After four months of waiting for probate to be granted, we finally managed to complete on a very desirable property on the outskirts of Birmingham last week. It shows how the market has improved so quickly because at the time of the offer we felt things were improving, and for the first time in ages, we offered the asking price, but after four months of waiting for the sale to happen it now looks a cheap buy.

The property was only £125,000 and in very poor condition, so I was surprised probate was an issue. After two months my solicitor relayed the message that probate would not be granted until HMRC had received payment of Inheritance Tax. I felt there must be a mistake, as the old chap had lived in quite appalling conditions. The roof valley had a major leak that made the whole house smell and feel damp with mushrooms growing on the bedroom ceiling! The central heating boiler had been condemned, so there was no heating or hot water and the garden was massively overgrown. He obviously had no money. After asking the agent to intervene and liaise with the vendors solicitor, I was amazed to hear that the estate was predominantly cash, spread across a dozen bank accounts and it exceeded half a million pounds.