Our house (the English one we called home) 'sold' on the first day it went on the market.
3 January. Who goes house buying on 3 January?
I'm fairly sure Mr B wasn't expecting that. The buyers want completion (I.e. they pay up and move into the emptied house) by the end of February. That is a tall ask in England, but it is not my problem as seller. The buyer will have to light a fire under their own solicitors to get them to do their stuff within the alloted time.
It is doable. I transacted my first house purchase in UK in 6 weeks. I did make it a condition of my offer - "settle in 6 weeks or I walk away". It turns out that miracles can be achieved - even by English conveyancing solicitors.
We can't behave like that in NZ - the contract is signed when the offer is accepted, so threatening to pull out because the lawyers are dawdling doesn't achieve anything.
Mr B’s father departed this life on Wednesday evening - just as I was shuffling through 48 pages of law society questionnaires about light fittings and doorhandles, and whether the place has ever flooded or the neighbours incited riots...
We were on opposite sides of the planet.
Mr B and one of his grand-daughters were with him.
Mr B is juggling international furniture moving quotes with paperwork and processes that follow a death in the family.
La Nina is continuing to dump rain on our side of the Southern Alps.
Just as well because the Mayfield Hynds Valetta irrigation scheme has encountered a serious problem opening a valve on a huge pipe that fills one of their storage ponds. How do I know and why should I care? Bro makes a substantial amount of his living engineering stuff for irrigation schemes and hiring out his crane truck so they can lift heavy machinery into and out of tricky places. He was away when the raceman (as in water race man) came to pick up some parts. I got book, bell and candle on the worm drive in the gear box, and the difficulties in effecting repairs...the part was built in England and the manufacturers are determined that no one else is getting the info needed to repair it. Meanwhile 100s of farms are without irrigation water.
I nodded and made (what were I hope suitably) sympathetic noises.
Thank goodness for La Nina. Isn't she a lovely and helpful little girl?
While everyone was away I practised backing my caravan around the yard and lining it up backwards with the various bays of the shadehouse. I have to back it uphill and round a corner to get it onto my land in Marlborough.
I'll move into it in the next day or two and make sure I've sorted out what my lifestyle in 'the boonies' will need until I get electricity onto the site (in March). There are solar panels to wire up and a generator to test.
I'll leave you with this pic of the supervisors checking on my progress making fitted sheets for the caravan bed.
Oh dear. so much all happening at once. Just one of those things would be stressful enough.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteOh my word... First - please accept and pass on my condolences for the passing of Mr B senior.
Second - CONGRATS on the speedy sale of the house. Sounds like NZ has similar exchange safeguards as Scotland - one can withdraw, in certain circumstances, but not without losing the deposit. One can still ensure quick settlement but just done a little ahead of any signing of committment. All the best to Mr B for managing all that needs juggling.
Third - ooohhh, moving onto the property is an exciting milestone. It needs a name... DaB Acres (riffing on surname initials)? The Sound Site (playing on having a [near] view of the water? The Back Lot (as in you are back and there's lots to do)? Scrub That (as in starting over)? Or just Ka Mutu (as in 'at last')?... many other suggestions are available!
Fourth - a simple sending of Love and good wishes for the processes that will now be under way. YAM xx
wow and wow again! my head is spinning with all of this, and it is true there is a Murphy's law that if anything can happen, it probably will. It sounds like you and Mr. B have it all under control and I can see just how much help Jock and Fergus are. BOL BOL... the though of backing the caravan up and around a curve hurts my head for sure... You can always get pointers on living in a caravan from Yam. she seems to be rocking it pretty good. good idea to live in it while still having a home if needed.. Murphy might still be lurking
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the house sale. I hope it all goes smoothly from now on.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to Mr B.
The supervisors look perfectly satisfied with your progress.
I send my sympathies to Mr. B at the passing of his Dad. You surely have your hands full managing the legal documents for the sale of your UK home. Here in the USA we can stipulate a home to be sold
ReplyDelete'as is'. Cuts out the whining from the buyer. Although some still are a bit whiny.
Backing a caravan clapping wildly. I sometimes have issues backing our CR-V Honda down our drive way.
Your helpers exhaustion probably mirrors yours.
Hugs cecilia
Frenetic sums it up. Condolences for your family loss and congratulations on the house sale TM.
ReplyDeleteCondolences to Mr B. Everything happens at once.
ReplyDeleteI don't envy you backing a caravan.
No rain up here, just a chilly 12⁰...the worst is that it is up and down 10⁰+ like a yo yo!!
So sorry about Mr B's dad, so hard losing family. I cant believe your house in the UK sold so quick.
ReplyDelete