Property Snakes and Ladders; 2009

GracieP

It's tough to find the house until you see them done up as they are both run of the mill houses. Is this the Leatherhead house?

If it is I have a shovel I can lend her for her burial in the garden.

PasturesNew

And it's back to the lovely Natasha - wearing a fetching white jacket while watching a digger dig out sticky mud.

She's taken on board what Beeny said - extra £3k in mortgage payments and a 6-8 week delay but Beeny thinks it's worth it.

Natasha will be sticking with her own plans.

Beeny pointed out to Natasha that she's impulsive and impatient. "Natasha doesn't seem to realise it, but the way she is is taking quite a risk with her mother's money".

GracieP

If Richard was a few years younger he'd be getting a smacked bottom.

PasturesNew

Back to Rick's gaff.

They still can't decide what they're doing. Can't decide how far into the roof to go, or how far into the garden to go. Even the fireplaces are causing disagreements.

Beeny: "this really can't go on. Forunately it doesn't". They suddenly decided to go with Beeny's ideas

New budget: £157k
Double schedule to 6 months - have to wait for planning

FL For Sale board outside - on market at £110k more than he bought it for and it's a mess/building site.

Beeny says to buy it, modernise it, put it fresh on the market with a big bang is always the best way to get the best money for it.

GracieP

Now he wants to make a profit for messing the place up in a falling market. Was this around the time of the Dispatches Bubble Bursting documentary.

PasturesNew

Back to Natasha's mother "I have every confidence in Natasha, she feels very responsible .... I am hoping she will give me some money back so I can buy a new car"

Two weeks in, trying to hit the 10 week schedule. She's forgotten to tell the builders she has changed her plans. She has a wall where she didn't want one.

Beeny is back to show Natasha that the wall disrupts the flow of the building. "In terms of a family space it's really rubbish" Beeny said.

PasturesNew

Rick's gaff....

Taking longer than they thought. One month in and they've achieved little. Awaiting plans/drawings still and the weeks keep adding up. Finally find a builder and work begins.

First job is converting shabby loftroom into a master suite, costing them more but worth it. For the rear side return they are cutting corners - £2k for the bi-fold doors alone so you can get the same effect with normal French doors. Beeny says it's a large structural job but it's worth it. Extra steelwork is another £500, extra labour £2k. Could be looking at £15-20k just to get rid of the wall and get the bifold doors in... they don't believe it's worth it, Beeny insists it is.

Beeny: "You need to make it really great, not OK"

Mother says they will follow it up and get in touch with a structural engineer. A month later, with PP granted, work starts on the side return. The plans are altered so it will be a proper glass wall.

Probably costing an extra £60k with all the extra work they are doing.

PasturesNew

GracieP wrote: »

It's tough to find the house until you see them done up as they are both run of the mill houses. Is this the Leatherhead house?

If it is I have a shovel I can lend her for her burial in the garden.

I've not been looking that closely. I always check houses by the kitchen/bathroom they end up fitting - and the colour of the front door.

One in that road sold at £330k, the correct figure:
http://www.houseprices.co.uk/e.php?f=pd&q=10+KT22+9LE&n=100

GracieP

PasturesNew wrote: »

I've not been looking that closely. I always check houses by the kitchen/bathroom they end up fitting - and the colour of the front door.

One in that road sold at £330k, the correct figure:
http://www.houseprices.co.uk/e.php?f=pd&q=10+KT22+9LE&n=100

I just noticed it has Beeny's suggested layout and a pretty long garden. But that sold house matches Natasha's.

PasturesNew

Dickinsons

Rick and dad are on site...

Starting to take its toll. It is finding the money every month for the mortgage that's hard. Mother isn't enjoying it, she wants it to be over.

Rick: "It's been less stressful for me and more stressful for mum; I'm on site every day ... there's loads of money coming into this, what's happening for it"