King's Square

Back to King's Square. I’ve already written a little before about this area that I walk through to and from work every day. King's Square is very typical of London living. It’s an area covering the size of a few square blocks and is comprised of several high-rise apartment buildings (called ‘tower blocks’) surrounding a nice park that is full of lush green trees and wide open grassy areas, loads of benches (I go here often on warmer days to eat my sandwich at lunch), a playground for kids, and even a separate water park full of in-ground sprinklers for kids to enjoy during the hotter months. There’s a church outside the park and next to it a square of shops that mirrors most British high streets. Here you’ll find a pub, a German delicatessen, an off-licence (selling alcoholic beverages) and mini market, a newsagents, a sandwich bar, a betting shop, a hairdressers, a bakery, a laundromat, and a fish restaurant (selling fish & chips too of course). All of the must-have conveniences for most Brits.

All across London you’ll find hundreds of these little mini-communities. But it’s the park within the community that I find so impressive. The perfect place for residents and non-residents alike to escape from the busy hustle and bustle of city life all around.

Motorway Service Stations

We just got back from our trip to Scotland and thankfully most of the 11 hour journey each way was on the motorway, otherwise it would have taken us two days to get there! One of the best things about driving the motorway system here is having service stations to stop at. These service stations aren’t what I’m used to back home. For starters, they are all well-marked on road maps, so you can always see how far the next one is going to be. Plus the signs posted along the motorway show how far not only the next station is, but the two after that one.

These service stations offer an all-inclusive one-stop center for everything you could possibly need. Toilets are the biggest attraction I suppose. And there are normally plenty of them. I counted 20 stalls and nearly as many sinks in the ladies’ at one stop. I’ve never had to queue up for one, that’s for sure. And they are normally spotless with round-the-clock cleaners doing their jobs properly. And that’s not all. There are showers too!

You’ll also find (under the same roof) at least one eatery, always a cafeteria offering hot and cold meals, but also usually a fast-food joint like Burger King or Wimpy’s (burgers). And always a convenience shop selling sandwiches, drinks, maps, and other travel necessities. There are plenty of tables and chairs both inside and out for people to sit at, and loads of greenspace for walking your dog. A lot of the stations have hotels attached to them as well, so if you are really desperate at least you have most of your conveniences nearby.

All of these things are impressive enough. But the one thing that blew me away was seeing a Ladbrokes (betting shop) at one of the stations. Good grief. So now compulsive gamblers can get their fix too so they don’t miss out on the big match of the day. More on this subject later.

London Parks

Not many people realize that London is the world's greenest capital. Over 1/3 of the city is green park land. Parks are EVERYWHERE. There are the really large and famous ones, like Hyde Park or St James Park, and then there are the smaller obscure ones strewn about on nearly every block in the city. Most residential areas (like tower blocks, etc.) all have a shared park for its tenants. All of the parks are especially nice in the spring with all the flowers and trees in bloom, the warm weather, and for just sight-seeing and watching all the people, children and dogs.

On my normal walk from Old Street station to work every day, I pass through 3 such parks. This is a photo of King's Square Garden (and St Clement Church) early in the morning.

One of my favorite London parks is Hampstead Heath, probably the largest park in London. It covers nearly 800 acres and sits just 4 miles north of the city (just north of Islington where Paul's dad lives). From Parliament Hill (the highest point in Hampstead Heath), you can get spectacular views of the city. It's wonderful.

British Cars & Trucks

Today we had to take our car in to have a new tyre put on after we had a blow out yesterday. It’s amazing how many differences there are between the UK and US when it comes to types of cars and trucks and the parts of the car. For example:

American	British
Tire	Tyre
Hood	Bonnet
Trunk	Boot
Windshield	Windscreen
License plate	Number plate
Blinker / turn signal	Indicator
Muffler	Silencer
Gear shift	Gear lever
Oil pan	Sump
Fender	Wing or mudguard
Vehicle	Vehicle (“h” is silent)
Station wagon	Estate car
Rental car	Hire car
Sedan	Saloon car
Mobile home, trailer or RV	Caravan
Truck	Lorry
Tractor-trailer truck	Articulated lorry, juggernaut, or HGV (heavy goods vehicle)
Dump truck	Tipper lorry
Garbage truck	Dustbin lorry or dustcart
Tow truck	Breakdown van
Milk delivery van	Milk float
Moving van/ truck	Removal van
Fire truck	Fire engine
Old car	Banger
Gasoline	Petrol

I’ll cover driving and road signs, etc. another day. The differences are endless.

