To reccie or not to reccie...that is the question!!

[cint&mark]

Hi all... desperately need some good advice here as i can't even think straight at the mo...... Our dilemma is this -{i'll try to be brief but i warn you i do have a tendency to babble!!! ]

We've had our visas since Feb and house has been up since end of March.... we've had 6 viewers so far and no offers and all we are waiting for before we can leave for Adelaide is the money from our house sale. The once - so - distant deadline of Dec 12th , [by when we have to validate our visas], now seems scarily near with no sniff of an offer. I've just heard a horror story from my sis in Halifax today which has freaked me out totally and made me think....Her friend was let down on a house sale last week ONE HOUR before due to exchanging keys because the buyer of her house said they would pull out if she didn't drop the price by ten grand more at the last min.. The removal man was there and everything... what a nightmare! This has made me panic that even if we did get an offer on our house in the next month or so and things seem to be going through in time for our Dec deadline, - there is absol no guarantee that it'll actually happen in time for us to get there by then. We are now wondering if we should actually get over to Oz in summer [my OH is a teacher so at least could have the time off] to validate the visas.... trouble is we really cannot afford to do this without getting a loan [we need the sale of our house for dosh!!!!!] and to be honest the thought of spending 4 grand or whatever it'll cost to fly us and our three little kids [i'm shuddering even imagining the plane journey ] there just for a couple of weeks reccie fills me with dread. OH says at least it'll take the panic out of it all when we come to sell the house if we did go over in summer...but whilst i agree with him on that - another part of me thinks we should just sit tight and hope it all comes together in time, cos after all we aren't the only ones in this boat... WHAT THE HELL DO WE DO?? ARRGH!!!

Please forgive my incoherent rant... i'd appreciate any pearls of wisdom anyone has to offer!!

Thanks, Jacinta

[Guest Guzzler&Sas]

I've just heard a horror story from my sis in Halifax today which has freaked me out totally and made me think....Her friend was let down on a house sale last week ONE HOUR before due to exchanging keys because the buyer of her house said they would pull out if she didn't drop the price by ten grand more at the last min.. The removal man was there and everything... what a nightmare! This has made me panic that even if we did get an offer on our house in the next month or so and things seem to be going through in time for our Dec deadline,

 

Hi,

 

If their buyer tried to drop the price before exchanging contracts one hour before then they are a bunch of to**ers, if they tried to do it before completion( exchanging keys???) this would cost the buyer big time too pull out. Don't let this sort of story give you the wobbles.

 

Regards to your situation have you thought about giving extra incentives to any potential buyers, examples paying their stamp duty or give them a cash back offer on completion, these could both be funded from the money you would save on having to do a validation trip before December, should you not get any extra interest in your property you could revert back to plan A,just a couple of ideas,

 

Good luck with it all and stay focused and positive

 

Guzzler

[likesshopping]

Hi - I feel for you - its an anxious time.

 

Coming over for a reccie in the summer would definitely take the pressure off - can understand about the money issue - especially with 3 young children. What about just you and your OH coming over on your own and leaving your children with family.........friends of ours did that.

 

Just a thought

 

Hope something positive comes soon for you

 

sarahx

[cint&mark]

Thank you Guzzler and Sarah for your replies..Been thinking of nothing else for the last day or two and have come to the conclusion that we will just have to get the money from somewhere and go over for a couple of weeks in Aug! Will try to make the most of it - get driving licence changed, OH do the nec. teaching courses etc whilst we're there.. OZ here we come [one way or another!!] Jacinta

[cormcvcr]

Hi guys,

 

can't advise either way, but wouldn't like to be in your shoes!

 

Best of luck with whatever you decide, I sincerely hope everything falls into place for you x

[Guest hel&sam]

Hi there, we'll be in the same position but next year (lucky you, i've got at least another 12 months before i can stress about that ) just kiddin. i'm planning reluctantly to go out for a couple of weeks next october to validate my mythical visa if i've got it by then. know what you mean about the cost though.

helen.

[Guest Dantor3000]

How about renting your house? Could you remortgage your house, use the extra money to get to Oz and get started etc, and rent out your house in the UK?

[Guest Django]

You could always remorgage and get at the equity and use it to get to Oz and start your new life and then rent your house out in the UK to pay the mortgage until the market improves and then sell it.

 

This is what we will probably do.

 

Pete

[Guest Django]

Doh took too long to post. Damn misbehaving kids. :biglaugh:

 

Pete

[Guest graandjac]

Our advice would be never to exchange and complete on the same day that way this cant happen , get the exchange done asap then you can relax.

