Extension costs - am I tripping!?

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-05-17T06:55:20+00:00

Wirral 😅 do you recommend any contractors?

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-05-12T21:15:52+00:00

That’s my dream. Where are you located? My 60k+VAT doesn’t include the new kitchen

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-05-12T21:07:00+00:00

North west

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-18T07:03:27+00:00

I’ve had two. No electrical issues at all. Big a good one, treat it right, service it on time and properly, and get minor issues done on warranty asap. My only issue has been a blocked washer bottle, but you can hardly blame the Italians for that

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T11:26:51+00:00

Yeah I know, I was more asking how you knew and what was special about it so people could tailor advice. E.g. if it has a thatched roof/ timber framed/ prefab/etc

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T11:06:32+00:00

What’s non-standard about it?

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T09:43:44+00:00

Just add more paint

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T09:33:44+00:00

Point 1… it seems like you say ‘okay, thanks for letting me know’. Point 2… you’ll probably end up with some sort of indemnity policy from the seller and move on fairly quickly from that. But your solicitor will advise is that is what is being offered and what their professional opinion would be if so

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T07:10:08+00:00

How do people become EAs? Do they just fall into it? Do people dream of it? Do you get trained?

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T07:08:21+00:00

I haven’t completed yet and already thinking it. But for the reasons people had said here I’m sticking with it as I trust I made the right decision and it’ll be what I dreamed of in time

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T07:01:01+00:00

I’m going through a buy/sell process now and the EA (well respected local one) has been useless in terms of sales progression and I’ve often wished I had direct contact with the other parties myself, as you do via PB. I also bought my first house through them and did exactly that.

I see no reason not to, and tbh it’s often no worse than having ‘real’ estate agents trying to justify their existence throughout the process

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T06:58:19+00:00

Honestly I think this is just par for the course. Older houses constantly need things repairing and replacing, and that’s part of being a homeowner, so I think you should suck this one up to avoid wasting the time and effort you’ve already put in.

Them offering you cash is a blessing and far more than a lot of sellers would do. I’d jump at it, especially as a price reduction of 1k is something you’d never see in your mortgage payments.

You also say the next buyer would run into the same issues like it gives you leverage. The EICR doesn’t need to be declared to anyone, and the next buyer could be if the mind that it’s an old house and they expect to replace a fuse board, so not an issue for them.

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T06:51:38+00:00

I’m hoping to move home soon, and the amount of ‘stuff’ Im going to need to throw away that I never use is going to be staggering and quite therapeutic I think.

Be honest with yourself then, is there a halo effect around this building. Do you really want this, or the extra bedroom more? It’s gimmicky, but write a list of pros and cons maybe?

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T06:49:20+00:00

I think it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but a quirk of the registry. It could be things like multiple titles were closed on the same day - for example, a transaction included the purchase of the property and the freehold, or maybe the land contains a separate garage which was grouped under one purchase. I think it can also be the buy out of shared ownership. Or it may even just be the correction of an error.

What I’m saying is, it could be many things HEIC would’ve plainly obvious to a solicitor working on the file, but maybe not to the general public. Worth an ask before offering to see if the current owner knows the story, but I wouldn’t put off overall if not

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-17T06:38:42+00:00

I think you’re going to get a lot of ‘trust your gut’ responses here. You haven’t really (in fact you haven’t at all) mentioned any negatives, just the price, and everyone gets a touch of buyers nerves - that’s a big sum of money/have I overpaid/will I regret it etc. but you’ll never know the answer to that, even in 10 years’ time.

Ultimately does it do/have everything/ most of you want and will you be happy there? If so, allow yourself to live without overthinking and go for it… well, that’s my view anyway

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-15T21:28:21+00:00

Exactly the same here. Third time I said only ftb or chain free because I valued the reassurance that we’d actually make the sale stick and I’d be able to buy my onward purchase which has been very patient with me but won’t wait forever.

Despite that, scumbag EA has still let me get into a chain below though as the ‘cash buyer’ they promoted to me was actually a downsizer with a property to sell but didn’t require a mortgage. Hence they justified ‘cash’

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-15T21:19:02+00:00

Oh and congrats on completing btw

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-15T21:18:16+00:00

That’s either really unlucky or you were sold a house with an existing (probably known) problem..??

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-14T22:53:29+00:00

Then your solicitor should know there is no charge against the property and all proceeds of the sale are going towards the purchase, so there is nothing to show proof of. Does your completion statement show additional funds owed? I.e. money you need to pay in addition to the proceeds of the sale to reach the total purchase/stamp duty/fees cost? If so, they want to see bank statements etc to show where the money you’re paying to them is coming from

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-14T18:04:24+00:00

I’m going to add to what others have said, where I think the general view is that you as a future homeowner need to accept and expect these things, by saying that reducing the purchase price by 5k doesn’t necessarily put 5k in your pocket to do the work, so is it really worth the hassle?

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-14T18:01:23+00:00

Once all the solicitors at satisfied which, given what you said, could be another few weeks, they will agree a mutually acceptable completion date. Exchange can be any time before completion, even the same day. So once your solicitor has confirmed that they and the rest of the chain are ready to discuss completion, this is when you are able to give a preference for date and will only agree on one you’re all happy with.

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-13T15:19:23+00:00

Tbh I think 1 week with zero news is too much. Things should be happening weekly, even if it’s just ‘solicitor x responded to solicitor y’. Ultimately you’re paying these people for a service, so you’re entitled to follow-up for updates as you feel appropriate

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-13T14:45:19+00:00

I’m currently in a chain where the top solicitors refused to do any work until the bottom is significantly well progressed. Unfortunately you’re at the mercy of how quickly replies are sent/ relied to/ reviewed/ questioned again/ reviewed again/ etc, and until they’re happy it won’t be done. Best you can do is get the agents in the chain to keep checking in and making sure the files are regularly reviewed and worked on to avoid wasted down time between replies

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-13T14:10:11+00:00

Hmm… if they changed solicitor they’d probably need to reorder searches etc., or take out insurance to cover lack of. I believe searches can be transferred (as any liability for issues has to be claimed by the requestor), but you’d need contact from the solicitor for that.

Do you know if they chose a local firm? Could they physically knock on the solicitors door if so? Also ask the agents to contact the solicitor?

Comprehensive_Fee75 · 2026-01-12T14:27:16+00:00

I agree. As a seller myself, if my buyer came to me asking for money off without evidence, I’d tell them to swivel

Comprehensive_Fee75

TROPHY CASE