[victoria24]

and us! mucho congrats Hejwitch :-)

[peebles16]

WooHoo another sale :nice1 Tis getting into BBQ season so we need a flurry of sales - I would withold alcohol and chocolate from the fairies to get them to do the biz :laugh

All the best for sales or pick up in the market soon (especially for the long timers :yes)

Karenx

[catt]

Fantastic new Hejwitch..........got everything crossed that things run through smoothly for you......yeahhhhhh:raebanana:raebanana

[NZ Hopeful]

Well done Catt and Hejwitch, it's really good to hear good news!

Anyone want the fairy? :)

[victoria24]

Anyone want the fairy? :)

i think we need to reverse the fairy's polarity!

[NZ Hopeful]

i think we need to reverse the fairy's polarity!

Or, alternatively we could give her a kick up the a**! :exit

[Janey]

well done helwitch

[Hejwitch_uk]

Blimey, haven't managed to pop in since last night, what a buzz to get all your postings! Hopefully survey being done Weds. Will keep you up to date. Away at the weekend saying our goodbyes to the first round of friends and family.... it's all turned out to be very quick, but we'll cope with it like we've coped with everything else! Thanks again lovely people:D

[cathgates]

So pleased for you Hejwitch:clap:clap:cheers
Cath XX

[lindreth]

More good news for us today, we cleared the last hurdle in the selling process. After finding a buyer, negotiating a price, having an inspection and negotiating what we would fix, the appraisal came back at the exact amount we wanted. Whew. In this market you just never know. All that is left is for us to close in exactly 4 weeks time. We then get to move from our lovely 3 bed/2 bath house with a pool to a 1 bed/1 bath apartment. It will be worth it though, 3 months there, then on to Christchurch. Whoo whoo.

[catt]

:clap great news lindreth :clap

[NZ Hopeful]

Brilliant news Lindreth :clap

[victoria24]

well done in a tough market lindreth!

[Hejwitch_uk]

Congratulations Lindreth. We have the survey booked in for tomorrow afternoon, so I'm hoping that by Friday - Monday at the latest, we should have a definite on the house sale (sitting at about 80% sure it'll all go through at the moment) We've booked flights and the removers have pencilled us in for first week in Jan, so all is falling into place. Next thing to arrange is accommodation, but will wait until the results of the survey are back in....

[Kerry and David]

Well would you believe it. We have been in NZ for 3 months, got tenants in to the house as we couldn't sell ( I was on this thread from March - September) and then a couple of weeks ago someone from the UK emailed me and asked if they could view the house and they have offered.
They haven't sold yet but not too concerned as the Tenants are officially signed in to a contract so can hold out.
The only issue is that the offer is alot less than the original asking price. However I am wondering about accepting it as we are finding the financial tie of having the house in the UK a burden and it would be nice to have that 'clean break' that we so wanted.
Or do I hold out and hope that the market recovers and get a better offer at a later date?!

[catt]

We have took the money and exchange early next week......must admit its a big relief even though we took a £35k drop in the asking price.

You must decide what it is that you need to do and only you can answer that one........whatever you decide good luck :nice1

[NZ Hopeful]

Good luck Kerry whatever you decide to do, personally I would say if you can take the hit on the asking price then get rid, buyers are very rare things these days.!

Well done Catt, you give us all hope that we will sell!

[holland]

nz hopeful no reds allowed on my thread lol BLUES only

[andrewp]

Woohoo. After all but giving up on the house, we had a viewer last week Friday. He liked the house and property (he has horses, we have stables)... We had a Open house on Sunday which was catastrophic (a sorry story involving the disappearance of 2 laptops - How we're going to miss the crime here;). Then out of the blue on Monday our agent calls asking for a meeting on Monday after work. Guess what... a cash offer, no conditions... 25% lower than asking, but too god to turn down in the current climate. So in about 6 -8 weeks we should be house-less!!! Woohoo!

[victoria24]

Good luck Kerry whatever you decide to do, personally I would say if you can take the hit on the asking price then get rid, buyers are very rare things these days.!

Well done Catt, you give us all hope that we will sell!

I would want one of those:D

[Hejwitch_uk]

Congratulations andrewp, we also accepted a lower offer, but am relieved just to be in the position we're in. Had the survey today, so hoping to be a step nearer tomorrow. There didn't seem to be any major probs, but it's always a bit nerve-racking. Need to give notica at work in just over a week, so hoping all comes back well.

[Hejwitch_uk]

It did! :D:yes:D survey no problem, a couple of things to see to but no probs on price. Whew. Looks like we'll be there mid-January, after all! :exit

[JandL]

We had our 2nd investor look around tonight. Our house has two double bedrooms so is ideal for rental. Hopefully we find out tomorrow.

[Hejwitch_uk]

Good luck !!!

[NZ Hopeful]

Hey Holland, I grew up in Everton if that helps?! :p

[JandL]

Investory liked it, came for a second viewing with his wife who loved it. However, even after negotiating a min price we would ever go to (before hes even made an offer), it seems he wants even more of a discount. He wont get it, any less than we have agreed on means we couldn't afford to move out, known have any spare cash.

