Location, location, location
#151
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33
Re: Location, location, location
We are going back in May for 7 weeks to have a good look around before making a final decision on whether to go or stay!. We are looking at South Somerset, which is where I come from, but also interested in Dorset and Devon. Wouldn't mind a nice apartment but for us, it would have to have a reasonable sized balcony. Either that or a bungalow in a village or edge of village situation. I'm always checking on Rightmove so have a good idea of prices, well asking prices anyway! I hate having to deal with UK estate agents. It doesn't matter what your budget is, they always show properties way above your limit. I hate that they have For Sale signs but when you enquire about the property, they tell you it's under offer! So I ask why is it still advertised for sale then? They reply that until contracts have been exchanged, it's not sold. In that case I ask if we can have an appointment to see it, they then respond that - no it's not available. Why then do they have a For Sale sign up? Admitedly some do have an under offer sign on, but not many. The whole system in England is archaic and I dread having to deal with these people again. OK, rant over for now.
#152
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Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
Posts: 2,060
Re: Location, location, location
I was doing some checking around on the net and it seems that the consensus is that asking is anywhere from 11% to 30% above asking. I imagine that you could get better prices in the fall than right now in the busy property season.
Totnes has some impressive transportation:
rail: http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnlistr.asp?L1=tot003&OP=T
bus: http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnlistr.asp?L1=tot003&op=D
daytrips: http://www.tallyhoholidays.co.uk/Tou...e=WebItem&ID=1
I am really enamoured with this house in Buckfastleigh, right on the edge of Dartmoor with lots of walks, in a town with shops, sports, 5 pubs, swimming pool, a weekly farmers market, loads of history and the piece de resistance... drum roll please.... steam train service to Totnes (5 miles away) along the River Dart for £9.50 return on the South Devon Railway.
http://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/timetable/fares
I know you are going to say that it's quite close to the A road but is shielded by a row of trees and several houses, plus on the other side is nothing but open country. It's a bit above my budget but who knows...
http://www.primelocation.com/uk-prop...d/RNDT6807538/
With 4 bedrooms and lots of space I could do B & B (which I used to do at my house here) and potter in my studio.
Totnes has some impressive transportation:
rail: http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnlistr.asp?L1=tot003&OP=T
bus: http://www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnlistr.asp?L1=tot003&op=D
daytrips: http://www.tallyhoholidays.co.uk/Tou...e=WebItem&ID=1
I am really enamoured with this house in Buckfastleigh, right on the edge of Dartmoor with lots of walks, in a town with shops, sports, 5 pubs, swimming pool, a weekly farmers market, loads of history and the piece de resistance... drum roll please.... steam train service to Totnes (5 miles away) along the River Dart for £9.50 return on the South Devon Railway.
http://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/timetable/fares
I know you are going to say that it's quite close to the A road but is shielded by a row of trees and several houses, plus on the other side is nothing but open country. It's a bit above my budget but who knows...
http://www.primelocation.com/uk-prop...d/RNDT6807538/
With 4 bedrooms and lots of space I could do B & B (which I used to do at my house here) and potter in my studio.
Last edited by bandrui; Apr 24th 2011 at 8:57 am.
#153
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Now Devon
Posts: 951
Re: Location, location, location
A little bit of interest for Buckfastleigh . . . the name has half the letters of the English alphabet, and none are repeated. I've been there many times.
Last edited by aries; Apr 24th 2011 at 9:33 am.
#154
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: Location, location, location
The leases on these properties are long, up around 299 years so their value as leasehold and freehold are pretty much the same but they would start to come down slightly in value if the lease was less than say 80 years.
#155
Re: Location, location, location
The you haven't tried a shower that is attached to the mains (not an electric rubbish thing) and you'd need to have a good combi boiler for hot water and central heating. Thats what Mum has and we can shower one after the other then run the washing machine and still have hot water to spare. It heats as it runs.
We've been assessing what to put in our new house. We've gone with the combi because that wouldn't be a problem for us, but I'm not sure how it works for a family of 4 or 5, many wanting showers in the morning.
Bev
#156
Re: Location, location, location
I went to see The King's Speech last night at the Dawlish Shaftesbury Theatre, which is mostly a rep place but which shows films now and then. Probably seats 200 max. It was great, with people chatting as they went in and left. I was on my own, but exchanged cheery words with those around as we waited.
