Owning your own home

Depends on your situation, usually it only covers some of the scenarios that could actually go wrong. We had it, then survey revealed some issues with the house we were not willing to overlook and the insurance was useless. We were still out of pocket for solicitor fees, insurance cost, survey...

We were still out of pocket for solicitor fees, insurance cost, survey...

that's how they like it

Cheers! Will add them to the list.

The bloody Stow Brothers did not even bother asking the seller to offer a discount for a property with several plumbing and roofing issues... they couldn't care less! I guess there will be someone out there that wouldn't mind buying a sinking boat

The bloody Stow Brothers did not even bother asking the seller to offer a discount for a property with several plumbing and roofing issues

Oh yeah, they won't. Unless they have to. They didn't feel like they had to.

We engineered a situation where they (the EA) had to ask their client to offer us a discount...but we told them to go fuck themselves. It cost the seller £40k in the end.

Not sure where else to put this, but a reminder that properties in Council Tax bands A-D are due a £150 rebate. If you pay by Direct Debit, then the rebate will land in whichever account you pay from. Some time in April.

If you don’t pay by Direct Debit, worth a dig into gov.uk to see how you can arrange receipt.

Useful reminder! It seems non-direct debit accounts will need to check with their respective councils (Gov.Uk will just redirect)

Finally found something we can put an offer on. It's in a '95 development in Glastonbury, large garden with lots of space. Owners are nice, the only problem is they've been there for the past 20+ years and accrued quite a bit of clutter everywhere. Not sure if they'll be able to move in time for the school year in September, also they know every house/neighbour in the development so they seem to have strong ties.

Another problem, they've kept the house in a good shape overall, but for instance flooring (entrance vs. kitchen) doesn't match since it's all done in different times. Upstairs is all old carpet which needs to go. Wallpaper choices are very questionable. Almost every room needs an update, flooring + walls. How do I estimate what the final (decorative...) costs would be?

How do I estimate what the final (decorative...) costs would be?

Wall surface in m² x £s = ans

Someone here or in the kitchen / bathroom /extension thread should be able to give you rough £/m² decorating cost.

Rightmove link so people can make witty comments?

Depends very heavily on whether you are a farrow and ball or dulux kind of guy. Repeat for flooring/carpets etc.

Not buying a house because you can’t spring to the decorating costs is nuts anyway. Just live with someone else’s shit taste and nibble away at improving what you can, when you can. Once you’re in you’ll find your funds will inevitably need to be spent elsewhere first anyway.

^ truth

Post made from my offensively yellow living room.

You send the surface/floorplan to 2/3 companies for quotes, describing what you need to be done in each room. Trying to get at least one quote to separate material from labour.

Paint the living room and kitchen then live with the rest of the house being shit for circa 5 years is the general approach.

Please show how offensive it is.

Seller’s pic. Doesn’t convey the full reality. They left the charming over mantle mirror and curtains. Carpet is yellow in real life too. We thought our second child had jaundice once until the health visitor took her into a different room.

We’ve been here a year, still looks much the same.

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As illuminating as always ;)

Weird that they had the same lamp, coffee table and side table as you already

Wall surface in m² x £s x 2 = ans

When you actually do it

lol

This. We endured a very grim carpet and lilac walls. Although, I have to be straight with you, only for four months!