I am tired out, worried sick and frustrated. There are yet more demands from our buyer for things to be checked - he clearly is Very Organized BUT the stress is affecting my health - yet another day when I thought I was about to have a heart attack, and spent half the night awake fretting. I do not WANT any more people going into every room in my house - there is a Pandemic and we are in a LOCKDOWN here. Our home is the only place we feel safe and yet we are being constantly invaded by people asked to verify its integrity and being robbed of that security. (Update: everything now sorted and going ahead according to plan. Relieved is an understatement).
It is pouring with rain, so no chance of a walk to unwind. It's back to the master suite today I think. We made good progress going through the under-eaves storage in the sleepover room yesterday and I found two lots of different 1977 Laura Ashley fabric which I will list for sale on eBay, if I find the time. A basket full of fabrics destined for a rag rug are now destined for the bonfire (and I have a spare basket again!) and more books from the long bedroom (craft room) have been gone through and are destined for the Sally Army when we are out of Lockdown.
When I was going through my collection of vintage pony books yesterday, I was in tears when I came across Ponies and Caravans and The Ponies of Bunts (Oliver & Ducat, authors). They were written in the 1930s and had photos from the time to illustrate the pony adventures. Children and ponies and a gypsy vardo caravan travelling for a holiday (and naughty Petronella had to learn some lessons!) Another world. I remember buying them at the Jumble Sale in Testwood Village Hall nearly 60 years ago. They weren't worth much and I can't part with them, but gosh, being transported back in time so clearly to a happy carefree time just overwhelmed me. Those happy carefree days of childhood.
Right, this won't do. Work calls me.
Oh my lord, one would think the buyer has checked enough out and there is nothing more. It sounds almost as if they are looking for a problem in order to try for a reduced price.
ReplyDeleteThose books sound lovely, and I am glad you are keeping them.
God bless.
Those were our exact thoughts Jackie, but we sent a very tactful email and it is all sorted now and we have the reassurances we wanted.
DeleteI'm glad I'm keeping those books too. Like a ray of summer on the darkest winter day.
Are there no limits to how long 'inspections' and negotiations can go on? J. says he would be at the point of saying, either buy the place or get lost!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry the stress is on-going--mental, emotional, physical.
Life-long I've been amazed by how some little thing can catapult me back in time--even the entries in an old checkbook register--suddenly I'm back in the day and a flood of memories spill forth. Not always comfortable.
We're with J, and decided to go back to all communication through the Agent because one of us was going to lose it big time and say just what J would!
DeleteI am having the day off today, just to let the stress drain away. It took a stiff gin and lemonade in the afternoon and some wine at teatime to stop me screaming inside.
Yes, some memories with these books I'm going through. My earliest antiquarian horse books bring back the dry dusty rooms of Gilbert's bookshop in Southampton, where I loved to explore. We would go up to the very top of the building, where than was an obvious servant's room in the garret, though the floor didn't look safe enough to tread on!
Moving is so stressful, I really feel for you having 'been there, done that' earlier in the year. I really don't understand why it has to be so complicated in the UK! Take care
ReplyDeleteI think the Scottish way is perhaps better, where you decide to buy a house and that is binding.
DeleteTake care of yourself. One day this will be over, so try not to make yourelf ill over it. Easier said than done, I know.
ReplyDeleteI did try not to get so stressed yesterday, but the lack of sleep has a knock-on effect and it did sound yesterday like the extra things to be tested might be price-breakers . . .
DeleteMoving is a pain. I think that it is why my husband and I have been married so long. Neither of us can be bothered to pack up. (joking...joking...)
ReplyDeleteLove it! Reasons to stay married : )
DeleteHugs BB, we had a similair situation when we were selling mum's house. They found a tank under the garage which we did not know was there. It turned out it was the original fuel storage tank for the heating which was oil central heating originally. You had never heard such a song and dance. I had the work done by the firm I worked for and one of my friends actually carried out the negotiations. She was not very impressed with the buyer. It got so bad that at one point we were prepared to pull out. Please do not let them spoil your last little bit of time in your beautiful home. Just because they are buying does not mean that they have autonomy to lead the dance how they want. House is being sold as seen and you have more than gone to some trouble to deal with all queries thus far. People's expectations these days are sometimes off the wall. Take care honey x
ReplyDeleteI rather think that "sold as seen" has never entered our buyer's head. He wants paperwork for everything that has ever been done to the house. Well, tough luck - we just can't provide that sort of security. You are right about just because they are buying they can't call the tune for every dance. So sorry to read that you had a dreadful time selling your mum's house. That's a stressful enough time for anyone.
DeleteI am so sorry to hear that you have been having unwarranted hassles from your buyers, I am glad to hear that is sorted now. I am so glad that you were able to sort this without any issues, that is worthy of a gin I reckon. I do hope that is the end of buyer stresses and you can concentrate on sorting your stuff out now.
ReplyDeleteOh believe me SM, that gin was much needed. We just want to move on. It was bad enough being hit with the damning results from the first survey (done by someone with no knowledge of period properties who damned everything so there was no comeback on his inadequacies) just as we arrived home from seeing the house we are buying - all happy and buoyed up. That didn't last, needless to say! This just seemed to be everlasting and we have had to say ENOUGH.
Delete