Daydream thread continues.....

Itismehonest

Davesnave wrote: »

If we're restricted to half as much as we intend to spend, it won't really get the essentials of the planned job done. Here, we're faced with things that aren't complicated, but they must be tackled or there is not a lot of point doing anything substantial at all.

So, by sorting this in two stages, with the nature of stage two dependent on the cost of stage one, we are sort of doing what you suggest. At worst, we could drop most of stage two altogether, but obviously we'd prefer not to.

To be straight, if I hadn't come to like this place and see more of its advantages, I'd be ready to take the money and run in a year or so. For me, it started as a 5 year project to fill the uncomfortable gap between taking my work pension and becoming an OAP. Trouble is, now I'm rather close to the latter, I don't like the idea very much! :rotfl:

Yes, by doing it in two stages you are, as you say, doing much the same as allowing for the extra costs. If stage 1 runs over & stage 2 becomes undoable you said you'd be happy to live with just stage 1.

I was talking of projects done as one & with a price to finish. That's fine as long as there is much more money available than the quoted/estimated figure. If not, the likelihood is that someone would find themselves sitting around in a half finished project with no funds to finish it & most likely have to put it up for resale, unfinished, in the long run.

Davesnave

Don't write the year off yet CTC!

When it all stops and the sun comes out it's lovely. Tonight was especially bright & clear.

Here is our new septic tank garden in this evening's sunshine.



Lots of filling-out and filling-in still needed though. The huge pile of stones, about the size of four or five large sheep, is what came out of here!

rhiwfield

lostinrates wrote: »

Brrrr. The dogs and I are still huddled up shivering, but at last the sun has peeped out. Think its due to rain again tomorrow though.

Sun came out at the auction and I even took off my fleece and cap when packing and loading :rotfl::rotfl:

But CTC is right in that the impacts hit tourism and spending and heating bills, we lit the fire yet again tonight and running CH in short bursts as needed. Chooks though are supplying all our egg needs atm including enough for pancakes and cakes

Spent a record amount today, wisely? not sure :cool:.

Building and construction? I think Rozee, Dave and Lir have this covered

DW up north again tomorrow to try to sort affairs with MIL, long life doesnt equal good life . In my case I hope that when the end comes it is quick, rather than prolonged, for my family's sake.

alfie_1

my posties wife has just started to hatch various poultry. cochin,brahma's, silver legbars ? and others so im going to go have a look.

LIR.... our american something or other [cant remember,brain is frazzled now ! ] chook is sitting on eggs at the mo. did you ask for some or am i really fuddled....

CTC....... good luck at your show.

to anyone else who thinks im a grumpy moo......sorry

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Aflie ...grumpy moo ?????????? have I missed something???????

I have been freezing my boobies off tonight, just cant get warm... really hope I am not coming down with something

With the work needing doing on our place, we are just doing it in stage that our budget at the time will allow...its going to be a hard long slog....so Considering I waited 18 plus years for my dream to come true, another few years will not be long in the scheme of things:D

Alexelisey

Oh goodness, please all cross your fingers for me tomorrow evening!!!:lipsrseal

Davesnave

Alexelisey wrote: »

Oh goodness, please all cross your fingers for me tomorrow evening!!!:lipsrseal

Viewing? Two viewings??

Well, as yesterday eventually turned out not too bad, we finished-off what will become our bog-proof chicken area, so if it looks showery in the forecasts, at least that will get the grass seed going.

With the demise of Miss Chatty, we may also consider getting a few more hens. I rather fancy this place, which isn't too far away:
http://www.fentonpoultry.co.uk/chickens.htm#A

They sound like they are on the right wavelength.

And on the subject of farming income, I read somewhere that it was down 14% last year, which wouldn't leave much in the way of profit, I'd imagine. The big boys here can absorb that, but small farmers, like Pete, will be feeling it. The only thing in his favour is diversification, which he has in shed-loads, fortunately.

rozeepozee

Hi guys. I'm still here and reading the posts with interest. I have n't had the opportunity to type as I'm trying to locate some financial info for my accountant (whilst doing my annual accounts to kill two birds with one stone) and after three moves of home in 18 months, finding the relevant paperwork is proving problematic....

I haven't forgotten you either Dave. I'll locate the financial breakdown (there are a few versions so I'm trying to find the most useful one). Would you like the plans as well? I have them somewhere on pdf too.

Yes, building.... What I'd say for my twopenneth is the notion that huge refurbs can be done as they are in the property programmes on a shoestring budget is laughable to me now because the materials are half the cost so how do you reduce that? Itsme's advice that you need to double the quote, I don't think that's too far off the mark now. Certainly, you'd need to double the quote from our inital estimates (not figures just plucked out of the air, but from a surveyor and an architect) if we were to complete the designs to finish. Nothing around here sells for much over £300K. And that's -ish what we bought our place for, before we start the work! What we are doing, however, is using any money we spend with the main contractor and inital phase "future proofing" the place with new DG windows, renewable technology, improving our energy efficiency rating from F to B, rewiring a plave that has 1960s wiring and umpteen add ons in the form of wild trunking all over the place But for these improvements, you can add £15K here and a £7K there.... etc.... The only way we can make these figures work is that by planning to be here for 20 years (I know there may be unforseens, but you can't allow for everything, you would never refurb) and we are doing it with our savings, so, if we do have to take a hit in future, it will be without the worry of a loan to value ratio increasing. And, as Dave likes to point out, we are relatively young I worry though that we haven't even started to feel the economic pinch in the country yet as the cuts are really only just starting to bite and now there is a second round of them. And, after the next election, there will probably be a third. And I wouldn't be surprised if there is a general downward trend in house prices at least in rural areas where it's too far from any major urbanisation to be commutable.

I didn't want to believe what you said about the figures, itsme, (and the "professionals" were happy to aid and abet me in my delusion) but you were right Building is forking expensive!

But, hey ho, it's a beautiful day. I can go outside the caravan and see the sea. I can stand in my own field naked if I want to and I'll only shock the bus full of pensioners if it happens to pass as it's going into town! The birds are trilling, the grass is dappled with the suns rays. Don't ya feel like a different person when the sun comes out? I wouldn't swap it for the world.

I think I may go for a run before I start looking for those financial records again.... :rotfl:

Davesnave

Plans? Yes please, rozee. Swap yours for ours! :rotfl:

Itismehonest

rozeepozee wrote: »

Hi guys. I'm still here and reading the posts with interest. I have n't had the opportunity to type as I'm trying to locate some financial info for my accountant (whilst doing my annual accounts to kill two birds with one stone) and after three moves of home in 18 months, finding the relevant paperwork is proving problematic....

I haven't forgotten you either Dave. I'll locate the financial breakdown (there are a few versions so I'm trying to find the most useful one). Would you like the plans as well? I have them somewhere on pdf too.

Yes, building.... What I'd say for my twopenneth is the notion that huge refurbs can be done as they are in the property programmes on a shoestring budget is laughable to me now because the materials are half the cost so how do you reduce that? Itsme's advice that you need to double the quote, I don't think that's too far off the mark now. Certainly, you'd need to double the quote from our inital estimates (not figures just plucked out of the air, but from a surveyor and an architect) if we were to complete the designs to finish. Nothing around here sells for much over £300K. And that's -ish what we bought our place for, before we start the work! What we are doing, however, is using any money we spend with the main contractor and inital phase "future proofing" the place with new DG windows, renewable technology, improving our energy efficiency rating from F to B, rewiring a plave that has 1960s wiring and umpteen add ons in the form of wild trunking all over the place But for these improvements, you can add £15K here and a £7K there.... etc.... The only way we can make these figures work is that by planning to be here for 20 years (I know there may be unforseens, but you can't allow for everything, you would never refurb) and we are doing it with our savings, so, if we do have to take a hit in future, it will be without the worry of a loan to value ratio increasing. And, as Dave likes to point out, we are relatively young I worry though that we haven't even started to feel the economic pinch in the country yet as the cuts are really only just starting to bite and now there is a second round of them. And, after the next election, there will probably be a third. And I wouldn't be surprised if there is a general downward trend in house prices at least in rural areas where it's too far from any major urbanisation to be commutable.

I didn't want to believe what you said about the figures, itsme, (and the "professionals" were happy to aid and abet me in my delusion) but you were right Building is forking expensive!

But, hey ho, it's a beautiful day. I can go outside the caravan and see the sea. I can stand in my own field naked if I want to and I'll only shock the bus full of pensioners if it happens to pass as it's going into town! The birds are trilling, the grass is dappled with the suns rays. Don't ya feel like a different person when the sun comes out? I wouldn't swap it for the world.

I think I may go for a run before I start looking for those financial records again.... :rotfl:

Thanks, rozee. :A
The advice wasn't aimed at anyone in particular. It was given in the knowledge that there are also many people who just lurk & might be considering (dreaming) about taking an old place & doing it up or a small place & extending.
My reasoning is based on 20+ years of having almost continuous (off-season) building work of one type or another. It was a 'be aware & be careful'. It was not a harbinger of doom thing.

Are we allowed to know what's happening, Alex? If not ....... fingers are crossed, anyway