Help calm me, house buying and selling stress. Part 3

Shandy57 I know you mentioned staying in Northumberland. But here is an idea of how much property's in my road go for. My bungalow was £220,000 it's 2 bedroom, shower room, living room, hallway and kitchen. The garage is detached small enclosed back garden and small front garden. Long driveway. The bungalow has concrete floors. All my bills are cheaper than may old house except council tax which is £124 plus few odd pennies per month . On a water meter and have combi boiler. The bungalow next to me will be on the market before long as my neighbours funeral was last Friday. The 3 bed bungalow that was sold recently went for £240,000 . Hope this gives you a little guide.

Full steam ahead to March Shandy. It will be such a relief for you. You seem to have lurched from crisis to crisis and maybe finally you are going to enjoy more peaceful times. Fingers crossed.

Good news Shandy, March is not far away. Far too close for my liking.
IMO you need to also -in your own mind - set a figure that you would accept even if your reserve is not reached. There comes a time that a sale at a lesser price but still reasonable is better than hanging on for your reserve. We accepted a price of $100,000 less than our reserve just to get the sale done and on an unconditional contract.

Whiff I'm so glad your injuries are not worse, take care and heal soon. Good luck with your appointment.

Hubby is not happy at Rehab. In the 2 days he has been there the only rehab he has done is a 6 minute walk. He is threatening to discharge himself if that does not change very quickly.

I looked at another rental yesterday, another reject due to several factors but the fencing was pretty much non existent along one boundary. We have to have secure fencing to keep the dog in. I'm starting to get a bit panicky at this stage as there just does not seem to be anything suitable cropping up. Added to the time frame now is follow up appointments for hubby - all in the week we should be moving!

I know it will sort itself out and me having total meltdowns will not help but it sure is not going to plan.

Keep safe everyone with Denis heading your way. It seems with the rain we have had those terrible fires are now either out or under control for the first time since September.
We are coming into our hottest time of the year and it is so very humid and unpleasant.
I'm off to the pool for a hydrotherapy session, hopefully I'll feel a bit more relaxed after that.

Franbern`s post is a wake up call, I too got sucked in by the fact that you dealt with someone nice Shandy, yes please keep that cynical hat on. Franbern`s post is very wise, I would follow every bit of it, to the letter. Stick with auction with a reserve that gives you a tidy little home. You cannot be going through it all again, it has to go in march and march is indeed the perfect time for renovators, miss that and you will be back on the merry go round. We all want you to be looking for your new home by the end of march and to be settled by summer

Also I had to show my birth and marriage certificate and my husband death certificate when I brought the bungalow.

Shandy57 I know you said your husband died suddenly . Surely your children helped you deal with all legal matters. When my husband died on the Friday I phoned everyone on Monday as I knew his accounts etc would all have to be frozen until probate was proven. If this account has been active all this time they would have been statements and notification about interest changes etc. Also surely your solicitor would have asked for all his account details.

I've just had a chance to open my mail - a letter from the Halifax about my husband's account. Strange, as it is nearly four years now and I've not heard from them before. I'm sure I did all the paperwork at the time, the question is now, where is it all. I don't think they realise how hard it is to look at a death certificate.

Putting off until the weekend, I do feel so sneezy and weary.

Hello Franbern, was just signing off when I saw your message, thanks for the good wishes - and of course you are right, she was buttering me up to get the business! The reserve is highish as I'd have to pay to increase it if I felt unhappy. She explained that I could get an offer before the auction so I will be able to check the name of the person - she did warn me about the estate agent introductions.
At the moment it is a three month sole contract, no sale, no fee. I will read the small print carefully tomorrow, I feel very tired today after a sleepless night worrying, I have 14 days to cancel it.

Hey Whiff I'd forgotten what day it is, I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow.

I forgot to add that the valuer reduced the fee to 2% of the sale price, I was quoted 3% on the telephone and wasted time dithering between them and another because they were cheaper at 2.5%.

So glad it's done, I do feel drained and have to be up early again tomorrow to walk the dog before the chimney sweep comes. Having trouble with the electricity company used by the previous tenants, Bulb, they are refusing to let me switch to Octopus. Lots of admin involved, I am surprised.

By the way, fish and chips is off my menu in future - I went to the best shop in the village, and far too greasy and salty. No washing up though!

Stay safe in Storm Dennis, I've taped my cracked windows with a special waterproof tape, fingers crossed.

Not trying to be a total cynic, but do beware, Shandy, of 'nice' people who are taking your money and business. It is part of their job to be very pleasant, and to make all the appropriate 'how lovely' comments and exclamations on your property.
All you want them to do is successfully auction it - does not matter what they really think.
Hope they have not set the reserve price too high, be dreadful if it failed because their price was not totally realistic. As had been said to you previously, you need to work out how much money you are going to need to purchase whatever you want to move to, pay all the fees, have some money over for refurnishing/decorating,etc. and even a sum to put away in savings. That is where your reserve price needs to be fixed.
You have had it all before, agents valuing the property at almost double what people actually offered.
Not sure how auction houses work. If it fails in March, does it go into the April auction without you having to pay them again? Or would that be a separate fee?
Anyway, you definitely seem to be more determined than you have been previously. So pleased for you that you have gone quickly to auction and not wasted your six months rental time holding on to the Station.
You need now to settle in and relax in the rental place, noting more you can do on the house for the time being.

