Owning your own home

As Greenbank says, that's pretty standard size. I'd have a quick check on the depth as there can be a few cm here and there difference on that but most stuff here should do the job:
https://ao.com/l/washing_machines-built_in/1-9/1/

I paid for install (I think it was a half price offer) and they did the doors as part of that. It's not overly difficult to do yourself unless the new hinge position overlaps the old one and then it can be a bit awkward.

If you don't mind it being on show, most washing machines are 60cm wide and you might have more choice if you go freestanding.

https://ao.com/product/wtl82051w-beko-washing-machine-white-76556-1.aspx

H84 x W60 x D59

More choice, cheaper (usually). Might stick out a bit though depending on what depth you have.

I'm sure youre fine as theres a bit of a gap, but also double check the height.

We had planned to keep an integrated ikea dishwasher for our new kitchen, but it was too tall for the new cabinets.

worth looking at the ao outlet ebay store, sometimes theyt have bargains / have priced them incorrectly

I bought John Lewis' own brand entry level machine about 3 months ago.
It's the first direct drive (as opposed to being belt driven) machine I've owned. I've never witnessed a washing machine that runs as quietly as this one does. Recommended.

Whatever you go for I'd try to avoid ao - they delievered a faulty machine to me and it took weeks of dreadful customer service calls to get it replaced. I think we went to John Lewis in the end once we got that one refunded.

To counter this (for balance), I've had a washing machine and fridge freezer in the last flat and in this house, fridge freeze, washer and dryer off them. Both times I've needed CS help (due to ordering wrong size or some fittings being missing) and things were sorted within a couple of days. So as with all big/more budget places, there's a bit of a gamble but it won't automatically be shit.

People also bad mouth Beko, but all the above were/are Beko and have had zero issues over 10 years.

I've never had a problem with AO either

Cheers all

direct drive

@JurekB this one? What is the star that tells you if it's direct drive?

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-jlbiwm1407-integrated-washing-machine-7kg-load-1400rpm-spin-white/p109718321

That might be true - my saying 'dreadful' might just be my way of saying 'didn't replace it immediately like I wanted'.

Apparently there's a thing with white goods where they have to be allowed to repair it once before they are obliged to replace - all this added weeks onto getting it replaced, which is a bit of a pain to deal with with no washing machine.

That's the one. TBF I made the assumption that it was direct drive based on how noiseless is is when it is in use. The spec does say that it does not have an inverter motor and then goes on to explain that inverter motors contribute to very little noise. So, in truth, I don't know. I'm in SE London and you're welcome to pay me a visit and I'll run it for you.

Where do I go to find out all the additional fees/costs etc when buying somewhere? Is there somewhere that can help the naive homebuyer?

Its been a while since we bought but I do recall a "squeaky bum time" when I realised all the additional costs and cash I needed to find when thinking about stamp duty (LBTT up here), cash needed when you're paying over the home report valuation, approx solicitor fees etc. Help needed...

There's a good list here: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/homes/buying-a-home/estimate-your-overall-buying-and-moving-costs

Actually, I was wronger than a wrong thing. Mine does have an inverter motor, but looks very similar to the one you linked to. Tis the one pictured below.
ETA - A bit of investigative suggests that they no longer do this model.
Correction - they no longer do it online, but there are still some available from some stores. They won't be re-stocking once they've gone. I paid just over £503.00 for mine.
ETFA - Aside from the silent running, I've been particularly struck by the short wash cycles if offers (I'm a single occupancy household, the inverter motor tech weighs my skanky pants and decides how long it needs to launder them for).

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Will be interesting to see if any of the lenders drop their mortgage rates now that the consecutive rate rises have stopped.

I've got an offer of 5.85% for 2 year fixed from Santander (can't move anywhere else easily) that's good until 29th Sep. I move to the >7.5% rate if I don't sort anything out by the 2nd October. But this gives them a few days to start the competition for lowering rates and hopefully I can sneak something like 5.60%.

Hope: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66888955

Old offer was 5.85% for 2 year fixed. New one is 5.49%. Still another week to go until our final deadline (2nd October) but this one is locked in if there are no further drop/rise.

I am very jealous of your rate right now. What's your LTV?

I had been thrilled that HSBC have lowered from 6.24 to 5.99% for a purchase I'm hopefully soon to make, but it's going to be 90% LTV, so I'm nowhere near the best possible rates.

I am very jealous of your rate right now. What's your LTV?

Around 25%. Just 5 years left on the mortgage (Remortgaging through Santander.)

Remortgaged in June at 4.49% on a 75% LTV.

Is it 25% equity instead of LTV? Sorry for doubting you but that's just bonkers if you've got 75% equity!

You want my mortgage advisor?

@coventry_eagle who did you get 4.49% from?

We’re applying for a new mortgage if we manage to sell our place and we can only get around 4.99% on 37% LTV

Is it 25% equity instead of LTV? Sorry for doubting you but that's just bonkers if you've got 75% equity!

As I said I've only got ~5 years left on my mortgage so it's no surprise that it's mostly paid off. One benefit of not being in my 20s or 30s I suppose.

Can't easily move mortgage providers as we're on an interest-only mortgage that most places won't offer now, and we need that flexibility due to Mrs GB's work (she tends to take short term contracts so may have chunks of time with no work). We make capital repayments as and when we have the spare cash.

Moving mortgage providers would add a whole bunch of extra costs (fees, surveys, valuations, etc) that would probably soak up most of the difference in monthly interest charges.

For example: 0.25% worth of monthly interest on a £200k mortgage is about £40. So 2 years of that is close to £1k. If switching costs £2k in fees, survey, valuation, etc the rate would need to be at least 0.5% lower for it to be worth considering switching (for a 2 year fixed anyway).

https://twitter.com/Urban_Pictures/status/1707394742315573384

Nationwide, same lending, came off a 5 year fixed.