First-time house renovation

TomsMom

jamtart6 wrote: »

Most people are surprised at what I do for a living, mainly because I still frequently get asked for ID when I try and buy drinks (or even a lottery ticket on the odd occasion!!). If you want to know what it is I'll happily tell you via PM but I'd be too easily identifiable if I just posted it here!

OMG - you're someone famous!!!!!!!!! Do I really know someone famous? Can you introduce me to errrrrrrr ......... (thinking hard here) ......... oh, I'll get back to you

OK, I'll go and clear out my message box as I think it's just about full, then I'll PM you, I'm also [STRIKE]curious[/STRIKE] darn nosey but you all know that anyway!

So realistically who would ever renovate a house again?? We said we would but (a) wouldn't live in it (we didn't live in it this time) (b) would renovate to a basic level to sell or rent it, we don't want to move house (c) would try to do more things ourselves

Not at the age we are now. Our renovation was "forced" on us really. We wanted to live in the same area (if you knew where we lived it is very, very small) and it was genuinely the only house (there were flats above shops but we weren't interested). It had been on the market for two years and we were the second viewing, the first people said there was too much to do. Because we worked out a solution with our buyers to stay in our other property and rent it off them for a few months while this one was done up, it worked out very well for us. We could not have lived in it while the work was being done as it was basically taken back to a shell. We were lucky in that we had builders do all our work, it was all factored into the price. The major problem identified with the DIY loft conversion meant that we paid a lot less than our original offer which went into the pot and allowed much more work to be done.

If we were younger, like most of you, I would love to be a property renovator and either sell on or rent out (if we lived in an appropriate area). My whole working life, until we bought the restaurant, was working in Building Societies and I was 16 years as secretary to the surveyors so I typed up the reports, basic BS valuations and the FRICS House Buyers Reports. I was in heaven, right up my street. I would have loved it if I could have gone out with them when they went to the houses, or even if they just brought photos back.

:rotfl: at Stolt's reply. That's just wishful thinking :rotfl: . It has to be something that she looks too young to do, I'm wracking my brains here so I'm off to PM her. I wont let on but would love to see some other guesses - this could turn into something really funny. Sorry JT.

My guess - something to do with the media if you're easily identifiable. But not TV as you'd be paid enough to not have to do the renovations yourself. I'm probably as way off as Stolt.

P.S. Yes, JT, you are known as JT in my head. This is moving too fast, I can't keep up!

littlerose12345

TomsMom wrote: »

OMG - you're someone famous!!!!!!!!!

That was my first though too!!

stolt

TomsMom wrote: »

OMG - you're someone famous!!!!!!!!! Do I really know someone famous? Can you introduce me to errrrrrrr ......... (thinking hard here) ......... oh, I'll get back to you

OK, I'll go and clear out my message box as I think it's just about full, then I'll PM you, I'm also [STRIKE]curious[/STRIKE] darn nosey but you all know that anyway!



Not at the age we are now. Our renovation was "forced" on us really. We wanted to live in the same area (if you knew where we lived it is very, very small) and it was genuinely the only house (there were flats above shops but we weren't interested). It had been on the market for two years and we were the second viewing, the first people said there was too much to do. Because we worked out a solution with our buyers to stay in our other property and rent it off them for a few months while this one was done up, it worked out very well for us. We could not have lived in it while the work was being done as it was basically taken back to a shell. We were lucky in that we had builders do all our work, it was all factored into the price. The major problem identified with the DIY loft conversion meant that we paid a lot less than our original offer which went into the pot and allowed much more work to be done.

If we were younger, like most of you, I would love to be a property renovator and either sell on or rent out (if we lived in an appropriate area). My whole working life, until we bought the restaurant, was working in Building Societies and I was 16 years as secretary to the surveyors so I typed up the reports, basic BS valuations and the FRICS House Buyers Reports. I was in heaven, right up my street. I would have loved it if I could have gone out with them when they went to the houses, or even if they just brought photos back.

:rotfl: at Stolt's reply. That's just wishful thinking :rotfl: . It has to be something that she looks too young to do, I'm wracking my brains here so I'm off to PM her. I wont let on but would love to see some other guesses - this could turn into something really funny. Sorry JT.

My guess - something to do with the media if you're easily identifiable. But not TV as you'd be paid enough to not have to do the renovations yourself. I'm probably as way off as Stolt.

P.S. Yes, JT, you are known as JT in my head. This is moving too fast, I can't keep up!

I've already pm'd her, its not a 'her', its really gordon brown!!! honestly, apparently he realised he was going to have some time on his hands so though about renovating for a change..... changed his user name to jamtart so we wouldnt find out..... i've done all the leg work. Either that or i'll stick to a dancer!!!!! in my head:rotfl:

ginvzt

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

Welcome to the Renovation thread! Meant to say that before, but as I expect you've seen from my recent posts we've had other stuff on our minds just at the present!

If the roof has been fixed there may be some sort of guarantee on the work. Ask to see the receipts. Our vendor left the guarantee for the flat roof on the extension of the house we bought last December. We intended to get rid of the flat roof anyway, so hadn't even asked about it.

Also check that Planning Permission was given for the extension, and maybe see if the foundations are sufficient and stuff like that?

Yes, I have seen that you have been through a lot. I am really sorry and hope all will work out well.

Good idea for the planning permission - if the extension was put say 50 years ago, would they have needed planning permission?

I haven't thought to ask about receipts for the roof repairs or the guarantee -well, never had to deal with anything like that.

