Saturday 11 April 2015
Hot and sunny
24 degrees
Today was read through day of the contract with the Russian buyers and English sellers. I usually do this on Skype as, having visual, I can better gauge their level of stress and comprehension. The Russian guy had everything printed out and it took about 40 minutes. He said they are setting off by car tomorrow to drive down. They love the adventure. He works for an air base - why doesnt he like flying? In the part of the contract where the parties declare they are legally competent to contract, the Russian said he had regular psychological assessments so could prove he was sane. Nice... Some of my other clients could do with furnishing a certificate, in fact so could most of the residents of my local town.
The English sellers were far more stressed. The lady is pale and drawn. They have a large stock of animals to move, are going to another European country, and their notary has been asking for paperwork which they haven't got and possibly never had. They had done extensive work on the barns, with full planning permission, but it may be that they never got the conformity of the works checked out by the relevant authorities, to see that they were in agreement with the planning consent. Knowing local communes as I do, the main purpose of this assessment is to see if they are paying enough land tax, which is based on rooms and total habitable area. Their land tax did rise substantially at the completion of the works, so it is likely to have been signed off. They think that the notary has enquired in the wrong commune office but of course, it is the weekend, everything is closed and the notary is not answering her phone. We get over this hill and read the rest and say see one another Tuesday next for the signing.
I then go down town and meet the owner of the Villa which interests the ladies from NZ. She says she is in town for the duration as her 94 year mother is in her 'end of life' period. We look through the house and I realise that it is not in such a bad state as OH had said - not having been in it for some months. The boiler was replaced ten years ago, full diagnostics were done just a year ago and showed no termite activity, and another agent has requested a quote for the electricity. We discuss price and I say the ladies are very interested and the owner says they would come down 8%. That is not going to be enough. Get back home and have siesta. Feel exhausted and the bronchitis medications have given me revolting salty and metallic taste in my mouth.
OH goes fishing for a couple of hours and I clean up and email ladies to say I have some good news about the Villa. Walk dog. Countryside smells sweet and growing. There is absolutely nothing in the cupboard so have pancakes with sultanas. Dog likes pancakes too so we sit on the doorstep and enjoy the sunshine and the food and then he snoozes and I listen to the birds in the tall trees. The phone rings. It is the owner of the house that the ladies from NZ offered on. He says he is waiting for other offers to come in but admits that the 390k offer he told me about yesterday is subject to 100% financing. i.e. has 100% chance of being refused. One of the reasons I left the French agency with which I worked is the fact that the French banks are extremely shy at parting with their funds. He is still not ready to accept the offer I have and says I need to cut fees by 50% and get the ladies to up their offer by 50K. Cheers mate. I bet you love doing your work for half price. The Villa is a much more interesting house which will, upon renovation, have a far greater capital value. Also, I get to keep my fee percentage. All to play for in favour of the Villa.
Watch the Curse of the Were Rabbit. Eeeey lad. Cheeeese!
No comments:
Post a Comment