Monday 9 August 2010

Snakes and ladders


Back to the start. The house goes back on the market tomorrow. My buyer has pulled out, because his 7-year job contract has changed, and the first 4 years will be in Middlesborough, not in Newcastle, and that isn't easily commutable.

Am I surprised? No. His silence and tardiness was becoming ominous, and I am a realist. It's a relief to know, instead of fearing the worst and I may sleep well tonight for the first time in a while.

Am I disappointed? Yes. I did so want that particular house and garden in Somerset, and feel badly for the tenants currently moving out of it to make way for a proposed buyer. The only consolation is that it prompted them to buy their next home rather than continue to be tenants, and they had found a house that they loved too.


Am I hopeful? Yes; this is a nice house, in good order, and someone will want it - one day. I will have to decide what to do with all the boxes (eaves, wardrobes, friends' garages!) because I am certainly not unpacking everything. A car-load of allotment plants are going to be fostered by a gardener friend tomorrow, as the back yard is stuffed to the gunwhales with lumps of root and stumps of fruit bushes in assorted buckets and bags - not attractive!

Am I furious? Yes. Young Dr. D didn't just find out today that his changed contract would mean he'd be in another Northern town entirely. He sat on that information, probably (says my furious inner voice) being a busy-busy important professional who didn't give much thought to the person whose house he had wanted so urgently, and who had put herself out to get ready to move at short notice. It was only after numerous phones calls from estate agents that he responded to the messages left for him. I'm very cross about that carelessness and the silence, as well as the amount of effort everyone had to put in to get him to make contact and admit that he was no longer my house buyer.

On a positive note, no one died, I still have my beloved house to live in, with lovely neighbours and supportive friends nearby, and I can try again to make that move up the ladder, hopefully without encountering any snakes. Back to keeping everything tidy and spotless, hiding one of the cat trays before viewings, and having to drone on about drains and roofs. I can do this.

I must try not to be a property-bore-blogger while I'm about it. There must be more in my life than this, surely.....

I know - cake. Chocolate. More cake. Chocolate cake. Stand by.

26 comments:

mountainear said...

So sorry to read that - but as you say 'no one died'.

A curse, from me on your behalf on the young ill-mannered Dr.D. I hope his bedside manner is better.

Enjoy cake. You deserve it.

Anonymous said...

AARRGGHH!!!

I'm impessed at how calmly you're taking this. How very trying. Curses on Dr D (I have to say that this isn't a normal sentence for me to type, since our Lovely Son is a Dr D.

Hope a rich new buyer is even now deciding to look for a house in your area.

(Not really Anon but Isabelle)

Jenny Debeaux said...

That's absolutely bloody and you have every right to feel furious. However, sometimes not getting something turns out to be a much better result after all! I do know, though, how much it hurts and it isn't until ages have passed that you realise that it wasn't right anyway.

Cheer up, if possible right now - and enjoy the cake.

ps We're thinking of moving and my bedroom needs a total overhaul and radical review - 30 odd years of now defunct married life are stashed in there and have to be removed. Wish me luck!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Oh rachel! I have so much been there and it is so hard. Why don't people think about the impact of what they are doing on those at the other end? I don't know. Some people do and some people don't and that is all there is to say. I am sure your beautiful and well loved house will sell. Hope you are managing to do some things which give you pleasure as well as managing all of this!

rachel said...

Thank you for those kind words; I've been a bit stiff in the upper lip all evening, and plan to stay busy for the next few days, but just now I could have a good howl, and possibly slap the next young self-important doctor I meet. And there are at least 6 in this street alone.....

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Oh ****** !
The "buyer" behaved very cavalierly and you are right to be annoyed . With any luck another .... genuine ... one appears soon and you can still get the house you want .
Meanwhile your cakes always look so delicious and I hope you allow yourself an extra helping this evening .

Annie (Lady M) x said...

Your buyer was an arrogant, self-serving shit-bag. I feel so sorry for you because I suspect the disappointment hit you harder than you are letting on. And understandably so. Keep the faith!

Sweet Virginia Breeze said...

I am so sorry! Some people can be so inconsiderate and self-important. I know this is a terrible disappointment, but hopefully you will find another buyer right away. Eat that cake, have a good howl, and slap a doctor - you deserve the pleasure of all three.

Paul C said...

Great metaphor for describing your up and down real estate experience. Best wishes.

Karen said...

