The nervous wait to exchange....

[noj]

Getting nervous now. Not looking forward to the hassle of phoning, gas, electric, water and council tax up on the first day. Just want to start moving stuff in.

you don't have to phone them all the minute you move in, just make sure you take meeting readings as soon as you can.

The way we did it when we moved was I helped the movers with bits and the wife went round the house looking for the stopcock, meters etc and she took the readings then.
We phoned up the utilities the day after and sorted out the accounts

 

[tidusjar]

you don't have to phone them all the minute you move in, just make sure you take meeting readings as soon as you can.

The way we did it when we moved was I helped the movers with bits and the wife went round the house looking for the stopcock, meters etc and she took the readings then.
We phoned up the utilities the day after and sorted out the accounts

This is my first time moving into my own house. What actually has to be done?

 

[noj]

This is my first time moving into my own house. What actually has to be done?

congrats on the first house then! its well worth the stress and hassle to get the keys to your own place that first time

When you get the keys all you really need to do is find the where the meters are and take readings, I'd suggest taking a photo of them as well.
Then all you need do is phone up your preferred utility company and sort out an account.
It doesn't need to be with the same company the previous owners used (well apart from Water) you'll have to open new accounts with them anyway. Give them all your details and the opening meter reading and you're done!

Have a look round now for good deals on utility companies so you know who you're going to use once you get into the property.

You don't have to phone up the second you move in but make sure you do it within the first couple of days, just make sure to take meter readings the day you move in

 

[robj20]

congrats on the first house then! its well worth the stress and hassle to get the keys to your own place that first time

When you get the keys all you really need to do is find the where the meters are and take readings, I'd suggest taking a photo of them as well.
Then all you need do is phone up your preferred utility company and sort out an account.
It doesn't need to be with the same company the previous owners used (well apart from Water) you'll have to open new accounts with them anyway. Give them all your details and the opening meter reading and you're done!

Have a look round now for good deals on utility companies so you know who you're going to use once you get into the property.

You don't have to phone up the second you move in but make sure you do it within the first couple of days, just make sure to take meter readings the day you move in

I was under the impression that you do first need to phone the current suppliers, then you can straight away phone your preferred one. Reason being between moving in and the switch date you will owe the current supplier.

Question, do you have to phone anyone to register for council tax or does the bill just arrive at the house?

 

[noj]

I was under the impression that you do first need to phone the current suppliers, then you can straight away phone your preferred one. Reason being between moving in and the switch date you will owe the current supplier.

might be easier to do it that way but I don't believe you have to. You'll be a new account to the current supplier anyway.

Question, do you have to phone anyone to register for council tax or does the bill just arrive at the house?

register your details with the council, they'll all have a council tax dept just call them up and tell them you moved in (you might be able to do it online as well)

 

[robj20]

Well we got the keys on Friday. Spent all weekend cleaning, shampooing carpets and looking at what needs doing. Roof needs a few minor repairs, electrical wiring needs looking at, there is one circuit that's needed to be switched off as for some reason its drawing lots of power even though nothing seems to be on, boiler is working fine but the controller is a very old single circuit so cant control the boiler very well.

Kitchen is manageable for now as is one bedroom and the bathroom, were looking to move in this weekend or next. Lots to do though.

 

[Kimi]

Apparently my buyers are having a home buyers report done, anything to worry about?

 

[fastwunz]

The agent also gets a "drink" out of the lawyer. The last time we bought we got a random call off the agent saying that they recommend the same solicitor that we were using anyhow. Then when the completion statement came through it had the bung on it. I rang the lawyer even though he paid it not us i thought I best explain that we had instructed him before the "recommendation" from the agents.

Well that is perhaps a little cheeky but....

Of course the agent gets paid for the referral - its win win. The agent refers the solicitor. They will only refer the solicitor if said solicitor has a back ground of performing well. A badly performing solicitor will result in more fall throughs and therefore less commission for the agent.

It benefits you as the buyer/seller as you have a solicitor with a back ground of getting sales through, it benefits the agent for that reason and the referral fee (usually 50 quid or something), and it benefits the solicitor by getting work.

just because the agent gets thanked for referring business doesn't make it wrong. Business referrals are one of the most prolific B2B transactions across the world.

anyway.

 

[toshj]

Mortgage Approved!?! Whoop! It's only taken a month from the date we submitted...

Valuation instructed for this Thursday - should go fine as we've been very cautious on valuing the place, whilst the flat about has gone for an extra 10%+ recently.

We're completely renovating the property, so will put up a log in due course

 

[GinG]

Apparently my buyers are having a home buyers report done, anything to worry about?

Nope, standard thing. Basically just to make sure there is nothing underlying and I think is the minimal required by the Mortgage Company anyway.

 

[fastwunz]

Nope, standard thing. Basically just to make sure there is nothing underlying and I think is the minimal required by the Mortgage Company anyway.

actually you don't even need a home b u y e r s to be done. just the mortgage valuation survey is sufficient.