[macuser]

DEEPLY DEPRESSED again, ( it comes and goes in cycles). We now have our blue stickers firmly attached to passports and STILL HAVEN"T SOLD THE HOUSE!!. I am soooooo scared that the visas will expire and we will have to go through the whole thing all over again. Rapidly losing any small amount of positive feeling I can occasionally muster.

Thanks for the airtime............just need a moan.

Fingers crossed for anyone still trying to sell.

Helen

[JandL]

You get a year to use them, and you can just visit for a couple of weeks and use your RRV for 2 years, so near 3 years in total. Now, 3 years without selling would be depressing.

[macuser]

Aww thanks JandL. I know I should try to think positive, just it doesn't always work that way!

Problem is we have a section 18a on our visa, ie. I have to start work within 3 months of activating the visas, so it really is only another year to sell house and we have been on market for 18 months already.

Just have to keep pushing the estate agents.

Helen

[JandL]

Shucks, missed that from your sig. We have dropped our price 5 times, and now feel like we are being clubbed over the head and it stolen from us, and it still hasnt sold! It could be the renting game for us as well as many others :(.

[macuser]

You're so right, it does feel like you're being robbed doesn't it? Just another cost to pay in order to get to NZ.

Helen

[Carey]

Helen, just try and keep positive. Easy to say I know but it could still all happen and you're way ahead by having your blue stickers already. Can you consider renting your house out? It is SO worth doing anything you can to get here; it really is fab! Hope I don't sound trite but at several stages we never thought we'd get here either.

[janrzm]

Our house has been on the market since may, we've had plenty of viewers but no 'serious' offers.
Decided to rent it, didn't want to to all, but have now managed to get my head around that. Had 1 person to view without even advertising it, said he wanted it straight away, negotiated price for a 2 year term etc . Have now found out that he's changed his mind, so have just lost 3 weeks advertising it.
Letting agent didn't let us know that they were having to chase him.....
Very,very p..... off!
Go in 6 weeks, so back to the drawing board again!!
Hey,Ho!

[andrewp]

Hang in there guys. This really is a global problem. We had sold but just heard this week that our buyers ex-wife has stopped the sale of his house going through because of some disagreement on what she's due from the sale, so now we sit and wait. Leaving in 3.5 weeks and really don't want to consider renting it out. Ho hum! Just gotta keep positive.

[walshy]

Just agreed renting ours today, even rentals is struggling as took £150 off asking price, but as we are off in 2 and a half weeks didnt have much choice, with exchange rates will have about $1500 pcm though which should pay a large chunk of our rent so not all bad

[tea drinker]

Just wondering whether to change estate agents...

would I need to redo HIP or does the current one continue?

[JandL]

The HIP should go with you, some agents give you them in order to keep you with them (and charge a higher percentage) for a fixed say 12 weeks, but after that its yours to take with you. You should have got a copy, we didn't but our agent is slacking.

[Hejwitch_uk]

Haven't had time to post for about 2 weeks. My nerves are shattered, as we still don't have contracts signed. Our buyer has been 'exchanging contracts' on his house in England since October. I have been assured via his scottish solicitors that he should exchange contracts on the sale of his house tomorrow, and then our respective scottish solicitors should be able to 'conclude the missives' on our sale (after that, it's much more difficult for them to pull out) Trouble is, as they wanted an entry date of Jan 12th, we've had to put our fate in the lap of the gods in order to ensure all goes well with the sale. Flights and accommodation are booked, packers booked, I'm working my notice at work and leave on Friday (not going back after Xmas hols), we have only 29 days left, and nothing signed. Stress levels are interesting!! :yes:wah:exit

[tea drinker]

Thanks JandL

Was hoping that was the case.
My time with 1st EA is up and don't know whether it is worth changing to another to see if that helps or stay with the current ones but wanted to avoid paying for HIP all over again.

I'm pretty sure that I was emailed a copy so will have to go and check.

[catt]

The HIP is yours you paid for it so it goes with you. Ours went with us and it is valid 12 months from the date it has on it.

We ...... fingers crossed........will be exchanging contracts today just waiting to hear......its been a devil of a time as the buyers building society wanted proof of planning permission for a garage conversion which was done before we bought it and the same building society didnt ask for anything at the time we bought it.........guess its the sign of the times. We have ended up with our solicitor organising a building insurance indemnity certificate (another few hundred quid) to cover it. Will let you know if we do exchange but truthfully its been such a nerve racking process up to now i am not holding my breathe.

Good luck everyone on the market ......things seem to be looking up here there are a lot more sold signs appearing.

[JandL]

Hearing in the news that house prices could come down by 30% is a real pain, it goads people on to come and offer even less than before. I hate speculation.

[victoria24]

I'd be happy with any offer at the mo!

[JandL]

Had a viewing today, and we have another one tomorrow. Strange, didn't think we would see anything until after xmas!

