© 2007 Eladn IT
20 April.
Went up to Avely again today with our friends. Thought we’d help them with some measuring now nearly all their brick work is done. It is amazing how much the area changes in a day. .
19 April.
After a while of messing around my car is fully registered taxed and insured so I can get back to driving to work in my car and Bet can have hers for work. Must be a good day as the bricks have turned up for the house as well.
17 April.
Good job we pop up every day, the soakwells have been sunk and all the drainage pipes laid. Wow, they don’t hang around. Lets hope the rest of the build goes as well
16 April.
A quick trip to the house, just to check on things. Seems we have had some window frames and soakwells delivered. Some guy in a bob cat has been having fun skidding arund on the slab as well.
15 April
Bet starts training to be a real estate agent. Apparently it’s a full on course, but worthwhile. I hope so. It is the first chance she has really had for a career, so I hope it works out for her.
4 April.
The house build has started in earnest now, We were told they would lay the footings and slab this week, and true to their word, it’s all done. We can finally see the shape of the house and how much garden we have.
21 December
14 December
Drove to London with eldest to see the Mother in Law Friday night ready for an early morning trip with them both to Heathrow for their flight to Oz. Left them at 8am and drove to see the family for the rest of the weekend and say farewell for now. Had a good time didn’t drink too much and enjoyed wandering around and messing about a bit. Got back in time for work Monday and now I’m back trying to organise my last 2 days. Scary.
House is effectively empty and my eldest has moved all her stuff to her friends ready for when she returns to the UK in Jan. House echoes like crazy, really weird after all these years.
All lofts, cupboards and storage checked and emptied of all rubbish. Charity shops have done well out of us with all the clothing we have taken down to them. Local surgery library has done really well with the books as has a local play group with all the kids books. Have sold some stuff on EBay but feel I’m running out of time, maybe because I am.
OK, now it has hit home that I am running out of time and there still seems to be loads to do. Have sold a fair bit of stuff from the house and made a few quid. Trouble is people want something for nothing. Even had one guy moan that I wanted a tenner for a kids bike. Told him not so politely to leave and buy a new one if he wasn’t happy.
22 November
Well, the rental is on with the first couple who failed the credit check, they have a guarantor and the deposit and have now paid the fees. Finally some good news in all this. They apparently want a long term rent. Lets hope so, I don’t want to go through all this again, lets hope everything completes OK. Pardon me if I don’t hold my breath..
I really don’t believe this, family 1 who failed the credit check are back on the scene with a guarantor and want to try again. Nothing to lose as there has been no word from family 2 who were so keen. Have given couple 2 written notice of my plans and a week to come forward, if not then couple 1 can rent.
12 November
Make an offer to the couple to sort out the rent, they agree and now disappear of the face of the Earth. What is going on? I certainly don’t know and nor to the agents. Not a good time for this to be happening.
7 November
Someone hates me/us. Latest couple failed the credit check which means I can’t take out the insurance for non payment. Need to go in and discuss this farce with the rental company. Time is getting short now.
After a visit to the rental agent we have a new plan. To get an increased deposit and a legally binding agreement for a guarantor to sign the contract and take responsibility if the clients default on their rent. Working it out I think this is about as good as I can get and isn’t far short of the insurance I was after anyway. Lets see what happens.
30 October
Had another couple round to rent the house, they seem really keen and have already completed the credit check paperwork. Fingers crossed it goes a bit smoother this time. Yeah, like that will happen!!
27 October
Would you Adam and Eve it. After waiting nearly 2 weeks for a 3 -
Seems the paperwork on the finance check, which should take 3 -
Had a couple pay their money for the finance check for renting, they must be reasonably serious as it’s not a cheap check. Fingers crossed again. Seems renting has the best possibility of success now as the selling market seems non existent.
10 October
Not been much happening, work, eat, sleep, wait. Had some interest in the house rental. Just waiting to see if anyone starts the process rolling.
25 September
Why is it nothing seems straight forward, had 2 rental agents come round to value the house for rental, £200/month difference in their valuations and a huge difference in their attitudes. One of them seemed totally focused on their service and how they could help me for only 12%/month whilst the other sat down with me and discussed the options and answered my questions. I wonder which one I will go with!
20 September
New game plan, rent the house and see what happens. I’ve contacted 2 rental agents in town and will see what happens once they’ve been round to view the house.
14 September
Ok, bad day today, selling the house is becoming a nightmare. The last lot of my money wasters pulled out at the 11th hour and cost me £400, not impressed and all we seem to be getting round to look at the house is time wasters interested in looking inside someones house. At least they get a bit of a shock here with it all being empty, that’ll p**s on their fire. This country has the most awkward and inefficient way of selling houses possible. Great if you are an estate agent, a solicitor or one of those new HIP morons but it all just seems an excuse for every Tom, Dick & Harry to rip me off. And the house hasn’t sold yet. Starting to look for other options whatever they may be.
