Owning your own home

My brother's just done this in Wimbledon.

It does involve dropping the floors of the rooms on the first floor in order to acheive a decent ceiling height on the new second floor.

Wow, that view from the garden!

stanfordestates.london/proper­ty-details/26046918/

Cool Shelving Bro

Do you happen to know where the shelves in your kid's room are from?

I sold my flat today :-)
This is all actually happening!

Good work, fella.

Get what you wanted for it?

And then some!

All those spare hours of watching Kirsty and Phil really paid off.

Decide where to move to then?

Yep, bought a house yesterday. Westside!

Nice one, although you now have to burn your Bethnal Green hoody

stanfordestates.london/property-details/­26046918/
Cool Shelving Bro

Do you happen to know where the shelves in your kid's room are from?

Thanks man. They are these. http://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-colosseum-fsc-bookcase/p231289451?sku=231289451&kpid=231289451&s_kenid=72ffe0f9-0d80-d6c8-1ada-000022012473&s_kwcid=404x1329309&tmad=c&tmcampid=73 . Slightly under-used at the mo. They were our main bookshelves until we downgraded to cheapo white Argos units in the hallway when firstborn ousted me from my "studio".

Just noticed the outdoor shot features a big tipped-over plant pot spilling the remnants of my dismembered Christmas tree. Tis the season etc.

Have just finished the great pre-view clean. Now BOOZE AND SLEEP

Congrats Nial. West Hampstead is a great neighbourhood too. Lived there twice in my 21 year tour de flats of London's expensive London. Hope you dig it.

Wow, that view from the garden!

Yeah it's a big part of why I get all squirmy when thinking about leaving this place. I often sit in the living room of an evening and just watch the weather go by. Gah.

I LOVE my spice rack.

It will not be part of F&F...

Do you want an electrician?

Hey mate it's exactly what princeperch said. Your solicitor doesn't sound like she knows what she's doing/can't be bothered. She should draft a rider to the contract stating that the 4.5% of purchase price will be retained from the vendor upon completion for improvement works or something like that. The original agreed purchase price remains the same for contract and for mortgage purposes. There is no need to get another mortgage offer. You need to tell her to get her act together. I can't find my docs here as the files are in boxes but it really isn't that difficult. She arranged it for me a week before we were due to exchange. That was alongside arranging a new mortgage and remortgage to complete simultaneously.

Thanks mate.

I've pinged her an email - if you come across the files that would be great, if not I may come back here with her reply.

This kind of thing? http://www.inbrief.co.uk/property-law/solicitors-retain-funds-property-transaction.htm#

@AirTime @Tenderloin It's likely everyone is right. She will have to report the change to the lender, then they will decide whether they want to issue a new mortgage offer or are happy with an allowance in the contract as described.

If they want to send a new offer they won't need a new survey or any further checks, it will just be sending a new document over so a minimal delay.

Underfloor heating. Worth it?

Planning on replacing approx 45 sq metres of laminate with engineered wood flooring.
Lounge, hallways, office.
Have got a 2yr old Vaillant combi boiler (so quite efficient). Radiators in hallway, two in lounge, one in office.
I'd replace the radiators anyway since they looks crap.

So, with the floor already up, and the radiators already being replaced... (would be electric underfloor heating rather than water).

I like it. But think it's a bit meh.
Hypocaust or GTFO.

I have it in the bathroom and kitchen. Love it. Although many kitchen tiles are now cracked (probably from me being clumsy) and now unsure about how to repair them.

@duncs - yes it's lovely. Electric is fine - but do have to be v careful laying it. Check the flooring is compatible - wood isn't as efficient as tiles etc but is still good.

I think so, love ours. It's water in a polished concrete floor though so don't know how that compares with electric in wooden flooring. Walking on it in your socks is amazing.

I am just at the end of installing a solid fuel stove in my front room. I have been dealing with building control the last few weeks who have sent me some very strange emails containing advice.

Anyway if anyone is thinking of doing a self install and getting it signed off through building control let me know I can probably help and save you money.

It's a bit of a ball ache to do it this way but the whole install will come in at under 650 rather than spending 2k and getting someone to do it for me..

HSBC mortgage all sorted, approved and accepted.

Thanks @princeperch @AirTime should be exchanging end of next week