Owning your own home

I know that fka BlueQuinn rated them as well, but I can't figure out how to @ his new name.

The other question is, do I bother using their bespoke cutting service or just let our joiner do it, as we would if we went with Benchmarx?

The worktops we ordered arrived when they said they would, they forgot one chopping board but sent that on afterward, so all seemed fine - I've not got another company to compare them too, however. I'd use them again.

I rated them. As did my neighbour.

I used the bespoke cutting service, and everything was exactly where it was supposed to be - a proper job, all machine cut.
The only downside is that you then have to take the pre-oiling service. This is a) not enough oil to finish and seal the surface, so you still need to do that. and b) annoying cos if I was doing it again I'd actually be using a heavy duty polyurethane sealant (like you use for floors) rather than Danish oil.

+1 for Worktop Express

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#sinkenvy

Foxtons just rang and put me through to some mortgage company that would lend 5x salary. Sounds dodge and potentially crippling. Although it pushes our budget up significantly.

I should tell them to gtfo, right?

right.

I wouldn't touch an adviser that's linked to Foxtons.

Done.

I had the same.
Worth it to speak to them and find out what possible rates you could get. Jot down the figures and take it elsewhere to find out what others can get you. Pump them for info really.

Go to her office and speak to her directly.

I spent some time in this godforsaken business and we had a sales progressor who was less use than tits on a fish.

She made a point of only dealing with the sales people who she wanted to fuck/wanted to fuck her, so the female members of the team were as sunk as I was.

She was an utter hound of the highest degree.

And no, she didn't spurn my advances - I spurned hers. Awful woman, which was a shame because I'd have liked to have met her old man - he designed T5 and the Pompidou Centre.

I used worktop warehouse recently. Paul there takes an age to respond to emails but his product is good and his prices are very very low. We are very pleased with what he delivered and installed.

Word of warning to anyone considering getting quartz or granite worktops- do not use reemstone- they will probably fuck u about, waste your time, and not apologise for it. They might be the cheapest around, but when youre being fucked about, Saving 100 quid is neither here nor there. And if their pre-sale is anything to go by, their after sales is probably shite too.

Ordered one from Worktop Express in the end, still about £30 cheaper than Benchmarx for much nicer wood. I hope.

I've heard and read good things about the IKEA Behandla oil for finishing the worktop, which is good as it's only £5 for 750ml, so much cheaper than Osmo.

The only snag is, the worktops we've gone for are apparently on 14-day delivery. Just when I thought my days of washing up in the bathroom basin were over. Ah well, by the weekend, we should have a semi-functional kitchen with cabinets but no tops.

Any cure for the sudden panic attack of 'Oh fuck! Just which, what or where should I get a mortgage?'

I hate to say it, but of all the agents we have dealt with so far (in both our search and our sale) Foxton's have been the best.

We've put our place on the market with KFH because we negotiated a better rate, but everyone we have dealt with at Foxton's has been first class.
Knowledgable, personable, well informed.
But the main difference is that they treat you like a HUMAN BEING looking for a HOME, unlike all the other shiny suited shithawks who treat you like an open purse and slime around trying to get into it.

Also, Foxton's know how to talk to women, which it would appear is a rare rare thing in estate agents.

TL:DR - A little customer service training goes a long way.

Get an IFA

Update on mine; they have realised they need a minimum number of searches that have now been paid for and ordered. Still waiting for the bank to arrange a valuation/survey. Their offer was accepted over a month ago and Santander still haven't done anything. By all accounts they have a meeting with Santander this Thursday and our Sales Progressor is speaking to their counterpart at the other estate agents who is in turn also chasing Santander.

Just get fucking on with it!

@WjPrince are you in SE10? did you go to the new branch on Creek Road?

Mate, you have the patience of a fucking saint. I would have walked away months ago. I for one can't wait for you to post on this thread saying you have completed, what a saga!

No no...

We are in SE13 so have been dealing with the Blackheath branch.

Cheers, its too good a deal to let impatience get the better of us. If they turn round and ask for more money, we will probably walk but there is no indication they will.

Chances are I'll be back on here asking how to fix the shithole of a flat I'll have just bought.

Foxtons have actually been pretty nice IME, too. Apart from the guy yesterday trying to get me in more debt, that is. Otherwise they're quite helpful.

Also, it doesn't hurt that our current landlord is happy with a rolling monthly arrangement on our fairly reasonable (for the area) rent. If we had to have signed up somewhere else as an alternative, that would have pushed us into backing out of the purchase.

The people we are buying off ate genuinely ignorant so whilst I do get pissed off, it's hard to not be compassionate.

My missus did well with the bathroom sink also!

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just had a new oven delivered fitted, and lo and behold - the gas pipes for the stove top are getting in the way of the oven sitting flush in the cavity. who the fuck can i call to sort the pipes out? a gas fitter? anyone got a heads up on anyone?