Buying a home and don't know how anything works

[equationgirl]

Hope the threads movers are having a productive and stress-free day

I’ve had a removals person quote today via a Skype call - amazing what technology can do. This is a bit more than the dodgy company quote but less than I’d expected from a company part of a national group.

Trying to work out the best move date with the below factors to consider.

1) I JGTFK on Thursday 30th June

2) I need a day after I’ve moved out to get this place cleaned.

3) My Dad can come down and help me on Friday 8th July for the weekend (for example with anything I need to buy in Ikea and some odd DIY jobs).

Therefore I think my best option is to move house Friday 1st July, which gives me a weekend to get sorted (plus maybe the Monday). Then get the rental property cleaned on the morning of Friday 8th July.

I have the whole period from 30th - 8th booked off work so all I need to do is cancel the dates I don’t want.

I think I’ve answered my own question now but sometimes laying it out in writing like this is helpful.

Aren't Fridays and Mondays the most expensive days of the wtto move on? I would try to avoid those days if you can.

 

[Elpenor]

Aren't Fridays and Mondays the most expensive days of the wtto move on? I would try to avoid those days if you can.

Not according to the guy who came today. It probably depends on how many crews a company have. I’ll have keys in hand from the start of the day which helps

Edit - Friday is a bad day round here I should think due to the tourist traffic but as I’ll have the keys they should be packed up by midday before it gets too bad

 

[5t3IIa]

Having time to GTFK, move and clean on different days/weeks is our huge luxury and I think your plan to take advantage of that is v good

Moving Day going flawlessly so far

 

[Elpenor]

Pull up a chair and watch other people do the work Looks like it’s going well

I am wondering now if it’s worth getting the new house cleaned before I move in.

I think on balance not it’s just more money and I don’t want to delay myself another day. So what I might do instead on GTFK day is bring the hoover over, and give it a quick once over, and work out what needs to go where / take meter readings.

 

[Epona]

And locate the stop-cock, don't forget that!

 

[Elpenor]

And locate the stop-cock, don't forget that!

Good point that. My mate’s holiday rental had the stopcock behind the back of a kitchen cupboard, obscured by some wooden panelling. As you can imagine he’s relocating it to somewhere more obvious

 

[5t3IIa]

Pull up a chair and watch other people do the work Looks like it’s going well

I am wondering now if it’s worth getting the new house cleaned before I move in.

I think on balance not it’s just more money and I don’t want to delay myself another day. So what I might do instead on GTFK day is bring the hoover over, and give it a quick once over, and work out what needs to go where / take meter readings.

The house we bought was filthy. I mean, honestly disgusting. We thought we’d do it ourselves but paid a firm in the end and it took them 6 hours (1600-2200!!). We are delighted with their work but they still inevitably missed bits - inch of dust on some doors and a curtain rail etc. I’d allow a decent amount of time and headspace to spend hours doing it and/or assess.

 

[Epona]

Aye, also if they've had pets, you may want to deep clean/hire a carpet cleaner thingy or get a professional(s) in to do it as you will be able to smell it on carpets.
And if that is the case, also be mentally prepared in case you need to delay stuff by a day due to needing to bug-bomb it etc.

Probably won't need anything that drastic ofc, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

 

[Thora]

The house we’ve moved into is pretty pristine, but omfg the state of the house we’re leaving
At least we have a couple of weeks to sort it out before handing the keys back.

We moved a small mdf unit (fairly cheap and light, not a substantial piece of furniture) to find at some point they’d recarpeted and hadn’t bothered moving it

 

[Looby]

The house we’ve moved into is pretty pristine, but omfg the state of the house we’re leaving
At least we have a couple of weeks to sort it out before handing the keys back.

We moved a small mdf unit (fairly cheap and light, not a substantial piece of furniture) to find at some point they’d recarpeted and hadn’t bothered moving it
View attachment 327039

My landlords/friends painted our house before we moved in and it must have been mostly in the dark after work.
He hadn’t even painted the space between the radiators and skirting. In the dining room it’s still pink as we’ve never done that room.

Round light fittings weren’t really done either.

 

[Elpenor]

This house isn’t filthy (from what I remember) - but maybe they’ve had a good go at messing it up since They seem like the sort of people who will do things properly; follow the golden rule etc. No evidence of any pets.

If it needs a proper clean then I’ll definitely hire a cleaning firm - just looking up one now for the local area. I tried to clean my old house in the morning before moving out and I did not do a good job under pressure! It’s one of those things things where paying the money is probably the smart move - especially as there’s only one of me so I’ll do it half as quick and twice as bad!

 

[bcuster]

For crying out loud: survey says most US home buyers moved to tears in today's market

Survey: Americans are likely to cry at least once (maybe twice) while attempting to buy a home during the tightest, highest housing market in decades.

www.usatoday.com

 

[equationgirl]

Two flats ago, when I moved out a couple of women came and cleaned it and it sparkled when they were done.

Despite it being a million times cleaner than when I moved in, the letting agent bitched that the door of the washing machine had a bit of dust on it and then walked up and down the kitchen trying to make out the floor was sticky. Fuckers still took a large chunk of my deposit.

 

[Elpenor]

I can’t remember what happened last time I rented (was in 2007!) re deposit and it was the landlords former house - think his wife came round and basically complained that her old house wasn’t clean enough!

My landlord currently, well it’s a company, the property manager who is my main contact is very by the book, and a professional as opposed to someone renting out one property on the side. Has been good for things like safety checks, the one piece of maintenance I needed done.

So I expect no silly games but the letter he gave me today acknowledging notice does say “there is no such thing as wear and tear on cleaning” so who knows

Other than a few small scuff marks on the wall from getting furniture upstairs I don’t think there’s been any damage.

 

[hash tag]

The advisor looked like he just left school

Probably had just left school. PS just because locals might all object to something, it could still happen.

No but we're asking our seller if they will accept our buyer's deposit in lieu

Doubtful. Deposits are held in lieu of exchange/completion.

Our surveyor recommended we get a drain survey. Has anyone paid for one in the past and thinks it's worth doing? Seems like it costs about £200. Plumbing all seemed fine when we visited the property but it's an over 100 year old property so drainage could be an issue.

Drainage, as opposed to plumbing, which is totally different and if a problem, could cause a nightmare. Imagine the damage a leaking drain underneath your property could cause and what it would take to out it right. It's probably just a case of shoving a camera through the drains.
Ps. Reading further posts, there are a number of things that can cause problems to drains...tree roots, new foundations or stress placed on them, simply someone digging for whatever reason.

 

[hash tag]

More documents have arrived today for signing and witnessing. The letter also mentioned the transferring over of deposit etc. it’s all getting very close.

Today’s job is to arrange the buildings insurance policy for house. I suppose the best thing to do is to pick a decent policy and upgrade it to contents cover when I’ve completed?

If getting a mortgage, the lenders will usually sort this. If not, there will be more documentation to sort. This needs to be effective from exchange which is when the place you are buying becomes your responsibility

 

[Red Cat]

Probably had just left school. PS just because locals might all object to something, it could still happen.

I think it's unlikely, you have to get planning permission for change of use to a takeaway and it's not a good location for that. A cafe wouldn't require permission but its not a good location for that either. I have done my homework and we are fine with the decisions we are making, but just considering that its possible it might affect the banks valuation. We'll find out soon enough if its yes or no.

 

[Thora]

If getting a mortgage, the lenders will usually sort this. If not, there will be more documentation to sort. This needs to be effective from exchange which is when the place you are buying becomes your responsibility

I don't think lenders sort your insurance for you. You have to do it yourself.

 

[hash tag]

Yes!! Tomorrow!! Am quite stressed, suddenly. The blissful ignorance of the FTB has given way to breakdowns over the vendor wanting an extra 3 hours to send a cleaner in. One hand, I want it clean, other hand I JWTFK

Good luck to you

Playing for time, why would anyone go to such trouble for a place they are selling?

My current situation is that nothing is happening, but all of the solicitors in the chain say they have done everything/it's not their fault. Mystifying.

This, unfortunately is very common.

 

[hash tag]

I don't think lenders sort your insurance for you. You have to do it yourself.

They always used to as they do have quite an interest in the property and will want to know if any claim is ever made to ensure any works required are actually carried out. At very least, their interest should be noted on a policy.

 

[equationgirl]

hash tag not these days. It's up to the owner of the property to sort out the insurance they require.

 

[hash tag]

Freedom to make your own decisions, right to choose I guess.

 

[equationgirl]

Freedom to make your own decisions, right to choose I guess.

I think they got their fingers burnt over it.

 

[Cat Fan]

This, unfortunately is very common.

Indeed, although knowing it is common doesn't make it less frustrating.

I've decided to leave my solicitors a negative review online - this has triggered the customer service team phoning me to try to get me to withdraw the complaint.

I'm also chasing them on a daily basis. So fingers crossed they will be motivated to get my case over the line.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Two flats ago, when I moved out a couple of women came and cleaned it and it sparkled when they were done.

Despite it being a million times cleaner than when I moved in, the letting agent bitched that the door of the washing machine had a bit of dust on it and then walked up and down the kitchen trying to make out the floor was sticky. Fuckers still took a large chunk of my deposit.

We sorted everything right out last move from a rental, the day of the check over they walked around while I sat on the floor and waited for the all clear.

Once it was all signed over and agreed it was ok (I'd already lost 100 quid for damage to the worlds cheapest door that was already mended with some resin gunk) I got up off the massive iron shaped burn in the carpet and left them to it.

 

[Cat Fan]

Complaining may have paid off, they're making some positive noises about exchanging in next two weeks. Might be conveyancer code for two months.

 

[Elpenor]

That sounds good!

All quiet here. I’m shifting my full deposit to the solicitor day by day (will get it all over by Friday so it’s sorted before I go on holiday).

Second removal quote of approx £900 and felt happy with the company. No dodgy goings on with this one. One more quote tomorrow and then pick between the two of them.

 

[bellaozzydog]

Two flats ago, when I moved out a couple of women came and cleaned it and it sparkled when they were done.

Despite it being a million times cleaner than when I moved in, the letting agent bitched that the door of the washing machine had a bit of dust on it and then walked up and down the kitchen trying to make out the floor was sticky. Fuckers still took a large chunk of my deposit.

I rented a house of my mates partner once. Not a particularly nice character. I shovelled and jet washed six inches of total cover dog shit in the back yard when I moved in and deep cleaned the dog biscuits down the edges of all the laminate floor. It was honking

When I came to move out I predicted to my mate that his partner will wail and shout about what a shit tip I’d left the place in and lose my deposit. He rolled his eyes and said “I know”

I had a professional cleaning company give it a full clean when I left. It was immaculate.

Mates partner gnashed her teeth called me a “dirty cunt” and tried to hold back my deposit.

My mate paid me back my deposit. Shoulders shrugging

Lesson is some people are fucking awful and it doesn’t matter how clean you leave a place they still try and stiff you, while actual having no standards of their own

 

[Cat Fan]

Doubtful. Deposits are held in lieu of exchange/completion.

Apparently it's fairly common in this case because the transactions are linked. Otherwise how would people have access to a deposit when they're selling to buy?

 

[shakespearegirl]

Survey happened yesterday. The surveyor actually called us when he 2as at the house and asked sensible questions! Rather than making stupid assumptions like the EA ECP idiot did