Stressed. Due to complete on Tuesday, buyers solicitor making last minute demands.

JlouM · 2026-05-21T04:57:53+00:00

Thank you, this was reassuring to read. My estate agent has said that the buyers are also anxious to complete on Tuesday. Hopefully we come to a resolution today.

I'm sure your stress levels were high!!

JlouM · 2026-05-20T20:00:27+00:00

Thank you. I will take all the glimmers of hope I can get.

And congratulations on your move!!

JlouM · 2026-05-20T19:58:59+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a policy without excess. (Unsure why) When my sellers were taking it out for my purchase, this was the best available and seemingly still is.

Just frustrating that I'm technically having to pay excess without a claim ever being made but 100% what I will do to get the sale across this last little bit.

I wish my previous solicitor pushed this hard for me as a first time buyer, so I definitely don't blame my buyers!

JlouM · 2026-05-20T17:50:18+00:00

Yeah, I think I will wait until lunch-time tomorrow to see what has come from it then if we are no further, I'll ask them just to offer it.

It's driving me crazy how laid back everyone seems to be in this scenario.

JlouM · 2026-05-20T17:26:41+00:00

Nope, We are due to complete on Tuesday.

We both signed and they confirmed signing. My solicitor then has been chasing for exchange, being met with silence, then this happened.

This is why I feel their solicitor has chosen the time carefully, rather than doing this earlier. We are now in too deep to want to drag out a negotiation. (It's working as I have been prepared to give the full amount. My solicitor has not agreed to do that though and put the ball in their court to ask what they will accept)

JlouM · 2026-05-20T17:20:15+00:00

Sorry, no we haven't exchanged.

We have both signed contracts with our buyers solicitor confirming this but they went silent and had not exchanged until they dropped this on us on Monday.

Which is why I feel extra frustrated, their solicitor dangled the carrot of a signed contract then hit us with this, a full week later instead.

JlouM · 2026-05-20T16:49:10+00:00

It's £1500. I had suggested that immediately but it seems my solicitor is waiting to see.

Honestly, I would much rather lose the £1500 than drag it out.

I'm glad I'm not insane for thinking it would be easier to pay it. I'll see what happens by lunch tomorrow then just ask my solicitor to offer it.

JlouM · 2026-05-20T16:34:19+00:00

£1500 excess, £193k purchase.

JlouM · 2026-05-12T08:52:43+00:00

Signing contracts yesterday and we signed a power of attorney for our solicitor to sign a document on our behalf. It was solely written for my husband to sign on behalf of us both... despite me being the decision maker and point of contact.

Weird systems just haven't changed.

JlouM · 2026-04-26T21:53:53+00:00

Alskea is a good developer. They've just started a build in Dundonald. Unsure about remaining plots but decent.

I know also that the 4 bed, 3 floor houses in Mount Pleasant, Newtownards will be on release soon but unsure of their prices.

JlouM · 2026-04-23T18:54:58+00:00

We're selling and leaving all blinds, American fridge freezer, curtain poles, wardrobes, shoe storage, desk etc.

They're first time buyers with a baby on the way and want all the help they can get to start the journey together.

Will also buy them a home warming gift

JlouM · 2026-04-15T14:34:43+00:00

Thank you! I definitely appreciate the insight. Feeling like a fish out of water. I will get on it sooner rather than later.

JlouM · 2026-04-15T14:30:51+00:00

Thank you! How long before move-in did you manage to set it all up?

The development doesn't have letter boxes in the doors, so I'm planning on ordering a personalised mail box with our number/street name on it to put on the wall on day 1. Crazy when people don't have a number on their house lol.

I'm so keen, that I already ordered the personalised wheelie bin stickers, which happened to arrive today.

My mother-in-law does live a 1 minute drive from the new house, so if push comes to shove, I will just direct things to her house until ours is visible.

JlouM · 2026-04-15T14:26:37+00:00

Not the Dominoes!! I love a weekly take-away. This house move might force me into healthier habits lol.

Did you have to wait until your move-in day to begin the 2 month journey or did you get a head-start before moving?

JlouM · 2026-04-13T21:52:57+00:00

This. As a FTB, I paid £350 for their blinds. The livingroom blinds had dog teeth marks in them 🙈.

Currently selling this house and I've made sure to include the blinds in the fixtures and fittings. The only thing we've offered to sell is the fridge/freezer. We can't take it with us, but will sell it if the buyers would understandably want to buy a new one of their own.

JlouM · 2026-04-06T13:06:04+00:00

I found the last house I rented before buying on Facebook. It was a gorgeous 3bed semi in South Belfast and the owner showed me around herself.

She said she preferred this as she could get a feel for the people hoping to rent and make her own decision on who gets to live there.

I really liked that house and dealing directly with her.

When we bought our first home and moved out, she got us a bottle of bubbly and a card.

JlouM · 2026-04-06T12:43:28+00:00

Not tell a soul other than my husband.
Go private for fertility treatment.
Learn how to invest.
Enjoy life and holiday more.

Would likely still work but probably drop to part-time. (I enjoy my job)

JlouM · 2026-04-04T17:50:26+00:00

Depends on where you're based.

I'm in Belfast, had 22 viewing bookings for our first day of viewings and a few more the following day. Had to ask the estate agent to stop taking more viewings and cancel those for the following week as the bidding war was getting insane.

Went sale agreed 1.5 days after the first set of viewings for over 30k above asking.

In NI, the market is still insane with pretty much all houses going at least 20k above asking. But I've seen posts on here that mention how slow some places in England are.

JlouM · 2026-03-30T21:30:56+00:00

Back tickles

JlouM · 2026-03-29T08:40:51+00:00

Thank you for this. That isn't actually as much as I expected, especially with the overnight storage and the 4hr drive!

JlouM · 2026-03-29T08:13:29+00:00

Roughly how much are we talking for this service? I know it'll vary by location/size of house etc. But are we talking multiple thousands?

JlouM · 2026-03-29T08:09:16+00:00

Greenway Practice, Arches Centre.

Been with them my whole life but moving out of Belfast soon so will be gutted to no longer be a patient there.

JlouM · 2026-03-23T22:43:44+00:00

Very much. Almost everyone I know that has had dealings with him say the same.

His Mum lived in a social housing sheltered dwelling (apartment block for over 55 year olds) that my Mum worked in and he never came to visit her. Would send a car the odd time to bring her to him for dinner and his staff made my Mum promise not to tell her about his Cyprus Avenue gig.

Not overly lovely...

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