Owning your own home

No, it’s a semi detached, so that’s the dividing wall to the neighbour.

Just checked on government website and we are the lowest risk for all types of flooding. I did query this with the broker at the time but they said there was nothing we could do so I guess it’s aviva not the official data.

I imagine the en-suite is more attractive to potential buyers if you were ever to sell.

How many more bedrooms are there in the house that you're sharing the main bathroom with?

With that layout I'm not convinced I'd value using that little bathroom compared to the bigger one next door - I think I'd value a wardrobe more too.

I don't know about the attraction to buyers of en suites. I've recently been looking at houses, and didn't add much value to small ensuites or downstairs bathrooms have been stuffed into little spaces for the sake of it.

There are two other bedrooms on the floor above and one of those has its own en suite.
The house also has an annexe with a main bathroom and there’s even a downstairs toilet in the utility room.
We’re not lacking in bathrooms!

I don’t understand the obsession with every bedroom needing an en suite either, but recognise I’m possibly in the minority and don’t want to take value away from the house if I can help it. Saying that, we’ve no plans to move any time soon.

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It's not a sewage works it's a water treatment plant!

Isn't that the same thing in the UK poo K?

Same happened to us in Ealing.

They must just use some different map and all of a sudden certain postcodes get flagged or something.

Was it flood risk or risk of subsidence though? I can't remember but both seemed kinda funny given how old the property is and where it is.

I'd so have a walk in wardrobe with that many loos.
Maybe make direct acces to the other loo on same floor possible.

Maybe make direct acces to the other loo on same floor possible

Do you mean add a door between the bedroom to the main bathroom?

Don’t do that.

Two things that instantly make a house unattractive to me is;

1. Bathrooms with more than one door
   
2. Sinks in bedrooms
   

Agreed

No (but it's not a silly question). There aren't any water treatment plants in the UK that turn sewage into water at the moment. Southern Water have proposed one, but it's controversial.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/13/12bn-plan-to-turn-sewage-waste-into-drinking-water-branded-a-dangerous-white-elephant#:~:text=A%20%C2%A31.2bn%20scheme,potential%20costly%20%E2%80%9Cwhite%20elephant%E2%80%9D.

Contrary to popular opinion London water hasn't already been through six people, the water processed by Coppermills ('our' plant) comes from higher up the Lea valley, the New River and the (non-tidal) Thames at Hampton via a tunnel. It's then stored in reservoirs (some of which form Walthamstow Wetlands) before being treated and pumped around London via the Thames Water ring main as drinking water.

It can process up to 680 million litres a day. FACT!

Are the alcoves on an external wall?

If so, that's not a good place to be putting your clothes.

is this a thing? just risk of damp or?

My comment was just a dig at British water companies pumping heaps of shit into waterways.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-62631320
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv22dl509vjo

Damp.
In my case mould growing on leather shoes.
Solved by putting a 40 watt heater in there.

Can you keep some of the plumbing in there safely, in case you/buyer ever want to convert it back? Maybe that's just a shit compromise. 3 bathrooms and a downstairs loo for 4 bedrooms seems like plenty.

I'd love a walk-in clothes thing. My bedroom basically is one but also has a bed stuffed in there. I do also appreciate having a downstairs loo (under the stairs) even though I guess it used to be useful coats and shoes storage.

I do agree that "Jack and Jill" bathroom doors (as they are sometimes known) are not good. I'm always worried someone is going to walk in on me even if I've double-checked.

Can you keep some of the plumbing in there safely, in case you/buyer ever want to convert it back?

I'm hoping it's possible to just cap everything off under floor, but will speak to a plumber to confirm. Then it would be a case of ripping out the suite, re plastering and making some nice cabinets.

This was just my have direct access to second loo thinking. But in that rare occasion you can probably just go downstairs.
In any case, one less bathroom but more place for stuff (unless you have a minimalist wardrobe) seems a good option seeing as you have all the bathrooms anyway.

I'd wait for the buyer to ask for something before offering anything up.

Came out of it with £1k cash offer for roof remediation works. Aiming to exchange in next 7 days. Ironically, the money the buyer spent on having a professional roof and damp surveys, they would have been halfway to that. First time buyer innit.

Wow, you lucked out.

We got our seller to go halves on a new roof, but it was totally fucked.

The roof is fine, it was the tiles predominantly. North facing, never seen the sun & pretty old tiles. Frost damage etc. 300 tiles / 1 day and £1k from a local roofer (who I'll now use at my new place!).

Here's a preview of what's to come - it's accompanied aesthetically by brown windows, guttering and facia plates. A septic tank is also on offer, along with 1600mb broadband. Noice.

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‘This Aviva flooding thing is bollocks…’

We moved away from them after they wanted too much of an increase when it came to renewal time, but Aviva insured our property at a very competitive (first year) price despite us being about a hundred metres from the North Sea…insurers, eh?! Will never work them out!

Ah. Yeah I know all about that unfortunately, I paddle board and like swimming outside.

Literally just landed in Finland which is not a coincidence, you can swim in the lakes and sea here without worrying about 💩

I’d definitely get rid of the en suite - they’re a bit 90s.