My biggest challenge-selling my flat the DFW way!

lynzpower

Hello all.

Laying awake last night, I have decided that the time has come for the biggest challenge I have faced MSE style.

A quick update for people who are not familiar with my situation.

Im off sick on long term sick leave after having a raft of hormonal problems and the potential startings of the big C ( investigations pending) I want to get back to work asap now as Im feeling somewhat better in myself.

When I first came to MSE, the intention was to sell my flat. The talking about it posting about it researching it and so on. However, here I a still here, and the flat is not yet on the market. :rolleyes:

SO I am setting myself the biggest challenge so far, a combination of the challenges Ive already been doing, and some new ones as well

1. Selling my flat DFW style.
I have a shared ownership 2 bedroom flat with garden. Theres quite a lot of small decorative works to be done, along with "dressing" and "housedoctoring " to be done. I AM going to have to get into some debt to be able to sell the place ( upfront fees etc) and also to buy the bits & pieces needed for the flat. I have applied for new CC, 0% natch ( credit agreement recieved today) and this gives me a limit of £2000. 800 of this will pay off the sofas on finance. The remainder is budgeted for all costs to do with the selling of the flat.

CAN THIS BE DONE? £1200. I really hope so, as thats all I can ever budget for it!! Inspired by "pramface" the other night where the main woman got 700 from the Social Fund to do the flat up and she had change for nights out. So, with this in mind im going to give it a fair old crack.

Im an avid quidco user, I also dont have a car. So getting things sorted for the flat ( ie going to buy paint) can be a bit of a nightmare in terms of getting it back here . Might have to call in some favours as I really dont want to be wasting money on cabs to manage this.

2.Grocery Challenge.
ME & OH have been very successful up till recently by managing 100per month on cleaning & food & lunches. Fell off wagon over last week or so, so need to get back on board with this

3. Flylady Challenge
Getting all the tasks done in a small amount of time as per the OS board https://www.flylady.net http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=213886&highlight=flylady theres DIY to be done as well, which of ourse OH will be doing the majority of.

Sarah Beeny always mentions micro project management when doing up houses, and thats going to be my focus. So todays job is to write up a plan, what can be done when, and how.

I did debate whether it was best to put this in OS or Property, but its here, as a diary for any other DFWs, my spiritual home & all that

I will start this on payday, Friday.I want to be in a position where we can get the valuers round around the 20th September.

So I have a month, starting Friday to get everything done. And all for 1200.


WISH ME LUCK :j

snoozer

good luck Lynz, I'll be rooting for you. When I watch all those property programmes that seem to carpet a whole house for £500 I always wonder what I'm doing wrong so I hope to pick up some tips from you.

Sue

x-clusive

Try contacting any local builders / decorators they might have paint left from jobs going spare that my otherwise get binned.

Keep an eye open for any building projects / vans parked up in the local area.

The OH's dad is a builder and he has loads of old part used tins of paint stored, sorry not closer to you.

lynzpower

thank you, will keep my eyes peeled for anything that looks good in the local skips

summerday

Good luck Lynz, keep us posted. and don't forget Stardrops for cleaning pretty much everything!

loopyloulou_3

good luck hun, I sure you can do it

you have done so well with the food shopping challenge and have kept me going with it!

keep us posted on how it goes xx

wanna-be-mortgage-free_2

Good luck Lynz. I really wish you every success with this. Just to let you know that I did something similar with my last place, I repainted, put down carpet on the stairs, wood in two bedrooms and living room and lino in bathroom and kitchen for £600. I borrowed some soft furnishings from family and friends that I could return once the place sold, so perhaps you could do that too?

Anyway, good luck - you deserve it.

postingalwaysposting

awww lynz good luck hun, if anyone can do it you can, we are all behind you......

Imelda

Hi lynz,

I do love a challenge!

Maybe once you have your list we will be able to offer some specific help.

I'll be watching with interest as I have a half decorated flat (had lbm before I had finished, it looks like a building site atm!!) and could do with some tips.

Good luck Lynz!

Iriahm

Hi Lynz! well done on getting motivated to do this!

I had decided to sell my shared ownership flat too but then OH and I fell in love with a property that needs some TLC but will make us a good return over a couple of years.

Flat goes on market a week today and so far we have decorated 3 rooms in 4 days!

I found some old paint in my cupboard that i hadn't used so took it back to B&Q and exchanged it for magnolia and white. Cost to paint flat £7.99! also found some white gloss at car boot for £1. Bought a mirror and curtains at car boot for £3. The rest of stuff I need is being recycled from stuff I have or i'm going to make.

did consider changing the doors on the kitchen units but now its been painted and cleaned (!) it looks ok. OH keeps reminding me that its a shared ownership so its likely to be a first time buyer who is desperate - like I was - to buy.

Best advice i can give you is pack everything up! OH's brother is storing all our belongings while flat is for sale. The flat will look like a show home for a month. Unfortunately that means the cat will be spending a great deal of time in his carrier when people are viewing as the flat needs to appear to be pet-free....:-(

good luck and let us know how you go
Ixxx

tattooed_lady

Just wanted to wish you lots of luck for this challenge Lynz, there seems to be some good advice here for you already xx