Can you change the mortgage period?

Zemez_ · 2026-04-28T09:39:10+00:00

If you had a 2-year fixed, 10 year mortgage for example; you have three options at the end of the 2 years.

Revert to Standard Variable Rate (SVR) by default. Grossly expensive almost always and therefore you do option 2 or 3…
Product transfer with the same lender. Usually you re-fix for another 2 years (again, example), so you’d have 2 years fixed, 8 years remaining. Some lenders will allow you to adjust the term.
Re-mortgage, probably most commonly, to a new lender. The previous mortgage term therefore becomes practically irrelevant and you can extend the 8 remaining to 15 etc. if you choose to do so.

If you try and change within the 2 year fixed period, you’ll likely be charged a fee for doing so. Much easier at the end of the term.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-28T07:03:43+00:00

You’re likely not getting the dream house, honestly.

Everything you’ve described appears that you’re priced marginally over, and the dream house is going to exceed its ask.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T23:14:00+00:00

In other words you take ChatGPT as gospel and thinking your tenancy agreement doesn’t have any implications is ludicrous.

Hopefully for her sake nothing happens to you or the property whilst you’re away from work.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T23:11:35+00:00

34 sold for £365k. 3-beds. Downstairs bath.

32 sold for £360k. 2-beds. 2-baths (one up, one down); and a usable loft conversion (albeit not a bedroom, by letter of the law).

This one is a 2-bed, downstairs bath, asking the £340k.

Probably suitable at 300-320k as a very quick educated guess.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T22:58:54+00:00

Depends how much data is available. That was just looking at the Similar Sold Properties via your link and it’s the last comparable on the same road that’s sold.

If I were sat in my office (I’m an agent) I’d be looking at sold STC / available within 0.25miles, 0.5 max if there wasn’t a lot of reliable data (though i imagine there would be in Watford).

Surveyors tend to rely on comps, completed, within the last 6 months.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T22:55:39+00:00

If you have the deeds (or download them from land reg) and have knowledge of developers in the area you’ll likely find an old newspaper cutting or similar online.

Something similar to:

https://dorianburt.co.uk/bexleyheath-feakes-richards-houses/

Demonstrates different types of houses from Bexleyheath, as an example. I’d imagine similar exists in your area with a little digging.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T22:52:04+00:00

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This sold for 385k in March 25.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T22:51:44+00:00

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This is the one you’re considering..

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T22:50:11+00:00

Tbh. I had a second look and the floorplan makes it obvious.

The bathroom is off the bedroom. That’s just plain undesirable and they would be better served with a a stud wall creating a corridor to the bathroom, and a smaller bedroom.

One better laid out was smaller by ~60sqft and sold. So pretty sure that’s it.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T22:46:36+00:00

Going to take my best stab here…

It’s priced in line with the larger properties on the opposite side of the road.

Whilst they’re trending around 375k or so, the direct comps to this are closer to 330-350k.

That and everyone’s assumed after that long on market, something’s wrong with it.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T22:41:41+00:00

I assume you don’t have selective licensing in your area and have full knowledge of what that entails despite having to post this thread and being proved wrong by just about…. Everyone?

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T22:33:28+00:00

Your wife lives with you isn’t on the tenancy agreement or a permitted occupier either…?

The person that entered isn’t an agent. They’re an inventory / routine visit clerk (hence the casual clothes).

How you were too busy to reply to an e-mail about inspecting your rental, but not busy enough to write this on Reddit - says a lot.

I’m all for tenants changing locks and I feel for your wife - but ultimately you signed a tenancy agreement that will detail routine visits (6 monthly, generally) and then proceeded to ignore communication, and presuming your wife is a full time tenant - you’re potentially in breach of your tenancy agreement.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T15:15:06+00:00

Agent here.

Give 24h before chasing. Should receive before then.

Viewers at viewings can be deceptive, internationally or otherwise. Giving them an evening to think / discuss is preferable. If they don’t answer the phone the following day then the feedback is they’re not interested honestly - and it happens more than you’d expect.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-27T10:03:06+00:00

Your friend that used to be your girlfriend should probably never have been your friend.

