House Buying Is More Stressful Than Divorce, Death or Bankruptcy

[nineseven]

https://www.getagent.co.uk/ (but you do have to sign up)

[Marth]

https://www.getagent.co.uk/ (but you do have to sign up)

Thanks Nine. I'll have a good gander.

[speedy gonzalez]

We've booked a survey for the new house for hopefully the week after next. One company didn't have any spare slots until the end of September. The removal quotes all seem to be coming in roughly the same eek price so we've decided our first choice is going to be the friendly helpful one that came yesterday. Obviously our town must be posher than I thought it was.

[Marth]

I think I'm nearly ready to get going.

Does anyone have recommendations of competitively priced conveyancers please?

[Smunder Woman]

No but how exciting

[Livilla]

I bought and sold in London using solicitors in Gloucestershire. I'm not sure where local knowledge would have come into it really

It can make a difference. Where we live there is Common land all over the place, and the buyers we had for our house 6 years ago were first-time buyers originally from Manchester, who used Manchester solicitors for the conveyancing. Our solicitor was tearing her hair out as they had never come across these concepts before, apparently, and were freaking out over the idea of a public right of way over the Commons to access our property - something that local solicitors were unbothered by. This was, eventually, the excuse they gave for pulling out on the day of exchange.

[Beena]

Exciting, Marth!

Our purchase has ground to an almost halt. J rang our solicitor yesterday as we haven't heard anything since early August and she sounded in a flap. There's been a sudden spike in sales and she's struggling to keep on top of things. Not worrying at all.

The rental market is flat as well. Usually you can get winter lets, but these seem to have dried up. There's stories circulating about people booking out holiday lets for months on end, paying exorbitant summer prices, so they can work from 'home' in Cornwall.

[speedy gonzalez]

Our solicitors are in Wales and we're in Norfolk. They're the ones linked to our estate agents. Seem to be quite good at responding to queries - we've had replies from them at evenings and weekends.
Surveyor had been a bit trickier. Several of them couldn't visit our area for over a month but we used a price comparison site in the end and they were mainly small localish firms. Then we checked reviews. The one we've picked is doing the survey next Monday.

[Tsu]

It was very convenient to be able to visit our conveyancing solicitors in person to sign stuff. I was also able to collect documents without relying on the post.
If things grind to a halt it's also handy to be able to present yourself at their office.

[smalex]

AFter the experience my sister had, I think I'd also be choosing someone local and physically going into their offices regularly to check things in person. But I know that experience was unusual and has made us incredibly paranoid.

[Marth]

Thanks all. I've sent enquiries to a few last night. One was actually the firm I used to buy this place. I've also chosen an estate agent.

[speedy gonzalez]

Hope it all goes well Marth.
We had a whole load of paperwork through from our solicitors yesterday, Yay - they're leaving the summerhouse at the house we're moving to. Just the survey on the new house Monday then once some of the signed paperwork goes back I think we're at the stage of getting an actual date. No news on a survey on ours yet.

[Marth]

Ohhh a summerhouse! I would love one of them.

I'm still to choose a solicitor. They are quite (very expensive!). I've had photos taken today after a tiring weekend of painting and sorting, and hopefully viewings in two weeks. I need to book in an EPC. I'm tired already lol

[Pippedydeadeye]

It’s all very expensive, Marth.

We’re getting a valuation done on our house on Wednesday. C has seen a house and we can’t get a viewing on it at the moment, but we did walk up the road to see it from the kerbside yesterday evening. I think we’ve realised it’s not for us anyway, but he’s interested still.

[Marth]

Are you both thinking of moving, or would if the right place presented itself?

[Pippedydeadeye]

He thinks the right place has. I’m happy where we are though.

[Leap]

Please can I have your house and epic garden in that case, Pip. I only have about £14.90 but as I’ll be nearby you will have full access to Hop

[Marth]

He thinks the right place has. I’m happy where we are though.

Hopefully he will see that it's not for all of you.

[Pippedydeadeye]

Please can I have your house and epic garden in that case, Pip. I only have about £14.90 but as I’ll be nearby you will have full access to Hop

I may be persuaded!

[Froozy]

I need to book in an EPC. I'm tired already lol

Marth, if it helps, I used Landlord Certificates for an EPC on my flat in London earlier this year. It was £53 for a two bed flat. I did a bit of research at the time and that seemed to be a normalish price.