[Hejwitch_uk]

Our sale became legally binding by Scottish law on Monday........ I left work for good yeaterday (very mixed emotions!) and time is now running out - we fly on 12th Jan.

[JandM]

Hang in there, and all good wishes. ((((()))))

[catt]

Our exchange took place yesterday (Friday) we complete on 30 January and its been a long hairy ride. I also left work yesterday and .we fly out on 14 Feb so all systems are go yeahhhhhhh :clap:raebanana:clap:raebanana

[lindreth]

Our house sale closed yesterday and we're now in our short term rental apartment. Hopefully we will be out of here by the end of March. This week has been hectic but at least the next time we move it will be to NZ:raebanana

[NZ Hopeful]

Well done Catt & Hejwitch, such good news for both of you :raebanana

Absolutely nothing here for us, not one single viewer since we went on the market, going to reduce early Jan in the hope something happens, wish us luck! :exit

Fairy is still available to anyone who wants her?

[NZ Hopeful]

Sorry Lindreth, congrats to you too! :raebanana

[catt]

Everything crossed for you NZ Hopeful...........there seem to be a number of mortgage deals out there at the moment and sold signs are getting more frequent here in Luton. :nice1

[macuser]

Congrats Catt, Hejwitch and Lindreth.

Glad to see there's still some movement in the market.

Fingers crossed for the rest of us.

Helen

[Andy-Dee]

Congrats Catt, Hejwitch and Lindreth.

Glad to see there's still some movement in the market.

Fingers crossed for the rest of us.

Helen


:cheers:cheers:cheers to all of you. Good luck and god speed! We're still sitting it out.

[victoria24]

well done guys, I'd say you've successfully traversed the trickiest part of the journey :)

[Hejwitch_uk]

Thanks for the good wishes, I still can't believe we were so lucky. Will still pop into thread from time to time to watch progress.

[catt]

Thanks everyone..........wishing you all a great new year with sales picking up very soon hopefully.

We still wont believe we are sold until we actually see the money in the bank on the 30th January..........our buyers are popping in for coffee and look around on Friday morning i think they wont be away from here for the rest of January......they cant measure for toffee but its fun watching them try and ending up helping them do it.......also with them being a young couple first time buyers and watching/hearing them together as they walk around brings back memories of when OH and I went for our first house together. Everyone go awwwwwwww......:laugh

[Andy-Dee]

We turned down a viewing yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were from a neighbouring village, not even on the market and were very specific about when they wanted to view.
In this market - we decided they already knew the area, had adequate photographs and if they made an offer we couldn't accept - BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EVEN ON THE MARKET.................... FUME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hate viewing tourists!

[lindreth]

Thanks guys. It really does feel like the hardest part is over now. I just hope that the ITA review is pretty much a formality then we can get on our way.

[NZ Hopeful]

We turned down a viewing yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They were from a neighbouring village, not even on the market and were very specific about when they wanted to view.
In this market - we decided they already knew the area, had adequate photographs and if they made an offer we couldn't accept - BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EVEN ON THE MARKET.................... FUME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hate viewing tourists!

Good on you for refusing to let them waste your time, what is the point? I told our agent that I didn't want anyone who wasn't even on the market and she said but if they like yours it will give them an incentive to put it on quickly! :roll

Just made the mistake of looking at this site - http://www.zoopla.co.uk/ and now feel like crying. Just about to ring the agent to drop the price but still don't think that will help.

Nothing like starting the year on a positive note eh?!:uhoh

[JandL]

That website shows our house 10k more than it is already on the market for. Funnily enough we have another viewing today.

[Elainep]

Has anyone on this thread thought about putting their properties in auction? It really used to be the last resort and mainly used for properties that had been repossessed, but I think they have changed a lot in recent years. Our property will be going on the market as soon as the kitchen is finished (work starts on the 19th Jan:clap) and we're going to tell our agent that he has six seeks to sell it before we'll look at sticking it in an auction (with an appropriate reserve of course!). Not only does the property have an opportunity to sell on the day, hopefully the marketing for it will bring other potential buyers out.
To end on a positive note; our estate agent is reporting that December 2008has been their busiest December for some years and that properties are definitely starting to move (although the first time buyers market is still stagnent, but if you have a property that will appeal to those buyers either upsizing or downsizing, I think we're still in with a good chance of selling at some point:cheers
I think we all have to remain positive and realistic about price. Good luck everyone.

[JandL]

There was a recent talk about auctions in here recently. Something like 60% were going unsold as people had too high a reserve, people expect real bargins at auctions.

[catt]

According to Zoopla our house is worth £20k more than the buyers have paid for it :laugh............the old saying.....something is only worth as much as somone is prepared to pay for it......springs to mind

[tea drinker]

I've noticed lots more For Sale signs going up with a few (2 or 3) Sold signs appearing. BUT a great number of For Let signs. I sometimes wonder where those owners have gone (hadn't noticed those properties having For Sale signs up previously)

Not heard of Zoopla but am hesitating if it means more gloom and doom.

Just waiting...