After, I strolled back down the street between the birds and the Dawlish Water on my left and a pub on the right where young people were sitting outside having a noisy good time, but nothing off about it, wrapped in English flags for St. George's Day.
Bev
#157
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6
Re: Location, location, location
How about the Beckham's old pad?
If it's good enough for David and Victoria it's good enough for the likes of us LOL!!
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-31687109.html
If it's good enough for David and Victoria it's good enough for the likes of us LOL!!
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-31687109.html
I get 'newsletters' from rightmove and pretty sure I got this one last month. I will mention that I registered for tiny houses - like Louise's little cottage in Port Isaac [used in the Dr Martin series]. Then I got one re a [Welsh] magnate selling his home. Today I got Kate Middleton's house [was this a joke?] I didn't open it anyway.
Bandrui - take you up on your experiences, but LITTLE, no stairs, in a warm area.
Thanks guys for all possies.
#158
Re: Location, location, location
True, but we can't do that here either. If two shower at once we run out of hot water, as it's the usual big tank in the garage. So everyone takes turns, and I don't switch the dishwasher or washing machine on unless no one is in the shower. We are a family of 5 (we;; 4 now Ds has moved) but sometimes 6 with visitors.
#159
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: Location, location, location
Even if I had money to burn, I don't think I'd spend £845,000 on a 2 bed flat! Especially one that's had all the character stripped from it.
Every time I go to check houses in Kendal, this one comes up
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-14184651.html
Perfect! Lovely home, detached, tasteful decor, beautiful gardens, on a very quiet road, and right on a river. If anyone has about £400-£500,000 lying around that they don't need, shoot me a PM would you?
Every time I go to check houses in Kendal, this one comes up
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-14184651.html
Perfect! Lovely home, detached, tasteful decor, beautiful gardens, on a very quiet road, and right on a river. If anyone has about £400-£500,000 lying around that they don't need, shoot me a PM would you?
#160
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: Location, location, location
I have only just returned to the UK after 29 years absence and find everyone complains (in the wrong places of course). Didn't take me long to fall in with everyone else. The Brits are no doubt a very self-depracting nation but I find it refreshing after that ra-ra mentality I had to endure in North America all of those years. I never drank the Kool-Aid.
I took a sip of Kool Aid in the first few years I was here - never since - and I have been here 30+ years. Terrible stuff!!!!
#161
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782
Re: Location, location, location
I always remember when I moved into my first house in Canada and my neighbour, who was actually a very nice person, came round to introduce himself. I suppose the tone was set when his first words to me were "Hello, I'm Joe, I'm a chef and I'm very good at what I do". This was not the last time I was to hear this.
Last edited by johnh009; Apr 24th 2011 at 5:51 pm.
#162
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,782
Re: Location, location, location
I hate having to deal with UK estate agents. It doesn't matter what your budget is, they always show properties way above your limit. I hate that they have For Sale signs but when you enquire about the property, they tell you it's under offer! So I ask why is it still advertised for sale then? They reply that until contracts have been exchanged, it's not sold. In that case I ask if we can have an appointment to see it, they then respond that - no it's not available. Why then do they have a For Sale sign up? Admitedly some do have an under offer sign on, but not many. The whole system in England is archaic and I dread having to deal with these people again. OK, rant over for now.
#163
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: Location, location, location
I have come across this on numerous occassions and am as baffled as you are. Legally, "Under Offer" means that the vendor has been made an offer for the property but has not yet decided whether to accept before moving to "Sold subject to contract". You would think that if only in the seller's interests, they would invite you to make an increased offer. Like you say, an archaic system.
A property has an offer accepted by the vendor but contracts have yet to be exchanged.
#164
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Tunbridge Wells KENT
Posts: 2,914
Re: Location, location, location
Something picked from the Spanish section of BE Living & Moving Abroad but about apartment life in Paris. Something to consider when pondering apartment life in the UK too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ent/9463155.st
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ent/9463155.st
#165
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: US
Posts: 4,224
Re: Location, location, location
Maybe a little over budget but rural also it maybe too far out for some.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-31173698.html
£355,000
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-31173698.html
£355,000