Owning your own home

Went to see the place in the Ashdown Forest today. The grounds are amazing, there’s a gate that takes you straight out into the forest itself, and the rooms are all nice and large.

However, the place needs gutting and redoing, literally new everything, plaster every wall etc etc. The neighbours on the right all look like that chap from the Goonies, and have a fine collection of fucked vans, and interestingly a mint R34 Skyline.

Said Skyline is parked in front of one of the two garages belonging to the property that we went to view, and one of their fucked vans is blocking the rear access track (and clearly has been for years).

Looks to me like 200k of decorating and potentially an immediate conflict with the neighbours over being able to get into the house. I’d need to see the deeds on that one I guess, and then decide if I wanted to make myself hugely unpopular from the gun.

But it wasn’t on fire? Disappointing.

Possible that the neighbours owned all of it at one point and now reside over it all as their own personal fiefdom.

UK spec R34 in Bayside blue?

JDM in white. It looked very nice- and utterly incongruous.

I'd worry about you having a nasty accident with a chainsaw then running off to Spain to live in a caravan with your new wife off grid.

Ah, living the dream, eh?

I've looked at a house that I like, but it has some oddities that might make it difficult to insure - trees near the property, an adjacent river, a retaining wall that supports a neighbour's house.

How do I go about getting quotes for this? I want to know if it's going to be painfully expensive. Just phone random insurers and explain all the above? Presumably some are more geared up to cover unusual situations than others.

I've looked at a house that I like, but it has some oddities that might make it difficult to insure - trees near the property, an adjacent river, a retaining wall that supports a neighbour's house.

I doubt any insurer would care about these factors. Why not just try getting a quote online?

Presumably some are more geared up to cover unusual situations than others.

Heh, that's what they like you to think.

The dream!

I had a slightly questionable issue (wall that may or may not have been removed properly) and was concerned that would impact the insurance.

I emailed a broker (rather than just random internet quote) and they confirmed with the insurer it wouldn't be an issue so I had it all in writing.

Can pass you the broker details if you like.

Mmm, it would be ideal if you were right and I am just being overly-cautious.

Good to hear - yes, please do pass on the details!

...so that they can charge more for "premium" coverage...

Sounds lovely!

I think so! Hopefully any other potential buyers don't :)

So found a place I like and it was on for a very acceptable price given the work that's required. Put an offer in and it's been accepted.

So people buying mine have no chain behind and the house im buying has no onward chain. Both parties have mortgage agreed and surprisingly we're both using the same solicitors.

Realistically what sort of time frame can I be looking at?

6 weeks maybe. Any less would be a miracle.

Looking to buy with my partner, selling my flat in London Fields and ideally get a house with a garden. We have been cycling around today and scoping out areas. There seem to be plenty of 3 bed houses in Leyton, between Lea Bridge Rd and Leyton Tube station, more towards the Lea Bridge Road side.

Although maybe a bit further out than I would like, it works well as I will still have an shortish commute to my studio in DeBeauvoir (I don't go in every day) and easy access for morning Epping rides. Coming back from the 'cool' Francis Road which was pretty much dead to Broadway Mkt was quite a noticeable difference. However I think I'm growing out of the area a bit and if I can get a nice coffee once in a while, have a good local fruit and veg shop and decent local pub, I'd be happy.

So basically, what are the general forum thoughts on the area and is there anywhere else we should be looking at?

I think @Crop is around there. I'm just south of Leyton tube and I would recommend it too. Easy reach of the fun breweries in Walthamstow, the Wanstead Tap and the other bars along the railway near Forest Gate, and you've also got all the canal side bars near Hackney Wick. There's a really nice low traffic route into the centre across Olympic/Victoria park/ Well Street Common/London Fields. Now we have kids there's lots of playgrounds to take them, Drapers Fields and Tumblers Bay, and East Village is good for letting them scoot/run around freely without the risk of traffic. There's some good cafes/bars there too (Hand / Signorelli/Dark Horse/Mother Kelly's). Appetite is a great butcher/deli/veg that does booze too.

Yeah, as @oat44 says, it's all fine over there.

I'm just by Bakers Arms and would happily move over that way if the need arose.

I live in cann hall and really like it. Great pubs and restaurants.

Maybe 4 weeks if all the stars align, surveyors find no issues, solicitors respond instantly, everything comes back super quick, banks are on the ball, etc

More likely 6 weeks and every chance it could be longer at the moment though. There are various backlogs, people are still furloughed, etc

Not sure if you were cycling with @dbr yesterday when he popped by ours? But we’ve just moved from Leytonstone to Snaresbrook. Happy to talk the finer points of leyton/leytonstone if it would be helpful?

I was with him, I’ll dm you, cheers.