Well that is a much better way to carry on. Since Tuesday I have not given much thought to our sale, or tried to plan for anything after the sale, and it has been much calmer and in fact the days have passed much quicker. Over analysing things really does not help. It may of course be also that we are now in the later stages of the sale, I know things are happening and also that I have no control over them anyway.
Our buyer has decided to have a structural survey done, quite right to, he would have been foolish not to, shame he did not do it earlier but there you go. It is booked in for Monday 2nd April at 4pm, so it seems unlikey now that an exchange of contracts will be done before Easter, but there you go.
Poor Craig is now on anti biotics. He has been ill since last Saturday. Doctor says he has a viral infection. He is very congested, has a nasty cough and last night said his ear was hurting. He has had a tough week. I have had something as well, day before yesterday I was very cold all day and then that night could not stop shivering. Did not sleep much and therefore was exhausted yesterday at which time I also got congested. My nose, eyes and head throbbed and I am just glad there was not much work on. Slept better last night, still downstairs in the chair. Congestion tablets have helped with the pain in the face and my nose is clear at the moment. Aches are much better as well.
Helen had a busy day yesterday, apart from work, she left early to see Kirsty's play, she then took her to the cake sale, came home and did dinner, took Kirsty swimming, showered and dried her hair, by 8,30 she sat down exhausted. One more day then the Easter holidays and a well earned rest for her.
Kirsty had a runny nose yesterday but seemed fine after school and at swimming. She complained about a sore throat just before bed time so we will see what she wakes up like this morning.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
28th March 2012
OK I surrender. After yesterday I realise now that I have no influence over the sale of our property. Nothing I do to chase people will have any impact, things will just happen when they happen and there is nothing I can do about it.
Yesterday started with phone call to the solicitors. I asked if they had recevied a reply from the buyers solicitors following the questions and our request to exchange quickly. They had not had any communication back. To be fair to her though she did understand my need for information and put a call into them straight away and rung back within a few moments. The delay now was that the Mortgage offer had still not come out to our buyer and without that obviously nothing more can be done.
I rang our Estate Agent and asked if there was any use in our buyer chasing his mortgage company, they said in reality no. Mortgage offers come out when they come out, by chasing nobody goes to the top of the pile, then just get done when they get done. He did say however that he had also spoken to the buyers solicitors and they advised him that the contract was now fine, no more questions to be answered, they had also requested searches to take place and these would take between 3 - 5 days to come back. He did end the call though saying it was unlikely of an exchange this week and even next week was a push.
About 10 minutes later he rang me back. He said he had spoken to the buyer, I though oh some good news. Not so, the buyer has just realised that the survey he had done was only a valuation survey and he porbably should have a full one done. Well of course he should but not at this late stage, why did he not do this earlier. He asked how quickly he could move in and the Agent said things were very close but if he did now proceed with a full survey then it would delay things, arranging that and getting the results back. So at this time we do not know if he is going to have a survey or not. He did say that he has his deposit ready so that is another piece of good news.
Anyhow on the strength of all that I have now decided to just leave it to take its natural course. No more chasing, wondering, or assuming dates, times and events. No more looking at properties to Rent or Buy, or looking at what if scenarios, no more planning trips to Kings Lynn, no more booking viewings and no more packing boxes. In fact no more thinking about the move at all. I am putting far too much stress and pressure on myself and as I have found out now there is nothing I can actually do to process things along.
So it is back to normal life here, continue day by day as we normally do as if we were not moving and wait to be advised of any information. Only once we have exchanged contracts will we start planning our next stage, whether it be a trip to Norfolk to view things or just concentrate on moving out first. I think it is the only way forward for us, particularly me.
To leave on a plus point, the possible survey aside, the solicitors are ready once the searches come back and the mortgage comes through. The buyer is ready with his deposit, and as a teacher has two weeks holiday whereby he can get into solicitors quickly to sign his contract if things are ready. so lets see how things progress.
Yesterday started with phone call to the solicitors. I asked if they had recevied a reply from the buyers solicitors following the questions and our request to exchange quickly. They had not had any communication back. To be fair to her though she did understand my need for information and put a call into them straight away and rung back within a few moments. The delay now was that the Mortgage offer had still not come out to our buyer and without that obviously nothing more can be done.
I rang our Estate Agent and asked if there was any use in our buyer chasing his mortgage company, they said in reality no. Mortgage offers come out when they come out, by chasing nobody goes to the top of the pile, then just get done when they get done. He did say however that he had also spoken to the buyers solicitors and they advised him that the contract was now fine, no more questions to be answered, they had also requested searches to take place and these would take between 3 - 5 days to come back. He did end the call though saying it was unlikely of an exchange this week and even next week was a push.
About 10 minutes later he rang me back. He said he had spoken to the buyer, I though oh some good news. Not so, the buyer has just realised that the survey he had done was only a valuation survey and he porbably should have a full one done. Well of course he should but not at this late stage, why did he not do this earlier. He asked how quickly he could move in and the Agent said things were very close but if he did now proceed with a full survey then it would delay things, arranging that and getting the results back. So at this time we do not know if he is going to have a survey or not. He did say that he has his deposit ready so that is another piece of good news.
Anyhow on the strength of all that I have now decided to just leave it to take its natural course. No more chasing, wondering, or assuming dates, times and events. No more looking at properties to Rent or Buy, or looking at what if scenarios, no more planning trips to Kings Lynn, no more booking viewings and no more packing boxes. In fact no more thinking about the move at all. I am putting far too much stress and pressure on myself and as I have found out now there is nothing I can actually do to process things along.
So it is back to normal life here, continue day by day as we normally do as if we were not moving and wait to be advised of any information. Only once we have exchanged contracts will we start planning our next stage, whether it be a trip to Norfolk to view things or just concentrate on moving out first. I think it is the only way forward for us, particularly me.
To leave on a plus point, the possible survey aside, the solicitors are ready once the searches come back and the mortgage comes through. The buyer is ready with his deposit, and as a teacher has two weeks holiday whereby he can get into solicitors quickly to sign his contract if things are ready. so lets see how things progress.
27th March 2012
We are due to go upto Kings Lynn on Friday and Saturday 13th and 14th April to look at rental properties and those on the market to buy we are interested in. Obviously we are hoping to have exchange contracts by then.
However the rental market has been a bit of an eye opener. I think there are two reasons for this. The first being that I have never rented before and the second being that living in London you just assume there are many many properties always available to rent and you just shortlist some and choose the one you can get.
Not so in Kings Lynn. Rental properties, especially 3 bedroom house are like gold dust. We had found one in a central location to where we want to be and the Agent had said they cannot give full details due to current problems with the people in there. When I looked yesterday at it I saw it was no longer listed. I rang the agent to find out why and she said it was only due to the the problems, once resolved it would go back on. I asked her to keep me informed, at which point she told me she already had a list of 20 people wanting to view it and it would go very quickly. This is an issue for us being so far away, we cannot just get up there to view.
Anyhow whilst searching again I found another property, just off the road where we would like to actually buy. It had just come on and would be available at the start of May. This would be ideal, all 3 bedrooms are good size, parking for 4 or 5 cars, semi detached, with garden. I booked a viewing straight away with the Agent for 2pm on Friday 13th but she did say there was a good chance that by then it would have gone.
So I had a think and then rung the Agent back. I asked would the Landlord be interested in taking a months rent from me now £650 on the basis that it was taken off the market until we had viewed it on the 13th April. If we then decided not to rent it or our circumstances changed then the landlords could keep the £650 and put it back on the market. They will have lost nothing and it will at least give us a chance to view something which would be ideal. In fact looking at the location, the plan and the photos I can see no reason why we would not rent it. It then gives us a base for weekends to go up there and look for properties and also when we finally move in July. It is short term only so the risk is minimal.
The Agent spoke to the landlords but he was at work and his wife said she would need to discuss with him first. So hopefully today they will come back with a yes. If not it is no big loss. The main focus is selling our house first but it would be nice to know we had secured a rental place as well if we wanted it.
However the rental market has been a bit of an eye opener. I think there are two reasons for this. The first being that I have never rented before and the second being that living in London you just assume there are many many properties always available to rent and you just shortlist some and choose the one you can get.
Not so in Kings Lynn. Rental properties, especially 3 bedroom house are like gold dust. We had found one in a central location to where we want to be and the Agent had said they cannot give full details due to current problems with the people in there. When I looked yesterday at it I saw it was no longer listed. I rang the agent to find out why and she said it was only due to the the problems, once resolved it would go back on. I asked her to keep me informed, at which point she told me she already had a list of 20 people wanting to view it and it would go very quickly. This is an issue for us being so far away, we cannot just get up there to view.
Anyhow whilst searching again I found another property, just off the road where we would like to actually buy. It had just come on and would be available at the start of May. This would be ideal, all 3 bedrooms are good size, parking for 4 or 5 cars, semi detached, with garden. I booked a viewing straight away with the Agent for 2pm on Friday 13th but she did say there was a good chance that by then it would have gone.
So I had a think and then rung the Agent back. I asked would the Landlord be interested in taking a months rent from me now £650 on the basis that it was taken off the market until we had viewed it on the 13th April. If we then decided not to rent it or our circumstances changed then the landlords could keep the £650 and put it back on the market. They will have lost nothing and it will at least give us a chance to view something which would be ideal. In fact looking at the location, the plan and the photos I can see no reason why we would not rent it. It then gives us a base for weekends to go up there and look for properties and also when we finally move in July. It is short term only so the risk is minimal.
The Agent spoke to the landlords but he was at work and his wife said she would need to discuss with him first. So hopefully today they will come back with a yes. If not it is no big loss. The main focus is selling our house first but it would be nice to know we had secured a rental place as well if we wanted it.
Monday, 26 March 2012
26th March 2012
What a beautiful day once again. The cherry tree is certainly enjoying the sunshine and is full of blossom now. It is such a shame that we will have to leave it behind when we move, we will have to plant a new one in our new house.
Hoping that things progress this week, I have emailed my Estate Agent to update him on the solicitors conversation of last week regarding the questions and the council tax and water bills. I reminded him again of our position and cheekily suggested that an exchange of contracts this week would be nice. He has replied saying that he would progress as much as he could but thought an exchange this week would be a big ask. Maybe it is but I feel I need to keep the pressure on and then that way we may be in a position to do something next week.
So as if I do not have enough to worry about, as I do, I now hear that there could be a strike by the Petrol Tank Drivers. I remember the last one only to well. People sitting in long queues to get into a garage to fill up, only to be turned away as the fuel was either not there or had just run out. Word would get around of petrol stations who did have fuel and people would rush to see if they could get some. It was chaos. The government are trying to reassure us this time that the Army will cover. Of course 400 Army personnel will do their best but they will be covering for 2000 tanker drivers, without question there will be problems. Lets hope they either sort it out before the strike or that the dispute is finished by the time we need a removal truck to get us to Kings Lynn.
May not have a job for much longer. The owner of the firm I work for has been trying to sell the business for a while now, a buyer has been lined up but they are asking him to take on some really unfair and very risky liabilities based on future business. It seems very unfair for him to be liable for future sales if he has no influence on them, how can he guarantee that. Should the buyers not buy the company it may be that he has to close it down altogether week by week it is getting into a more difficult financial situation.
The money has been a great help over the past few years, we have not really relied on it to get by but it has helped us buy and do things we probably would not have been able to do on just Helen's salary. It has also had a big influence on us being in a position to be able to move. Fortunately funding wise we are now where we want to be but every extra weeks work from now on would be a nice bonus to put aside.
We thought Craig was getting better yesterday, he ate dinner last night but then around 8pm started shivering again, his nose blocked and he started to cough. He had a rough night but no more sickness but I kept him off school today. He has an inset day tomorrow and then school is closed Wednesday for NUT strike, so he is not missing much. Kirsty appears to be starting a cold but she is bright and happy and went off to school fine.
Hoping that things progress this week, I have emailed my Estate Agent to update him on the solicitors conversation of last week regarding the questions and the council tax and water bills. I reminded him again of our position and cheekily suggested that an exchange of contracts this week would be nice. He has replied saying that he would progress as much as he could but thought an exchange this week would be a big ask. Maybe it is but I feel I need to keep the pressure on and then that way we may be in a position to do something next week.
So as if I do not have enough to worry about, as I do, I now hear that there could be a strike by the Petrol Tank Drivers. I remember the last one only to well. People sitting in long queues to get into a garage to fill up, only to be turned away as the fuel was either not there or had just run out. Word would get around of petrol stations who did have fuel and people would rush to see if they could get some. It was chaos. The government are trying to reassure us this time that the Army will cover. Of course 400 Army personnel will do their best but they will be covering for 2000 tanker drivers, without question there will be problems. Lets hope they either sort it out before the strike or that the dispute is finished by the time we need a removal truck to get us to Kings Lynn.
May not have a job for much longer. The owner of the firm I work for has been trying to sell the business for a while now, a buyer has been lined up but they are asking him to take on some really unfair and very risky liabilities based on future business. It seems very unfair for him to be liable for future sales if he has no influence on them, how can he guarantee that. Should the buyers not buy the company it may be that he has to close it down altogether week by week it is getting into a more difficult financial situation.
The money has been a great help over the past few years, we have not really relied on it to get by but it has helped us buy and do things we probably would not have been able to do on just Helen's salary. It has also had a big influence on us being in a position to be able to move. Fortunately funding wise we are now where we want to be but every extra weeks work from now on would be a nice bonus to put aside.
We thought Craig was getting better yesterday, he ate dinner last night but then around 8pm started shivering again, his nose blocked and he started to cough. He had a rough night but no more sickness but I kept him off school today. He has an inset day tomorrow and then school is closed Wednesday for NUT strike, so he is not missing much. Kirsty appears to be starting a cold but she is bright and happy and went off to school fine.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
25th March 2012
Had a great day yesterday. Kirsty and I went swimming at lunchtime. She loves riding going on my bike with me so we cycled to the swimming pool, she sits on the cross bar, with the help of a cushion and its great not having to take the car. We spent an hour in the pool before coming home for a shower and then she was off to my mums for the night.
Kirsty loves the water and just got her 25 metre badge at swimming last week. She has no fear and loves jumping into the deep end.
Helen and I took the opportunity to go out for the evening. Nothing special, just walked down the pub for a couple of hours. Lovely evening chatting about stuff and watching other people come and go. So much better than having a drink indoors. Only had two pints of lager but woke with a bit of a headache this morning - what a lightweight. We had a great night though, it was fun watching couples who were obviously out on a first date, and we chatted about loads of stuff, during which Helen revealed something that I had not previously known, it quite surprised me, nothing sinister but not something I would have expected knowing her as I do.
Today we are off to the Thomas's for dinner. It is Bethan's 16th birthday next week so we are over there to celebrate. Not sure that Craig will make it though. He has not been well last 24 hours but hopefully on the mend now.
Kirsty loves the water and just got her 25 metre badge at swimming last week. She has no fear and loves jumping into the deep end.
Helen and I took the opportunity to go out for the evening. Nothing special, just walked down the pub for a couple of hours. Lovely evening chatting about stuff and watching other people come and go. So much better than having a drink indoors. Only had two pints of lager but woke with a bit of a headache this morning - what a lightweight. We had a great night though, it was fun watching couples who were obviously out on a first date, and we chatted about loads of stuff, during which Helen revealed something that I had not previously known, it quite surprised me, nothing sinister but not something I would have expected knowing her as I do.
Today we are off to the Thomas's for dinner. It is Bethan's 16th birthday next week so we are over there to celebrate. Not sure that Craig will make it though. He has not been well last 24 hours but hopefully on the mend now.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
24th March 2012
Well Sports relief last night certainly put my issues with selling my house into perspective. So many children suffering around the world. Heart breaking stories of children dying from preventable illness it is so sad. £50 million raised, once again well done Britain.
Friday, 23 March 2012
23rd March 2012
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. So another week passes and no information as to where we are in the process, no idea if we are a week away from exchanging contracts or a month or any indication in fact. This is a painful process, not in terms of stress or hassle or anything like that but it is just that I have no idea how things are progressing along.
I have said this before and will say it again, the house buying and selling process needs to be a bit more transparent, surely weekly updates for both buyer and seller from all parties involved i.e solicitors, estate agents and mortgage companies would not be much to ask.
Instead we are left to chase ourselves just a for a scrap of information to even know if things are progressing at all.
On Wednesday morning 21st March I put a call into my solicitor just asking if they could find out what stage we were at in the process. They said that it was all in the hands of the other solicitors but would call them for me to find out where we were. I did not hear anything back that day but on Thursday morning the phone rang and it was them. Some news at last I thought. How wrong was I , she was just calling to confirm that they had put a call into the other solicitors and were waiting for a reply. 24 hours that took. Anyhow it is now 1pm on Friday, 2.5 days later and still no phone call back from them.
This morning I called my Agent, he is really good, know whats I am like and understands my position. He said he would contact the buyers solicitors, who he knows very well, and see where we are in the process. Nearly 4 hours later and still nothing back. Knowing him I can trust he has rung them but I guess he is also waiting for the buyers solicitors to come back to him.
Every day that passes is another day nearer to the date by which Helen has to hand her notice in. If, for any reason this deal falls through, then we have less time by the day to find and new buyer and exchange contracts in time for her to hand her notice in.
Why does this take so long and why cannot we have some sort of progress report to say where we are. I would hate to be in a chain. This transaction is a straight forward sale. The property has no onward chain, the buyer has no chain and is a first time buyer. He has the deposit. Surely it is possible to do things much quicker than they are. I just want to exchange contracts, after that we can complete at any time, even if it is months after but exchanging is the key at the moment.
I have said this before and will say it again, the house buying and selling process needs to be a bit more transparent, surely weekly updates for both buyer and seller from all parties involved i.e solicitors, estate agents and mortgage companies would not be much to ask.
Instead we are left to chase ourselves just a for a scrap of information to even know if things are progressing at all.
On Wednesday morning 21st March I put a call into my solicitor just asking if they could find out what stage we were at in the process. They said that it was all in the hands of the other solicitors but would call them for me to find out where we were. I did not hear anything back that day but on Thursday morning the phone rang and it was them. Some news at last I thought. How wrong was I , she was just calling to confirm that they had put a call into the other solicitors and were waiting for a reply. 24 hours that took. Anyhow it is now 1pm on Friday, 2.5 days later and still no phone call back from them.
This morning I called my Agent, he is really good, know whats I am like and understands my position. He said he would contact the buyers solicitors, who he knows very well, and see where we are in the process. Nearly 4 hours later and still nothing back. Knowing him I can trust he has rung them but I guess he is also waiting for the buyers solicitors to come back to him.
Every day that passes is another day nearer to the date by which Helen has to hand her notice in. If, for any reason this deal falls through, then we have less time by the day to find and new buyer and exchange contracts in time for her to hand her notice in.
Why does this take so long and why cannot we have some sort of progress report to say where we are. I would hate to be in a chain. This transaction is a straight forward sale. The property has no onward chain, the buyer has no chain and is a first time buyer. He has the deposit. Surely it is possible to do things much quicker than they are. I just want to exchange contracts, after that we can complete at any time, even if it is months after but exchanging is the key at the moment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)