Property viewing update.

tomstickland

I've found a similar flat in Gloucester for £82K which I want to look at to compare.

The current favourite is about 9 miles closer to work and will save me about £45 per month on transport costs. Flat in Gloucester is about 9 miles further away, so will add an additional £45 per month to transport. So there's £90 per month difference between moving closer or further away, not to mention extra time. The current favourite flat is about 20 mins from work and that's quite noticable compared with the current 30-35 minute commute.

Loads of things to do.

tomstickland

When I was looking at the 2 bed flat I noticed a car in the car park that looked like a work colleagues. I saw him today and asked him whether he lived there and it turns out that he owns the flat above. He also said that it was a good place to live. With regards to the one bed flat down the road, he said that the reason it was a bit beat up was because a previous tenant and the flat had been beaten up in some wife bashing recrimination. That might explain the door lock situation. He also commented on the problems with the management company.

So I could have a work colleage in close proximity. He also mentioned the possibility of a 3 way car share, so some more cost cutting to be had there.

Meanwhile I've lined up viewings with every 80-95K 1 bed flat I can find in the area.

mummytofour

Wow you really are doing your home work! Also if somebody you already knows lives there thats a great thing, a friendly face...

With regard to management ppl, most of them are total rip off merchants anyway, check out if there is any works to be done soon and what the cost to you would be.

tomstickland

I've just spent an hour or so on rightmove. I've ID'd all of the <£100K flats, plus checked a fair few out on the property prices websites. I'm going to be looking at most of them in the next week.

I've also had another look at what I could rent; there are some very interesting properties out there, for example a barn conversion about 2 miles from work, a golf club annexe on the side of the Cotswolds again about 3 miles from work, flats in Cheltenham etc, it goes on.

However, I keep coming back to flat A. It's located on the edge of countryside, but also within walking distance of shops and a railway station. A good combination of factors.

I will keep thinking, surfing and viewing. All good MSE fun.

tomstickland

You might think I'm talking to myself, but this thread has had another 60 views since I last posted!

As I drifted off to sleep last night then a whole load of possible negative thoughts floated to the surface. I think my biggest fear is to do with the concept of borrowing £75K and then starting to not like the property and feeling trapped. Another thought is that I should go and look at the rental properties I've found very much closer to work. I could live in one of these on the cheap, meanwhile saving more and more deposit. So I'm going to have a look at the rental properties to see what I would get for my money.

As to the estate agents on the one bed flat, I think I'm going to make no contact for a while and see what happens. I'm off on holiday for a week at the end of next week anyway. I might call them sometime next week just to say that I'm considering making an offer.

tomstickland

417 thread views, 6 flat views.

I've just been out to view a 1 bed flat in another local town. The flat is in very good condition throughout and has it's own small garden. Very close to work (6ish miles of lanes). On the downside it's very small, plus the garden pretty much backs onto a large pub car park. I worry that the town is a bit too middle-of-knowhere too.

The EA said that the owner had it on at £92K, but would accept £90K, but no lower. My thoughts are that the original 1 bed flat that needs some work on it is still a better proposition. However, seeing that £90K can buy me a smart one bed flat, I think that £90K for one that needs some work is too much. £85K maybe.

I'm about to phone some more EAs so I can go and view a cheap 1 bed rental flat that's in the nearest town to work. Just to see what the other options are really.

pavlovs_dog

we're reading even if we're not posting tom!

its nice to see someone who thinks thinks through to death like i do...i feel less psychotic now :rotfl: (you're not a virgo by any chance are you )?

its like a mini soap opera this though...do you blog? if you dont, you should

hope you find what you're looking for...and remember, as important as location, size, money is, its got feel to like home. if you cant "live" there, walk out the door and keep on searching.

good luck!

Thefunkygibbons

At some point you need to finalise your objectives

That will then help you score the various places you are looking at

Bestthingsinlifearefree

HI Tom,

Just a quick one (apologies if this has been covered already / I have not read all the thread in detail).

1) If you buy a flat check how long the lease is. I would not touch anything with less than 100 years left on the lease.

2) For apartment I would only buy on the top floor (but never in anything higher than 4 storeys ie ground floor,1st,2nd,3rd).

a) for security ie ground floor flats more vulnerable / windows.
b) for quiet ie no one is above you.

These are just my views (others might not like top floor because of stairs etc)

If a flat did not cover these 2 points I would not touch it.

Good luck with your search !!!!!

booey_2

Hi Tom, I've been reading your updates.

I'm a FTB and I've found this thread invaluable.

Just thought I should say thanks.