applies to my savings eg /instant access saver /notice access saver / then the fixed rate bonds

I shall have enough easy access for emergencies but in the meantime I am on a savings mission. For me austerity= no excess spending = saving.

I needed that kick up the derriere