Houses

[Happy Fox]

Put my house for sale in Hugglescote hoping to move either Glenfield / Western Park and/ or Knighton/ Stoneygate depending on properties.

 

First time selling a home and buying a home at the same time. Hopefully can move to my new property this year fingers crossed 🤞 

[Harry96]

Nearly one year later since viewing properties still not a home owner. Very frustrating. First property I had put an offer in for dragged on for 6 months and I eventually had to withdraw and then I saw another property and probably made a mistake by going with the same solicitors again giving them the benefit of the doubt. Nearly 5 months on from the offer was accepted for this place still not exchanged although has progressed more than the first property. Not sure if this is normal for these leasehold properties or if I’ve just been extremely unlucky and solicitors are to blame to. The hold up at the moment is with the lender apparently who need a fire risk assessment doing but not sure why this wasn’t brought up in earlier stages. I keep getting onto the solicitors to speed it up but they just keep telling me just have to wait for the lender to respond. Not sure what my options are if any

[The Year Of The Fox]

4 minutes ago, Harry96 said:

Nearly one year later since viewing properties still not a home owner. Very frustrating. First property I had put an offer in for dragged on for 6 months and I eventually had to withdraw and then I saw another property and probably made a mistake by going with the same solicitors again giving them the benefit of the doubt. Nearly 5 months on from the offer was accepted for this place still not exchanged although has progressed more than the first property. Not sure if this is normal for these leasehold properties or if I’ve just been extremely unlucky and solicitors are to blame to. The hold up at the moment is with the lender apparently who need a fire risk assessment doing but not sure why this wasn’t brought up in earlier stages. I keep getting onto the solicitors to speed it up but they just keep telling me just have to wait for the lender to respond. Not sure what my options are if any

Can’t you convert to freehold at the same time? 

[Harry96]

10 minutes ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

Can’t you convert to freehold at the same time? 

No as sadly I’m a first time buyer and can only afford up to 150,000 and freehold are extremely limited for that much 

[The Year Of The Fox]

1 hour ago, Harry96 said:

No as sadly I’m a first time buyer and can only afford up to 150,000 and freehold are extremely limited for that much 

I had a right faff a number of years ago purchasing a house which was shared ownership, but I was buying 100% of the house and changing to freehold. Offer was accepted Valentines Day, moved in on 4th August. 
 

It was a complete piss take. I’d actually emailed all parties and told them it had to be done by 28th July as I had tenants moving in to the house I was leaving. Got them to agree it should be doable, but then it fell through for a week, effectively rendering me homeless on paper. 
 

Keep pushing them. If you call them, follow up the call with an email. Tell them each time that you’ll be in touch in 48 hours time to check the progress (and stick to it)

 

A mate of mine was a conveyancer for a while whilst studying law. He openly admitted conveyancers tend to deal first with those shouting the loudest.

 

Remember, you’re paying for a service.

 

Failing that, contact the Legal Ombudsman 

 

 

Edited 1 April 2025 by The Year Of The Fox

[brookfox]

1 hour ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

I had a right faff a number of years ago purchasing a house which was shared ownership, but I was buying 100% of the house and changing to freehold. Offer was accepted Valentines Day, moved in on 4th August. 
 

It was a complete piss take. I’d actually emailed all parties and told them it had to be done by 28th July as I had tenants moving in to the house I was leaving. Got them to agree it should be doable, but then it fell through for a week, effectively rendering me homeless on paper. 
 

Keep pushing them. If you call them, follow up the call with an email. Tell them each time that you’ll be in touch in 48 hours time to check the progress (and stick to it)

 

A mate of mine was a conveyancer for a while whilst studying law. He openly admitted conveyancers tend to deal first with those shouting the loudest.

 

Remember, you’re paying for a service.

 

Failing that, contact the Legal Ombudsman 

 

 

As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

[Izzy]

After nearly three months of stress, I think we're close to exchanging contracts on our next place.

 

What a palaver. Doing a level 3 survey on it threw up a number of queries and since then we've had a structural engineer out, a CCTV drain survey done, and also an electrical inspection. We've also been around with a builder and plumbing/hearting engineer to measure up for various repairs/renovations that will need doing.

 

Probably gone a bit OTT with our 'due diligence' to the point of pissing off our seller (son and daughter of an old woman in a care home) so I dropped off a couple of bottles of wine to the son (who now lives next door) as an apology for being a pain in the arse. 

 

Got a jobs list as long as our arm on what needs doing so can only see it getting more stressful.

 

Can see why we've stayed put for the last 23 years. The whole process is just painful.

[kenny]

23 minutes ago, Izzy said:

After nearly three months of stress, I think we're close to exchanging contracts on our next place.

 

What a palaver. Doing a level 3 survey on it threw up a number of queries and since then we've had a structural engineer out, a CCTV drain survey done, and also an electrical inspection. We've also been around with a builder and plumbing/hearting engineer to measure up for various repairs/renovations that will need doing.

 

Probably gone a bit OTT with our 'due diligence' to the point of pissing off our seller (son and daughter of an old woman in a care home) so I dropped off a couple of bottles of wine to the son (who now lives next door) as an apology for being a pain in the arse. 

 

Got a jobs list as long as our arm on what needs doing so can only see it getting more stressful.

 

Can see why we've stayed put for the last 23 years. The whole process is just painful.

I was going to ask how it's going.

 

It's always amazing how little due diligence people do on what is a massive financial and emotional investment.

[Zear0]

31 minutes ago, Izzy said:

After nearly three months of stress, I think we're close to exchanging contracts on our next place.

 

What a palaver. Doing a level 3 survey on it threw up a number of queries and since then we've had a structural engineer out, a CCTV drain survey done, and also an electrical inspection. We've also been around with a builder and plumbing/hearting engineer to measure up for various repairs/renovations that will need doing.

 

Probably gone a bit OTT with our 'due diligence' to the point of pissing off our seller (son and daughter of an old woman in a care home) so I dropped off a couple of bottles of wine to the son (who now lives next door) as an apology for being a pain in the arse. 

 

Got a jobs list as long as our arm on what needs doing so can only see it getting more stressful.

 

Can see why we've stayed put for the last 23 years. The whole process is just painful.

Where's the Trackman going? 

[Izzy]

1 minute ago, Zear0 said:

Where's the Trackman going? 

The new gaff has got a double garage with space above so would be ideal for a simulator and trackman.

 

Sadly though, my daughter will soon be learning to drive so her car will be parked there  

[Zear0]

Just now, Izzy said:

The new gaff has got a double garage with space above so would be ideal for a simulator and trackman.

 

Sadly though, my daughter will soon be learning to drive so her car will be parked there  

Motivation to keep is straight then.

 

I've got a double garage for a home sim but the rafters are so low I'd whack them.

[VLC86]

A house I really wanted 4 years ago has gone back on the market. I couldn’t buy at the time as it was single skim brick so couldn’t get a mortgage so the buyer has had to pretty much rebuild it.

 

They have done a great job, massively extending but have listed it for £500k more than what they bought it for (£300k) . Wild, but looks class.

[Wolfox]

2 hours ago, Izzy said:

After nearly three months of stress, I think we're close to exchanging contracts on our next place.

 

What a palaver. Doing a level 3 survey on it threw up a number of queries and since then we've had a structural engineer out, a CCTV drain survey done, and also an electrical inspection. We've also been around with a builder and plumbing/hearting engineer to measure up for various repairs/renovations that will need doing.

 

Probably gone a bit OTT with our 'due diligence' to the point of pissing off our seller (son and daughter of an old woman in a care home) so I dropped off a couple of bottles of wine to the son (who now lives next door) as an apology for being a pain in the arse. 

 

Got a jobs list as long as our arm on what needs doing so can only see it getting more stressful.

 

Can see why we've stayed put for the last 23 years. The whole process is just painful.

Nice 👍🏼 

 

At least you’ll know exactly what you’re taking on!!!

[Izzy]

Finally got a completion date of June 23rd 

 

It's been 23 years since we last moved house so I've forgotten what's involved in the moving process.

 

Apart from the obvious like booking a removal company, what else should we be doing over the next 3 weeks?

