House Buying / Selling Thread

[Manc in London]

They are defective apparently which could mean anything.
Google tells me it is caused by subsidence or damp - it will be the damp.
Estate agent wants me to pay out for a damp specialist to check it out. We don't really want to pay out more for a house we may not end up buying

We have had surveys on the houses we bought. On each occasion, the surveyor mentioned a potential damp issue. On both occasions we moved in and damp has not been a problem. They appear to be overly cautious and have thus referred to potential issues with the lintels. Understandable, I guess. I'd get a damp specialist in to have a look. May also help you get a reduction in price if there is an issue raised by a specialist.

In my experience, replacing a lintel is expensive. We replaced one as we were having a rear extension and were considering a loft extension. We got a structural specialist to produce the calcs (about £700) and then the builder to come and do the job about £1500).

 

[Ric]

Our dilemma at the moment is that we love our current house, but we're not guaranteed to get our kids into the secondary school we want (even though we're in the catchment area, as it's oversubscribed). Houses closer to the school are far more expensive, so we'd have to downsize but still at a considerable cost. Really difficult to decide what to do for the best, as the kids' education is obviously hugely important but at what cost?

For anyone who’s interested, which is probably no-one, we ended up taking the plunge last September and got confirmation today that our son has got into the school we wanted. Was a big move, but no regrets about the decision we made.

 

[FantasyIreland]

For anyone who’s interested, which is probably no-one, we ended up taking the plunge last September and got confirmation today that our son has got into the school we wanted. Was a big move, but no regrets about the decision we made.

Awesome,Ric,glad it's worked out.

We are currently struggling with the decision to move or extend? The trouble with moving is,although we have a healthy budget,there isn't a great deal out there and if we stay,we have to put up with months of disruption.

 

[Kompany Car]

For anyone who’s interested, which is probably no-one, we ended up taking the plunge last September and got confirmation today that our son has got into the school we wanted. Was a big move, but no regrets about the decision we made.

Good news that pal. Always a worry getting your kids into a good school. It’s just a shame there aren’t more of them around.

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

Good news that pal. Always a worry getting your kids into a good school. It’s just a shame there aren’t more of them around.

They can change very quickly. My kids went to a good school (Ofsted rated outstanding, 89% getting 5x GCSEs etc). That was 5 years ago. Now ranked inadequate.

 

[Kompany Car]

They can change very quickly. My kids went to a good school (Ofsted rated outstanding, 89% getting 5x GCSEs etc). That was 5 years ago. Now ranked inadequate.

Absolutely, schools are only as good as their leadership teams. If a head or deputy head moves on and they are replaced with someone less competent they can go rapidly down hill.
Ended up biting the bullet and paying private for mine. Costs me an arm and a leg but seems to be worth it, he also got a scholarship so at least we only pay half price (not a chance otherwise).
Only problem is my VW doesn’t look so great next to most of the other parents 4x4s and high end motors.

 

[Ric]

Awesome,Ric,glad it's worked out.

We are currently struggling with the decision to move or extend? The trouble with moving is,although we have a healthy budget,there isn't a great deal out there and if we stay,we have to put up with months of disruption.

Yeah, it's a tough choice. We only moved for school purposes. If that wasn't a factor we would've extended. The stamp duty alone is a killer when you move.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Yeah, it's a tough choice. We only moved for school purposes. If that wasn't a factor we would've extended. The stamp duty alone is a killer when you move.

Yep,along with all the other fees,thats definitely a huge consideration.Playing percentages,i think the sensible option would be to stay put.

 

[Machiavelli]

Sold mine yesterday for £1500 less than the asking price but managed to sell a load of old furniture to the new first time buyers who were renting previously. Bought our new house and managed to negotiate a whopping £40K off the asking price as it needs modernising a fair bit. I can do most of the work myself and have family/friends who are qualified for the bits I can’t do like boiler/gas. Absolutely buzzing.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Just bought one.

Took 5 and a half weeks from viewing to moving in.

No chain either side but fuck me that was quick.