Easter Holiday

Easter is a big treat here, mainly because everyone gets a long weekend break. Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays (or “bank holidays” as they are called, since the banks are closed). And if you’re lucky, as we were this year, the weather will be nice and sunny and warm. The roads and airlines become jam packed with people flocking towards tourist destinations such as the coastlines of England, France or Spain. It’s the perfect weekend to just stay at home!

Easter itself is celebrated differently here in England. Where I come from, kids get Easter baskets filled with all sorts of goodies (chocolate eggs and bunnies, jelly beans, dyed eggs and other treats) from the Easter Bunny. Children normally participate in Easter egg hunts and go to church in their new Easter outfits. Families gather for a special Easter dinner.

Over here, chocolate Easter eggs are the big thing. The Easter Bunny doesn’t make an appearance, but people give each other chocolate eggs, either the cream-filled variety or the really big hollow ones filled with all sorts of individually-wrapped chocolates. You don’t see Easter baskets or other types of sweets – only these Easter eggs. And no Easter egg hunts (that I saw or heard of).

People also get very excited about Hot Cross Buns, which they normally eat on Good Friday, but at my work place they were eating them all week long.

As for church, well, very few people even go to church in England. Certainly not nearly the number of Americans who go. Although families do gather for a special Easter dinner, which is nice to see.

Ladies Footwear

I haven’t quite figured out the footwear of choice amongst female London commuters. Women tend to wear either extremely uncomfortable (but very stylish) high heels….or they wear shoes for walking in. These walking shoes tend to fall into 3 categories:

1) “ballet-style” flat shoes: at least they’re more comfortable than high heels, although they still don’t look very comfortable to me;

2) flip-flops: seen mostly on warm days, although I did see a few idiots wearing them in the dead of winter. I’m sorry, but I don’t understand the logic behind doing a lot of heavy walking in flip flops (even if they ARE very stylish flip-flops!);

3) sneakers (or “trainers” as they are called here): this is more like it and is now my choice of commuter shoes to wear after my first day on the job when I wore my work shoes and my feet ended up covered in blisters. The sneakers may not look very stylish, but at least my feet don’t hurt anymore!

British Sandwiches

British sandwiches don’t even come close to American ones. And if you’re accustomed to those normally found in New York delis, forget it. You’ll go mad with these sandwiches over here. British sandwiches are mostly bread with very little filling. And the bread is usually spread with butter, NOT mayo. Believe me, when you’re not used to a sandwich with butter, it will make you gag. Especially when you’re not expecting it, like on a tuna sandwich. Yuk.

In fact, mayo is not all that commonly used here. The Brits don’t know what they’re missing. Speaking of which, I miss Dukes Mayonnaise. The only name-brand mayonnaise I’ve seen here is Hellmans. At least it’s something.

Packaged sandwiches are very big here and people eat a LOT of them. You can find them in most corner shops, cafes, coffee bars, just about everywhere. You’d make a killing if you opened up an American-style sandwich bar with some nice deli-style sandwiches piled high with meats and cheeses!

Bits & Pieces

Bits & pieces is another commonly used expression here in England which basically means “miscellaneous stuff.” You’ll occasionally hear other variations on this, such as bits & bobs or odds & sods. But bits & pieces is the most commonly used. I guess the only thing comparable in America is perhaps “odds & ends” or “this & that” and you rarely hear those here.

For example:

• I need to run to the store to pick up some bits & pieces.
• I’ve got some odds & sods to sort out before I can leave work.
• Can you take care of those bits & bobs lying on the counter there?

Tea, tea, everywhere tea...