 

Cheers Graham

[Guest caz and wayne]

I've just heard a horror story from my sis in Halifax today which has freaked me out totally and made me think....Her friend was let down on a house sale last week ONE HOUR before due to exchanging keys because the buyer of her house said they would pull out if she didn't drop the price by ten grand more at the last min.. The removal man was there and everything... what a nightmare! This has made me panic that even if we did get an offer on our house in the next month or so and things seem to be going through in time for our Dec deadline,

 

Hi,

 

If their buyer tried to drop the price before exchanging contracts one hour before then they are a bunch of to**ers, if they tried to do it before completion( exchanging keys???) this would cost the buyer big time too pull out. Don't let this sort of story give you the wobbles.

 

Regards to your situation have you thought about giving extra incentives to any potential buyers, examples paying their stamp duty or give them a cash back offer on completion, these could both be funded from the money you would save on having to do a validation trip before December, should you not get any extra interest in your property you could revert back to plan A,just a couple of ideas,

 

Good luck with it all and stay focused and positive

 

Guzzler

 

 

What about offering a bonus to your estate agent - that way they are more likely to market the property and push for a sale for you?

 

Good luck

 

Carolyn

[Guest jax]

When we decided that we would have to validate our visas before making the final move, we were told that all that had been granted the visas - i.e. the kids as well, had to go to oz and have their passport stamped. So make sure, if you don't want to take the kids, that you can do that. I don't think you can. I think you all have to make the trip.

[cint&mark]

Hi Jackie - Yeah i think you're right about that, couldn't leave the kids anyway for that length of time [tempting though it is!!!** . Don't know where the money is going to come from but we're pretty decided now that it's what we're gonna have to do! Thanks, Jacinta

[Guest Linn Family]

Hi

 

Just thought I would say we know exactly how you are feeling, we havent even got our house on the market yet and we need to be gone by 11th February. We have also come to the conclusion that we are going to have to do a reccie but how where we get the money from who knows. We also have three young children, and our aim orginally was to try and get to Australia before September, as I really didnt want our middle child to start school only to be taken out again. It feels like such a nightmare and at the moment everything seems to be stacked against us with the house prices, we were originally going to sell our shares which would have just about funded a trip, but now they have even dropped right down in price and won't even fund the flights. I guess the one good thing about validating the visa's is then there will not be this deadline that you know you will have to make, and that hopefully the whole move will maybe become a little less stressful!!

 

Teresa:wubclub:

[Carole Jolly]

We live in the North West of England too, had our house on the market for 12 months and had one insulting offer of 75% of the asking price. Its all been stressful. Anyway, have recently decided to rent our house out and that will mean we will have to rent over there too as no equity to buy. We are not going to spend money on a reccie due to the cost of airflights and accomodation twice. Maybe in a couple of years when the market improves, we will sell, plus we will know better by then, if we are going to be happy in Adelaide. I know how you feel. good luck

[Guest sarahsmartiepants]

I feel for al of you who are having trouble selling. This was our stumbling block 2 years back. Which is why I always say "put your house on the market early on".

You can always hold things up yourselves if you get a buyer unexpectedly early, or the chances are they havent got a buyer. If the worse comes to the worse you can pull out before exchange!

Lets face it once you get a buyer it can take forever there in England!

sarah

[Guest lynne]

We were planning to be in Aus by Sep 08 without visiting first. However, there was a long delay with our medicals where we had to provide additional information and immigration was still not happy and wanted up to date reports off the specialist. Hence, our visa has only just come through and we have to validate it by Jan 09. Hence, we will not have time to sell two house pack up and be there by Jan. So we have decided to validate our visa, than we have until 2013 to be there permanently. This will give us time to put the house on the market in our own time and sell it for a realistic price. We may even delay the move by a year or two depending on how the market goes. So its a case of going home to Aus, getting to know the areas a little better.

 

Hope your house sells but as long as you validate the visa thats the most important thing. Book your flights up well in advance as the price of the flights have doubled over a six week period. And since booking our flights 10 days ago the whole cost of the family would of esculated by another 1,000 pounds.

[cint&mark]

We were planning to be in Aus by Sep 08 without visiting first. However, there was a long delay with our medicals where we had to provide additional information and immigration was still not happy and wanted up to date reports off the specialist. Hence, our visa has only just come through and we have to validate it by Jan 09. Hence, we will not have time to sell two house pack up and be there by Jan. So we have decided to validate our visa, than we have until 2013 to be there permanently. This will give us time to put the house on the market in our own time and sell it for a realistic price. We may even delay the move by a year or two depending on how the market goes. So its a case of going home to Aus, getting to know the areas a little better.

 

Hope your house sells but as long as you validate the visa thats the most important thing. Book your flights up well in advance as the price of the flights have doubled over a six week period. And since booking our flights 10 days ago the whole cost of the family would of esculated by another 1,000 pounds.

