Adventures of a Non-Binary Author – We hold our ground
We hear back around midday on Monday. Ours was not the offer they went with. I can tell my partner is really disappointed. We do put in another, slightly higher offer. But the vendor has already agreed to a sale, so it’s unlikely it’ll lead to anything. I accept the news with grace, and start showing my partner new places we could look at. They need more of a minute to come to terms with their disappointment.
That’s when the unexpected happens. The estate agent for the original new cottage call. The seller is willing to come a little closer to our current final offer. I shake my head, and hold my ground. The cookie cutter image of the property, with a bigger garden, has just sold for less than they’re asking. Yes the condition isn’t as good, but it’s all cosmetic. Nothing a little repaint wouldn’t solve. We speak to our mortgage advisor. He says it’s up to us. Do we see this as a long term home? If so, then the small amount extra doesn’t matter in the long run. But that’s the problem. I’m not sure if this is a long term home. Right now it could end up being either. My partner agrees; we’ll hold our ground.
Before the evening is out we’ll have spoken to the estate agent a few more times. It feels a little much. They’re no longer pushing the idea they’ve had another higher offer. Instead they mention somewhere nearby that’s sold for more. We remain firm. We know a property nearby, the cookie cutter image, has just sold for less. Between calls, I suggest to my partner that the one the agent mentioned might have a loft conversion. It might also have a bigger garden or solar panels. All things we’ve noted in the same street, never mind the same area. On the next call, my partner bluffs, that we know which one it is. Mentioning the loft conversion. From the way the estate agent flounders, we know we’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s only after this call we discover something else. The property we’ve put the offer in for, only sold to its current owner May last year. And it sold for £25,000 less than the price we’re refusing to budge from.
Their last call was seven-thirty in the evening. The information we’ve found makes it clear the property has been redecorated. Including a new kitchen. Making it obvious to us, this place was bought to flip. That’s no a bad thing. But it does mean we will not budge from the price we’ve offered.
Tuesday, my first day back at work after my week off. For the first time in a long while, it’s my alarm which wakes me up. Must be the clocks going back, changing my rhythm. Well, that and the week off. Not that I’m complaining. As long as I’m awake, and ready to move, then an alarm is almost as good as waking naturally.
As I leave for work, it would be fair to say my partner is more optimistic than I am. I pretty much believe we’re not getting the new cottage. That we’ll get another call asking if there’s any chance we’ll budge. If we do, I’ve told my partner we’re not budging. I’m also prepared for us to withdraw if we can’t move beyond this impasse. They’re at least a little hopefully our stubbornness and awareness will pay off. My partner is the one who is correct. The seller agrees to our offer.
It doesn’t quite feel real. I’m not sure when exactly it will sink in. But we go into Tuesday evening with our offer accepted. Provided nothing goes wrong, in a few months from now, we will have a house. For now we need to focus on preparing for our meeting with our mortgage advisor. And contacting our solicitor. Such a lot to do. I cross my fingers for a smooth rest of the week.
To be continued…