I’ve already written about how much tea the Brits drink. But I don’t think Americans would believe just how fanatical they are about it. It is a WAY OF LIFE here. Literally. Today we went for a haircut and (as always) were offered a cup of tea as we sat down in the chair. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but how in the hell do you manage to drink a cup of tea while getting your hair cut or colored or whatever?

This past week we had to go to the hospital for a routine consultation visit for me. And the waiting room we were sitting in actually had a “tea bar” and was serving tea in china cups (not paper or plastic or styrofoam). I was in awe. Also, Paul’s dad has been in the hospital the past 2 weeks, so we’ve made numerous trips there to visit him and witness the hospital worker coming around with a tea cart to serve patients and their visitors tea, at all hours of the day.

It just boggles my mind how much tea these people drink. And yet everyone makes fun of ME for NOT drinking it. My colleagues keep saying they’ll know when I’ve really become “British” when I finally take them up on an offer to get me a tea. They keep offering and I keep declining. For now anyway.

Getting a drivers license in the UK

Today I also went to apply for my provisional drivers license (although here they spell it “licence”). My Florida license enables me to drive in the UK for just 12 months after arrival, so my time is almost up. Even though Paul has been doing most all of the driving, I still need to get my UK license before the one year is up. Otherwise I’ll be required to go through driver education and I definitely don’t want to suffer through that. Not only does it cost a small fortune and take many weeks to complete, but you are required to take lessons in a car emblazoned with big red “L”s all over it (meaning you are a LEARNER). No doubt people definitely steer clear of the learners on the road and for good reason!

Anyway, the whole process of obtaining a drivers license here is laborious. For starters, I had to go in person to the closest DVLA office (some 20 miles away) to make the application. This is because I hold a non-British passport and they have to confirm my identity. Otherwise, had I held a British passport, I could have gone to any post office, showed them my passport, and they could have confirmed my identity and sent my application off to Swansea (in Wales) where all new license applications have to get processed. Instead I had to hand over my passport, which had to be sent along with all my other paperwork and a photograph to Swansea. It can take up to 7 weeks to get my passport and provisional license sent to me. (Let’s just hope I don’t meanwhile need to leave the country urgently!)

Once I have the provisional license in hand, I can then book an appointment at the nearest driving testing office (even further away than the DVLA office I went to) to take the “theory test” (or written test). It is comprised of multiple choice questions along with a real-time hazard test whereby you watch hazardous road situations on video and identify the hazards. This theory test takes about an hour to complete.

Once you have successfully completed the theory test, you can then apply to take the “practical test” (or driving test). This too takes about 45 minutes to an hour. Once you pass this test, you can then apply for your permanent license. The whole process takes months to complete, but at least you are home-free once you have the license in hand!

Now you can see why I have procrastinated for so long on getting my UK license. (Not to mention I’ve been a bit nervous about manipulating the roundabouts!). Oh well…stay tuned to see how this one turns out.

Healthcare in England

Today I had my first visit to a NHS hospital for a routine exam. I’ve already been to my local GP on a few occasions, and to the dentist several times as well. I’ll have to say this. Having come from America where healthcare will bankrupt you, the NHS (National Health Service) in England is utopia!!! Yes, it is a socialized system and yes it does have its problems. But at least you are guaranteed healthcare should you need it, unlike in America where only those who can afford it stand a chance. What a difference.

For starters, you pay for the NHS via income taxes, same as you would pay for Social Security and Unemployment Tax in America. But then, when you require medical treatment, you simply go to the doctor, hospital or dentist, and pay NOTHING (or very little) for the visit. That in itself makes it worthwhile to me. I’m used to paying on average $100 for most doctor and dentist visits in the US, and that’s just the consultation fee … before any lab work, etc. is done. In the UK, most regular GP exams and lab tests cost NOTHING. Prescriptions cost £6.65 each AT MOST, regardless of the type of drug, and all regular dental visits (with hygiene treatment) cost a mere £15.50 each. In fact, the maximum charge for a complex course of dental treatment (such as one or more crowns) is an astounding £189.00!!! In America, the average crown cost around $800-$1000 each!

The downside to the NHS is that you sometimes have to endure waiting lists. But this normally only occurs with specialized treatment, and generally with non-life-threatening type services, like physical therapy. It only took me a couple of weeks to get in to see the local breast specialist about my breast treatment. And here it took me 2 months to get my last mammogram scheduled in America and that was after I had found a lump!

You do have the option for private healthcare in the UK. Some of the better employers do offer supplementary health insurance programs (or you can buy insurance yourself) to cover private treatment. This generally means you can get in faster to see a specialist, but doesn’t always guarantee treatment. You still have to go through your local GP to get a referral.

One thing that has struck me as light years ahead of America in terms of healthcare is the use of electronic records here in the UK. With the exception of x-rays, most medical records are kept electronically. Even when you’re sitting in the doctor’s office getting examined, he/she makes notes on the computer, not on paper records. Any paper documents received by your doctor are actually scanned into the computer and kept as an attachment to your personal record. Talk about efficiency! I don’t EVER remember a doctor or dentist in America using this method of recordkeeping.

Oh yea. Another thing. Over here the nurses do pap smears (called "smear tests"), not the doctors! And they cost NOTHING.

Happy New Year

Paul and I rang in 2007 with a toast of some Bucks Fizz, or Mimosa as it’s known in America. It’s a mixture of champagne and orange juice (grenadine is optional). It’s quite good. Actually, the Bucks Fizz predates the Mimosa by 3 years. The Bucks Fizz was named after London’s Bucks Club where it was invented by a barman in 1921. The Mimosa was reported invented at the Ritz Hotel in Paris around 1925.

We also celebrated the New Year with another British tradition called First Footing (foot in), which is reputed to bring good luck in the new year. Basically you ring in the new year outside your front door, then when you first step through the door in the new year, you must carry with you (in addition to the drink you just toasted with), some bread (to ensure you always have food), some coal (to make sure your house always stays warm), some money (to ensure you always have money), and some greenery (to assure a long life). We carried all these items with us through the front door, so hopefully 2007 is going to be a GOOD one for us!

We finished off the evening watching the London Eye fireworks display on the BBC. What a show! Up until London rang in the new year in 2000 with the new London Eye, fireworks had never been a part of the annual traditions. Previously, the crowds would gather at Trafalgar Square (as they do in Times Square in NY) and wait on Big Ben to strike midnight. (In fact, Paul and I spent my first New Years in London in 1996 at Trafalgar Square and it was the coldest New Years on record for like 10 years or so!! I remember it well!!!). Anyway, the crowds do still gather in Trafalgar Square, but most people line up along the River Thames to watch the ever-growing fireworks display. It was indeed awesome. Even Tiny was entranced by it all as she sat on the ottoman in front of the TV to watch.

We celebrated New Years Day breakfast with one of Paul’s family traditions – bacon and mushrooms served in a butter/milk broth with some bread for dipping. It’s quite rich, but very tasty. And for our New Years dinner, Paul did my traditional southern feast of pork roast, greens, black eyed peas and cornbread (with some roast potatoes to round it all off). It was scrumptuous and something even Gordon Ramsay would be proud of!!!

Christmas in England

There’s something different and special about an English Christmas. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Perhaps it’s just the colder weather or something. But the British really do get into the festive spirit more so than I’ve ever seen the Americans do.

Of course, the Brits undoubtedly drink a lot more than the Americans, and drinking and partying is very much a part of the British Christmas celebrations. The parties tend to start around the first of December and continue throughout the entire month. Every day is a reason to celebrate. And drinking during working hours and at lunch is so commonplace that it is not frowned upon and in fact is encouraged. It’s bizarre.

Most of the Christmas traditions celebrated in America today come from England: Christmas cards, Christmas decorations and Christmas carols, to name a few. Other traditions didn’t quite make their way to the US, such as pantomimes (song and dance dramatizations of well-known fairy tales which encourage audience participation), Christmas crackers, and of course the Queen’s Christmas Message to the nation, broadcast on radio and TV.

Strangely enough, there is one tradition the Brits got from the Americans – the Christmas turkey! Before turkey was introduced to the UK from America, the Brits would celebrate Christmas dinner with a goose. Goose is still widely eaten, but not as much so as turkey. The dinner is traditionally served with roast potatoes, vegetables, and stuffing with gravy. This is usually followed by mince pies and Christmas pudding (a rich fruit cake) served with a brandy sauce or cream.

Christmas Crackers have been a part of traditional British Christmas since 1847. They are used to decorate dinner tables and are brightly-colored paper tubes, twisted at both ends, containing a paper party hat, riddle, and a small toy or trinket. When pulled by two people, the cracker pops open, making a loud cracking sound, as the contents spill out over the table.

The day after Christmas is known in Britain as Boxing Day and is a national holiday. The name is derived from a former tradition of giving a Christmas box (a gift of money or food) to the local poor people and to service people (milkman, postman, etc.). Regardless of where it comes from, it sure is nice to have an extra day off work at Christmas time.

The Ashes

Today England lost “The Ashes” to Australia. Correct me if I’m wrong, but is cricket not the strangest of all sports? The Ashes, as I understand it, is a cricket tournament held between only England and Australia. It all started back in 1882 when England lost to Australia for the first time. As a symbol to show that England’s cricket was “dead,” some of the equipment used in that game was burned and the ashes stored in a small little urn. This tiny urn of ashes is now the trophy prize in the game that has gone on between the two countries ever since.

Even more bizarre is that it is only held in the summer in whichever country is hosting the event. But since summer time in Australia is during England’s winter months, the tournament only gets held ever 18 to 30 months. The next one isn’t until 2009! In any case, England embarrassed itself today by losing The Ashes in the 3^rd of 5 games played. It had already taken them 16 years to win back the urn the last time the tournament was played 15 months ago, only to lose it again today it in a matter of days.

And here’s the best of the lot. The winner of The Ashes is whichever team wins the best of 5 games. And each game takes 5 days to play! With breaks between games, a full 5 games could effectively take over a month to play. And it doesn’t stop there. The games are so long and drawn out that they even take time out for a lunch AND a tea break during each day of play. What a life.

And yet I still don’t understand the first thing about the rules of the game. I’ll leave that to another day.

Update (Fri, Jan 5, 2007):

Well, I overlooked something else about the Ashes. Apparently, even though Australia won The Ashes back on Dec 18^th, the series wasn’t over. They continue to play all 5 games to the end. Today Australia celebrated their first “whitewash” since 1921 by beating England in all 5 games. Now The Ashes is officially over. Good grief. Talk about overkill. Can you imagine the World Series going all 7 games regardless of who might have won?

Halloween and Bonfire Night

Halloween in England is becoming more and more Americanized. We actually had a few trick-or-treaters show up at our door this evening. Paul said he never remembers celebrating Halloween before and certainly had never seen trick-or-treaters appear at his door. Instead, as a kid, he celebrated Bonfire Night on November 5th.

The history goes something like this. In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. (See, terrorism is not a new phenomenon – it goes back a long, long way!) Anyway, Guy Fawkes, one of Britain’s most notorious traitors, was among these men. On November 5, 1605, their “Gunpowder Plot” was foiled and Guy Fawkes was caught, tortured and executed. On the very night that the plot was foiled, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King (as he had planned to appear at Houses of Parliament when it was due to blow up). Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night. The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.

Anyway, back to the traditions that Paul grew up with. Preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations went on for a whole week or so, when kids would make up their own dummy of Guy Fawkes (which they called “the Guy.”) They would then set their dummy outside their front door, alongside a jar asking passer-bys for “a penny for the Guy.” Whatever money was collected during the week was then used to buy fireworks for Bonfire Night. On the night itself, “the Guy” is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight, while fireworks go off all around the city.

For a variety of reasons, Bonfire Night is becoming less and less common, while Halloween, with all its American influences, is becoming more and more popular.

British Summer Time

Today our clocks moved back an hour, same as in America. They normally go back at the same time in the fall, but move forward in the spring on different weekends. Daylight Savings Time here is referred to as “British Summer Time.” But the daylight hours experienced here are nothing like those in America.

