First-time house renovation

latecomer

ginvzt wrote: »

No designer stuff for us. Ikea is our best bet for kitchen! And sink - we loved one we had in our previous house.

Well it is the MSE site

ginvzt wrote: »

I looked on National Grid website, and it says that if the property is within 23m from the mains, hen standard installation charges apply and that would be £675+VAT.

Thats very reasonable but its maybe a capped price that they have to offer. Either way thats :j

ginvzt wrote: »

Thanks all for the encouraging words. We could keep renting this place for an extra month or two whilst having heating/windows sorted, maybe plastering. I know we probably imagine now that all these things can be done in a month, but I am sure it will take a long time!

Living in a building site can be hard work and I wouldn't do it with kids. We've been doing it for 10 months now (as a building site) and it can really get to you so its worth considering it. If you do I'd go for the heating, plsatering, electrics and windows - thats most of the messy stuff out the way.

latecomer

very quick update from us - things are moving forwards. Not concerned about the schedule and we've agreed to pay split this weeks amount between this week and next. We asked what he expected after he'd confirmed that it would be another wek and he said it was up to us as the schedule had slipped. We offer 50/50 split and he was perfectly happy with that.

Plumber has been there today and despite being told that the old pipework was being replaced and me saying I didn't want any joins under the floor in the kitchen floor (as there wont be any access) I found that he'd just used the existing pipes to bring up tails for the radiator which will be on the opposite corner to the where the pipes from the boiler come through into the kitchen. I'll try and catch the builder in the morning but if he's not replacing the pipework then he'd better rethink his price dramatically.

Plaster has just about completed the front room upstairs - just a couple of patches to finish. He's also done about half the back room too and they are looking good.

Structural engineer seems to be ignoring us, builder said he called and left a message last week. I did the same today and was told he would be in the office all afternoon so he'd call me back but didn't. Think I'll call again tomorrow and explain to the receptionist that I'm not best pleased.

On slightly different note, I had a consulation with a musculoskeletal specialist this afternoon and he said MRI scan is the first step to figuring out whats causing my back problems - which is what I wanted. Hopefully should hear about that tomorrow and it should be done in the next week - finally getting some use out of the private health insurance I'd had for about 10 years. Thankfully this time the pain has eased a lot quicker than normal - got to empty the temp kitchen at the weekend as the slap out is going to be done at the start of the week.

chris.s_5

Changing the subject slightly - has anyone had experience of claiming a reduction (to 5%) of VAT on house renovations on a property which has lain empty for more than 2 years? we have been working on one for the last year incurring around £20k in VAT and I would like to know how to recoup what we have overpaid. Also how far we can go with such a claim (conservatory? retaining walls? etc) Woudl be grateful for any suggestions

andrew-b

Hi Chris,
I've seen this question come up a few times..i know little about this myself but have a look here:
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_Forms&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_PROD1_029775
From a brief read of the start of this document ...I don't think your entitled to anything because of the 10 year rule which says it has to have been unoccupied 10 years previously to work commencing.
If your not sure then your best bet would be to phone the VAT helpline on 0845 010 9000

andrew-b

Well things have worked out well on the moneysaving front today. Phoned local wickes this morning who said they were getting more timber preservative in stock tonight but only 2 cans of the colour i want ...i needed 5! So i've bought online instead for free next day delivery and with a 15% off code for spending over £50 that i'd forgotten i had (think it came with the last wickes brochure so it's worth getting on the mailing list). So it's actually cost me less on the preserver ..though i've offset that by buying a spare battery for my new drill so i've ended up a fiver down! Though i was going to buy the battery at some point anyway.

suisidevw

What does everyone on this forum do? Are you retired? Work in which industry etc? I can picture a fair few of you just from text that you've written but no doubt I'm well off!

I work fulltime for Welsh Assembly Government in Facilities Management for all of our buildings

littlerose12345

suisidevw wrote: »

What does everyone on this forum do? Are you retired? Work in which industry etc? I can picture a fair few of you just from text that you've written but no doubt I'm well off!

I work fulltime for Welsh Assembly Government in Facilities Management for all of our buildings

Good question, I had been curious about that too....

I work full time for a videogames company within Research & Licensing. Weekends are spent busy finishing the house and sorting the wedding = no spare time and a very exhausted LittleRose

TomsMom

I think a lot of you will know that I'm retired. We had a restaurant up until two years ago then had to sell when TD became ill, he still has a couple of years to go to reach state retirement age but of course can't work at the moment but doubt if anyone would want him at his age now anyway! But I have to say I do love being retired, finding enough to do but don't have to stick rigidly to a routine - bliss!

ginvzt

TomsMom wrote: »

But I have to say I do love being retired, finding enough to do but don't have to stick rigidly to a routine - bliss!

You are making me jealous! I still have plenty of years to go before I can retire, and probably never will if they keep extending the retirement age!

(Sorry, I am not renovating anything as yet, we are just considering this option, so I keep visiting here...)

TomsMom

ginvzt wrote: »

You are making me jealous! I still have plenty of years to go before I can retire, and probably never will if they keep extending the retirement age!
(Sorry, I am not renovating anything as yet, we are just considering this option, so I keep visiting here...)

Funny you should say that, TD and I were discussing this the other day. We have daughter and son aged 40 and 37 and were thinking that by the time they get to our age official retirement age will probably be 70 (or something stupid). By that age, if not already worked to death, some people would not have good enough health to do anything enjoyable in their retirement years, which is a bloomin' shame as when you've worked for 50 odd years you've earned the right to a few years travel/relaxation/whatever takes your fancy before you hang up your boots for good!