Monday 7 September 2020

Backing Off ... This Time


So I went to view the little house on Friday afternoon.

It was small, much smaller than it appeared on the estate agents particular ... just how do they manage to make rooms look so big in such a small space ... and although I would have needed to do quite a bit of work to it ... skimmed all the ceilings, taken down a wall, put in a new kitchen and completely redecorated and re-floored throughout, I thought it would be worth it to have such a nice little home in exactly the right place.  I loved the cuteness of it, the size of the rooms and the totality of floor space, and I loved what I could see that I could make it into.

I put in an asking price offer the next day, but not in time to be able to stop the viewing that was about to go ahead.  The young man that viewed it also put in an offer just over the asking price and after a little bit of a bidding war my offer was accepted.

Then during the congratulatory phone call from the estate agent I found out that the young man was a first time buyer, eager to get on the property ladder.  I was working on the hillside on our smallholding in Wales putting the Veggie Patch 'to bed for the Winter' and neatening everything up ready for our next viewing during all this negotiation.  After all the excitement of bidding was over and my phone was back in my pocket, my old blue gardening gloves were back on and I continued to weed and prune, trim and dig ... my mind raced.  

Between us we already own two properties and the thought of stopping someone being able to get on the housing ladder at a good price-point, possibly the only one he could afford troubled my conscience.  I kept coming back to the same conclusion.

Yesterday I emailed the agent withdrawing my offer, and apologising for wasting her and the home owners time.  I hope the young man successfully gets this house and no-one else comes into competition with him.

I just couldn't be the one responsible for stopping someone else realising their dreams.  It might happen again in the future, and next time I'll probably be harder-hearted, because it's a funny fickle world this housing property market and there are always winners and losers.  But this time in a strange way I feel like as much of a winner as I hope the young first time buyer does.


Sue xx


31 comments:

  1. What a generous thing to do. Sometimes we do have to step back and rethink, your giving this young man a chance to follow his dream (especially in these times) was a sign of a totally unselfish human being.

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  2. In this situation, I think you made the right decision. For me, I wouldn’t want to be the house nearest to the car park bit. Might have proved a bit noisy.

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    1. It's not a car park, it's literally the two spaces for the house I was going to buy and two space for the people on the opposite side of the gap, with manoeuvring room in the middle. One of the reasons I liked this house was having two car spaces with such a tiny house.

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    2. I think it's the weird estate agent camera angles that make it look wider than it actually is, so an easy mistake to make :-)

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  3. What a thoughtful person you are. Good luck with the next viewing at least if you sell yours then you wont have to raise a mortgage etc it does look a cute little house though.

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  4. What a kind, thoughtful, unselfish act. You renew my faith in humanity in these challenging dark times. Perhaps it was not 'The One'. I believe in fate and 'The One' will come along and you can address it with a clear conscience.

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  5. That was very kind of you. Here in the US, if we have signed papers accepting the offer (this is before the closing) we would be penalized. Is that so in the UK?

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    1. There has been nothing signed, only a verbal accepting of an offer over the phone, so there has been no paperwork at all just chats.

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  6. It wasn’t meant to be Sue, and when the “right” one comes along, you will know it beyond all reason.

    just how do they manage to make rooms look so big in such a small space . Ultra wide-angle lens. 17mm is the usual choice. With care and practise you can take pictures that do not have the fish-eye distortion and therefore make rooms look huge.

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  7. What a noble and generous thing to do, you have changed a young person's life ,it's a shame not everybody has the same heart as you. Everything happens for a reason and it will show in your future home ,saying that I don't always understand the reason, my sister has a house about the same size and this weekend it was on fire, it is now a mess, all their belongings covered in soot and smelling of smoke, nobody was harmed but she is devastated,only a matter of a few weeks ago her son who through his severe health problems spent all his time in his bedroom as managing the stairs was a problem,moved into his own little place so thank goodness he wasn't there, so thankful.Once again a situation that makes me feel so grateful for what I have and your good heart reflects the same sentiment.

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    1. Gosh, I am so pleased that no one was hurt, as you say isn't it weird how things happen sometimes. Thank goodness he had already moved out, if he had been trapped in his room or not able to get out quickly enough ... well it doesn't bear thinking about. :-(

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  8. Well done for stepping back. I do hope the young man gets it, and I'm confident the Right Place will come along for you. Those wretched Fish Eye Photos are SO misleading. They can make the smallest lounge look like a Versailles Salon!!

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  9. I can only agree with the rest of the comments that that was such a magnanimous and kind hearted thing to do. Not many people these days would be so unselfish. I also agree that the right place for you will come in time.

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  10. What a kind thing to do. I remember you saying some time ago that you have a flat that you were going to move into, did you change your mind about this.

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  11. What a beautiful gesture, Sue. I know you are sleeping better because of this decision. An even better house will come your way because of it, I believe. Love, Andrea xoxo

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  12. I hope that young man buys the property, a generous decision on your part.

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  13. What an act of absolute kindness. Your perfect home is just around the corner, I'm sure of it. x

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  14. I am very touched by yoour kindness Sue. At the moment there isn't much on the plus side anywhere so all praise to you for your kind act. I do hope he succeeds in hie first buy.

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  15. That was so kind of you to do that! The right property for you will come through in time and when it does I bet you will have no doubts.

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  16. What a lovely thing to do. I do hope the young man gets the house. Will you get to know the outcome. I am sure all your followers would be interested.

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  17. That was kind Sue. I always refused to take a full time job as there are so many people that desperately need one. My job was just for the extras in life which we can well live without.

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  18. I hardly ever comment on the blogs that I read but I think that this needs commenting on. Well done Sue, I think that your act of kindness will be rewarded via Karma, and that the perfect property will come to you. I hope that the first time buyer gets his house. Ro xxx

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  19. You brought tears to my eyes, Sue. What a selfless thing to do. Our kids are saving so hard for house deposits and it will take forever so we are selling up, downsizing and giving them a foot up. You have given this lad a foot up and I really hope he grabs the ladder and goes for it. xx

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  20. That is such a generous act of selflessness. Not many of us would be up to doing that with our dream house. I hope that you find one even more suitable and that the young man gets to hear of your generosity.

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  21. I totally agree with other comments, what a wonderful selfless thing to do for the young man. I do hope he manages to get the house 🏠 You will surely get your reward by selling the smallholding soon for a good price and your dream home will once again drop into your inbox. I do hope so, Sue, you deserve it (((hugs))) xx

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  22. I think maybe you avoided a lot of work and probably is good for now.
    All will happen when the time is right. Just like the first time buyer and you , it all worked as it should to be the right thing for now.

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  23. I would also be inclined to go with an all on one floor, floor plan. Esp. if you are planning on staying there for a good while.

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  24. You, my dear are a very kind woman. I am sure something even more suitable will show up.

    God bless.

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