Sounds like a positive visit from the auction house lady. All fingers and toes crossed for a quick and good sale.
Hope neurologist appointment goes well Whiff.
You horsey ladies!! ?

That's amazing news Shandy. How lovely to get an appreciative auctioneer. Makes such a difference.
I will also raise a glass to you. You have done so much already.
G&T?

Sorry your cold is making you miserable Whiff Good luck with the neurologist.

Shandy57 so please the auction lady was nice. And she liked your house. Hope you are cosy and warm in the cottage with your pets. Take it easy and be kind to yourself.

It's staying lighter at night which is a sure sense spring will be with us soon. Storm Dennis to content with first.

Not so sore today the pain level is nothing more than I am in usually. It's my cold which makes me a misery. Had a good day at my daughter's. My grandson was very good and he was very gentle with me . He's only 2 and we normally charge round like loonies. Seeing the neurologist tomorrow afternoon.

I am most definitely going to raise a glass to you shandy, that corner has been well and truly turned. Make sure that you have a few days of doing very little, maybe a few bits but really it is about time you had a rest and a break to re-charge

Hi all, I had an eventful trip back from the garage in my daughter's Corsa, so many flooded areas here, lucky I know the back roads. On the bus on the way I bumped into a woman I see around the village sometimes, she said she remembered how I was when I moved here with my long red hair and colourful clothes. Made me think, the joys of youthful happiness and anticipation, I had no idea what was ahead then.

Lovely young auction lady came at 1.30 as expected and now I'm all signed up and have paid for entry into the March auction.

She suggested a good 'reserve' and is going to get back to me about the guide price when she returns to the office. I've uploaded all my photos to her email address, with the house furnished, and the floor plan. She thought the house was fantastic and could attract a lot of interest. Rather than use their solicitor I've emailed mine to ask if he'd prepare the legal pack, I'm waiting for him to reply.

Nice you are reminiscing about your horses. Both of my kids learnt to ride, my daughter advanced to jumping and trekking but gave up when she was about ten - and the price increased to £20! The two horses near me still don't have any hay and I sent my offer to buy some to the field owner's son again - apparently the horses owners owe two years rent, and the horses are to be sold to his Dad's friend. I said I would still like to buy them some before they go, we are due snow, poor creatures. No shelter and they have to go down a steep riverbank to get water, I can't believe so many people turn a blind eye to this blatant cruelty.

Off for chips as a reward for my hard work this afternoon, have a good evening!

Aw craftyone that's a lovely story.
Thank you for sharing it.

I was a horse mad teenager but we lived in cities and were too poor. I rode whenever I could and begged my DM (a widow) to move to the country so we could keep a pony but as I aged I had other priorities -our DC were never interested and it wasn't until I was in my 50s and began to help with RDA, which I continued to do for 17 years,that I really learned about the true costs of keeping ponies -vets, farriers, feed, but mostly time and devotion. Some of the stable girls lived for their horses. I realised my dream wasn't strong enough. One of the retired helpers who began at the same time as me, has her own horse now.

My DGS rides but he lives in NZ. He must have inherited my horse genes.
My wish list has to be flexible.

Are you a pony person Grammaretto? You know dreams can come true, if you facilitate them.

We had horses, I learnt to ride at 43 and sold a piano to get my first pony. We went from strength to strength and at one time had 3 horses and a foal. The mum to that foal was a cobby pit pony type, cost my 11 year old dd £260 and went on to win the royal welsh pony trecking championship and got best in show. Later, after she had the foal, we taught her to pull a cart, wasn`t good, the tractors wth trailers were always too fast. We sold her to a village, who clubbed together to buy her for a disabled boy and she went on to live on their farm. She was only 13.2 and a skewbald. Those horse years were some of the happiest in our family lives. Eventing, pony club, dressage, all of it. We built stables in our back garden and had tack with the farmer in the village, £6 pw per horse. A gruff ex boxer, a great horseman in his 80s and when he gave praise well we felt 10 feet tall

Very soon now, your cottage will be warm and cosy Shandy. We`ll be thinking of you today and hope you get the answers you need

You could have been told about the master oil key etc Shandy the rental people sound cavalier.

I hope the auctioneer doesn't dwell on details like dripping roofs! I hope she sees the bigger picture and can imagine it at its best.

Everytime the phone rings craftyone I think it's DD but so far today I've had an energy company telling me how I can change to all renewables, and a social worker who has just discovered that my in-laws are the oldest couple on her books who have no help from the state.