Thank you very much for these!!! All very useful info if we finally decide that we want to buy the hosue (well, I just want the garden....)

littlerose12345

stolt wrote: »

I've already pm'd her, its not a 'her', its really gordon brown!!! honestly, apparently he realised he was going to have some time on his hands so though about renovating for a change..... changed his user name to jamtart so we wouldnt find out..... i've done all the leg work. Either that or i'll stick to a dancer!!!!! in my head:rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl:

TomsMom

ginvzt wrote: »

sorry to pick your brains again... The house is still in the running, and we are considering visiting EA with a list of questions tomorrow. Although OH is suddenly liking the current house more and more (the one we are renting!!!).

So, any suggestions of what we should/could ask?

I was thinking of this:

• When the electricals (wiring) was checked last?
• Any damp history in the house? Has it ever been treated for damp?
• When was the roof fixed? (there was a leak and we were assured the roof has been fixed since)
• Any subsidence issues? (The sloping floor in the living room)
• When was the extension built? (The kitchen is in the extension bit)

Any thing else? I know the answers might not be true, but I just want to let the EA know that we are seriously considering the house and to clear some things in our minds, and if there is another offer on the house, we would like to be informed. (Well, at the moment...)

We found another house - about 10 years old on nearby estate, 4-bed, no work needed (unless you want to do something, but nothing that is absolutely necessary), for £10k less. Ok, garden is not 1/4 acre, but then the house is not on the main road either... So yes, we need to think hard if this old house is worth the price, work,effort and compromise required.

I'm only going by our experience selling our business two years ago. One interested purchaser, who lived a couple of hours' drive away but knew our place as they had a holiday flat next door and were already in the same line of business but wanted one here, rang our EA and asked if they would let them know if/when an offer was made on our property. Our EA said "No, if you want to be kept in the loop you'll have to come and make a viewing and put an offer in yourself before we pass on any information like that". Not the same scenario as yours I know, but just be mindful that they might not want to pass on certain information at this stage, or even know the answers. The agent involved with the house we bought was truly hopeless, knew nothing, and the vendors themselves were so full of sh1te we couldn't believe a word they said. We had no paperwork for anything and they lied on the form you have to fill in to say what you're leaving/what's been done to the property, etc. We were told they had a contract with BG to service the boiler annually. Boiler packed in the day after we purchased. Vendors confirmed it had been serviced recently but there was no paperwork. We rang BG who wouldn't confirm whether they even had a contract with them let alone tell us when it was serviced.

ginvzt wrote: »

Yes, I have seen that you have been through a lot. I am really sorry and hope all will work out well.

Good idea for the planning permission - if the extension was put say 50 years ago, would they have needed planning permission?

I haven't thought to ask about receipts for the roof repairs or the guarantee -well, never had to deal with anything like that.

Thank you very much for these!!! All very useful info if we finally decide that we want to buy the hosue (well, I just want the garden....)

If you're going ahead then do check up on any paperwork/guarantees etc. Your solicitor should be making sure you get them.

Don't know if you watch any of the consumer or house progs on the TV. One recently highlighted a problem with an estate of fairly new builds still under NHBC guarantee. Several houses on one side of the road were suffering badly from damp, something to do with the builders not insulating property. The occupiers got nowhere on their own, the TV company managed to get it sorted for them. Quite a few problems with newer builds seem to come to light. Despite progress I'm not sure that houses built now will still be standing in 100 years time like some of the old ones now.

Just my opinion but if you really want a big garden then really there's not much chance of getting one with a new build. If it's important then if it was me I'd go for an older house, full structural survey, negotiate a price you're happy with and be prepared to correct any faults and do the house up to your taste. You'll be happy with the garden and hopefully with Mrs G's input she'll be happy with the house.

ginvzt

TomsMom wrote: »

Just my opinion but if you really want a big garden then really there's not much chance of getting one with a new build. If it's important then if it was me I'd go for an older house, full structural survey, negotiate a price you're happy with and be prepared to correct any faults and do the house up to your taste. You'll be happy with the garden and hopefully with Mrs G's input she'll be happy with the house.

I'd love big garden, and we would be getting full survey. I know we can't trust the answers we would get. But there is always a hope.

Btw - I am Mrs G, it is Mr G that is a bit scared of all the work and has trouble parting with money. (Good thing I am good at spending it...)

TomsMom

ginvzt wrote: »

I'd love big garden, and we would be getting full survey. I know we can't trust the answers we would get. But there is always a hope.

Btw - I am Mrs G, it is Mr G that is a bit scared of all the work and has trouble parting with money. (Good thing I am good at spending it...)

Ah yes, if I'd got a brain that worked properly then I'd have remembered that from one of your earlier posts .

Not sure I have any advice about the OH and spending money bit. Mine was the same, mothballs in wallet type of thing. It took a very serious healthscare which he seems to have hopefully come through that has made him say "It's only money" - I can't quite believe it, he's not scared of spending it now! I think he realised there's no pockets in shrouds.

ginvzt

TomsMom wrote: »

Ah yes, if I'd got a brain that worked properly then I'd have remembered that from one of your earlier posts .

Not sure I have any advice about the OH and spending money bit. Mine was the same, mothballs in wallet type of thing. It took a very serious healthscare which he seems to have hopefully come through that has made him say "It's only money" - I can't quite believe it, he's not scared of spending it now! I think he realised there's no pockets in shrouds.

No worries. The day he changed his car (from old Polo that his parents let have to 3-year old Jazz), he looked like some has just died or he came from funeral! And that is how he looks all the time we have to make bigger purchase.

andrew-b

Reckons JT is on this list:

http://www.imdb.com/search/name?birth_date=1984-06,1985-01&birth_place=england&gender=female&height=305,2134&sort=birth_date,asc


..im' not saying which one though!!!