House Buying Is More Stressful Than Divorce, Death or Bankruptcy

[Estrella]

Oh that's great news! What are the usual timescales for moving in Australia?

Moving dates are set in the contract. Will be early Dec settlement

[emma_p]

That is so fast compared to here!!! Fingers crossed it’s all smooth.

[Leap]

Amazing, Est! When you were building, did you have a view to selling at some point and was this level of interest expected? Imagine 100 people in your home in one day!

[Estrella]

We built this place with a view to staying put but the want for a big block kind of came to the fore earlier this year and since prices and demand have increased so much over last 6 months we decided to go for it.

Our agent thought we would get good interest but this was astonishing. We had 3 decent offers to choose from. This one the buyers already have an unconditional contract on their house sale and financial approval in place so fingers crossed it’s plain sailing…

[Leap]

Sounds promising

I love that you built the house for yourselves, and it’s still this attractive to so many prospective buyers. You must’ve made excellent choices

[Tits McGee]

That’s fantastic, Est!

[Scooter]

That’s excellent news, Est! Hope it’s all smooth sailing from here.

We’ve signed a build contract today

[Estrella]

That’s super exciting, Scoots! When will the build start?

[Scooter]

Not for a while yet, we don’t settle until Jan 6th and we need to decide what we’re going to do with the water supply. We’re going off grid with power, but the block was supposed to have water and now the owners can’t do it. We need to decide whether to put the mains supply in (at their cost as it’s in the contract) or have them pay for a rainwater system.

We’re starting to do bits and pieces in our house now ready to sell next year. Our builder thinks we should be in by next Christmas!

[Toast]

Next Christmas! When will you sell your current house?

My current whinge is that everyone is ready to confirm a date (tentatively 29 November) but according to my buyer's solicitor's secretary (I've no idea if my apostrophes are correct there) it's "far too early to even be thinking about a date". FFS. I really don't understand why things are dragged out so much. Surely it's in everyone's best interests to get things done as quickly as possible.

[Edith Bacon]

If conveyancing can be turned around in a very short time, people will start to question what they are actually paying for. Dragging it out makes the process feel more onerous.

#cynic

[Derek Nimmo]

100% Edith.

[Toast]

But surely if they hurry it up then they can move on to the next deal?

[Derek Nimmo]

I'm sure they could take on umptten deals at a time bearing in mind how slowly everything moves!

[Edith Bacon]

Also, I have the impression - based on nothing but my own experience and prejudices - that people who choose to do conveyancing for a living aren't the most ambitious, career-minded individuals. I reckon it is is seen as an easy, relaxed, cushy number with lots of power but no real responsibility (professional indemnity) and so they perpetuate that.

[Estrella]

Our sale (and as a result our purchase) became unconditional today (I think it’s the equivalent of exchange in England?) I am so relieved. Settlement is early Dec but we are about to negotiate early possession of our new home (like a rental agreement for the preceding 10 days) so we can gradually move in and not have to do it all on settlement day. I need to start making lists, buy packing boxes, get quotes from removalists and do some throwing out/selling of stuff we don’t want to move.

[Marth]

The system seems much better than in England.

Good luck everyone!

[Scooter]

Oh that is exciting news! Fingers crossed you can get in early and get moving things

[Chicky]

That sounds so civilised Est! How exciting, I hope you can get things moving.

[Derek Nimmo]

That's amazing Est, for smooth sailing.

Well, my buyer's mortgage valuation was, to my great surprise, fine and I met them on Saturday when they came round for another viewing with their partner. They were absolutely delightful, and completely excited about the flat, and also relaxed about completion dates so that's all good.

It's all down to my vendors then, who've shown a remarkable lack of urgency so far (or rather, their lawyer has!) so we'll see.