Thursday, September 25, 2003
I've fallen a little behind on this weblog, so let's try to get back up to date. The weekend before last I carried out 8 viewings, including 7 on the Saturday - one an hour every hour - and one at 2pm on Sunday, which kind of buggered up my weekend, but I'd little choice. It does get a tad boring, though, repeating the same spiel, tweaked depending on the audience, so many times. By the end of that weekend I'd carried out some 30 or more viewings - I've not kept count.
The guy on Sunday, a single bloke living with his ex-girlfriend in her house and under pressure from her to move out, and first-time buyer, was very enthusiastic, and bunged in an offer for the full price on the Monday. Then two days later he pulled the offer, and I was told by the Halifax that it was because he'd made it up with his GF and no longer needed to move. Very touching, to be sure, but a pain for me.
A couple who came on the Saturday put in an offer at 2k below, but I really didn't want to take that. They'd both been made redundant not too long ago and were looking to invest their redundancy money. With interest rates so low and the stock market still very much in a 'bear' state, housing represents effectively a high-interest tax-free savings bond, as house prices are still rising at a cracking pace - at least 10% per year, often far more. However, although they had ready cash, I really didn't want to sell the house to them for 3 reasons:
Anyway, I struck lucky. A young couple were shown around the place last week by the Halifax whilst I was in Nottingham (in a tent on a campsite, believe it or not) and were so taken by it that they offered 500 quid above the asking price, which naturally I accepted. I met them last weekend - and the woman's folks and her brother, with made the house a tad crowded - and they seemed very committed, so perhaps, just perhaps I can move on. I've restarted the searches and survey on the Nottingham house I want, having paused them when my last buyers pissed off, so with luck, assuming the bloody Briefs don't start nit-picking, I can aim at moving around the first week of November. Touch wood. It's too early to be optimistic, but perhaps there is a faint light at the end of this rather long and expensive tunnel.
In the meantime, I'm still living out of a suitcase. Last week I was camping in a 2-man tent on a site at the National Water Sports Centre (no sniggering about 'golden showers' at the back there!) which was far from comfortable and was pretty noisy due to the A52 being near by, but at least it was cheap - 6 quid a night. Plus I got to have a look at West Bridgford and came across the excellent Lady Bay pub. This last week I've been really lucky, as my partner's sister and her man who live in Kimberley, NW of Nottingham, were going on holiday in Mallorca and offered me their house for the week, so that's been both cheap and really relaxing. Apart from the commuting, of course - I've never seen such awful traffic, not even in London.
Next week I'll be in Clifton Village, within a short bus ride of work, and even walkable if the worst comes to the worst.
The guy on Sunday, a single bloke living with his ex-girlfriend in her house and under pressure from her to move out, and first-time buyer, was very enthusiastic, and bunged in an offer for the full price on the Monday. Then two days later he pulled the offer, and I was told by the Halifax that it was because he'd made it up with his GF and no longer needed to move. Very touching, to be sure, but a pain for me.
A couple who came on the Saturday put in an offer at 2k below, but I really didn't want to take that. They'd both been made redundant not too long ago and were looking to invest their redundancy money. With interest rates so low and the stock market still very much in a 'bear' state, housing represents effectively a high-interest tax-free savings bond, as house prices are still rising at a cracking pace - at least 10% per year, often far more. However, although they had ready cash, I really didn't want to sell the house to them for 3 reasons:
- I want my buyers to actually live in the place. I love the house and am only leaving it because I can't find any work in Hull, so I want the house passed to someone who'll grow to love it as well. Selling to a landlord who'll rent it out or, worse, just leave it empty to gain value, offends my sensibiliities in all sorts of ways.
- They were looking to invest their money in a house giving the best return. If, during the buying process, they'd come across another house which offered better returns on perhaps less outlay, then the 'rational' thing to do for them would be to pull out of buying my place and buy the other one. They already live in one house and own another, so they wouldn't be living in mine, and thus would have no real commitment to buying it. Basically, I didn't trust them not to pull out if they saw a better 'investment opportunity', and I cannot afford yet another offer biting the dust.
- Offering 2k below when you do have the money is a) cheapskate and b) taking the piss. I can understand someone offering under the asking price if they just don't have the money/mortgage, but this lot had the cash so the 2k would simply be cash in their mitts rather than mine, and I sorely need the dosh just to pay off all the bloody debts I'm accumulating whilst living out of a suitcase.
Anyway, I struck lucky. A young couple were shown around the place last week by the Halifax whilst I was in Nottingham (in a tent on a campsite, believe it or not) and were so taken by it that they offered 500 quid above the asking price, which naturally I accepted. I met them last weekend - and the woman's folks and her brother, with made the house a tad crowded - and they seemed very committed, so perhaps, just perhaps I can move on. I've restarted the searches and survey on the Nottingham house I want, having paused them when my last buyers pissed off, so with luck, assuming the bloody Briefs don't start nit-picking, I can aim at moving around the first week of November. Touch wood. It's too early to be optimistic, but perhaps there is a faint light at the end of this rather long and expensive tunnel.
In the meantime, I'm still living out of a suitcase. Last week I was camping in a 2-man tent on a site at the National Water Sports Centre (no sniggering about 'golden showers' at the back there!) which was far from comfortable and was pretty noisy due to the A52 being near by, but at least it was cheap - 6 quid a night. Plus I got to have a look at West Bridgford and came across the excellent Lady Bay pub. This last week I've been really lucky, as my partner's sister and her man who live in Kimberley, NW of Nottingham, were going on holiday in Mallorca and offered me their house for the week, so that's been both cheap and really relaxing. Apart from the commuting, of course - I've never seen such awful traffic, not even in London.
Next week I'll be in Clifton Village, within a short bus ride of work, and even walkable if the worst comes to the worst.
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Well, I'm now in Nottingham during the week (although I might be able to work from home on odd days) so I'm having to manage the house sale from a distance with the estate agent leaving messages on my voicemail. The good news is that there's still interest in the house with lots of viewings booked, the bad news is that only one viewing is midweek, so that the Halifax rep shows them round, and the others are at the weekend - four on Saturday, and one on Sunday at 2pm. So that's both weekdays shot down dead, a particular nuisance on Sunday as I'd hoped to go out country walkies for some fresh air and exercise (two things lacking in traffic-choaked Nottingham when you're shacking up in a manky guest house) before driving back down South.
But needs must. I've not kept a count of viewings I've done so far, but it must be in excess of 20 at an average of 20-30 mins per viewing, with only two offers put in, both withdrawn. Pretty bloody time-consuming.
But needs must. I've not kept a count of viewings I've done so far, but it must be in excess of 20 at an average of 20-30 mins per viewing, with only two offers put in, both withdrawn. Pretty bloody time-consuming.
Thursday, September 04, 2003
Just a quick entry whilst I'm in Limerick at a conference. I did get an offer last week. I showed a couple round and they were right enthusiastic, then put an offer in for 1k below asking price (why? what's the bloody point of shaving 1k off?) which I accepted. Then I ring my estate agents from Ireland on Tuesday and in turns out they withdrew the offer because they'd "found out" that there were "council tenants" in the area! Yet this couple are living off Anlaby Road in Hull, which is a serious bloody dump and one of the worst areas to live in in West Hull. I know - I used to live on Coltman Street, which has some seriously dodgy characters on the streets, and which I left after some minor drug dealer was blasted away by a shotgun on his doorstep, two doors across the road from where I was. How this pair could afford to be so snobbish is beyond me, and the guy was only some bloody joiner for feck's sake!
So, back to square one again, only it's going to be more awkward from next week as I'll be in Nottingham during the week at the new job. This one could run and run, and in the meantime I'll be forking out big bucks for hotels, b&bs;, or lodgings in Nottingham. Or, if my money starts to run out, in a tent. I joke not :(
So, back to square one again, only it's going to be more awkward from next week as I'll be in Nottingham during the week at the new job. This one could run and run, and in the meantime I'll be forking out big bucks for hotels, b&bs;, or lodgings in Nottingham. Or, if my money starts to run out, in a tent. I joke not :(