 

If anyone who's moved recently could share any advice/tips/watch outs, that would be appreciated.

[The Hitman]

A house has come up on right move that we might be interested in. 
 

It says offers over rather than a guide price. 
 

Has anyone got any experience on how this will tend to play out?
I think they want a bidding war, but if there isn’t enough interest then surely you just bid at the minimum amount they’ve said. 

[Izzy]

2 hours ago, The Hitman said:

A house has come up on right move that we might be interested in. 
 

It says offers over rather than a guide price. 
 

Has anyone got any experience on how this will tend to play out?
I think they want a bidding war, but if there isn’t enough interest then surely you just bid at the minimum amount they’ve said. 

You can offer whatever you want. Guide price/offers over etc. is all bollocks and just a made up number anyway.

[Izzy]

4 hours ago, The Hitman said:

A house has come up on right move that we might be interested in. 
 

It says offers over rather than a guide price. 
 

Has anyone got any experience on how this will tend to play out?
I think they want a bidding war, but if there isn’t enough interest then surely you just bid at the minimum amount they’ve said. 

Watch this bloke. His advice helped us hugely when offering on the place we've just bought.

 

 

[The Hitman]

5 hours ago, Izzy said:

Watch this bloke. His advice helped us hugely when offering on the place we've just bought.

 

 

That’s great, thanks you. 

[Alf Bentley]

10 hours ago, Izzy said:

Finally got a completion date of June 23rd 

 

It's been 23 years since we last moved house so I've forgotten what's involved in the moving process.

 

Apart from the obvious like booking a removal company, what else should we be doing over the next 3 weeks?

 

If anyone who's moved recently could share any advice/tips/watch outs, that would be appreciated.

 

It's only 9-10 months since I moved, but I've probably already forgot a lot ("How  to move" books/online guides usually include a checklist).

 

A few that I do remember...

 

Between exchange of contracts and move):

- Obtain lots of cardboard boxes and tape or tea chests, more than you think you need....you always need more...and get packing at leisure (unless you're posh and are getting the removals firm to do it)

- You'll need lots of bubble wrap / kitchen rolls or whatever for wrapping delicate items; black bags to pack informal clothes?

- Work out any furniture / large items getting dumped and book council collection or take to tip

- Arrange redirection of post from move date

- Brainstorm institutions you'll need to notify of address change, though some can only be done last-minute: utility firms, banks, credit cards, HMRC, insurance, pensions, employer, council tax, schools...

 

Last few days:

- Defrost fridge/freezer (unless leaving behind)

- Identify "last minute packing" items: kettle, tea/coffee, some crockery/breakfast food, move day clothes, kids' entertainment (if long move)

- Dispose of perishable food (unless you hate the buyers, in which case insert kippers under floorboards/behind radiators )

- Double and triple-check for items that might be left behind (back of drawers/cupboards, loft, behind furniture, garden/yard/passage...)

- Contact removals firm to double-check all ok for move on agreed day at agreed time

- Compile a file/batch of documents needed for action in final days or soon after move?

- Notify utility firms (old place & new place, if possible)

 

Move day:

- Buy a few cold drinks/snacks for journey, unless moving locally?

- Take photo/record of closing meter readings in case of dispute, even if utility firm has automated meter readings

- Check all equipment left behind is turned off (surprising how easy it is to brush against a dial/switch)

- Turn power off at mains (if property will be vacant for a while)?

- Check doors locked and windows shut (maybe a few ventilators open, depending on security, if new resident moving in quickly?)

- Drop keys with estate agent or whoever

 

I'm sure I've forgotten lots of things.....definitely worth looking at checklists online or in a book, I reckon

 

Good luck! 

 

 

Edited 30 May 2025 by Alf Bentley

[Izzy]

20 minutes ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

It's only 9-10 months since I moved, but I've probably already forgot a lot ("How  to move" books/online guides usually include a checklist).

 

A few that I do remember...

 

Between exchange of contracts and move):

- Obtain lots of cardboard boxes and tape or tea chests, more than you think you need....you always need more...and get packing at leisure (unless you're posh and are getting the removals firm to do it)

- You'll need lots of bubble wrap / kitchen rolls or whatever for wrapping delicate items; black bags to pack informal clothes?

