Owning your own home

but... but... http://supertrampplymouth.co.uk/

Wife did some of her teacher training in Plymouth. There are some really really ropey bits, some bits are OK.
As we anything down here (I live in Devon), if you are not used to it, it can all be a bit bleak in the winter and full of people in the summer, but gives us something to complain about...

Ask @smallfurry

Also, why Plymouth? There are some lovely places nearby that aren't Plymouth...

Keep a decent distance from Swilly.

Does anyone move to Plymouth voluntarily? Why would you?

Not sure yet - we're carrying out RTM process with Canonbury and I've been impressed so far, but we need to decide who to go with as a group. I'll be recommending Canonbury but I've heard good things about Urban Owners too.

ER you can have a sliding door without going in a pocket. We have two.

Dior hanging mechanism. Normal door. MDF box around mechanism.

Well. It's not Portsmouth I suppose.

Or Aldershot.

Feature creep is alive and well- our 15k estimate is now a 22k reality, flat looks nice though. Can recommend a decorator who can project manage all other needed trades if anyone wants- SE London area

Why not have something gangstah like this?

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who dis

I was 6, and still knew that it was a shithole.

Fortunately, I lived in church crookham.

That was like well loads better

It's astonishing that we live in a world of such consumer choice but managing agents are totally unregulated and so blatantly unethical. I recommend RTM - it makes dealing with them much easier. And if you can kick off RTM you can block any major works until RTM is complete and you have a proper company on side to work with you.

Just as a technical point, I didn't think Managing Agents could charge anything over £250 outside their existing service charges without following the Section 20 process? Did you get any Section 20 notifications?

Yeah, we had one like that in Oz, but it would cut into my bike parking space.

Because on one side is hallway and on the other is where my bikes are parked. Both of which get bikes moved in and out regularly. So I don't want to skinny up any space, I just want to remove the swing door so it's easier to throw bikes in their spots. I think I'm just going to unscrew the door and maybe hide it behind the sofa or under the bed or something.

Richie's fella?

we might be hitting him up.

Covenant. Jeez. I'm looking forward to that.

Whereabouts? We were just off Rounton Road.

(Before that, we were in Blenheim ParkPark)

Does that mean you went to Crookham Infants / Juniors?

Or cut it in half and have some western style swinging doors. Half the swing and all the cool points..

Yep, I shall annoy everyone with photographs when all is done.

Anyone got a mega fisheye lens I can borrow?

Cool idea but they would hit my bike or me and I would end up in the same door-killing rage.

Use your phone and do 3d panorama walkthru shit.

Thinking:

Mainly in need of some space - pretty urgently.
Brighton has been great for us but we can't keep up with prices at the moment - Mrs CYOA not working, Mr CYOA working a bit much.
For the size and quality of house we'd want we'd need about twice the money we have. Mortgages are tricky for us so we're trying to cash it as much as poss. What we could afford in Brighton just doesn't seem worth moving for. Similar size but in worse condition and on the fringes of town.
Want a slower pace of life but not quite ready for full danzig james (I am, but Mrs CYOA argues that a one year old will have to go to groups. In my day... etc).
We're also quite socially inept so find the idea of a small town or village a bit claustrophobic.
So that means a large town or city basically.
We want south west/south/south east. Wales too remote. North a bit remote for coastline we'd actually like. East doesn't do a lot for us.
We want coast - actual coast rather than Severn estuary.
We want proximity to hills/moor/mountain/national park/something.
We want a bit of culture and history in the city.
We want access to good coffee shops.
At least one decent cinema.
We want a diverse local population.

We realise Brighton is a bubble like no other in terms of offering all of that. Particularly the population which, for the most, we love and won't find replicated elsewhere.

South East we're running into issues about the type and size of house we can afford, there are sporadic ones in Worthing etc.
South is basically Southampton or Portsmouth - fine but I have family in Southampton and spent my teenage years there with no real desire to return. Portsmouth does nothing for me.
South West - Bournemouth...mmm.... Weymouth, nah... Exeter... maybe. Torbay, bit small. Plymouth (would have glossed over it a month ago and never considered but the more we look the more it seems pretty solid, pending forum approval, obvs). We like Cornwall but for when I need to get to London it's not practical for same day travel (unless flying but usually I'll be travelling with loads of camera gear or production cases etc).

Plymouth:
Has decent schools, a large enough population that you'd expect some of them not to be racist homophobes. Has a university (and others nearby) which helps on that front by bringing fresh blood into the area. Is a regional hub for science and innovation. Has various creative and digital quarters/initiatives which mean finding staff if we opened a new office would be more plausible than say Torbay. Is right on the coast (and a pretty lovely bit of coast at that with even lovelier coast just outside of town on either side). Is right at the foot of Dartmoor (which is arguably my favourite moor). Has major industry there - for example Babcock (titter) so it's not out of the realms of possibility that we could get local clients even if they're headquartered in London. Has multiple amazing art deco lidos on the seafront, climbing centre, various museums, marine/nautical culture (boaty family) solid arts scene, good cycling community and access to great routes nearby, three cinemas, pretty solid coffee culture. Barbican seems as close as you'd get to the lanes/laine in Brighton short of going to Glasgow.

Connected via motorway and train. I could drive to London if I set off early. I could also get a coach overnight or a train in the morning. Close to Exeter airport if needed. Close to Exeter, because Ikea and John Lewis.

Some pretty fancy houses (say in Mannamead or Grand Parade) which I'd say are comfortably half the cost of the Brighton equivalent.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63693619.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63693619.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70303310.html

Loads of big pretty decent terraces/semis which is probably what we'd go for.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61410277.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48887085.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62567813.html

Yes there are some grim areas, but that's true of anywhere and it's big enough that you don't need to go to those places. Gardens seem a bit small for the most part (often they're just 20sqm yards/patios) but there are appear to be parks every 200 yards.

Not sold on it by any stretch but it does tick a lot more boxes than I'd imagined it would.

Other places we were adding to our 'to visit' list this month:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52381863.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68402813.html (the views on that!)