Flying solo

missrlr

HUMMMM - how very rude of the bank, and well done you for a near 2 hour chase up - I would be putting in a record of my time spent in dealing with the matter and asking for recompense with said "concerns" department.

Hope you can get something positive out of this and get the relevant bills paid as a consequence.

*Robin*

Hello Diary and Dear Friends, :hello:

Thanks for posting, Granny, DFW, HAW and Missrlr. It's always great to get feedback. :T

Where to start?

Last night Divo Four and I spent a couple of hours pouring over R!ghtmove. First looking at flats/rooms available to let - because I wanted to see the alternative; what DS4 will be looking at renting if he doesn't have access to a 'family home'.
When his nerve failed, we moved on to flats for sale. We both found one we particularly like - unfortunately not the same one.

DS4's choice is a two-storey maisonette above a general stores, right in the city centre on the main shopping street. Quirky, with a lovely roof-top garden and two bedrooms. Includes a share of the freehold - but - it's quite an old building on a busy road; the blurb includes info on repairs needed, which the owner expects to be reflected in the offers he gets. It's the garden; surfaced with ordinary roofing felt, am not surprised that hasn't tolerated people [STRIKE]walking[/STRIKE] partying on it ('photo shows tables, chairs, flowers etc., so that's obviously how it's been used).
College is just a couple of minutes' walk away.

My choice is a top floor apartment in a block that's less than ten years old. Slightly further from college and shops - a five minute bike ride - so not unreasonable. Two double bedrooms, one with en-suite. Main bathroom has a separate loo. Then one huge kitchen / dining / living space across the front of the building, with [I think] a south-facing balcony. This is plenty big enough to be divided with a stud wall, providing a third double bedroom. There would still be a decent dining / socialising area next to the kitchen - which is beautiful; high end integrated units, marble worktops etc.
Service charges are significant, but provide a lot; large landscaped communal garden, parking space and locked storage unit (more a bike shed than garage). Because the block is on an obvious short-cut to the city centre, it's gated (so very secure - while allowing residents access to the 'town' end of the short-cut ).

Am thinking my option would attract <cough> better-off students to share with DS; less likely to default on rent and willing to pay more for a comfortable, modern home. Possibly also less likely to trash the place. With much lower maintenance costs, I reckon this flat would give a better return on the investment, especially with two rents coming in (besides DS' 'contribution'). The parking space is also ideally placed to be rented out to a commuter (if that's allowed).

Downside is, of course, that PC's savings are not enough to buy my choice without DS1's help. Divo Four went off to discuss with him, after we'd booked a flight; will be very sad to wave-off DS4 earlier than expected, but he'd better go and start looking at the various possibilities in RL!

At the moment it's still very pie-in-the-sky.

However, the option became much more appealing following a 'phone-call from "Concerns" first thing this morning:
Turns out the first chap I spoke to a couple of weeks ago, told me such a load of rubbish his position is now at risk.
Bottom line is that the interest rate on PC's bond was absolutely derisory, but total sum transferred will include acceptable compensation for the hassle.


It must be obvious to many of you that I still think of PC in the present tense - his cottages, his savings..
Feel that I am simply trying to take care of his interests while he's, umm, [STRIKE]away[/STRIKE], [STRIKE]absent[/STRIKE], out of contact for a while.
These days I don't feel his spirit hovering nearby as often as before, but right now he's here, peering over my shoulder looking at adverts - can hear his voice inside m'head; commenting on pros and cons of each place - but definitely positive about the idea of putting his savings into bricks and mortar rather than another bank a/c. :A

Must go - Daft Dogs are shouting at me because their lunch is half an hour late! :rotfl:

grannyx2

Hope the discussions with DS1 go well.

I have to say, maybe its the way you have written about it, but I think your choice sounds like the one I would go for. Town centre living comes with its own problems, being 5 minutes out takes that away. Having to do repairs on property one means no rent probably for the duration of the repairs and disruption for DS4 whilst they are going on.

I'm sure PC would have agree to the investment as after all I'm sure that's what he saved up for, to provide for his family in his absence.

Glad you have final got the money sorted out.

Granny x

Piquant_2

I echo what the others have said. The banks are quick enough to take any money off us yet hold onto our money as long as they can....and they wonder why they get such bad press.

please-let-me-be-lucky

Glad you got things sorted with "concerns" and I agree, your choice of apartment sounds ideal.

I'm sure PC is still very much with you Xx

debtfreewannabe321

I would go with your option every time after already going for the other option -you've read all my woes from tenants! All bar one were students! It's not on the best estate in town- not the worst either, shockingly! And I would always go with the option that would attract the <cough> better off students <cough> :rotfl:

As for PC, I'm sure he is very much with you as pmbl says :A I bet he'd be happy you were helping out the children as well as re-investing his money and not letting the fat cat bankers have any more interest off the money (grr).

HeadAboveWater

Morning!!

Preferring your choice of apartment Do also agree with the clientèle it will attract too, which is more beneficial in the long run.

...sum transferred will include acceptable compensation for the hassle

Glad they're compensating you, but they should never have let it get to that stage in the first place!

PC is def with you. And it does come across in your posts I'm sure he'd approved whole heartedly about your financial decisions!

Hi to daft dogs

*Robin*

Good morning Diary and MSE FRiends, :hello:

Thanks for dropping in, Granny, Piq, Lucky, DFW and HAW.




..........................

*Robin*

Awake again.

Reading back what I wrote earlier, am slightly horrified. What happened to the woman I used to be?
..Running several home businesses to fit in with childcare, coping when DH was working away, feeding everyone who turned up and finding a corner for those in need of a bed..

Is it 'normal' for confidence [and competence!] to drain away as the years increase?


Anyway. Feel thoroughly ashamed of myself - so, apologies, but am going to zilch today's earlier post.

debtfreewannabe321

*Robin* wrote: »

Awake again.

Reading back what I wrote earlier, am slightly horrified. What happened to the woman I used to be?
..Running several home businesses to fit in with childcare, coping when DH was working away, feeding everyone who turned up and finding a corner for those in need of a bed..

Is it 'normal' for confidence [and competence!] to drain away as the years increase?


Anyway. Feel thoroughly ashamed of myself - so, apologies, but am going to zilch today's earlier post.

I don't know what you wrote earlier as I have only just got to your diary but it sounds like you might need one of these so just dropping by to offer one or two :grouphug::grouphug: