Owning your own home

Yep, I hear you. When I was looking to buy somewhere the majority of the agents in the area were awful. I can understand why people don't like estate agents.

I can understand why people don't like estate agents.

At least you aren't a rental agent...

Any beckenham residents here? Am considering moving out that way from Forest Hill. Any top tips?

It's all a bit nappy valley, but otherwise is okay. There's parts that are really quite posh and snooty with it, best avoided. Good transport links though and plenty of parks for kids.

There is also serious school catchment area shit going on, even though most, if not all, the schools are good. Houses in the 'right' catchment area command a premium.

Howdy Andy. Hehe. Sounds like Forest Hill! I'm fine with that.

Found a fantastic looking 3 bed house with an office, conservatory, deck and good garden... for about the same as we'd get for our 2 bed flat in SE23. Seems madness not to. I've grown very fond of this area though. Will be a wrench leaving.

It has a cinema and a swimming pool too....

Oooh. Thanks. Left a message with the agent. Let's see....

@Apone, where in Forest Hill are you now? Recently moved to the area - I'm near to David's Coffee House!

What's it like being near the ambulance station?

Surprisingly, I don't actually hear it, I think as it's not emergency and more of a depot. The road is one way so guess they go down Waldenshaw Road? The South Circular however...

We are a couple of hundred metres away, and simply don't hear it, thankfully

Beckenham has a fire station and an ambulance station.

Ha. I'm up the top of the hill near the Horniman. Well, half way up really. Top of Honor Oak Rd, near Canonbie base camp. Love it. Panoramic views of Catford.

Lap repeats of canonbie rd easy for you then.

i went through with a dormer loft conversion 6 months ago. overall i'm very happy with the outcome however it can be pretty stressful at times.

if you have any specific questions on the build process and what to look out for then let me know. but to answer the questions you posed regarding the added value it will generate i'd be inclined to talk to your neighbours who have converted their loft or someone familiar with the market in Leeds.

@Apone Beckenham is nice but pricey, we sold in the summer. Great transport links (iirc seven train stations within a mile of our house). Also a good spot for weekend cycling south, although I don't miss commuting up College road. Which road are you looking at?

In other news I think our offer on a new place has been accepted today (subject to the solicitor answering his phone to the estate agent), it's a renovation project in a nice part of Tring that means I can drastically reduce my hours at work and play at being a builder for a year. A good start to 2016 after losing out on the last place.

@Apone I was in Beckenham for 7 years, moved out 5 years ago as the family grew. Loved the place and was very convenient for links into London. Would move back in a heartbeat if I could afford it...Moved to Bexley as I could get more for my money, now moving to Sidcup (slowly getting closer)

Thanks y'alls. Agent never called back. Obviously bastards. I may use them to sell this place!

*warning: flat porn

http://www.themodernhouse.net/sales-list/

Ha. http://www.themodernhouse.net/sales-list/upper-richmond-road/

That's been on the market for years. The photos make it look like an idyllic location. Reality is: https://goo.gl/maps/HN4EtCAwmXU2 (the entrance is just to the left of Carpet Right).

Hehe. Yeah I twigged that the place I was looking at had bedrooms the size of our broom cupboard. Still. Some really nice stuff there. If you're loaded.

That barbican flat, 4.5 million leasehold flat!!!

What I'd do to live in the Barbican! Shit, love that Brutalism.

http://www.themodernhouse.net/past-sales/wilton-way/

Inspo for the place we're buying

Nice taste @Tenderloin

If you like that furniture style, I am your man!

The size and shape is similar to ours and there's a couple of interesting ideas, I hadn't thought of (stair storage wall, downstairs shower room etc)

Furniture is ace - you a dealer or just a fan?