Nice people thread part 6 - thrice by twice as nice :)

PasturesNew

What makes repairs uneconomical is the hourly rate you're charged for the work. When my PC needed fixing I found a man that did it for £7/hour .... two blokes with a desk in the corner of a shop wanted £35/hour.

When I wanted my car fixing, the garage wanted £100/hour. I found a fully qualified man working out of his single garage attached to his house, but even he wanted £35/hour.

MiddyMum

michaels wrote: »

On the tv now they are saying that more than half of families with kids are now not married. I am not making any moral call on this but more questioning how much it diverges from my personal experience locally. Not sure if it is because our kids attend an RC school but I think only 1 or 2 in each form have unmarried parents. Is it only because it is an RC school or is it actually that this is very much an income/class thing?

I think it is an income and socio-cultural thing. I don't think people feel the same moral obligation like they used to in this country. There has definately been a marked shift away from those attitudes which in turn has been further perpetuated by the glorification of promiscuous celebs. Conversely, I have a lot of interest in the Magdalene laundries and how they used to treat the unmarried mothers in Ireland, and it really is something else, the last one closed in 2001 so not that long ago at all.

Generali

I've been away for the weekend with the tribe, staying with a mate who has a holiday home next to the Hawkesbury River and am thinking about getting a place down there myself.

I was having a look on Domain (one of the 2 main Aussie houses for sale websites) and found this:

http://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/Vacant-land/NSW/Spencer/?adid=2009415329

So what do the nice peeps think?

michaels

Generali wrote: »

I've been away for the weekend with the tribe, staying with a mate who has a holiday home next to the Hawkesbury River and am thinking about getting a place down there myself.

I was having a look on Domain (one of the 2 main Aussie houses for sale websites) and found this:

http://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Sale/Vacant-land/NSW/Spencer/?adid=2009415329

So what do the nice peeps think?

I'd be worried about living in a house built on a steep hillside supported by props...

Seriously, how much more would a property with actual water frontage cost and would it be a better investment? How much is 1AUD and what would the build costs be?

PasturesNew

Another Johnny Two Homes..... getting rather a lot of two homers on the NP thread.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Generali wrote: »

So what do the nice peeps think?

I think holiday homes are tricky.... I'd never use one enough to get the benefit. Cheaper by far to stay in rented or hotels, and a lot more flexible.

Although I'd admit to being tempted if I could get absolute waterfront with my own dock, as it'd save a lot in boat mooring/storage fees.

michaels

MiddyMum wrote: »

I think it is an income and socio-cultural thing. I don't think people feel the same moral obligation like they used to in this country. There has definitely been a marked shift away from those attitudes which in turn has been further perpetuated by the glorification of promiscuous celebs. Conversely, I have a lot of interest in the Magdalene laundries and how they used to treat the unmarried mothers in Ireland, and it really is something else, the last one closed in 2001 so not that long ago at all.

I don't have anything against different parental arrangements however I do think that when you have kids they become your prime responsibility, over and above your own personal interests and somehow not being married to me suggest you are keeping your options open to decide that you would prefer a different life even if that is not what is in your kids best interest. Of course in many cases a separation may be better for the kids than the parents remaining together so I am not sure exactly what I am saying. It is something about people making the decision to have kids but not making the decision that the children's welfare is then there prime consideration.

Generali

michaels wrote: »

I'd be worried about living in a house built on a steep hillside supported by props...

Seriously, how much more would a property with actual water frontage cost and would it be a better investment? How much is 1AUD and what would the build costs be?

The other side of the road is protected mangrove so is unbuildable and behind the house is the National Park so will never be built on.

It would cost something under $200k to build, depending on how swish I wanted the fittings to be and how much of it I would be will/able to do myself.

kabayiri

Generali wrote: »

The other side of the road is protected mangrove so is unbuildable and behind the house is the National Park so will never be built on.

It would cost something under $200k to build, depending on how swish I wanted the fittings to be and how much of it I would be will/able to do myself.

It looks a really nice spot, but be wary of escalating costs.

My family decided to replace a lakeside lodge in Canada, the old one was basically falling down. The kit house was excellent value ... in its basic form.

Then we find :-
- the old house/shack was basically built on sand -> much money spent on proper foundations and services
- a kit house always needs 'augmenting' to your own standards
- fitting out / heating systems / kitchens and bathrooms
- there is no such thing as "reasonable priced labour" in some parts of Canada ! :rotfl:

A $100K to $150K project ends up the wrong side of $600K, and I doubt things have finished. The boat jetty is an insult to the other jettys. (My contribution was a few badly nailed planks to make access easier lol)

We'd probably still do it again I reckon, though, all being said.

purch

Generali wrote: »

So what do the nice peeps think?

It must be bad enough having to live in Aussie.......taking your vacation there as well :eek: