Buying a home and don't know how anything works

[hash tag]

Yep depends on solicitors. I have to say I'd be tempted now to write into any agreement that they are being accepted subject to a commitment that they would act on any communications received and take any actions required within a day.

Not that that would mean they would be liable if they didn't do that, inefficient solicitors seem to be tolerated and even encouraged by the Solicitors' Regulation Authority which I heavily suspect is made up of ... solicitors.

When markets were peaking many years ago I did mortgages as part of a merchant bank. We were working really stupid hours to tread water.
Anyway, one of the bankers decided he was going to get a purchase of a high end property sorted in 48 hours, and he did. The mortgage including references and valuation, the conveyancing the lot. It took shed loads of work and a huge amount of persuasion and cash. It did get done and proved it can be done, but, it was really hard work and expensive.

 

[steveseagull]

Yes, but prices have gone up so much in the last 6 months I don’t think we can afford one anymore. Just means kids having to share a bit longer.

Would it be possible to convert the reception room into a bedroom and the dining room into a reception room?

 

[marty21]

3 months is nothing. As this thread proves.

Just spoke to her, she has pulled out , I think most of the issues had been sorted but Solicitors were taking ages . In better news, she's had an offer accepted on another place , which is nearer to the centre of Bath (the other place was just outside Bath) . This one is between my 2 sisters (who she splits her time with atm) .

 

[Thora]

Would it be possible to convert the reception room into a bedroom and the dining room into a reception room?

Yes, definitely looking at places with 2 reception rooms where that would be a possibility. Youngest boy & girl are 7 and 4 so can still share for the time being but it would be good to have some flexibility in the future.
Also looking at 3 beds with integral or attached garages.

 

[Thora]

House buying is bloody brutal at the moment! Houses coming on rightmove and being sold within 24 hours

I've been away with work for a few days, so Mr Thora viewed a house on the same street as the previous one we were buying - it was nice, bit smaller than what we'd orginally looked for, 3.5 bedrooms, but basically good so he offered asking price yesterday and was accepted today.
Literally at the same time as that a new house came onto Rightmove, much bigger and everything we could want I booked a viewing for it for tomorrow.
2nd house is on Purple Bricks and I get an alert every time someone books a viewing - must be at least 10 booked now.

 

[hash tag]

Best of luck with that Thora . I don't envy you.

 

[Epona]

House buying is bloody brutal at the moment! Houses coming on rightmove and being sold within 24 hours

I've been away with work for a few days, so Mr Thora viewed a house on the same street as the previous one we were buying - it was nice, bit smaller than what we'd orginally looked for, 3.5 bedrooms, but basically good so he offered asking price yesterday and was accepted today.
Literally at the same time as that a new house came onto Rightmove, much bigger and everything we could want I booked a viewing for it for tomorrow.
2nd house is on Purple Bricks and I get an alert every time someone books a viewing - must be at least 10 booked now.

Good luck! Hope you get somewhere you like.

I am (still) wanting to move at some point and it's a fairly terrifying prospect right now.

 

[Artaxerxes]

May have found somewhere to live that ticks 75% of my boxes. Main issue for me is it’s leasehold and no outdoors but it’s otherwise fairly big for our money.

So what do I do? We’re going to actually see it Sunday.

 

[moonsi til]

Firstly check out the length of the lease , you want it over 80 years. Then view it & decide if you want to offer.

 

[Elpenor]

My main advice is to think carefully about any downsides eg the outdoor space and decide if they will end up becoming a massive issue which bugs you in the next 5 years.

 

[prunus]

May have found somewhere to live that ticks 75% of my boxes. Main issue for me is it’s leasehold and no outdoors but it’s otherwise fairly big for our money.

So what do I do? We’re going to actually see it Sunday.

You may be able to buy the freehold (or share of) at the same time.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Firstly check out the length of the lease , you want it over 80 years. Then view it & decide if you want to offer.

It's 180 I believe which is good.

It's a historic building near a high street so I need to find out who owns it I thinks I suspect council. Thankfully don't have to deal with cladding.

Monday I'm going to phone bank and ask about mortgage on principle, even if this fall's through that should stay viable for a few months.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

It's 180 I believe which is good.

It's a historic building near a high street so I need to find out who owns it I thinks I suspect council. Thankfully don't have to deal with cladding.

Monday I'm going to phone bank and ask about mortgage on principle, even if this fall's through that should stay viable for a few months.

worth trying to find out what the ground rent / service charges (which will usually include buildings insurance, maintenance of any communal areas and so on - in a few cases it can include water and / or district heating, but the latter is increasingly rare) are before you go too far with it.

 

[Elpenor]

worth trying to find out what the ground rent / service charges (which will usually include buildings insurance, maintenance of any communal areas and so on - in a few cases it can include water and / or district heating, but the latter is increasingly rare) are before you go too far with it.

District heating is having a comeback. And not a popular one

Banned from switching energy firm for 71 years

John Clements from Cranbrook near Exeter in Devon, is one of many new-build homeowners across the country being denied the chance to save hundreds on their energy bills.

www.google.co.uk

 

[hash tag]

It's 180 I believe which is good.

It's a historic building near a high street so I need to find out who owns it I thinks I suspect council. Thankfully don't have to deal with cladding.

Monday I'm going to phone bank and ask about mortgage on principle, even if this fall's through that should stay viable for a few months.

House or flat?
Is it above commercial premises, is it listed, is it standard construction? It's not got a thatched roof etc.

 

[bellaozzydog]

House or flat?
Is it above commercial premises, is it listed, is it standard construction? It's not got a thatched roof etc.

Be a bit careful if it’s above business premises or in a very central area it may have mortgage issues which you won’t find out about till the mortgage company does a survey

I had MIP twice on the flat I just bought and both failed at point of survey

 

[hash tag]

Exactly. Same reasons if non standard construction.

 

[bellaozzydog]

So I got in tfor the first time today



I’m a bit overwhelmed with what to do next

Hang in there all you urban house buyers it will eventually happen, just doesn’t feel like it at the time

 

[hash tag]

Congrats bellaozzydog, when's the warming party? What to do next? Christen every room and Introduce yourself to your neighbours via nextdoor. Then you can start asking for help, bits n pieces, loans etc. And get a feel for what's going on locally.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I’m a bit overwhelmed with what to do next

when in doubt, make tea...

 

[bellaozzydog]

Congrats bellaozzydog, when's the warming party? What to do next? Christen every room and Introduce yourself to your neighbours via nextdoor. Then you can start asking for help, bits n pieces, loans etc. And get a feel for what's going on locally.

the neighbour is a 0400AM license nightclub so I’m unlikely to burn the neighbours in the near future

first job, rip out the smelly carpets

 

[marty21]

District heating is having a comeback. And not a popular one

Banned from switching energy firm for 71 years

John Clements from Cranbrook near Exeter in Devon, is one of many new-build homeowners across the country being denied the chance to save hundreds on their energy bills.

www.google.co.uk

A lot of the estates managed by the council I work for do have district heating , tenants on the whole seem to like it , bills are averaged out every week so there's no big winter bill . Unsure if it works out cheaper tbf .

 

[Epona]

A lot of the estates managed by the council I work for do have district heating , tenants on the whole seem to like it , bills are averaged out every week so there's no big winter bill . Unsure if it works out cheaper tbf .

I'd hate that, I don't put the heating on ever (ok, maybe like 3 times a year during winter for a couple of hours at a time) as I don't need it.

 

[A380]

So I got in tfor the first time today



I’m a bit overwhelmed with what to do next….

Well presumably, like anyone who has just moved in next door to a popular pub or music venue that had been providing a great service to its community for years, or even decades, your very first task is to write to the licencing committee at the council to have it closed down…

 

[bellaozzydog]

Well presumably, like anyone who has just moved in next door to a popular pub or music venue that had been providing a great service to its community for years, or even decades, your very first task is to write to the licencing committee at the council to have it closed down…

It’s on the mailing list to the council along side happy children noises, seagulls squawking and the noisy sea waves, damn them all

 

[A380]

So. Hive mind. Buying a house to move nearer in laws and the sea. Made and offer and then had the survey today.

Anyone got an estimate to the nearest £1000 please how much it would cost to repoint and reflash a four foot tall chimney on a bungalow. It’s causing damp in the chimney breasts.

Also woodworm in the joists in the garage, how much is treatment these days please?

Thanks in advance construction types…

 

[hash tag]

Chimney, no idea, sorry. Quotes should be free. Woodworm, depends how serious it is. If bad enough, joists could need replacing. I would doubt that, unless really serious, that either of them would stop you getting a mortgage. That could well be done on your undertaking to get the work done or perhaps a small retention made until the works were done.

 

[WouldBe]

So. Hive mind. Buying a house to move nearer in laws and the sea. Made and offer and then had the survey today.

Anyone got an estimate to the nearest £1000 please how much it would cost to repoint and reflash a four foot tall chimney on a bungalow. It’s causing damp in the chimney breasts.

Also woodworm in the joists in the garage, how much is treatment these days please?

Thanks in advance construction types…

I had a quote some years ago to reduce a chimney by 6 rows of bricks (there was a crack in the chimney) of £750 including scaffold up to the roof so probably around £1500 these days.

You can get woodworm treatment at DIY stores that you just paint/spray on.

 

[Boudicca]

My survey said I had woodworm.

I got a ridiculously expensive quote to fix it and haggled some money off the purchase price. When I moved in, I got a second opinion, which turned out to be 'looks like it was treated and dealt with a long time ago, don't bother doing anything'

 

[Glitter]

Ours still hasn’t sold. Over six months now. We are almost over the line (could be this week, most likely next now)