Buying and selling houses here in the States is an entirely different process than there, I see. One has to put down earnest money and sign a contract after the owner has agreed to the offered price. If the buyer decides to just walk away from the deal, as yours did, the seller gets to keep the earnest money (generally several thousand dollars). I see it takes much longer and signed contracts don't come until the very end there in England. But I got to add "gazumping" and "gazundering" to my vocabulary today! Wikipedia is a wonderful thing.

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Well! I just hope he gets a big boil on his bottom! It would serve him right! What thoughtless behaviour! I'm so sorry this has happened. Grrr!

Von said...

Yes chocolate, always the answer and Tim Tam slammers if you can get them!
So sorry, but you know funny things happen you may get that house yet.

Lesley said...

Aaaaaah shite! And other nasty sweary words. Very sorry to hear about the self-centred little erm, git pulling out on you. Good luck for a quick sale.

Lesley x

Marie Rayner said...

So sorry to read this. How very frustrating! But, as you say, nobody died and I am sure that you will find a buyer soon. You have a beautiful home that I am sure someone will want! xxoo

the veg artist said...

So sorry. A howl is certainly in order - I believe in letting it out.
Does this mean you will definitely miss out on the house you want to buy? You could well have another offer quite soon - it is a lovely house!
What about another mini-holiday to find a few more possibilities?

Lucille said...

I was dreading this post. Saw the picture and knew. We had a seller put the price up on the day of exchange once, so our carefully constructed chain snapped. There are selfish, inconsiderate, greedy people out there but lots of good people too and one of them is longing for a house like yours.

SusanFrances said...

I think it has all been said already!! I'm glad he is not likely to be my doctor......he is probably one of those "arrogant B*****d " doctor types that we all know and def. don't love! Better luck with the next sale.

Val said...

Rachel, I've been away for three days and when I logged in on my return and saw the heading to your blog, I just knew something had gone off track. I'm so sorry that this had to happen and I understand totally your rage and frustration. On the brighter side at least you're all packed up, house in order, cat tranquillisers to hand(?) and ready to go when the next offer comes along and I'm sure that won't take long.

Anonymous said...

What they all said...So sorry, that's rotten luck. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for a swift sale for you - hang on in there. And if you want to vent to us, singly or as a blog post, please do.

Jan x

Deborah said...

When I saw the title to this post, my first thought was 'f***!'. Sorry that things fell through for you, but I have to say that you made a good post out of it! You're at no risk of becoming a bore, Rachel. Got fingers crossed that something will come up soon, and that the house of your dreams will still be there for you.

Susan said...

You write so well and your thought processes described here are nothing but inspiring. I'm sorry for this wee set back and I do feel sure that it is just wee. Does it mean that the other house, in somerset, is definitely out. Might some new buyer for your house sweep in relatively quickly ?? Too bad I couldn't teleport Doug to help with the viewings of your place as he loves nothing better than to drone on ad nauseum about roofs, boilers, drainage, humidity, foundations ... it's a man thing I'm sure of it. And as you know my heart beat quickens to a loud thudding whenever whenever he drones on about 29 Black St.

jabblog said...

Bad luck - sadly all too familiar. Have a good, loud howl, lots more chocolate cake and let forth a string of invective - perhaps not in that order as that could be very messy. Onwards and upwards - more ladders than snakes this time round.

Dan said...

Hi Rachel
What a time-wasting bugger the doctor turned out to be! I hope he treats his patients differently! We had someone come for a second viewing of our house last week who had apparently sold their own house. During the viewing they casually mentioned that their buyer had pulled out earlier that day (yeah right!). Your house is lovely, and I hope it will sell soon for you. At least you can sit in that gorgeous garden in the meantime whilst you eat all that chocolate cake... everything has an up side eh?
Dan
-x-

Anonymous said...

I'm going to make a little felt man, christen him Doctor D and stick felting needles in him (have you seen felting needles, they have nasty barbs on them, so much more painful than just sticking pins in!!) I am sorry that it has all gone wrong - but there is the saying 'what's for us won't go by us', so maybe this just wasn't meant to be. We are often in Morpeth visiting my sister-in-law ... perhaps we could meet for a cuppa? Regards, Anne

BumbleVee said...

Well, damn him anyway! How rude and thoughtless.... one hopes his surgeries will better than his social and life skills...

not to fret though...you are absolutely right....back on the market as soon as possible.... perhaps a quick buyer and you could possibly make the other one yours still? .... oh, I could just wring that bugger's neck from here!!

Unknown said...

Oh it's such a nasty, nasty business, I am so sorry and have everything tightly crossed for another perfect buyer very quickly.

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