At the height of summer, the sun rises around 5am and doesn’t set until nearly 9.30pm. Talk about a long day! It’s even more bizarre in the winter when the sun rises around 8am and sets around 4pm. It definitely takes some getting used to.

British Pubs

Another pub lunch today. We normally have at least one a week. Pub lunches are by far the best value for money when eating out in the UK. But the food dulls in comparison to the sheer experience of going to a pub. Pubs are a major part of British history and culture.

Public houses (i.e. “pubs”) were were originally houses where the public could eat, drink and even stay overnight. Signs have hung outside public houses since 1393, when King Richard II decreed they should replace the usual bush outside the door. As most people were illiterate at the time, names were chosen that could easily be illustrated, like the Rose & Crown, coats of arms (Freemasons’ Arms), historical figures (Henry VIII), or heraldic animals (White Lion).

You’ll find pub on nearly every street corner in England. They have always been a place for neighbors and friends (generally men) to meet up and chat. You’ll still find old men gathering in pubs to enjoy a pint and a smoke. Smoking is still allowed in most pubs.

The drink of choice in a pub is draught beer. The beers that are typically offered are those brewed by the local brewers in the area. The main varieties of beer are: lager (lightest of all beers; most American beers are lagers), bitter (stronger and darker than lager), mild ale (sweeter than bitter), stout (thick, dark, creamy; Guiness, which comes from Ireland, is the most famous stout), and cider (traditional English drink found in all pubs; it’s made from apples and comes in a variety of strengths and degrees of dryness).

When ordering a beer on tap, you ask for it by the pint or half-pint. Imported bottled beers are generally also available. Budweiser is normally the only American beer you find in pubs.

You always order and pay for drink and food in advance at the bar. The bartender will hand you your drink, and someone else will bring the food to your table when ready. You do not tip in a pub.

Pub food (also known as “pub grub”) is simple, hearty fare, which normally includes a few select appetizers (mostly fried), a selection of sandwiches, jacket potatoes served with a variety of toppings, and hot meals such as fish & chips, chili, sheppards pie, cottage pie, or a mixed grill. Another common pub lunch is the Ploughman’s lunch, which consists of cheese, salad, pickles and bread. Roast dinners are served in most pubs on Sundays are are the best meal bargain to be found in England.

Coffee, Tea & Biscuits

Everyone knows the British love their tea. But it’s not apparent just how MUCH tea they drink until you go to work in an office environment, where they seem to drink tea all day long. It’s so common that they even have “tea stations” with kettles, hot water dispensers, tea bags, tea spoons, etc. set up for making tea.

When you order tea, you ask for it either white or black (meaning with or without milk). If you want sugar, you then also ask for one or two sugars (meaning one or two teaspoons or cubes of sugar).

Thanks to Starbucks and the many other coffee houses that you find on every corner now (Caffe Nero, Costa Coffee, etc.), coffee is quickly taking over as the favorite hot drink, especially among younger people.

Normally you are served “biscuits” with your tea or coffee. Biscuits here, of course, are what I call cookies. But they ARE very tasty and addictive. McVities Biscuits are the most popular in the UK and definitely my favorite. I like the ones that are covered in creamy chocolate.

Traditional English “afternoon teas” are a special treat that you generally only find in high-priced venues, like The Savoy and other expensive London hotels. These teas are normally served with scones (what I call biscuits), teacakes, or cucumber sandwiches, all on fancy English china.

Commuting by Train

Yesterday (for the 2nd time since starting work in May) I had the joy of trying to find an alternative way into work thanks to train disruptions. This time my 7.25am train left Hertford on time, but, after making the first stop in Cuffley, the driver announced that a major power outage had occurred at one of the stations further down the line. As a result, no trains were going into or out of London along these lines. So we sat there in Cuffley for an hour before they decided to move us forward to the next stop (Crews Hill) to give the train behind us a platform to park at for anyone who wanted to get off.

After sitting in Crews Hill for another 30 minutes, Paul (who I had already called to tell of my dilemma) offered to come pick me up and drive me into London. So I got off the train and waited for Paul to reach me some 30 minutes later. By now it’s 9.30am.

