Estate Agents!

[jazzactivist]

Yeuch! Estate Agents must be the most over-rated, incompetent and greedy people around. We are trying to look for another house to rent, as this one is supposed to be having a complete rewire at some point soon. However, it seems that in the property price downturn more estate agents have turned their grubby paws to become letting agents. Goodness, we have had some bad experiences from being shown houses where building work had stopped as the owner had run out of money and now wants to let it minus a downstairs wall, to houses running with damp and being told that it is just a bit of condensation, to being handed a schedule detailing lots of extra expenses to be paid to the agency by the tenant. Even the estate agent that we currently rent through charges the tenant hundreds of pounds for both the landlord's and tenant's paperwork! Just what do they do exactly? I don't know why more people don't rent privately and cut them out. It is easy to get a copy of a model tenancy agreement. Grrr! What are your experiences of renting or letting?

[Crocus]

Oh dear me Jazz, don't even ask what our experiences are of letting!! I can tell you a story or two! Well not about the agents, but about the people renting! People knocking down a wall between the living room and study without us knowing because they intended to buy the house, but it didn't work out;
another guy and his wife not paying rent for months on end, holes in the lounge carpet because of cigarettes, dog poo in the lounge, this guy refusing to move out when we sold the house after we've given him 3 months' notice! Eventually when the day came for the new owners to move in, guy and wifey were still in our house, refusing point blank to move. The new owners actually turned up with all their furniture etc. etc and we had to search for accommodation for them for 3 days in order for us to try and get these people out. It meant that on a Sunday evening we started to carry out their stuff out of the house onto the lawn and left it there, and then he quickly made plans for it to be removed. This is after we were in contact with him the whole of the previous two weeks to remind him of his moving date! He still owes us a whole lot of money! The Monday morning we had to go and clean this house out top to bottom before the new owners could move in. It was a lovely black couple who bought our house, him working in television those days, his wife being a teacher and 2 kids. This was back in 1987 more or less, so their kids must be adults by now.

I actually noticed quite a few houses with big notices in the front saying "private sale", perhaps for the reasons you mentioned Jazz or maybe because the agents wants a high percentage of the selling price.

Most probably the agents now also want to cut the best deal because of the "credit crunch"?

[jazzactivist]

Goodness, I think that our landlady should be thankful that she has such careful and considerate tenants, crocus! We can't say the same for her or our estate agent, though, as there have been upteen things wrong with the house and we have had to really harangue them to get anything done, and have also fixed problems ourselves.

I know that some tenants can be awful, as when a friend of ours in Scotland rented out their house the first tenants covered the floors with laminate flooring on top of all their new carpets, completely ruining them. The next set also knocked down a wall between the kitchen and dining room and then moved out leaving rubble everywhere. The third set grew cannabis in the loft and airing cupboard. All of these tenents were vetted by an estate agent and seemed like nice people.

[Crocus]

You get all sorts when it comes to tenants it seems Jazz. They can appear to be very kind and nice and all the rest, just to do what our tenants did and what you now described. At one stage we were also renting a flat and like you, we looked after it very well, in fact we actually looked better after the rented flats and house than our own place!! xx

[jazzactivist]

I think that many landlords / landladies are just as bad, though. We know the landlady of the house that we currently rent, but it hasn't stopped her from renting us a house where none of the main services worked and constantly lying about the condition of the house and when repairs will be done. It has been very hard to get the estate agent to act swiftly and the landlady to take our requests seriously. We too have improved the house since we have lived here by looking after it well and reporting repairs needed and getting them done, but we haven't even received a thank-you and now we are still in a situation where no-one is responding to when this actual electrical work is going to be done, and we feel that we have no choice but to move out.

This could be a very beautiful Lakes house and is in a nice village in a convenient location, but before we moved in it was apparently left empty and derelict for 10 years and even though our landlady claims that she loves the house as it was her mum's and is obsessive about everything in it, she doesn't care enough about it to make sure that everything is working well and that it is lived in and loved. This morning we are off to view a cottage in a nearby village, but I have already had some problems on the phone with the estate agent not knowing when the house will become available, but they are willing to show it! Wish me luck...

[Crocus]

Hi Jazz, all the best with the viewing, I hope it works out the way you and OH want it to work out. xxx

[jazzactivist]

Hi! Well, this morning's house-hunting activities went very well and we have now secured a nice new cottage to rent in a small Edwardian seaside town called Grange-over-Sands, which is just a few miles further along the road from where we now live. The cottage is in a quiet part of town up a small lane, brand new, but built of local stone. It is smaller than we are used to with a combined livingroom / kitchen which might take some getting used to. It is very nice though. There is also no garden as such but a very large, stone, patio area and parking for 3 cars! I will look forward to creating a garden with lots of pots, and the cuttings that were exchanged on RM will come in very handy. I will be sorry to lose the conservatory here, but there is plenty of space for a summerhouse in the carparking area. Luckily, this time, the estate agent was very helpful and we were genuinely the first people to look at this cottage and it is available on a long let if we want it. It is slightly further away from OH's work, but for me it will be much livelier and more convenient for my craft work. So, that turned out to be a good morning's shopping!

[Crocus]

Oh lovely Jazz, I'm very happy for to have found something you both like and ticks most of your boxes. You must be very excited! When is moving day? xx

[jazzactivist]

First week in September, so we'll have to get our skates on putting our unwanted extras on freecycle. Although Grange isn't exactly in the Lake District national park it is just a stone's throw away and still near to the Yorkshire Dales too. There is also a train station there and lovely Victorian parks, plus it is right on Morecambe Bay, although no swimming due to tides and quicksand. It is full of small, independent shops too. I think that I will feel that I am in a bit of heaven...

[Crocus]

First week in September, wow Jazz, it's cutting it a bit short isn't - it's about 4 weeks away. Start packing friend, start packing! It's a lovely prospect so enjoy the getting ready, packing and everthing else regading moving. As long as you're close to the Yorkshire Dales, it's fine by me! xxx

[Crocus]

I had a look on the map where Grange is Jazz, it's a bit south from Kendal where you now live I notice. Not to far from the Dales as you've mentioned. xxx

[franbee]

Grange, eh? Good choice too, though it gets very busy with tourists in summer. You could do the Cross Bay walk by getting the train to Arnside and walking back across.

[jazzactivist]

Good point franbee. I have always fancied that walk, but wouldn't want to risk it without a guide. We presently live in a village called Levens, crocus, that is just a couple of miles south of Kendal. Grange is about 6 miles further around the coast from here and is where we do our weekly shopping, cafes etc. OH is already bleating about my asking him to get rid of some of his massive collection of CDs by putting them onto his iPod. In return I am willing to slim down some of my big collection of gardening books! He cheered up, though, when I pointed out that the fantastic restaurant L' Enclume will just be in the next village, Cartmel! I will be able to get to Lancaster by train too which will be nice.

[Crocus]

Perhaps one should move every year or two in order to get rid of "unnecessary and what-if" stuff otherwise just accummulating! Bit expensive though, but hey, if a new house is thrown in, why not?:cool:

[franbee]

There's still a couple of crossings in Sept /October. You can only cross with Cedric Robinson, the Queen's Guide. At the moment they are crossing from Arnside to Kent's Bank.

[Crocus]

This sounds like quite an interesting place! xx

[jazzactivist]

I'm getting a bit of cold feet about the smaller size of the house now. I am not sure if our new sofa will even fit into it. Everything is new, which will be a relief after this house, but it is much smaller than the ones we have lived in until now. There is now another property in Grange on the same estate agent's website which is a bit bigger, but isn't quite as new or as nice. We haven't signed any contract yet, so do you think that it would be horrible of us to ask to see that one after showing so much enthusiasm for the first one? I am also nervous about riding my bike around a much busier town with more cars and, I have to say it, lots of doddery elderly drivers who usually don't look where they are going!

I suppose that I will get used to it, and Grange is a nice genteel town, but it will be very different for us as we have lived in rural areas for years. At least with a rented property we can move somewhere else after 6 months if we don't like it, although it is time consuming and expensive to do so. Part of our plan when moving to Cumbria was that we would first try out different living situations before committing to where we would like to buy another house.

[Crocus]

Hi Jazz, no I don't think it will be horrible of you to see the other property at all. You've got to live there, and it must totally what you want, and the estate agent should understand it. I remember in Escape to the Country, as well as Location, Location, Location, the 'customers' went for second and third viewings before making a decision and many times they couldn't even then decide. Fortunately you haven't signed anything yet so are free to go and have a look at the other property.
Best wishes with the viewing. Keep us posted! XX

[Katelb]

Hi Jazz,it looks as though you are moving nearer to us each move you make! I agree with crocus and others who say have a look at the other property,it's quite a commitment to make if you haven't looked at any alternatives.
I like Grange it's classed as real retirement area so you shouldn't be troubled by too many noisy yobs etc....just out-of-control- pensioners!! You may well have to take your life in your hands if you do cycle about the area,it's a little like here where no one has heard of mechanical signals on a car,can't read any speed limits in the built up areas,and feel compelled to drive wherever they feel like,road or pavement if necessary!!heaven knows how anyone around here ever passed a driving test!!
Let us know how you get on won't you.x

[jazzactivist]

I'll be living next door to you soon, kate! OH wants to stick with the property that we saw, so we will try it out. It is very pretty, and easy to look after. We will be trying out both a smaller house and living in a busy town to see if it is for us. We lived in a 'retirement' village when we bought our very first house and as we were in our mid 20s we were the youngest people living there by about 30 years! This lasted for about 10 years until couples living in Edinburgh started their own families and clocked on that it was somewhere safe and quiet within commuter distance to bring up their children. By the time we left the village had grown a bit and mainly consisted of 30s parents with young children. Although Grange seems full of retirees I have seen a few young people and even some families around, which will make a change from Levens, pleasant as it is! I am looking forward to it, but OH and I have just had a big row about getting rid of the duplicate copies of his Prog Rock albums... There is an attic in the new house so guess where they'll be going if he doesn't get rid of them this time?

[Crocus]

Hi Jazz, congratulations on your decision - I'm sure it will work out fine! So a few "exciting" weeks lie ahead, packing, and everything to do with moving. Best wishes! xxx

[Katelb]

Hi Jazz,I'm glad you have reached a decision albeit with some 'raised voices'!! if new house has an attic,there is your answer,maybe you will both be able to keep your treasures if downsizing them is causing trouble.
There are certainly some good shops in Grange although I must admit it is a while since I have been there and the views out over the Bay are great on a clear day,and as you so rightly say,Cartmel is very close and there is the posh restaurant as well as lovely shops ,and the Priory.
I really hope you will enjoy living in the area,there's no place like it!!