Things moving along nicely

Ok, gears are in motion.

Mortgage - check, Surveys - check, Solicitors - Check.

We've also had a quote from a tree surgeon to look at the Eucalyptus tree at the front of the property, as I think it's too close to the house. I spoke to the building surveyor and the solicitors too, and all in the agreement, that the tree should be removed ASAP, but there seems to be no real physical damage to the house, although there appears to be some of the path brickweave lifting from one of the roots.

The building survey also suggested we take a look at the fences and (inevitably) to get the electrics checked.

Scarily, the tree surgeon suggested £300 to remove the tree with a further £100 to grind the stump and treat the roots. I suspect the electrics will not be cheap to check either.

I'm sorting out the house insurance tomorrow.

Life is never cheap!

Offer Accepted - now the fun begins...

Wow. That didn't take long.

After a couple of days haggling, we not only got our current house sold (STC), but we had our offer accepted on the new house, most of which happened over two phone calls in the space of 15 minutes.

When things move, they really move!

Now to get the mortgage, surveys and solicitors sorted...

Looks like we've found our new house.

After about three years of procrastination and wishful thinking, my partner finally pushed me into looking into houses this Autumn/Winter, and although the market isn't overly busy, it looks as if there are a few possibilities out there.

Now, after watching Grand Designs and Location, Location, Location and the like, of course there are goals and there are realistic goals. Sure, I wanted a four/five bedroomed country house with about 1/2 acre of land, outbuilding(s), garage, and good communication links to where we work and shop.

Although my partner was more eager to keep close to the city, I was talking her over to a more rural location (as long as it wasn't a million mile from anywhere). However, the more we looked, the more we realised there was little choice out there, certainly nothing this side of £1/2 million - which was above my current budget.

However, after looking and looking, I finally gave in on the country house prospect (for this move anyway) and searched more locally in and around Norwich, where we live.

After looking around several other houses, including some new builds, we both fell in love with the house I'm now planning to put an offer in for.

A house that's barely a mile up the road, even in the same estate we're in now - so much for reaching goals...