Non-xmassy house buying question

[cheryl t]

Me and the now ex (who i originally bought the house with). We were 110% certain on the house - bought it at the asking price and I am still there as its MY house and has been for almost 3 years now.

[big_si]

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

Sit down together with a pen and pad and draw a line down the middle. At the top of one side put "PRO's" and the other put "CONS". And do exactly what it says on the tin. Find out what you both like about the house, what you both dislike about the house and if the CON list is, all in all, longer than the PRO then DON'T buy the house!!!

This is a good idea. At the moment the only bits that she has a problem with is that the house isn't perfect now and although it fine for us to move into we'd want to decorate it most of it as we went along. The location is lovely, the size of the house is great, there are plans drawn up by the present owners that would convert it into an even more amazing house should we want to do that in the future, the garden is lovely too...

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

The main thing to remember is that neither of you will win this argument. There will always be one loser (in your eyes). It's all about compromise and perhaps if you sit down and discuss it like suggested you may find out why the other party doesn't like it and then you can either persuade or you can be persuaded to change your minds.

I've tried this one... She's just not really sure at the moment...

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

Relationships are all about compromise and if either of you totally put your foot down you're gonna spend the rest of your lives arguing, so TALK to each other!

We've not really had a proper argument in the last 3 1/2 years together. Get on really well. We have no problem talking... Just seem to have hit a bit of a wall the last couple of days and I'm not really sure why...

Originally Posted by Scubee

Find out what is the sticking point, and either figure out a way to change it, or make it less important for them.

Yep, that's what I need to do. Can try to move past it or find out whether it's a show stopper on this one.

Originally Posted by Ian@1904

Our current house we bought in 1993. At the time it was filthly, two dogs, one cat, the owners looked like tramps. The brown carpet in the bathroom turned out to be pink when we moved in and more

However the house in is a lovely cul de sac, great in a nice village and had been fitted with first class double glazing. The windows let in lots ogf light which is what I like in a house.The first six months were hideous: blocked drains, fleas, a ban on bare feet until we changed the carpets-grim. After we had cleaned, done the bathroom, and then the kitchen the house is fab.

As I said above, this one is completely 'fine' for us to move into as is but would need some money and time spent on it over some time. It's also in a lovely villiage and backs onto farmland. I don't think she has a problem with the doing it up as we go along bit as we looked at one a lot worse and was happy with the idea of doing it up and putting our stamp on it... It might be the timescale that things could take which may be putting her off, I guess? Something for us to talk about.


Thanks all for suggestions and input. Much appreciated. Feel free to continue chipping in if you have any ideas!

[Madfish]

Originally Posted by Diving Dude

Buy it. You could fanny about for years trying to find the perfect house, meanwhile your wasting money on rent and house prices keep going up.

Also, the new HIP reports are now compulsory which will slow down properties coming onto the market, speculative sellers are discouraged by the price of providing them and will keep out of the market. With the Bank of England predicting four interest rate cuts for 2008, this is as good a time as any to buy in my humble opinion - there may be a slowdown, but it won't last long........ (famous last words )

You will find very few perfect houses over a lifetime and if this one has potential for improvement, then it could be a perfectly nice stepping stone to a more perfect house in three or four years.

Having said that - t is generally the woman in the partnership who decides - part of the 'nesting' instinct - ask your GF if she can try to imagine herself in the house/garden/sitting room etc and if the answer is NO, maybe you should look around a bit more.

Good luck - don't let it spoil Chrimbos

Di

[Diving Dude]

After we viewed the first house we bought, the High Dudess and l sat in the pub with her dad and she told me that she hated it, this was a problem because l thought it was great.

It had rotten floors, ceilings, a crappy bathroom and kitchen, no heating, rotten windows and doors, damp walls, bad electrics and plumbing just about everything you could think of was wrong with it, except that it was structurally sound and it a perfect location for a very cheap house.

We bought it for a reduced price of £7,300 and sold it after l'd done all the work, three years later for £27,500. She loved it by the time we were ready to sell.

The same house today would cost £300k+ because now it's an ideal starter house for a professional couple whereas years ago it was just a cheap 2 up 2 down cottage.

l drive past this house every couple of weeks and if it ever comes up for sale l'll buy it to let it.

Originally Posted by silverfish

Aren't house prices starting to come down now?

They never do in the long term.

[big_si]

Thanks for all the input guys and gals!

We did plenty of chatting and found out the bits that I was totally overlooking. We've agreed that the long term house developments could happily be delayed for a bit to allow for the more important planning of weddings and thinking about kiddies.

As a result the concerns were allayed and agreement of a desire for the house came to light. This has meant various text messages and calls with the agent over the last couple of days and some bartering took place.

I am now pleased to report that our offer has been accepted!!! YAY!!!

[tom]

woo hoo. good luck with whole process

[Scubee]

Well done, Si. I am glad you got it worked out

[uwila]

Good luck and all the best for your future together in your new home

Originally Posted by big_si

We've agreed that the long term house developments could happily be delayed for a bit to allow for the more important planning of weddings and thinking about kiddies.

So does that mean you'll have no energy left for diving? Do I hear another garage sale coming on?

[big_si]

Originally Posted by uwila

Good luck and all the best for your future together in your new home



So does that mean you'll have no energy left for diving? Do I hear another garage sale coming on?

Heheheh, thank you!

There will be plenty of energy for diving... Sorry!

[Bantam]

Good Luck in your new house.

I've just bought a new place too, so I have just finished the process - but our problem was selling the old place. It took 2 years all in all to sell it