Downsizing Hmm. Our latest dream involves living in a cottage near the seaside with a shop for DH and a studio for me and a field out the back where I can keep a pony or two....
It's good to dream.

Hoping your DH SueH is getting better.

Hello everyone, I hope you are all well.

Whiff, I hope your bruises aren't too painful, I'm glad you have a replacement jacket, this weather is just dreadful. I do worry about my son now he is a taxi driver, he lives in Durham near the Consett valley and it gets the worst of the cold weather.

SueH49 best wishes to your husband in rehab. My Mum had major surgery and had to go to rehab too, it's hard on them doing things when it hurts, thinking of your husband.

The auctioneer is coming at 1.30 pm so I'm in the station, I'll be turning on the heating at 12 noon so it's not as baltic for her visit.

Unfortunately the platform roof is leaking again, the roofer had fixed it in the summer. The water is coming down the wall onto the boiler controls so I've had to fix up a plastic lid propped up on two mops which doesn't look great. I have phoned the roofer and hope he can fit me in soon.

Oil has arrived at the cottage so moving down tonight before the heavy snow arrives. I was waiting for a call as it has a padlock - apparently the driver has a master key so I needn't have worried.

Have a good day. I'm off to get the bus to collect my daughter's car, wish me luck skidding back home!

grammaretto, one of my dds only gets in touch as and when and it is not often at all, I learnt for my own sake, to try and get her out of my head, the constant thinking about her was doing me no good at all. When she gets in touch then she is lovely dovey but tbh I just savour the moment and wait a long time until the next time. My contacts to her have all been ignored. It is as it is and best to step back and get on with your own life. My advice is to carry on downsizing as though it is just both of you

Rehab sounds excellent SueH49. Years ago in the UK there were convalescent homes to help aid recovery.
There don't seem to be any nowadays.

I've heard nothing from DD. I wish I knew what was happening but perhaps until they have some news they would rather not phone.

We had another lovely day with my brother and his wife.
I did mention downsizing and they are encouraging.

Poor Whiff. You must be black and blue. A very good thing you had thick layers on. It was so slippery here today.

SueH49 glad you husband is having rehab. By the end of the week he will probably feel stronger. Hope you are taking care of yourself. All the best to you both.

Craftyone when I had jaundice the dermatologist drummed into me how important it to look after your skin. Whilst I was ill I used a steroid for the worse skin. Washed in double gel and used 500 lotion all the time. Since that time I use 500 lotion everyday on all my limbs face and body. My skin has never been in such good condition. I'm sore today but the pain is nothing more than usual. It's my cold which is making me a misery. Don't get them for years but we I do they knock me about.

Regatta have their sale on. So phoned as I wanted the same sort again. Hadn't got teal so had a nice burgundy one. Told them how the padding in the sleeves saved my arm from more damage. The jacket was £35.99 and didn't charge me delivery as a gesture of good will. Saved me £3.95 p&p. It pays to be a chatter box. Jacket should have been £90.

Hope everyone is well .

Goodness whiff, you were lucky not to have broken a bone or opened the skin. I learned only the other day, from my sister who is a nurse for the elderly in australia, that it is highly important to moisturise the legs particularly the lower legs. She said anything would do, a small bang on the shin could mean an ulcer if the skin breaks.

Sue I must say that I am glad that your husband has gone to rehab for a week. I am sure that exercises are uncomfortable and if he is typical male, he will moan to wifie but it will be stiff upper lip in front of strangers. He will make better progress I am sure. So Sue, you really are on your own doing all this moving prep. I hope you can call someone in to help, it is very daunting but little steps add up.

All going reasonably well with husband Whiff. He has gone to rehab today for a week, maybe more. He wanted to come home and do out patient rehab but one of his specialists pushed him into in patient rehab. Ideally he should 2 to 3 weeks. We really have underestimated the recovery time from this.

I've had to give myself a good talking to as I was falling into the trap of not doing anything - as my Mum would say "so much to do and don't know where to start so I'll do nothing". Unfortunately doing nothing is not really an option for now with just 5 weeks before we settle on our sale.

I have a few potential rentals lined up but none are able to be inspected yet so I just have to wait until they are. I know we will not be without a roof over our head but it would be nice to know where it is going to be.

I think I have broken our paper shredder in the process of clearing out decades of papers that have collected. How I wish we had a fire place and they could be burnt. Although with the temperature in the 30's I don't think I'd want a fire going.

Take care everyone.

Thank you all for your good wishes. To add insult to injury I've got a cold. Been years since I had one. Got 2 bruises on my left leg 1 on the right and 2 bruises on my left arm. Luckily all the swelling has gone day. Thick tights under trousers saved my legs from more damage , got my ankle boots on so think that saved my ankles. Had my thick Regatta jacket on and that saved my arm. Unfortunately my jacket now has 2 small tears. I will buy the same sort again as it's waterproof and windproof.

Shandy57 hope you and your dog are ok. And now safely in the rental.

SueH49 how is your husband doing?

Best wishes to everyone else. Stay safe .