- Work out any furniture / large items getting dumped and book council collection or take to tip

- Arrange redirection of post from move date

- Brainstorm institutions you'll need to notify of address change, though some can only be done last-minute: utility firms, banks, credit cards, HMRC, insurance, pensions, employer, council tax, schools...

 

Last few days:

- Defrost fridge/freezer (unless leaving behind)

- Identify "last minute packing" items: kettle, tea/coffee, some crockery/breakfast food, move day clothes, kids' entertainment (if long move)

- Dispose of perishable food (unless you hate the buyers, in which case insert kippers under floorboards/behind radiators )

- Double and triple-check for items that might be left behind (back of drawers/cupboards, loft, behind furniture, garden/yard/passage...)

- Contact removals firm to double-check all ok for move on agreed day at agreed time

- Compile a file/batch of documents needed for action in final days or soon after move?

- Notify utility firms (old place & new place, if possible)

 

Move day:

- Buy a few cold drinks/snacks for journey, unless moving locally?

- Take photo/record of closing meter readings in case of dispute, even if utility firm has automated meter readings

- Check all equipment left behind is turned off (surprising how easy it is to brush against a dial/switch)

- Turn power off at mains (if property will be vacant for a while)?

- Check doors locked and windows shut (maybe a few ventilators open, depending on security, if new resident moving in quickly?)

- Drop keys with estate agent or whoever

 

I'm sure I've forgotten lots of things.....definitely worth looking at checklists online or in a book, I reckon

 

Good luck! 

 

 

That's really helpful mate - thank you for taking the time 

[Samilktray]

Moving this weekend and despite everything pretty much being packed already, I still don’t really know what to do with food in the fridge/freezer when moving house?

Is the done thing just to chuck it away and start again? Only problem with that being that I bought a tub of Ramona’s red pepper hummus yesterday and I really begrudge chucking that away tbh 

[PAULCFC]

16 hours ago, Izzy said:

Finally got a completion date of June 23rd 

 

It's been 23 years since we last moved house so I've forgotten what's involved in the moving process.

 

Apart from the obvious like booking a removal company, what else should we be doing over the next 3 weeks?

 

If anyone who's moved recently could share any advice/tips/watch outs, that would be appreciated.

Removal company's are a right rip off! We didn't get a quote under £1500 for us moving from Leicester to the North East.In the end we went and rented a van and did it our selves.A bit of manual labour,but if you have friends it helps!Cost us about £400 in the end.

[Izzy]

5 hours ago, PAULCFC said:

Removal company's are a right rip off! We didn't get a quote under £1500 for us moving from Leicester to the North East.In the end we went and rented a van and did it our selves.A bit of manual labour,but if you have friends it helps!Cost us about £400 in the end.

Yeah we rented a van and did it ourselves last time we moved but that was 23 years ago before kids and we've probably got twice as much shit now than we did back then!

 

We're only moving a mile and a half to the next village but we've got a company coming out on Monday to give us a quote.

 

If it's silly money then I guess we could rent a van again but we'd need some help like you say.

 

[Grebfromgrebland]

I just moved last month and got quite a few quotes. 

 

In the end we've with a firm that had a large Luton van and a long base van. They bought 4 guys and did the move. They were half the price of everyone else and was so glad I didn't try and self manage the move in the end as there was a few complications on the day which I couldn't have handled.

 

 

Edited 31 May 2025 by Grebfromgrebland

[FoyleFox]

10 hours ago, Samilktray said:

Moving this weekend and despite everything pretty much being packed already, I still don’t really know what to do with food in the fridge/freezer when moving house?

Is the done thing just to chuck it away and start again? Only problem with that being that I bought a tub of Ramona’s red pepper hummus yesterday and I really begrudge chucking that away tbh 

Can you put the freezer food in a family/friends freezer for a day? We just used everything up that we could before we moved. The fridge items went in a cool box with some extra ice bags. 

 

I would've loved a £1500 quote for removals, none of ours were under £5k! But it was 500 miles and took 5 days. And, I suspect the ferry cost for the lorry was £1k alone.