Trying to put the move to the back of my mind but that is easier said than done. I am one of those people that need regular re assurance that things are progressing. I know it is not going to happen and not possible to do but it would be really nice to get a call every day from the Estate Agent to the effect " we have spoken to your buyer and everything is progressing well, speak to you tomorrow".
I can tell this by how it makes me feel when we get some progress. Take last Saturday for example, when the Agent rang to tell us the buyer had been into the mortgage company and signed the paperwork, I was really happy and positive that things were moving forward. Then just a few days later and following no contact with anyone, purely because there is nothing to say, my mind starts thinking, its not going to happen, something has gone wrong etc etc.
I was back on a positive yesterday. The Estate Agent rang to say that the survey was booking in for next Tuesday morning, so progress at last and feeling happy and positive again. I am sure at some point today that positive mood will be replaced again by doubts.
I wrote to the solicitors yesterday regarding our preferred completion date. Helen and I discussed what we would prefer and that is for at least 4 weeks between exchange and completion, but completion date of no earlier than Friday 4th May 2012. This will mean we will be here for Helen and Craigs birthday's the weekend before and we can have a last BBQ here before moving.
Update on the sold board, it is still propped up against my house. I told the agent when they rang about the survey and she was most annoyed herself and would get onto her sign people. The Agent has lost so much free advertising that they have sold a property, especially being on the main road.
Friday, 16 March 2012
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
14th March 2012
Wow this seems to be taking ages. Every day seems to be dragging on and my mind keeps thinking of all the things to do and I cannot do them until we exchange.
I looked back over the records of our last move and noted that from request for Mortgage to the mortgage being issued to 20 days. Now that was with no complications, us progressing it and also arranging the survey ourself within the first week. So I guess there explains the reality of it. Our buyer only went to his Mortgage provider on Saturday and therefore we must expect that nothing will happen until at least another two and half weeks.
I was also trying to remember why it seemed different the last time we moved and that I think is because at that time we were also buying a property. So then we had the selling process to organise and once we had a buyer we almost forgot about that side of it and had to find our own property and arrange a new mortgage surveys etc, so after offer on our flat we had other things to occupy our minds.
This time with us selling only, it is pretty much all done from us and we have nothing to do now for around 3 weeks.
So my mindset has now changed. Time to sit back, get on with day to day life and hope that time moves quickly and there are no problems. We are in a great position and I would hat to be going through this with a different buyer, maybe one in a chain, and if it were nearer our end of May deadline. I think the stress would then be very much different.
Here we have a first time buyer. No chain either end. We are still in March, exchange should take place in around 4 weeks time or earlier, so time to start enjoying life again.
I should now try and concentrate on losing the 4lbs weight I need to reach my goal weight. It has been hard since Christmas, but I guess that is because I am so close to my ideal weight that it is difficult to get off. What annoys me is that you only have to have one day off and 3 or 4 lbs go on, shame it does not work the other way. I am exeercising every day now, went for a nice long bike ride yesterday as well as Badminton, and hope this boosts me to lose those extra few pounds.
I looked back over the records of our last move and noted that from request for Mortgage to the mortgage being issued to 20 days. Now that was with no complications, us progressing it and also arranging the survey ourself within the first week. So I guess there explains the reality of it. Our buyer only went to his Mortgage provider on Saturday and therefore we must expect that nothing will happen until at least another two and half weeks.
I was also trying to remember why it seemed different the last time we moved and that I think is because at that time we were also buying a property. So then we had the selling process to organise and once we had a buyer we almost forgot about that side of it and had to find our own property and arrange a new mortgage surveys etc, so after offer on our flat we had other things to occupy our minds.
This time with us selling only, it is pretty much all done from us and we have nothing to do now for around 3 weeks.
So my mindset has now changed. Time to sit back, get on with day to day life and hope that time moves quickly and there are no problems. We are in a great position and I would hat to be going through this with a different buyer, maybe one in a chain, and if it were nearer our end of May deadline. I think the stress would then be very much different.
Here we have a first time buyer. No chain either end. We are still in March, exchange should take place in around 4 weeks time or earlier, so time to start enjoying life again.
