Owning your own home

This was my plan but the valve on the money gun is stuck open and I haven’t figured out how to shut it down.

Did fix the worktop tho

So we have an offer from a woman who owns other property but wants to buy our flat as a 'live/work' space for herself in London.

She viewed it when it was on the market originally in July and offered but we went with someone else.
When it went back to market she was informed and she said she was still interested but our estate agent wouldn't put forward an offer from her until he saw an AIP.

That was 4 weeks ago and she just disappeared, until yesterday where she has come through with an AIP on a buy to let mortgage, does it seem at all weird to anyone? or am i over thinking it..

It took me 3wks to paint one feature wall when our first was ~1yo.

With Covid WFH + nursery I managed to repaint a whole room in a week.

Progress, but a long way from when we first moved in and the two of us knocked out rooms in a day.

Still, my folks lived out of two rooms in a semi derelict house, when I was born and decorated the whole place with full time long hour jobs - so it's doable.

or am i over thinking it..

She's got an AIP. She wants to buy it. You want to sell it.

Who cares what she wants to do with it??

I'm decorating our bedroom and study in our house as I'm not working from next week to Christmas. We've done a fair bit of decorating over the last few years and it's only stressful when you're trying to get it all done in a few days. I've got three weeks for two rooms.

Builder in this week to remove this. Had hoped to keep the floor, but majority of boards are either split or have been ravaged by woodworm in the past. Lot of rot under half the floor too, thankfully joists seem ok but we'll have to see.

Thinking about insulating (netting, mineral wool and whatever goes on top) before laying a reclaimed floor. Am I going to regret trying this between Christmas and New Year...

Also, check out the window > door conversion... so professional.

1 Attachment

She's got an AIP. She wants to buy it. You want to sell it.

Who cares what she wants to do with it??

This. Also, her position presumably means she is chain free? Which would be good for you.

(Our buyer is paying cash and chain free which is a godsend tbh).

It could be that the live/work is planned as a short-term thing during covid, could be that the live/work is only necessary at certain times and wants to let it at other times, could be that was all bollocks.

As Soul says, she's got an AIP, she wants to buy it, you want to sell it. I guess the main concern is if there are any covenants or restrictions on your lease to prevent the flat being let and may cause the deal to fall through. I know people who that has happened to.

Yep, my last bit of decorating was before my flat went on the market (old damp patches and peeling paper needed covering) and that was done in evenings after work (with no daylight) and was knackering.

I did a few rooms before that where it was just as we fancied doing them and no pressure and that was fine (although sanding, masking and painting skirting, window frames, etc is still soul-destroying).

It's ok if you get into an interesting podcast series while doing the boring jobs.

Hardcore history is about 4 hours an episode so that eats up time nicely 🤣

If she's buying it as a live/work space, and has a BTL AIP, its a bit suspect, as its potentially mortgage fraud...

As you say, if it completes, then its not really @rogan's problem, however BTL rental and property valuation figures might affect things going forwards (the mortgage amount and deposit required), as well as if the lender/solicitor does any additional checks.

The place has 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room and a dining room. So we should be able to room hop as needed. I think it's just getting the time to do things and not feeling guilty about leaving the other with childcare responsibilities. But that's just something we'll have to suck up/manage I suppose.

Flurry of emails this morning discussing a potential completion date of either 11th or 16th of this month.

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

We are now at the part of exchange day where four people are calling the bank every 15 minutes asking them to send a fax... why is it always like this !?!?

Is this the bit where all the solicitors have to meet on a recorded line, check that they're all members of the same Lodge then arrange to play golf next week?

It's all so annoying - any other profession would optimise all this rubbish out of existance, why is a 'fax' even an acceptable method of communication.

why is a 'fax' even an acceptable method of communication.

It can be used in court, and telephone records used to support it.

I liked the balls of this one which was in the Guardian couple weeks back.
Matchbox house by Archmongers is a playful and functional rear outrigger.
Dormers are dormers tho really - people with money + design aspiration use zinc and glass. I'd be wary to use timber cladding up high.

1 Attachment

Matchbox? More like Peep Show house

Solicitors...'please provide mortgage lender details and broker details to avoid delays,' at the same time as back and forthing about lender queries from bank to vendor's solicitor, with the broker cc'd.

Cheaper versions of zinc cladding such as Euroclad Vieo also come in colours, ideal for dormers I reckon.
Is that a wood burning stove? Guessing thats a flat rather than a extra bedroom? Also curtains/blinds you're going to have them closed most of the time unless you enjoy being watched.
I like the brick gabel's for sure

init!

I'd be wary to use timber cladding up high.

How come?

scared of heights

A fax that gets sent to an e-fax system, where it gets emailed to the person at the bank dealing with it...

Yeah would also like to know.

From what I have gathered through second hand info most extensions end up looking the same inc cladding due to construction companies liking to work with knowns so very few suggest/use anything different.

If/when we get our loft done I defo want something a bit more interesting than the black tile things everyone has, I also dont want a lot of pipes crawling about everywhere like my neighbours do.

If people were going to install a new boiler / heating system which thermostat and timing system would they use? Installer has suggested Nest but is there better?