6 weeks and counting

House has been on the market for 6 weeks today.... we've only had 3 viewings in that time.... I guess its a combination of the time of the year (who wants to buy a house just before Christmas!), plus a less than effective estate agent. We are going to give 2 weeks notice to the existing estate agents on14th Dec, which is the earliest date we can do so, and switch to another one.... The last people to view liked the house, but it was right at the very top end of their budget, and they felt that, with the changes and decorating they would want to do, they would be stretching themselves a little too far... not a lot of evidence of the estate agents selling them the idea very hard though.... This is rapidly become Houseblog rather than Yotblog.... sorry!

viewings

Another viewing this morning...(the third in total).... awaiting feedback... In the meantime, I contimue to boat browse... have added Sun Magic 44's to my list.... a bit older, but solidly built, a good layout for our needs, and very seaworthy.... Edit:... spoken to the estate agent 5hrs after the viewing, and they haven't spoken to the potential buyers yet... "We don't like to hassle them".... what on earth do they think I am paying them for?.... its surely a basic part of the job isn't it?.... not at all impressed so far.... regardless... not a good sign... you would hav thought that they'd be pretty quick in making an offer if they liked it, as they are in rented accomodation at the moment.... oh well.... back to browsing the boats for sale adverts whistfully....

selling the house

We decided over the weekend that we have set the price just a tad too high, so have today reduced the price by £10k... we talked to others in the area who are selling, and they have had a lot more activity than us. We've only had two viewings in 5 weeks. I also talked to another estate agent, and they seemed to think we were a little expensive as well... so down goes the price... the current agents have just 5 more weeks before we can cancel the contract.... Still secretly looking at boats for sale... I think that it will boil down to one of two boats Beneteau Oceanis 411 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 Both seem very nice... Have also seen a well priced Sun Odyssey 42.2, but wonder why its at such a good price.... if its still for sale when we've moved then we'll perhaps take a peek... must bear in mind the berthing costs though.... and as ever, it depends upon what we end up selling the house for, and what we have left over after buying a replacement!

no progress

House still for sale.... just two viewings in 4 weeks.... we've either overpriced it, or the estate agents are rubbish! In fact, we suspect the estate agents are rubbish... they've only proactively called us once without being prompted in 4 weeks... despite us requesting regular contact when we first signed up with them.... Will review the situation this weekend, and make some decisions... we are contracted to this estate agent for 10 weeks as a sole agency, but they need to get themselves into gear, or i'll become an 'awkward customer' shortly... and they'll wish it was only 5 weeks contracted! We've bookmarked at least 10 boats that could potentially meet our needs, so will have a busy few weekends when we finally get the house sold.... However, SWMBO is, rightly, now refusing to look at adverts for boats, as she claims it depresses her!

cancelled marina

We've cancelled the marina berth. They were very pleasant in making this easy, and have promised to do their best to find us a berth when we get the new boat if they can, and if we need it... all in all, I have to say Neptune has been a pleasant experience... the staff are very nice, and will do their best to help you if they can. Another viewing of the house on Friday.... fingers crossed!

berthing

Really not sure what to do with berthing arrangements.... with Magna Carter gone, we are reviewing our options.... we're paid up in the marina until end of December, and have our name down on the waiting lists at two other marina's, SYH and Shotley..... however, very little movement on the house sale yet, with only one viewer, and therefore I strongly suspect that we'll be into the spring before we have even the slightest chance of buying the new boat...... so what do I do... Sods law says that a berth will come up at one of the new marinas, but we won't be ready to put a new boat in there..... Our current thinking is to end the berth in Ipswich, and keep on the lists at SYH and Shotley, and then if we have to, we'll go onto a buoy for a season if no marina berths can be found at the right time... A friend reckons we'll get a buoy at Burnham if needed, but we'll need to find somewhere for winter storage as the cranes aren't big enough for a 411 (assuming thats what we end up with....) All very complicated! Still, the positive element is that i'm not currently paying a marina mortgage, so thats £200 a month better off, and if I cancel the marina, that'll be another £240 a month better off... all going towards lots of new goodies for the new boat....!