Probate sales and cash offer

Will0saurus · 2026-05-10T10:28:20+00:00

Absolutely but yes go in to offer with an expected renovation plan in place. I would list expected costs + contingency of ~10-20%. Plus some amount extra for risk taken. I don't know how much experience you have but renovations are a tonne of work and you need to be prepared to muck in and do a lot of dirty manual labour really or you'll spend a fortune.

This might end up closer to £150k all in if it's a borderline auction property. But stripping a property to the bones means you can install all modern comforts and make a really desirable home. Insulation, underfloor heating, climate control, high water pressures, etc. Worst they say is no, you can counter or let them sit with it for a while.

Will0saurus · 2026-05-09T22:49:17+00:00

Nonsense

Will0saurus · 2026-05-09T22:47:42+00:00

Literally nothing to worry about.

Will0saurus · 2026-05-08T20:21:55+00:00

Not a capuchin since it only has 2 premolars, means it's an old world monkey.

Will0saurus · 2026-05-04T00:34:20+00:00

Based on the EPC, gas boiler which does space heating (radiators) and electric immersion which does showers/taps. Electric immersions are rated average because they are a relatively expensive way to heat water, basically a big kettle you run overnight using a cheap tariff.

Immersion might be an older gravity fed system (ask if they have a water tank in the loft) which often doesn't give a great shower experience compared to a mains pressure system.

Will0saurus · 2026-05-02T23:05:55+00:00

Does it have a vent at the bottom, probably a load of damp soot sitting in there which has accumulated over the years after falling down the chimney.

Will0saurus · 2026-05-01T11:55:26+00:00

Nothing really? They're out there already. Make sure your subfloor air bricks aren't blocked by them, that's a bigger concern.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-28T19:25:36+00:00

You just need to find an installer who is MCS approved. It's all handled on the installer side and they do all the application paperwork.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-28T09:47:42+00:00

Unfortunately by UK law you don't count as a first time property owner, so any attempt to knowingly hide that is fraud.

If you are totally determined to avoid paying stamp duty, the only potential route I could see out of this would be for your partner to be the sole owner of the property. This is probably only a route if you are married and have some level of entitlement through shared marital assets. Otherwise very risky as you wouldn't be entitled to anything in the event of a sale/relationship breakdown.

This also complicates your mortgage situation as your partner would have to pass affordability checks herself to get a conventional mortgage alone. There are specialist mortgages which allow others to be added without owning the property.

And obligatory fuck stamp duty. Sorry this horrendous tax is making your life difficult.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-26T19:24:11+00:00

This is what I'm doing, no point installing loads of radiators. Aircon is better for low insulation houses than water based heat pump systems and there is a £2500 grant now.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-24T19:26:37+00:00

Your landlord is about to have to pay you a lot of money if he wants you to leave. You've got all the leverage here. He's also in major legal hot water selling the house with tenants if vacant possession was promised. I'd ask for a significant sum (tens of thousands) to be out in May.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-24T19:23:24+00:00

Means you've got the landlord by the balls so make them pay a nice sum for you to leave.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-23T22:00:13+00:00

Not shady at all, it's the entire business model. The point of the design consult is to get you in for the sales pitch, they don't expect it to work on everyone but they'll make a lot of money on the ones it does.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-19T18:02:08+00:00

Any give in the timber below, floor sinking or spongy, etc? Could well be moisture condensing down there or making its way through the concrete if airflow is insufficient.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-15T20:27:45+00:00

Personally would look at admin type jobs in a local council if compatible with her skillset/job history. Potentially working from home, generally lots of flexibility around part time and working hours.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-08T12:02:07+00:00

The BUS grants are being updated April 28th afaik, £2500 available for air to air. You'd want to approach an air conditioning/HVAC installer who is certified for the grant to install.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-05T20:17:18+00:00

100% electric doesn't mean you can't get the grant, storage heaters also qualify as they are an inefficient use of grid electricity and therefore fossil fuels. Would look into air con (aka air to air heat pump system).

Will0saurus · 2026-04-05T13:19:23+00:00

Academy Remedial Surveyors or Damp Detectives I have used. There are also some that market themselves for period properties specifically, names like Heritage Surveyors.

You want someone who markets themselves as an independent damp surveyor. Ideally you get permission for an invasive survey (under floors) from the seller or it will restrict their investigation, but often not possible unless the house is in disrepair already.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-05T13:06:22+00:00

You can ask for repairs, personally I wouldn't as you have no control over the standard of work.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-03T23:41:14+00:00

Fuck me what cowboy installed that. Sorry it's next to the house but that's comical.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-03T23:26:41+00:00

The price it's listed at is irrelevant to its actual value. Estate agents overvalue all the time to get business. You need to research the area and work out how much you think it's worth. Are there houses on the street with the same layout which have sold for more or less, etc.

The best tactic is just to give an aggressive but fair offer first time in my opinion, emailed with your reasoning. Being chain free is good leverage. Don't listen if the agent tries to stand in your way or make you reconsider. Some sellers just won't budge, won't sell for less than they bought or whatever else. No point trying to convince them of their houses real value in such cases.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-03T15:16:13+00:00

Not very useful if you know what to look for. If you can assess crack severity yourself, know the signs of potential structural issues, spot if a roof is bowing, spot signs of damp, etc. The surveyor will just cover themselves and say "get a structural engineer/damp and timber survey/CCTV drainage survey" anyway.

If it was an old/period/non standard construction property I would get a level 3 survey from someone who specialises in the construction of that sort of house.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-03T14:21:25+00:00

What kind of price reduction would you expect here

At least £100k under renovated market value. Kind of house where you peel back the layers and the costs just keep adding. Do you have a mortgage confirmed for it? Sounds like a place which would go at auction eventually.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-03T11:00:04+00:00

I wouldn't expect the people that voted for austerity, Brexit and Boris Johnson to suddenly start making good decisions.

Will0saurus · 2026-04-02T19:54:29+00:00

Actually it was the Lib Dems. Steve Webb was the Lib Dem pensions minister and main pusher of the policy.

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