I should now try and concentrate on losing the 4lbs weight I need to reach my goal weight. It has been hard since Christmas, but I guess that is because I am so close to my ideal weight that it is difficult to get off. What annoys me is that you only have to have one day off and 3 or 4 lbs go on, shame it does not work the other way. I am exeercising every day now, went for a nice long bike ride yesterday as well as Badminton, and hope this boosts me to lose those extra few pounds.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
13th March 2012
It is a strange period at the moment. We are now in week 6 of the process of selling our house and after days and weeks of chasings Estate Agents, having people view the house, getting feedback, changing prices etc etc we have now had a few days of having nothing to do.
No phone calls to make, no days of waiting on a phone call, it is nice but also strange in so far you have to keep reminding yourself that we are selling, we have had an offer and behind the scenes people are doing things to sell our property.
The next thing we are expecting is the survey to take place, we still do not have a date for this, although I would guess it would be sometime next week now. We also do not know if it will be a valuation survey or a full structural survey but obviously until that happens nothing else can proceed.
One thing that still makes me laugh is the for sale board. It has been a saga from the start. If you remember after the first week we did not have a board up at all and then last week Agent 2 sent their man to take down their board, their post and he threw Agent 3's board onto our driveway.
Now you would have thought that being on the main road Agent 3 would want it put back up quickly to advertise that they have a SOLD property, but as of today it still sits in our garden leaning against the fence.
That's all for now, just waiting on two more quotes from removal firms to find out how much that will cost us and for now it is just waiting for the time when we can start doing some real packing.
No phone calls to make, no days of waiting on a phone call, it is nice but also strange in so far you have to keep reminding yourself that we are selling, we have had an offer and behind the scenes people are doing things to sell our property.
The next thing we are expecting is the survey to take place, we still do not have a date for this, although I would guess it would be sometime next week now. We also do not know if it will be a valuation survey or a full structural survey but obviously until that happens nothing else can proceed.
One thing that still makes me laugh is the for sale board. It has been a saga from the start. If you remember after the first week we did not have a board up at all and then last week Agent 2 sent their man to take down their board, their post and he threw Agent 3's board onto our driveway.
Now you would have thought that being on the main road Agent 3 would want it put back up quickly to advertise that they have a SOLD property, but as of today it still sits in our garden leaning against the fence.
That's all for now, just waiting on two more quotes from removal firms to find out how much that will cost us and for now it is just waiting for the time when we can start doing some real packing.
Monday, 12 March 2012
12th March 2012
So we are just waiting now. It is strange but with having nothing to do or chase or organise I have started to think about the move and whether we are doing the right thing. It is strange to be doing this now, we have, after all been playing this for over a year now.
It may have started because yesterday I started to look on right move for rental properties in Kings Lynn and there did not seem to be that many. I am hoping that the Estate Agents up there have many more on their books. When we went up in October and spoke to them they said they had plenty of properties but you had to get in quick to secure one. So once we have exchanged I think we will register with local Agents and get them to start sending us details. If need be, we may rent a property earlier than we were going to but not move into it straight away.
This is a massive move and definately the biggest thing I have ever done. Once we exchange contracts that is it, no going back. At the moment we are quite comfortable, we have a nice house, financially we are OK, the kids are at schools they like and are settled, but then I have to consider that Helen works far too long hours, we never see her and that is not fair, the area we live in is not what it used to be, the streets here are not safe and I worry when Craig is out on his own or with mates, and I would not be comfortable when Kirsty grows up with her going out. Then you have the pace of life in London which is ot something we enjoy anymore. The pollution does not help, both children are on all year round anti histomines and Craig is couped up in a small box room.
So having said all of that, then it is the right thing to do but it is still difficult to stop the thoughts going one way and the other in my mind. It is a nice period to be in, we are pretty sure it is just a matter of time for it all to go through, more so since Saturday and finding out our buyer is really keen to move and has now arranged his mortgage. The next couple of weeks should be nice a calm, I hope, we will just wait.
The next thing will, hopefully, be sorting out the completion day. We would prefer after the first weeks of May but I fear that the buyer might be looking for something much quicker than that. So a question, who is in control here? Do we as sellers have the final say, if we stick to early May, might the buyer decide to pull out? I don't think so, we would be too far down the process then, and if he is looking to get out of his rented accomodation quickly due to the neighbours and area ( which we know he is) then he would have to start the process of finding a property again and be weeks away from moving again. However does it work the other way and is the buyer in control of setting the date, I can't see that being the case but I do not know.
