Buying Clubs, Twitter Wars, and a Hidden Past

Introducing Ayo, a 27-year-old embarking on her ‘first time buyer’ journey. With a keen eye for details and time not on her side, join us as she navigates various twists and turns to discover a property to call her own.

You began in Colindale. What initially attracted you to that neighbourhood?

I was initially drawn to Colindale because my family lives there, and it felt like a cosy and familiar neighbourhood. While it seemed like a great place to live, the properties I visited turned out to be smaller than expected, and the prices didn't quite fit my budget.

How did your search progress from Colindale after that discovery?

I explored various neighbourhoods, mostly within the North West area of London—places like Hendon, Finchley, Wembley, and Harrow, but finding a property that was a perfect blend between what I wanted and what my wallet could handle, was extremely challenging. So, I decided to join a homebuyer's club, which turned out to be a game-changer.

It helped me narrow down my choices and make better, more informed decisions. It was through this club that I stumbled upon Mill Hill. Unlike Colindale, Mill Hill offered a mix of old and new properties.

Shortly after I focused my search on Mill Hill, I discovered my dream home—a newly refurbished space tucked within the structure of a historic building.

Can you tell us more about the homebuyer’s club you joined? What services did they offer, and how did it help with your property search?

A friend who worked as a strategic adviser on their team introduced me to the homebuyer's club. It turned out to be a valuable resource, offering insights into homeownership options and property price comparisons across different regions in the UK.

They also provided me with comprehensive viewing guides and walked me through the entire buying process, step by step. I was particularly impressed by their support during times when my lawyer's were unresponsive. The club offered specific time slots for me to ask questions and get quick assistance, which proved vital in making well-informed decisions at every stage of the process.

The homebuyers club proved invaluable, offering insights into homeownership options and property price comparisons across various regions in the UK.

Spill the tea on the lawyer situation and any other challenges that stood out during your house hunting journey?

The lawyer situation was quite a rollercoaster. They weren't responsive and were often rude and dismissive. There were moments of complete silence on their end, leaving me feeling abandoned. To make matters worse, they were quick to demand payment but slow to address issues. It all went downhill when they got hacked.

There was a data breach that leaked the personal information of thousands of customers. This basically stopped their operation and screwed so many people over. People with imminent closing dates were scared they’d lose out on their purchase and I was one of them.

I had to join 100s of frustrated customers on Twitter to get their attention, as emails and phone lines were ineffective. To top it off, they overcharged me. It took me reconciling numbers with the sellers to realise this.

While they eventually returned the overcharged amount, their lack of communication was glaring. Even after I'd collected my keys, they called two weeks later to inform me that I had completed. It was a trying experience, to say the least.

Another issue was navigating the mortgage process based on my employment situation. I was between jobs, so lenders weren’t so trusting, and I had to get a letter to prove my employment status from my next employer even though I wasn’t starting for another three months.

The lawyer situation was quite a rollercoaster. They weren’t responsive and were often rude. I had to team up with 100s of frustrated customers on Twitter to get their attention.

Wow, that must have been quite a journey! I'm sure that must have led to moments of uncertainty. Can you tell me about the time you came across the home that felt just right for you? What set it apart from the others?

When I found my 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment, I knew it was the one. The community, commute, and amenities were exactly what I was looking for. I felt that sense of 'home' in the property. It was conveniently close to my family and had all the features I had prioritised.

However, I recently learned that the apartment right above mine was sold for significantly less than others. The reason was quite shocking – it turns out the previous owner murdered his wife in it. Apparently, it was all over the news, and I completely missed it. So to some, it might not be so perfect.

It turns out the previous owner murdered his wife in it. Apparently, it was all over the news, and I completely missed it.

We Want To Hear Your Story

Did Ayo’s story resonate with you? Whether it's not knowing where to even start, suffering the disappointment of losing out on a great property, or struggling with the torrent of unsuitable properties fed to you, we want to hear it all.