Its a very basic survey anyway but will pick up the cosmetics and anything glaringly obvious.

 

[DB_SamX]

Just put an offer on a place though not sure I will get it as I am up against a cash buyer.

If I am fotunate, the estate agent will be keen for me to go through with COuntrywide Morgage Services, who are sorting out an AIP for me.

Would I be right in assuming they offer the whole packagage - brokering mortgages, legal services, etc? I keep thinking using a broker is a waste of £350 they would charge, especially if I can go directly to the lender myself. Is that right?

Haven't thought about the other legal services just yet. WIll probably get a few online quotes and comparing against Countrywide. Any feedback on them?

Lost that flat, but got accepted on another one middle of last week, 4 year old estate, 2 bed ground floor flat in Winchester. \o/

Mortgage AIP obtained last week; formal application made yesterday via independent broker (Countrywide)

Independent solicitor appointed for conveyancing; was same budget as the estate agent's recommendation but only down the road for me. Nominal fee paid so far for disbursements. Didn't trust the online quotes I got from a comparison site - a friend had a bad experience using one of them.

Spent 2h last night going through the planning documents of my estate. Nothing of concern thankfully.

Excited, but also a bit stressed. I can feel all my money saved over the last 8 years slipping away. My parents are going to be my rainy day fund for a couple of years!

 

[robj20]

Were leaning on the parents now, feels odd to spend all your savings in one go. At the minute were in need of a front door, roof repairs and a rewire. Have to say our solicitor was great though, we just sat back and let them get on with it never needed to contact them they always kept us up to date with every step. Its all been worth it though we have a great location just need to bring the property up to scratch.

 

[kinobestew123]

I'm in the "nervous wait to exchange" category now.

We had an offer accepted, then got our mortgage approved.

Our solicitor has had the contract from the vendor's solicitor and has just queried one issue with it whereby the deeds are in the name of husband and wife however the husband died several years ago. So something needs to happen apparently to do with the marriage certificate.

We're also just awaiting the result of the local & coal mining search which I believe should be completed by next Friday.

 

[joelk2]

after 1.5 months of looking for a new place (after seller pulled out a week before exchange last time) we have finally found somewhere we like.

we did a letter drop on 2 streets (the street we were buying on before and the next street) a total of 60 houses. and we had 3 responses. 2 of them were out of our budget range and the third (although needing plenty of graft inside) its good.

they had it valued @190-195k and we agreed on a price of 183k (no estate agents fees for them as its a private sale)

only all the paperwork bits now. (you never know but he's not likely to pull out of the sale as he's already moved out so its an empty house)

every room needs redecorating, kitchen needs replacing, bathroom its useable but ghastly. onwards and upwards they say.

 

[Kimi]

Great stuff, what did you write in your letter? i never thought about that

 

[joelk2]

letter in red below. basically short and brief.

obviously tailor to suit yourselves.

other things to note were.

print A5 sized, fold in half so the writing is showing and write your names in pen below kind regards, dont put it in an envelope


For the attention of the homeowner,

Please forgive our direct approach but we are looking to buy our forever family home in your area.

We are currently in a position to move at your convenience. We have sold our property and living with family. We have a solicitor and finances in place. We are happy to deal with you directly to avoid estate agency fees, or alternatively deal through an estate agent if you prefer.

We are a young family with 2 small children and are looking for 3 bedrooms and a reasonably good sized garden.

If you are considering selling your house or know someone in the area who is… We would be extremely grateful if you could contact us on xxxxxx or email [email protected] discuss further.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Kind Regards

 

[PaDE]

Pleased this worked for you, a 'thinking out of the box' idea!

letter in red below. basically short and brief.

obviously tailor to suit yourselves.

other things to note were.

print A5 sized, fold in half so the writing is showing and write your names in pen below kind regards, dont put it in an envelope


For the attention of the homeowner,

Please forgive our direct approach but we are looking to buy our forever family home in your area.

We are currently in a position to move at your convenience. We have sold our property and living with family. We have a solicitor and finances in place. We are happy to deal with you directly to avoid estate agency fees, or alternatively deal through an estate agent if you prefer.

We are a young family with 2 small children and are looking for 3 bedrooms and a reasonably good sized garden.

If you are considering selling your house or know someone in the area who is… We would be extremely grateful if you could contact us on xxxxxx or email [email protected] discuss further.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Kind Regards

 

[PaDE]

Exchanged on our flat today, complete in two weeks

The people we are buying off have now finally had their mortgage offer in writing the builders of the house they are buying have notified them their house will be ready in two and a half weeks

Got my full deposit back and paid in from the rental we were living in.

It's looking up since my last post and all whilst living in a caravan as an interim measure, along with my hormonal and pregnant girlfriend and our chunky rottweiler dog

 

[joelk2]

Pleased this worked for you, a 'thinking out of the box' idea!

well we knew the area we wanted and the style of house we wanted so it was more of a long shot really. but it only cost a few sheets of paper and some time to walk around and post the letters.

as they say, "if you dont ask you wont get"