10 September
It’s all very surreal, still feels a bit like a game living with nothing and making do. Not that I am bothered, I know it’s all for a good reason and at the end of it, when we all get back together then it will all be worthwhile. One thing I will say is thank god for music and the IPod. My IPod is a lifesaver with hours of music. Set it on random and I can cope with pretty much anything that is being thrown at me.
Starting to get into a routine now, after work, first one in (always seems to be me) cooks dinner and then we clear up and sort everything out ready for tomorrow. Before you know it it’s 11pm and off to bed. Time is truly flying.
OK, empty house. Have been out and bought some essentials including a couple of nice bean bags, but there are a couple of things we really feel we cant do without.
- A fridge,
- A Washing Machine
- A decent sized telly. It may only be on in the background most of the time but I
just cannot watch a 14” portable anymore.
5pm and I’ve just watched all our belongings drive off into the distance. Sure brings
home the size of the decision we’ve made. House is pretty much empty and me and
my eldest are staying for a while longer while we complete the sale/rental -
A very busy day today, got the dogs sorted and they are now on their way to London for an overnight stop before being shipped out to Perth via Singapore Dog Clas, which must be better than 1st Class the cost of it!. House feels empty without hem, but it’s a sure sign things are moving forward.
Removals have just turned up to decimate the house at put our entire lives into a 20’ container. 2 days work for them to get it all in and sorted. Good luck to them, my job is just to keep the kettle on and check all the important stuff goes.
24 August
A better day today. Heard that they have got a rental sorted and can move in the end of next week. Hopefully that will make things a bit easier as it has certainly been strained with everyone living under one roof out there. The new rental is not far from where we are building so the kids will be able to go to school, get settled and not have to get messed around again really great news.
After the hassles of the last week or so I’m not sure how things will pan out when they move out next week, but I don’t think anyone will be in a hurry to get together for a while and some apologies will be in order before our doors are opened to welcome certain people in. A pity as I hoped my family would have the support of relatives out there but this seems to have gone awry. Not sure why, although my initial opinion is that it is weakness on one part, perceived threat on another and certain people trying (and succeeding) in manipulating the situation to keep control. Oh well, we know who wears the trousers in their house!
At this end I got word that the dogs have now passed all the blood tests needed and can travel as planned on Tuesday, also the removals are prepared to go ahead on Tuesday as well. What will I do without my nice 42” plasma?
23 August
2nd rental agent came round today, this one was far more interested in helping me and making sure it all went a smoothly as possible, talk about a difference in style. As first impressions count, I think I shall be going with this one, far more professional than the other lot and had answers to my questions and the information pack explained the process really well.
House is still on the market but it all seems a bit slow, not really sure what is going on. Looks like plan B might become plan A. Had a rental agent come round to price up the house, first one. Seemed only interested in a quick rental to ensure they could make their portion. Very little help and advice and a paperwork pack made up of poorly photocopied forms. Not too good really.
Having now recovered from the house sale falling through I have come up with another alternative. Plan B. Keep the house, remortgage and rent it out. That may be a better option than selling, provided I can get the rent to pay the mortgage, give or take.
13 August
House buyers messed us around for weeks, delayed, changed their story, failed to communicate and pulled out of the sale at the 11th hour. Best I don’t print what I think of these London based &^)£”¬”£s. Why is it people from the capital think they can walk over everyone else without a care in the world. God knows what I’m going to do now, with the house sold I was banking on using the capital to pay all the removal and pet bills whilst leaving enough to start building the house in Oz. Well, that plans messed up now. Another delightful headache to add to the list.. No wonder house selling is the most stressful thing you can do. This country really needs to sort the problem out, and I don’t mean by implementing these Home Information Packs (HIPs)
Removals are now booked and confirmed for the end of August. 6 weeks roughly for everything that is going to turn up at the other end. Still plenty of packing and sorting to do.
They all went shopping in Perth today and Kimberly came back with a set of Dior sunglasses. Obvious Dad isn’t there to provide restraint then. Sounds like they have recovered from jet lag already and are keen to get out and about. Apparently they are off up to see the land we have purchased and take a look at the show homes. Me thinks things are going to be expensive.
It would be nice to hear if everything is going through with the house. Despite my best efforts, after nearly 2 weeks, the latest info is that the purchasers have not received the documentation from their solicitors. Just what are we paying these people for?
25 July 2007
Just got a text message telling me they have all arrived safely at Perth and they
are just waiting for my Brother-
24 July 2007
That’s it, the ball is rolling. Wife and kids have headed off into the sunset and then further into the new day. They flew out of Heathrow today heading for their new life in Perth. Unfortunately, I have to stay behind and do all the clearing, finish selling the house and finish my
01 July 2007
Why is it that I can deal with people 8000 miles away who are helpful, friendly and
knowledgeable, who manage to arrange things and allow for the fact that I am on the
wrong side of the world. And yet, here in the UK I’m told “sorry sir, we can’t do
that”, “Oh no sir, that will take 7 -
14 June 07
Got word at 10am that we are now the proud owners of a plot of Australian
sand. Just got to find and fit a house on it now!