Hi - you're right Lynne - thanks... Validating the visa is the most imp. thing... You've just reassured me why we came to this decision in the first place. Been Changing my mind every hour over the last two days!! Just had a quote today for flights for end of July till end of Aug - £6500 or thereabouts - i nearly fell off the chair in horror.. My OH turned white. I know it's the wrong time of year to go for airfare prices.. but we don't really have a choice -it'll be the only block of time Mark will get off to make it worthwhile. I tried to argue that our three little kids only really make up the size of one adult when put together... so to pay £1200 each for the 2 and 3 yr old was a bit unfair... but my reasoning didn't quite wash:skeptical:... oh well will try some more airlines tomorrow. But defo going now [unless i have another wobbler tomorrow..!]

When have you and your family booked to go??

All the best with everything, Jacinta

[Guest lynne]

We found booking direct with the airlines was the easiest way, also being flexible with your dates made a big difference.

 

We tried all routes via singapore, Kurala Lumpa, Hong kong, LA.

 

Also to fly from different airports (if you can) this can save you money.

 

We are validating our visa on the 4th Aug (arrive the 6th) till the 24th. There is my and my husband our children aged 10 years and 18 years and grandad 86 years.

 

We have a 16 hour stop over in singopore so have booked into the transit hotel for a sleep and have booked a singapore tour as well. So by the time we eat and shop it should be time to get on the plane.

 

 

Orginally we were not going to vailidate and just go over, but with such a short time limit to validate we have no choice. Its not going to be very much fun taking an 86 year old over twice, but at least at that age they sleep alot.

 

We pay 5800 for 4 adults 1 child, I checked prices a week later and it had gone up by another 1,000. So book up as early as you can.

 

Hope it goes well for you and your family

 

l

[cint&mark]

Similar time to us then. Thanks, you too. All the best, Jacinta

[Guest smit]

Our advice would be never to exchange and complete on the same day that way this cant happen , get the exchange done asap then you can relax.

 

Cheers Graham

i was thinking the same thing. Exchange and complete on same day..............way too dodgy.Get exchange with a 2 week completion, gives you a bit of time to sort things......And it will cost them to pull out.

Theres a lot of timewasters out there, the true pressure comes on when they have to exchange, our 1st buyer pulled out when I put the pressure on too exchange.........after 3 months:arghh:. 2nd buyer kept coming up with excuses and reasons why not to sign, until I said , sign or shove it up their arse!..They signed.

[Guest jax]

Hi All

re flight prices - wouldn't it be cheaper to get a 'round the world ticket'? I've seen some today advertised on the web for £700 ish. Also, qantas are advertising flights to australia for £729. The offer ends 18th June. The website if anyone is interested is ww.qantas.com.au/uk . Don't know if this helps any!

[Guest Vicks&Stu]

Hi Jacinta

I can sympathise with you - we have had our house on the market since March and have only had 6 viewings and no offers.

We didn't do a reccie - and have never been to Oz before, we just did a lot of rsearch and decided that the money spent on a reccie could be put to better use when we arrive.

We have decided that if the house doesn't sell we are going to rent it out.

 

I really hope you get a buyer. I think though if you look at doing the reccie as a good fact finding holiday I'm sure you will be in a much better position when you make the big move as at least the place will feel a bit familiar.

Good luck - and fingers crossed you get that buyer soon.

Vicks.

[cint&mark]

Hi Vicks -Wow you're brave making the big move without ever going to Oz - you've got more guts than i had! Renting does really make the most sense but i'm way too scared to do that with our house cos it's a really old cottage and needs things keeping on top of .. i'd be too frightened that if we did rent it , when we did come to sell there'd be TOO many jobs needing doing to the house again [and we've just spent yonks sorting them all out ready to sell now].... Or mabye i'm just lazy!

There's a lot of us in the same position i'm realising - it's a complete nightmare isn't it?

well - here's hoping that things look up soon and we both sell quickly and it all goes smoothly and then we all live happily ever after... !! All the best, Jacinta

[Guest Taylors08]

We were planning to be in Aus by Sep 08 without visiting first. However, there was a long delay with our medicals where we had to provide additional information and immigration was still not happy and wanted up to date reports off the specialist. Hence, our visa has only just come through and we have to validate it by Jan 09. Hence, we will not have time to sell two house pack up and be there by Jan. So we have decided to validate our visa, than we have until 2013 to be there permanently. This will give us time to put the house on the market in our own time and sell it for a realistic price. We may even delay the move by a year or two depending on how the market goes. So its a case of going home to Aus, getting to know the areas a little better.

 

Hope your house sells but as long as you validate the visa thats the most important thing. Book your flights up well in advance as the price of the flights have doubled over a six week period. And since booking our flights 10 days ago the whole cost of the family would of esculated by another 1,000 pounds.

 

Hi Can i just ask, we are at the begining of our visa process and my OH is a haemophilia, how long has the process taken? are they very perticular??

 

many thanks