I hate

They're basically unusable for anything where you might have plans aren't they? Remember to claim.

#csb incoming

In half term my OH thought it'd be nice to go to the seaside and stay over - we often go to Southend for the day and feel the drive that bookends the trip takes some of the shine off.

Our train runs to Faringdon and handily a train goes from there to Brighton....From the same platform no less! What could be simpler and quicker?

A relaxed morning departure around 9am would get us in for 11am giving enough time for a runaround on the beach and fish'n chips lunch.

Absolute fucking carnage.

Cancellations at Farringdon meant we decided to chance going via Victoria. At Victoria tube child 1 decided to try and walk off through the tube barriers behind someone while we were trying to explain exiting using our train tickets.

Train from Victoria cancelled.

Fortunately we could go to East Croydon and change there to catch a delayed train.

Train from East Croydon cancelled.

Finally arrived at 1.30pm. A bit grumpy with badly behaved kids.

Could have been worse - the whole journey was littered with people with luggage trying to get to Gatwick!

Lesson learned, never take a train when you could drive instead.

That said I took the Brighton train to Canary Warf the next morning, and that was quite pleasant sitting in 1st doing work.

Estate Agents do have to have the inspiration and vision to theatrically open a 1meter by 1 meter cupboard whilst exclaiming “and this could be an En-suite!”

American prouncunciation of soldering iron.

"Soddering iron"

I mean, everyone's got their kinks but this sounds positively dangerous.

This isn't even the house selling cunts, just some arsehole that needs to not manage a property for a landlord failing at every possible turn. I'm at the point where I think the landlord is probably better, and landlords are pretty much bottom of the cunt barrel.

Trains. Fuuuuuuck

Get to station but the direct train I had booked tickets on is cancelled.

Staff told me to catch a train that would involve two changes or I could wait for the next direct train an hour later, but this would arrive in London ten minutes later than the multiple change option.

I was sceptical, given the problems today the idea of adding more connections into the journey sounded like more failure points.

This was confirmed when the first of the three trains doesn’t arrive on time, gets later and later leaving less and less time for the first connection. There was a ten minute window for the first change, when the first train arrived 8 minutes late I decided that this was not a good idea. It eventually left 15 minutes late so all the other people now won’t make their connection.

I am now sitting with crossed fingers that the next direct one isn’t cancelled

Tl dr trains are fucked in this country and I support the industrial action but I do understand why so many people chose to drive.

As the overtime ban is due to end next Saturday I can't take the risk of booking and it all being cancelled again. So now having to book some days off work to drive up to see them, as this was our last free weekend before Christmas. Which I could done all along but wanted to let the train take the strain.

Tucked away in a serene landscape lies a marvel—a flawlessly reimagined haven covering 10 square meters, a testament to elegance and sophistication beyond compare.

Stepping into this property is akin to entering a world of refined luxury and tranquility. The shiplap wooden cladding, meticulously restored to its original glory, conceals within its sturdy embrace a stunning transformation that defies expectations.

The interior unfolds as a testament to exquisite taste and craftsmanship. Wooden construction, meticulously treated and polished, evokes a sense of warmth and timeless charm. The walls adorned with subtle accents speak volumes about the impeccable attention to detail.

Natural light delicately caresses the space, strategically enhancing the ambiance and creating an inviting allure in every nook. The absence of windows, a unique feature celebrated in this haven, ensures unparalleled privacy and an intimate connection with the surroundings.

The layout, a thoughtful orchestration of space, cleverly conceals opulent amenities and bespoke features within its wooden embrace.

Marvel at the masterful fusion of functionality and aesthetics—a bespoke workstation seamlessly integrated into the wooden framework, an embodiment of both practicality and refined design.

Step into the enchanting garden oasis, an extension of this property’s allure, seamlessly blending with the rustic charm of its shiplap wooden construction.

This offering transcends the ordinary—it's a bespoke masterpiece that redefines the essence of luxury living. With a price tag of £750,000, this is an opportunity to own a piece of serenity and exquisite craftsmanship that is truly unmatched.

Jesus, they really are fucked

"Dear chatgpt write a listing for a shed in the style of The Modern House."

It is in the interest of agents and their clients to get as much money from the property they are selling as is poss.

That's a naive approach, and it may seem to be the obvious solution but doesn't necessarily maximise income for the individual estate agent.

The vast majority of EAs are cunts but I know a couple who aren't. Genuinely nice people, no hints of obnoxious behaviour.

Attempting to maximise a particular sale (to maximise their share of the commission) can often end up taking up way more of their time which could be spent on other clients/sales. The extra commission extracted out of on one sale is not going to be as much as the commission on a whole extra sale.

The way a good EA works is two-fold:

• really understanding what a client is looking for (and not just taking them at their word as most people looking for properties don't really know what they need) also adapting the understanding after each property they view. So many times a client will suddenly want a particular feature after seeing it at a property they have viewed. The brief is fluid and also affected by deadlines/timescales.
  
• keeping the needs of all of your active clients in your head and being able to quickly work out who would be interested in a new property that is coming on to the market
  
  

Many EAs are just twats that use a scattergun approach and most of the work is done by the client finding the properties themselves.

So many times my mate has made very quick (in EA terms) sales by having an idea of a few buyers when doing the valuation, sometimes matching them up on the day. He'd also trade clients with a friend working at another estate agent. If it's reciprocal then it benefits both companies, plus the vendors and the buyers.

When my wife sold her flat the EA that came to do the valuation said that they already had a developer client that was interested in any flats that came up in that block. We were matched up and the sale went through very quickly and with zero fuckery by the buyer (I also negotiated a lower %-age because of this, and agreed it would go up to their normal rate if this developer didn't come through).

Estate Agents are in it for themselves, they arnt going to try and hold out for an extra £5k for their seller next month if they want to bang the commission up their noses this month.

People saying decimals as whole numbers, such as 1.23 being 'one point twenty three'. It really grates for some reason.

I figure it must be due to the way we say currency. 'One pound twenty three' is obviously fine, it's the 'pence' simply being dropped. 'One point twenty three pounds' is just wrong tho'.

"one hundred and twenty-three bips" surely.

It's a bit like the way Americans use hundred when talking in thousands. Sure fifteen hundred is easier than one thousand five hundred. But when they're up to forty-five hundred or whatever >>>

Is mine a lettings agent that I hate? The estate agent that sorted out the other house was seemingly human.

Estate Agents are relatively cooperative up until the point of being paid. And then you have to threaten them into action with your solicitor, which is always satisfying.

Unless they are Emmett Brown, Ph.D.

,

Did he work with me?

2x fractured ribs.

Edit: However - https://www.lfgss.com/comments/17213840/

I mean, it’s not impossible.

Ow Ow, crash?

Sadly not, I slipped in the shower and landed on the side of the bath.

Middle aged thread >>>>>>

Not much fun! They take aaaages to heal as well so hope you've got a decent supply of the painkillers/gin.

U is going to get a visit to have handles fitted in the bathroom.

Sounds exactly like the guys I worked with.