selling and buying houses ???

[minnie29uk]

Hi All,
My current house is my only house and I baught it 15 years ago - no chain and all real easy!!!

I now think I need to move to another area in Leicester to get my children into better schools than my current catchment offers.

So please,any advice on selling / buying / mortgages etc will really be appreciated.

Any websites with recommended reading.

Today Ive organised....
3 different estate agents for valuations ...what q's should I have for them?

A financial advisor to let me know how much I can borrow ,who from etc

Ive booked in to look at a couple of homes(a bit early I know,but just to get me in the mood...I actually love my house!!!But kids come first)

Thanks All,
Lynn

 

[carolfoy]

firstly if you appoint an agent make sure they are working for you. That sounds easy but make sure they have your interests at heart. They should legally approach you with every offer or tentative offer you get. Figure out a list of must haves and must dos and make sure they form a part of any contract you negotiate.
i.e. fix an exchange/completion date to suit you
if an offer is made on your property subject to survey make sure the agent will still fully advertise it up until exchange. remember an offer is worth nothing until exchange of contract, even a full asking price offer does not mean the buyers will proceed so insist on quick exchange.
make sure that any house you see and like knows you are not in a position to proceed until your own property has exchanged

any questions p.m. me and I will try and help, not on the boards very much but have a lot of knowledge on the crappy system thats in place in this country

 

[minnie29uk]

firstly if you appoint an agent make sure they are working for you. That sounds easy but make sure they have your interests at heart. They should legally approach you with every offer or tentative offer you get. Figure out a list of must haves and must dos and make sure they form a part of any contract you negotiate.
i.e. fix an exchange/completion date to suit you
if an offer is made on your property subject to survey make sure the agent will still fully advertise it up until exchange. remember an offer is worth nothing until exchange of contract, even a full asking price offer does not mean the buyers will proceed so insist on quick exchange.
make sure that any house you see and like knows you are not in a position to proceed until your own property has exchanged

any questions p.m. me and I will try and help, not on the boards very much but have a lot of knowledge on the crappy system thats in place in this country

Thankyou alot - Ill probably take you up on the offer of PMs ..Im a single Mum and doing it all on my own is a really scarey prospect!!!

Lynn

 

[Chilly]

3 different estate agents for valuations ...what q's should I have for them?

You want to find out how much they charge and if that includes VAT and what you get for that such as a board outside your house, adverts in the paper and online.

Make sure you declutter your house so that it seems bigger to buyers. They always say a lot of photos are not a good idea as people cannot imagine themselves in the house then.

 

[natalielongstaff]

Hi All,
My current house is my only house and I baught it 15 years ago - no chain and all real easy!!!

I now think I need to move to another area in Leicester to get my children into better schools than my current catchment offers.

where abouts in leicester do you live Lynn ?

 

[poohmadmum]

As I'm sure your estate agent will tell you, don't forget that you/they can't market your house until you have ordered a HIP - your estate agent or solicitor will be able to advise you on this and many have deferred payment options.

 

[Goofyish]

I did notice an anvert. for Pink estate agents the other day, they were offering free HIPS:

http://www.piink.co.uk/piinkhips/index.html

 

[poohmadmum]

Forgot to mention before, do shop around for quotes for agents' commission and legal fees as they can vary quite a lot between companies/firms.