Moving House

[kerrensimmonds]

The front of my house faces north, with the back (and the garden, including the conservatory etc.) facing south. This is pretty obvious, due to the position of the beach (south coast), which is not that far away.

My house is now on the market (please keep your fingers crossed, peeps...I do need to move because getting in and out of the bath for my daily shower is now a nightmare, given my increasing disability. I have grab handles and steps and goodness knows what else, but water is slippery stuff......)

a) the details which emerged after the Agent had visited and made notes, taken photographs, etc., stated that the main rooms faced either East or West. AArrggh..
b) the house went into the paper as 'end of terrace' whereas in fact it is 'semi detached'. I had to have an argument with them about that. They said that my road is 'all terraces' - but it isn't! The rows of houses facing East or West are terraces, usually of four houses. But the houses up the side (of which mine is the first) are in four blocks of two. It was too late to change the newspaper ad. because of the Bank Holiday weekend, but I am glad that it IS now correct on the website and on the particulars which they are providing to potential purchasers.

Not a good start, though!

And the first viewing, last weekend (in advance of which I put in a HUGE effort, given problems with soft furnishings and one of the animals 36 hours previously) turned out to be a washout as the viewers were timewasters. The viewer is the daughter of one of my neighbours - she was here about 5 minutes overall and only commented that she was surprised that unlike her mum I had not extended the kitchen. Not surprised I have heard nothing about that visit! They are bringing some other people round tomorrow but I will be at work, so I am leaving it to them and keeping my fingers crossed that they don't upset the dog or lose either of the (indoor) cats - who would love to get outside, but when they do, freak out and panic.

Who said that moving house is stressful?!

Perhaps Mary can give me some guidance.........
(PS Just realised this isn't a joke. Should it be moved to another thread, Moderators....?)

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

TBA and I have always loved "Estate Agentese" when we see a ruin, we always chorus -- "Ripe for development" and an outhouse is "Bijou Property"

When we were house-hunting, in order to move my Mother in with us, we were shown a "Granny Flat" which consisted of a Garage with an electric fire !!!!
I kid you not !
Mother, who was heavily disabled ---- except for her Brain and Tongue , which were in perfect working order (!!!) died 18 years later, with her own Bedroom, Bathroom and Lounge -- (Now my Study) so we DID find somewhere suit\ble.

[englishangel]

Just noticed that Kerren suggested that this be a new topic, and happy to oblige.

I don't have any suggestions, except, that as you are doing, leave it to the professionals. And do ask them what other viewers say.

[icomefromalanddownunder]

Good luck Kerren, I'm sure that all will go well

[englishangel]

Just noticed that 'leaving it to the professionals' meant an incorrectly described house. I meant leave the viewings, they can be dispassionate, it is your home and there is all sorts of emotional stuff tied up with that, which if someone says something unkind is not helpful.

Also you are a slow-moving woman on her own, so if the agent asks if you can do an evening or weekend viewing get a friend in, for security AND a debrief.

Many years ago when the twins were under 1 we put our house on the market and I said I didn't mind showing people round but I had small children.

One day they booked an appointment fro 1pm, and yes, the agent would be there. I said it was imperative as that was the babes lunchtime.

O1 o'clock came and went, no sign of the agent, 2 yelling infants so we started lunch. just at the messiest bit (yogurt everywhere) there was a knock at the door. Buyers had been waiting outside for 10 minutes, no sign of the agent.

I gave the babes a spoon each and left them to get on with it while I showed the (potential) buyers round.

Viewers were long gone when the agent showed up at 1.35. Full of apologies for being late for the 1.30!!!

Needless to say they didn't buy, we didn't sell and still live here.

[Angela Woodford]

Nearly three years on, I can honestly say that our estate agent, Venetia, was a real wonder when we moved from Kent to Devon.

We took to her immediately! The fact that the Wards' office was only round the corner in the High Street helped too. She, and her office team couldn't have been more helpful. They were calm, always contactable, non-evasive in every way, expert in assessment of potential purchasers and full of good advice.

I'd say that an estate agent that you really like and trust is the most important thing.

However... the premove sort-out and chuck out!

"It might be useful one day!"

Hmmm...

[kerrensimmonds]

OOh dear. Got a problem here. Cats are laid back and hide under my bed /blanket cradle when viewers come to the house with someone from the Estate Agency, when I am out at work. My lovely little dog welcomes them, plays with them, tosses her yellow tennis ball around and they oblige (and report back afterwards about how friendly and loveable she is). But when they have gone, she pee's and pooh's everywhere - and when I get back home I find not only the mess to clear up, but that her ears are pinned back and she has a fearful look in her eyes. Poor little soul...I am her third owner and would never, ever, consider moving her on to someone else. But clearly she has got the message that things are on the move. She is already treated homeopathically for various conditions including epilepsy on excitement, and as from yesterday she has a new remedy ('for fear of abandonment'). Let's hope it works! I feel so dreadfully sorry for her, but if I want to sell my house (and I have to, because sooner or later I am going to fall when I climb into or out of the bath to take a shower, despite all my disability aids) we have to get through this. Who was it who said that house moving was stressful? This is only the start!

[Fjgrogan]

Kerren, is the shower problem the only reason you are planning to move house? A friend of mine who has muscular dystrophy had her bath replaced with a suitably equipped shower cubicle which took up exactly the same space as the original bath and it has been a great blessing. However, trying later to sell a house with no bath might be a problem. Fortunately my friend also has a second bathroom with a proper bath - which is unusual in a two bedroom flat.

[kerrensimmonds]

There's the staircase as well Frances (though the budget will provide a stairlift in the next property) - and my need for a downstairs loo and somewhere close to the house for parking the car. I do have a garage here, but it is a long way out of my walking range so it has not been used for 8-9 years. I might even end up buying somewhere which is otherwise suitable, but paying to have the bathroom replaced with a walk-in shower.