Owning your own home

Of course the downside is you have to work dahn t'pit and rub shoulders with scummy northern people everyday!

Well I am a scummer northerer anyway and funnily enough my new place of work is on Clay Pit Lane...

Normally I can do weekends, just not this week, which seems to baffle them.

Saw one being sold by Foxtons that I really like the look of. Thought "meh, I'll just have a look. Can they really be as bad as all that?" Yes, yes they can. Trying to book a viewing, was told I was being put through to "the guy with the diary" only to be answered by someone at their "sister company mortgage brokers". Cunts.

Went to see one tonight that I am actually really excited about. Would be an 8 mile commute.

Two viewings, two evenings, 30 miles ridden.

Saw one being sold by Foxtons that I really like the look of. Thought "meh, I'll just have a look. Can they really be as bad as all that?" Yes, yes they can. Trying to book a viewing, was told I was being put through to "the guy with the diary" only to be answered by someone at their "sister company mortgage brokers". Cunts.

Ah, that old chestnut.

Cunts.

I'd sell through them, but I'd never buy through them.

I'd go with Betty, but I'd be thinking of Wilma.

I'd sell through them, but I'd never buy through them.

I did both, at the same time, but I didn't have a lot of choice because they'd pretty much tied up Brixton, and were sole agents on a huge chunk of the market.

Of course they were shit, but not significantly shitter than other agents I've bought and sold through over the years

Waiting for a call back so I can put in an offer

Saw one being sold by Foxtons that I really like the look of. Thought "meh, I'll just have a look. Can they really be as bad as all that?" Yes, yes they can. Trying to book a viewing, was told I was being put through to "the guy with the diary" only to be answered by someone at their "sister company mortgage brokers". Cunts.

Words cannot describe how much of a shower of shite that lot are. It was mentioned up thread but I ended up taking Streatham branch to court last year. They paid up before it got to a hearing.

Just as a side note, when they let a property then transfer all of the utility bills to a company they have a kick back deal with even though they are the most expensive company for gas and electricity in the country. Its actually part of the tenancy agreement that they can do that and that you aren't allowed to switch. Cunts.

Anyone know anything about the process of converting a loft? Ours is part done (has a window) and we want to finish it off... Spoke to a quantity surveyor friend who said we'd need an architect to draw up plans - surely it's not that complicated?

Just as a side note, when they let a property then transfer all of the utility bills to a company they have a kick back deal with even though they are the most expensive company for gas and electricity in the country. Its actually part of the tenancy agreement that they can do that and that you aren't allowed to switch. Cunts.

I thought this had been successfully challenged?

I thought this had been successfully challenged?

Probably. Quite honestly don't care anymore. If I ever have to deal with that bunch of lying bastards again I'll be very annoyed.

If an estate agent are dealing with two offers they will block the one that has a mortgage arranged externally. Happened to me. They get more money if the purchaser arranges the mortgage through the agent.

Nasty beards, jangling keys, morals of a weasel.

Anyone know anything about the process of converting a loft? Ours is part done (has a window) and we want to finish it off... Spoke to a quantity surveyor friend who said we'd need an architect to draw up plans - surely it's not that complicated?

at least 3 houses on my road are doing loft conversions and two of them are using a company 'another level' lofts - I have no idea if they're any good but it cant hurt to ask them if you can get over the dane bowers connection

Anyone know anything about the process of converting a loft? Ours is part done (has a window) and we want to finish it off... Spoke to a quantity surveyor friend who said we'd need an architect to draw up plans - surely it's not that complicated?

It can be. Lofts are not always designed to take the loads associated with a habitable room. There are also building control things like headheight and planning permission to deal with.

You need a mains-powered smoke alarm and fire doors to pass building regs.

I think if there isn't permanent access i.e., stairs, it's assumed to be for occasional use and different regulations apply. So you can easily make it into a pretty usable space quite easily if you don't require easy access. Obviously double check the building regs.

Anyone know anything about the process of converting a loft? Ours is part done (has a window) and we want to finish it off... Spoke to a quantity surveyor friend who said we'd need an architect to draw up plans - surely it's not that complicated?

Our house already had the loft converted when we moved in, but it wasn't really usable as a bedroom, so we had it re-done a couple of autumns ago. Building regulations had changed since the previous conversion, so we had to get it completely re-done, including having architect drawings done to satisfy the demands of building regulations. Areas like weight loads, insulation and fire safety all have to be met.

Waiting for a call back so I can put in an offer

Offer submitted

It can be. Lofts are not always designed to take the loads associated with a habitable room. There are also building control things like headheight and planning permission to deal with.

Yeah I understand the joists would probably need to be replaced (victorian terrace cottage) but I was hoping that would be about it, plus some stairs/floorboards.

You need a mains-powered smoke alarm and fire doors to pass building regs.

Not even sure where a door would fit! I was envisioning it as some sort of open-plan 'mezzanine' level...

I think if there isn't permanent access i.e., stairs, it's assumed to be for occasional use and different regulations apply. So you can easily make it into a pretty usable space quite easily if you don't require easy access. Obviously double check the building regs.

Presumably it's just a 'loft' for building regs purposes if there aren't any stairs? I'll have to do more reading.

Basically there are two choices. Do it properly and add significant value to the property. Do it on the cheap, have space that is significantly less useable, and add practically no value.

That's what I've heard.

Our house already had the loft converted when we moved in, but it wasn't really usable as a bedroom, so we had it re-done a couple of autumns ago. Building regulations had changed since the previous conversion, so we had to get it completely re-done, including having architect drawings done to satisfy the demands of building regulations. Areas like weight loads, insulation and fire safety all have to be met.

Sounds expensive, will have to see what my friend says when he's had a look.

On that note, are there any recommended architects on here?

Offer submitted

Initial offered knocked back (though not very strongly), offer increased by £2k

did you offer under asking price? interested to hear roughly whereabouts the place is and good luck!

Will tell more once it is more secure either way.

Over asking price but not by much (offers in excess of and its well priced) as it was made clear that anything below would not be entertained. The seller has somewhere lined up to go to with the same agent and their last sale fell through so they need a certain amount or there is no point in selling.

Offer accepted!

Offer accepted!

Congrats - where abouts dfid you get? Now the fun starts with surveys and gazumping*
Hope that does not happen!