Sally Redux

Have to say there seems to be a certain lack of urgency around house-selling. One agent informs me 'vendor hasn't got back to us yet' re a viewing requested yesterday. Another is going on holiday so house won't be available to view while they're away. Mañana!

MMcD

Excellent!

Keep him in reserve for adversarial encounters with mortgage companies

Giantaxe

I guess lock boxes aren't widespread in the UK then....

Can't say I'm excited about the prospect of having to deal with the UK house-buying process again. The whole thing seems inefficient and time-consuming.

Sally Redux

The good thing, I suppose, is that the agents seen more than happy to list all the bad points of the house and launch into speculation about the sellers' desperate circumstances (actually that happens in LA too but quite striking so far here). The agents often appear flustered and give the impression they wish you weren't cutting into their time

You'll have fun looking. There are some cool places around.

Jerseygirl

Any least it doesn't cost an arm and a leg in estate agents fees when you sell.

Sally Redux

Pomster

we used to live with a train line from South London to London terminus at the end of our garden. You get used to it quickly and no problem with resale at all...especially as the station was a 5 mi walk in the mornings.

mikelincs

Not in privzte houses, but there are many in apartment blocks where some of the people may be elderly, and have carers coming daily. Some people do have them with spare keys insode, incase they forget their keys and are locked out. but not a common sight usually.

Jerseygirl

You do get them in private houses but they do not belong to estate agents like they do in the US. The council fitted one outside mum's bungalow...as she could no longer walk to the door.

Sally Redux

Yes, different in London.
The railway house had one for their own use.

I guess it's different here because you don't generally have a buyer's broker.

We are now considering half a converted bakery in Harborne

dunroving

I was going to ask if you had looked at Harborne or Bournville. Lichfield is also supposed to be a nice town but might be a bit quiet if you are looking for a place with a buzz.

Sally Redux

I have never been to Lichfield, looking on Google it seems very nice.

Lorry1

Its funny, I had been reading this post but didn't comment as I didn't have a clue what it would be like to live by a train line, even though I have moved many times and lived in many houses.

Well yesterday, I dropped my youngest at a new friends house. I was sitting in their lounge talking to her parents when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise. In the space of about 45 minutes, 3 trains went by as we were on the mainline between Reading and London. The house back doors were open and I have got to say it was pretty loud.

Not a clue what it would be like at night with freight trains going past?

I'm sure you get use to the sound, but I got to say, I think I will intentionally keep away from buying a house near a train line. But thats just me

Sally Redux

The freight trains are long and can make the house vibrate. We would sometimes hear them in our old house which was on the other side of a street which had the same line running along it.

Drove past our old house yesterday, the owner was pottering around outside looking very happy.

Beware the greener grass

calman014

Try talking to neighbours in the same street..they are often a mine of valuable tips.