Our attempt at being MF!!

lulabelle1

I can see that you're feeling better now that you've taken control of the situation. It must be a relief being able to financially plan everything knowing what's what.

I quite enjoyed putting together all of the costings for everything when we did ours, although much of it was guess work as I had no idea how much the electrician/plumber/Chippy/plasterer etc would cost. I think some builders will quote for absolutely everything to be included, but ours was all separate.

Thankfully we didn't need planning permission for ours as we only extended out something like 10 ft, so just needs building regs..... Think it cost nearly £700 for a man ith a clip board to check the "hole" before the foundation went in!

Will the downstairs extension be the playroom?

CathT

We have quotes for a much bigger extension from plans given to us which came in around £43k. I'm hoping this will be about 30k! our playroom is a garage conversion but we will change this space into a snug and then open existing kitchen diner into other half. Extension will create bigger hall, utility and cloakroom and 2 beds upstairs. We plan to change the box room into an ensuite. In our heads this works, just hope architect agrees!

I am already thinking about colour schemes and furniture! I do tend to get ahead of myself when planning.

Meal plan done for the week. I did spend about £15 earlier on fruit, yoghurts, frozen chips and yummy biscuits for work, we will need milk and butter but otherwise should survive until Friday.

DH is going to get all the presents together tomorrow before collecting the children so I can wrap when they are in bed. I just haven't worked out where to stash the wrapped presents!

Scrap man collecting washer dryer tomorrow so I can reclaim my utility room! Getting washing dry without a TD will be interesting, will just have to make sure it doesn't build up.

In other news, dd who is 7 and been swimming for 18 months got her 50 metre badge today and is going up a group. She is a determined and competitive child so is feeling very proud. She did let DS think one of the certificates was his as he didn't get one as not quite passed his group. We have been using a new cream for her excema too and after 10 days it has almost gone! :j

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

You are really wise to stay put if you like the area. A huge proportion of the cost of your extension would have gone in legal fees and stamp duty if you had moved and you would,have seen no benefit for it. Excellent decision. X

HelenDaveKids

Glad feeling in control, have done 2 extensions and its hard work but worth it. My only "check" is will the money you spend equate to house value increased? Our first one didn't, second one Im hoping so..

newgirly

Wow 43k seems very resonable for a ground floor and 1st floor extension, I would love to get rid of our conservatory (at back of living room ) and extend across the whole of the back of the house making a big kitchen diner, but was expecting it to be at least as much as that for one floor.

CathT

Secret_Saving_Squirrel wrote: »

You are really wise to stay put if you like the area. A huge proportion of the cost of your extension would have gone in legal fees and stamp duty if you had moved and you would,have seen no benefit for it. Excellent decision. X

Thanks SSS, I know you have commented previously that it's a shame to move after all the money we have already invested! We actually have quite a nice house, dd just sleeps in a 6x6 room!

HelenDaveKids wrote: »

Glad feeling in control, have done 2 extensions and its hard work but worth it. My only "check" is will the money you spend equate to house value increased? Our first one didn't, second one Im hoping so..

Thanks Helen, not 100% on this which is what put me off initially as I thought we would be spending money but not moving up the property ladder. It would definitely make it more saleable should we wish to move in the distant future. There is a house like ours with a 2 storey rear extension on at 50k more than us but I think it's overpriced. I think we would break even as in my opinion we would have to reduce this quite a bit just to sell. However if we moved we could end up increasing our mortgage by at least 60k as I get seduced by new builds!

Struggled getting up this morning, woke at 2:30am and it took me another hour to go back to sleep.

Will ring architects this morning, hopefully they re not too busy in the run up to Christmas!

Currents account checked, we shall survive in the black for 4 more days. May even be some left over for a token cc repayment.

SueP19

Worse than torture selling a house, last one was 15 years ago but it permanently scarred me :mad:

Original house was a great location so that meant 2-3 potential buyers a week, combine that with lower price as no central heating..............5-6 buyers a week, took us 18 months and 4 sales to do the job. We were sent people who were rubber necking, buyers who couldn't afford a mortgage, MIL of buyers who said their bit etc etc Was told it was my fault because of how showed them round, was bullied into to accepting offers, was told it was not such a great location afterall....................all lies

Key is to find a great estate agent, when we sold MIL bungalow we chose a great EA with an online account, they got feedback constantly and posted online for us, within 3 days we had an offer which they gave us great advice on. Eventually sold after 10 days after 3 offers

Next door neighbour just built his own 2 story extension!!! Saved half the cost of £60k

smallholdingsister

When you say EA with an online account, Sue, do you mean one like Tepilo or purple brick?

SueP19

smallholdingsister wrote: »

When you say EA with an online account, Sue, do you mean one like Tepilo or purple brick?

No our EA had a seller's log in facility, that you could go to and it listed viewing times/names and feedback.

Feedback was crucial, when we sold our house I kept asking and asking and they just got shirty after a bit, then started with the it's your fault lower the price attitude.

With the EA that sold MIL bung they seemed to be really keen and the big teller was that they didn't lie to me when they valued it either, so know what your house is worth and if they try to big it up kick them out because they won't deliver

lulabelle1

Agree with comments about EA's...... It's worth extending just to avoid all of the EA nonsense....