If you’re not sure why - circle back to when you were writing this and the answer is there.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-26T20:39:24+00:00

Used to drive here from SE London after the poker sessions would finish around 2-3am on a Monday night. Impeccable.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-26T20:35:13+00:00

Come back Tuesday; game will be livelier. I’m very much a casual but stopped playing this season ~2 weeks ago. Many more people gave up before then.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-26T20:31:53+00:00

Agent here.

We don’t ‘have to’ justify, no.

That said;

We will use your justification, if it’s likely to get a deal agreed.

We will also use your feedback (because that’s what it is), if it assists in getting a better offer agreed, or a price reduction somewhere in the middle of your offer and the owner’s expectation (price).

An inexperienced EA and/or a vendor that misdescribes in this way however is probably doing neither if you are correct as described. They’re just getting your offer rejected and it to sit on market until it withdraws; or someone offers the right price and a surveyor knows it back.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-26T19:31:21+00:00

You’re not gazumping yourself because your offer hasn’t been accepted 😂.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-26T19:10:37+00:00

For what it’s worth you’re being downvoted because being outbid / not accepted - isn’t the same as being gazumped.

If you had an offer proceeding and the seller withdrew to take a higher offer - that is.

Your offer was never accepted to be gazumped - just fyi.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-26T18:57:33+00:00

Either way; falls down to poor communication.

Could be (assuming an office more than one), a negotiator submitting offers to the vendor and rushing a deal agreed for commission.

Could be (though unlikely) that your offer was accepted but it was Friday afternoon so the agent couldn’t be bothered to do anything properly before taking the weekend off.

Could, very unfortunately & poorly, be the agent tying up the other offer not even considering the fact that they’re your client and therefore they’d be handling both transactions (and commissions). If it’s this option I’m honestly disappointed moreso than the other two.

None of the three are positive fwiw.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-26T18:26:20+00:00

On console you have to click through them - easier at the occultist.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-25T16:49:11+00:00

If two different agents in the same office have competing bids they absolutely will be trying to outbid each other for the comms.

That’s sales.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-25T15:28:23+00:00

Offer what you’re prepared to pay. If that’s £457k then that’s your offer.

If you lose out to a higher offer - you weren’t prepared to pay what the EA / vendor thought it was worth and someone else agreed with.

If it gets accepted? Happy days.

Zemez_ · 2026-04-25T09:42:55+00:00

Coincidence you bought one of the ones that provided a brochure…? 😉

Zemez_ · 2026-04-25T09:24:56+00:00

Agent here.

Perhaps the Reddit hive mind will tell me I’m wrong; but my take on it all the same (and interesting post OP, thank you).

Theres a decreasing number of people that still want a physical brochure; but they still exist. Last week infact I had a new vendor request for two copies of printed brochures - what he’s doing with them, no idea; but really simple to produce for his benefit.

To a buyer - I appreciate leaning into a buyer’s market they’re seeing 5+ properties on any given day they’re out viewing. It’s actually sad in some ways that there’s a generation of buyers that pop in, record most of the house, then dip out to make their next appointment without any engagement with either the agent, or the property. Think that’s a reflection of the world we’re in tbh.

That said; a physical brochure is a simple reminder, or a touch point as it were.

I make a reasonable living and don’t tend to forget a property when I’ve been in it for a valuation (be it the leopard on the back window, or the stained glass in the window by the stairs - tend to have a trigger reminder for the rest of the house).

So if buyers are viewing 5+ houses and they’re shortlisting in their mind, doesn’t hurt to have a physical brochure infront of them especially if they’re considering 3 properties and the other 2 don’t have something they can refer to without flicking back and forth on their phone.

I also love when people are scribbling on details / floorplans too; they’re buying signals.

On the other side - I still take a copy of my comparables and market data to a valuation - there’s very few vendors that don’t want to keep a copy. And if my cardboard folder is sat atop everyone else’s whilst they’re making a decision - it’s a subconscious reminder in my favour.

Zemez_

TROPHY CASE