I am sure the solicitors will advise on this. So the next few weeks will be quiet but I will keep blogging with my thoughts and feelings as we get nearer the time, and after that of course there will be many more entries as you can see how we get on all living with my Mum and Dad again for two months or so, then the renting process and finally looking for our new house to buy.
We are still very early in the process and a long way to go before we are settled in our new home. So far though so good
It may have started because yesterday I started to look on right move for rental properties in Kings Lynn and there did not seem to be that many. I am hoping that the Estate Agents up there have many more on their books. When we went up in October and spoke to them they said they had plenty of properties but you had to get in quick to secure one. So once we have exchanged I think we will register with local Agents and get them to start sending us details. If need be, we may rent a property earlier than we were going to but not move into it straight away.
This is a massive move and definately the biggest thing I have ever done. Once we exchange contracts that is it, no going back. At the moment we are quite comfortable, we have a nice house, financially we are OK, the kids are at schools they like and are settled, but then I have to consider that Helen works far too long hours, we never see her and that is not fair, the area we live in is not what it used to be, the streets here are not safe and I worry when Craig is out on his own or with mates, and I would not be comfortable when Kirsty grows up with her going out. Then you have the pace of life in London which is ot something we enjoy anymore. The pollution does not help, both children are on all year round anti histomines and Craig is couped up in a small box room.
So having said all of that, then it is the right thing to do but it is still difficult to stop the thoughts going one way and the other in my mind. It is a nice period to be in, we are pretty sure it is just a matter of time for it all to go through, more so since Saturday and finding out our buyer is really keen to move and has now arranged his mortgage. The next couple of weeks should be nice a calm, I hope, we will just wait.
The next thing will, hopefully, be sorting out the completion day. We would prefer after the first weeks of May but I fear that the buyer might be looking for something much quicker than that. So a question, who is in control here? Do we as sellers have the final say, if we stick to early May, might the buyer decide to pull out? I don't think so, we would be too far down the process then, and if he is looking to get out of his rented accomodation quickly due to the neighbours and area ( which we know he is) then he would have to start the process of finding a property again and be weeks away from moving again. However does it work the other way and is the buyer in control of setting the date, I can't see that being the case but I do not know.
I am sure the solicitors will advise on this. So the next few weeks will be quiet but I will keep blogging with my thoughts and feelings as we get nearer the time, and after that of course there will be many more entries as you can see how we get on all living with my Mum and Dad again for two months or so, then the renting process and finally looking for our new house to buy.
We are still very early in the process and a long way to go before we are settled in our new home. So far though so good
Saturday, 10 March 2012
10th March 2012
Another good day today. This afternoon the Estate Agent rung us to say that they had just spoken to our buyer and he had just come out of the building society having signed all the paperwork. He said "how quick can I be in the property" which is great news for us as it shows that he is really keen to buy and move quickly on the sale. It seems as well as if he is only having the basic valuation survey carried out. Good news for us, not that we know of any problems, but things could be highlighted. Bad for him though, I cannot believe people would spend that amount of money on a house and not pay for a structural survey to check it is Ok. However that is his decision and of course we may be wrong and he does organise one.
Anyhow that's he next hurdle out of the way, I had been worrying that he might change his mind, but the mortgage apple cation is now signed and processing through. Phew.
He sounds keen to move in quick, we may have to slow him down, we are hoping to have Helen's birthday here as well as Craig's 16th, both at the end of April.
In the post this morning we received our contract from our solicitor. I was expecting something more than a single page contract for the sale of something so large and costly but there it is. We both signed it this morning, took a copy, and put it into the post box to send it back to our solicitors.
This afternoon I started to try and tidy the mess which is our shed. So much stuff, I have however started to throw things away, so many cables, wires etc that I keep just in case have been thrown away. Packed another box up with some bits and dismantled the swing seat and cleaned the cover.
We can enjoy our weekend now, and Sunday we have Kirsty's Birthday party which is bowling and pizza hut.
Anyhow that's he next hurdle out of the way, I had been worrying that he might change his mind, but the mortgage apple cation is now signed and processing through. Phew.
He sounds keen to move in quick, we may have to slow him down, we are hoping to have Helen's birthday here as well as Craig's 16th, both at the end of April.
In the post this morning we received our contract from our solicitor. I was expecting something more than a single page contract for the sale of something so large and costly but there it is. We both signed it this morning, took a copy, and put it into the post box to send it back to our solicitors.
This afternoon I started to try and tidy the mess which is our shed. So much stuff, I have however started to throw things away, so many cables, wires etc that I keep just in case have been thrown away. Packed another box up with some bits and dismantled the swing seat and cleaned the cover.
We can enjoy our weekend now, and Sunday we have Kirsty's Birthday party which is bowling and pizza hut.
Friday, 9 March 2012
9th March 2012
Not much to report at the moment, apart from the boards for Agent 2 and Agent 3 were taken away this morning for some reason. I contacted Agent 3 and told them as I guessed they liked the advertising having their sign up with Sold for as long as possible. They had not instructed anyone to do this so I think Agent 2 has instructed for their sign to come down and the man who does the signs took it to be both signs. I am not sure what training or qualifications you need to be a sign man, but after the length of time we had to wait for a board to go up and now taking it down too quickly, I would imagine not too much.
Anyhow it does not matter to me anymore, we have our buyer, hopefully he will sort his mortgage out tomorrow and then things can progress.
Anyhow it does not matter to me anymore, we have our buyer, hopefully he will sort his mortgage out tomorrow and then things can progress.
Thursday, 8 March 2012
8th March 2012
What a worrier I am. As there was nothing else for me to do now with the move I was thinking yesterday of all the things that could now go wrong, and what a list I came up with. I am not going to share them with you because most of them are very silly, but it just shows how my mind works in thinking that anything could go wrong from just the buyer changing their mind to the buyer falling ill, and many more in between.
Anyhow to keep myself sort of involved in the process, I arranged for 3 Removal companies to come round to provide a quote for moving our stuff to storage in Kings Lynn. Two are booked for Monday and one came round yesterday afternoon. He was very chatty, nice man but did go off at a tangent sometimes. One of the companies coming on Monday is one we used last time we moved 14 years ago, when I rang them and they told me Dennis was coming, I remembered the name straight away. Same guy as come to see us before.
This morning I just checked with Solcititors that they had received letter from Estate Agent, they confirmed that they had received it and had already contacted land registry to confirm our ownership and deed information. I phoned Estate Agent to find out why we had not got a letter yet, she said ours were sent out 2nd class. She said the solicitors received theirs hand delivered as they were near to them, so that's the main thing.
My little girl is 8 years old tomorrow. Remember her birthday so well. It was a lovely sunny day, I took the tube to Archway, as she was born in the Whittington Hospital due to Helen's problems with the first birth. I had a macdonald's breakfast and watched all the people going off to work. The C-Section was due for that morning and when I got to the hospital I found out we were first. When we went down we were introduced to the anesthetist, he looked exactly like Dustin Hoffman. He played some nice sooting music and then at 11.20am Kirsty was born, making alot of noise, which she then continued to do over the next 8 years.
Anyhow to keep myself sort of involved in the process, I arranged for 3 Removal companies to come round to provide a quote for moving our stuff to storage in Kings Lynn. Two are booked for Monday and one came round yesterday afternoon. He was very chatty, nice man but did go off at a tangent sometimes. One of the companies coming on Monday is one we used last time we moved 14 years ago, when I rang them and they told me Dennis was coming, I remembered the name straight away. Same guy as come to see us before.
This morning I just checked with Solcititors that they had received letter from Estate Agent, they confirmed that they had received it and had already contacted land registry to confirm our ownership and deed information. I phoned Estate Agent to find out why we had not got a letter yet, she said ours were sent out 2nd class. She said the solicitors received theirs hand delivered as they were near to them, so that's the main thing.
My little girl is 8 years old tomorrow. Remember her birthday so well. It was a lovely sunny day, I took the tube to Archway, as she was born in the Whittington Hospital due to Helen's problems with the first birth. I had a macdonald's breakfast and watched all the people going off to work. The C-Section was due for that morning and when I got to the hospital I found out we were first. When we went down we were introduced to the anesthetist, he looked exactly like Dustin Hoffman. He played some nice sooting music and then at 11.20am Kirsty was born, making alot of noise, which she then continued to do over the next 8 years.
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