Instead of driving me all the way into London (which would have taken ½ day by the time Paul returned to Hertford), he just dropped me at Southgate tube station where I caught 2 underground lines into work. I finally got there at 11am.

Thankfully the trains were running again by the time I got off work. But this is just a classic example of the joys of commuting by train and the problems you encounter. I’m one of the fortunate ones in that there are 2 train lines that come into Hertford, so I’ve always got the option of using one if the other is down.

Buying a Home

I am RELIEVED to say that we have FINALLY moved into our new home. And what an ordeal it has been. Buying a house in England couldn’t be more different than buying one in America.

For starters, a seller is free to list with as many agencies as he wants. It’s not uncommon to see more than one agency’s sign in front of a house for sale. The selling agency gets all the commission; the listing agency gets nothing. But the sale must go through one of the listing agencies.

Commissions here are very low compared to those in America (only 1-2% vs 6-7%). “Estate agents” are paid salaries by the agencies and get very little of the commission earned by the selling agency, therefore estate agents have very little incentive to really sell a place. Also, estate agents in England do not have to be licensed (although the agency does).

When you make an offer to buy a place, there is no legally binding contract. The seller is free to take as many offers as he likes and is not obligated to sell the property. “Gazumping” is a very common problem here and will continue to be until they change the real estate laws. Gazumping is when a seller accepts an offer from one interested party only to accept a higher offer later on from someone else. Unfortunately for the buyer, agents are legally obliged to tell sellers about any other offers on the property. Even if the property is taken off the market once your offer is accepted, anyone who previously viewed the property can still make a bid. If they do, then the agent cannot keep this fact hidden from the seller.

Once you make an offer to buy property, you (the buyer) have to start spending money (all non-refundable) to get the purchase underway without any binding agreement or guarantee that the seller will go through with it. You have to hire a “solicitor” (attorney) to act on your behalf while the seller has his own solicitor acting on his behalf. The realtor doesn’t really have to do anything else once they’ve gotten an offer on the property. All communication is done via the two solicitors.

Your solicitor will arrange the surveys and other legal work that has to be done. Only AFTER all this legal work is done, and only AFTER you obtain a mortgage guarantee from a lender can you actually “exchange” contracts. The sale is not legally binding UNTIL the contracts have been exchanged, and this doesn’t happen until the END of the whole process. As a buyer, you are pretty much screwed if anything goes wrong, since you have no protection whatsoever.

Once the “exchange” is ready to take place, you do not attend a closing or anything like that. Instead, your solicitor will mail you copies of the contract and other paperwork to be signed and witnessed by any non-family member (it can even be a stranger, but it does not even need to be notarized). The paperwork will also get mailed to the seller to countersign. Once everyone has signed, the two solicitors contact you and the seller to inform them that the contracts have been “exchanged.” Once this happens, both parties are obligated to go through with the deal.

On the exchange date, you are also notified of the “completion date,” which normally takes place about a week after exchange. This gives the lender time to transfer monies to your solicitor, who then transfers it to the seller’s solicitor, who then notifies the estate agent that the sale is complete and the keys can be released. So even though as a buyer you effectively “own” your property as of the exchange date and effectively are paying interest on the mortgage from that date, you cannot actually take possession of your new home for another week!

Another disadvantage to buying a home in England (as though there needed to be another one) is that the seller is not obligated to do any repairs, etc. on the home. If an inspection reveals a major defect in the home, then you as the buyer can opt out of the deal. But the seller is in no way obligated to make any repairs. Therefore, all purchases tend to be “as is.” You can choose to have your solicitor write up the contract to state otherwise (like asking the seller to make repairs, etc.), but with so many other people typically chomping at the bit to buy the house, there is no incentive whatsoever for the seller to agree to such a contract. Therefore, as a buyer, you are not protected in any way should the seller decide to trash the property before you move in. You are also not protected should you discover a major defect in the property that was not disclosed.

Now you know why I am so RELIEVED to finally say we have moved into our new home!!!