The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

Possession

Ugh. I really need to get on with cleaning/tidying (or shoving into cupboards) ready for tomorrow, but I had a long chat this morning with someone who downsized their house when they were in a similar position and found that the costs outweighed the benefits. So difficult to know what to do for the best. I spoke to my mortgage company today and we could halve our payments but it adds 10 years to the mortgage. Moving brings high dead costs though, it's probably a similar cost overall. So I also need to sit down with figures not sure which to prioritise!
And hoovering my stairs and picking up the little bits and pieces on DD's bedroom floor has made me see just how much the carpets need cleaning! think a professional carpet cleaner might be needed rather than a Morrisons job!
I did look at a property this morning and was underwhelmed, but I wonder if that will always be the case given that we are downsizing and I just have to get on with it.

kidcat

Maybe get the valuation done possession then wait a couple of weeks to decide. It's often best not to make huge decisions just after a major shock.
Good luck with the cleaning up.

paidinchickens

Possession Is there anything the house you live in at the minute missing.........would you prefer a bigger garden or south facing yard for example? Is there an area you really like that would make an underwhelming house bearable?

I'm with Kidcat, don't make any rash decisions.

I know the words are of no comfort but I send you a big hug x

PiC x

fuddle

Possession a heads up on carpet cleaning. DH can access a myriad of machines so I have used a lot of them. The ones hired in store generally are poor in terms of powerful suction. The tool hire contraptions tend to equal that of the store hire ones but many tool hire places have a bigger machine - notably Karch*r. These are really good. 'Professional' cleaners hire these and add to the price of hire. Real Pro cleaners have huge machines If I was hiring a pro I would be interested in what machine the professional cleaners are using as 1380W is the power of the large machine that can be hired so for pro's you'd be looking for a higher number in terms of power.

Ball park prices for the smaller (not really my favourite) machine is £30 for a day while the larger at £50 is much better, suction higher so dries quicker etc.

I will say that the professional cleaner that was brought in when we moved into this house had a mammoth machine that worked brilliantly but... we also recleaned with the £50 machine because of that cats pee smell. I know the costs for the Pro was £200 to the previous tenant.

For harder stains I would pre treat the area

Tool hire firms are GAP, Speedy, HSS, Brandon, Jewsons, Hire Station, TravisPerkins.

Hope to help a little.

Possession

Thanks Fuddle that's very helpful.
PIC the main thing we don't like about this house is the children's bedrooms which are tiny - anywhere we went would be likely to have bigger rooms! I thought I wasn't fussy otherwise but am discovering that maybe I am ...

Pooky

Nothing wrong with being fussy. Write a list of what you want from a house, ask everyone else to do the same - you'll be surprised what everyone else sees as important.

We knew we wanted a garage or room to convert into bedroom/bathroom if we needed to in the future for DH. 3 decent sized bedrooms, a good sized kitchen and a small garden. Things that would have been nice but not essential were a drive, open fire, conservatory, 2nd reception room.

A couple of houses we saw were right on paper but wrong when you walked in - the bedrooms were a bit on the small side with a real box room or the kitchens were too small. When we came to see this one we stood there and ticked every single thing off the list and put in an offer straight away. The main things would have made the house liveable but all the extras made it "just right".

DD's list of requirements were room for a trampoline, room for a big fridge full of yummy things, a cinema room and a pool.....funny how they settled for this

Just made a yummy throw together tea with the dregs of MILs fridge (they've gone on holiday) and some free mince via the Mr M's voucher - free dinner!!!! Yay.

nursemaggie

Possession! I would cost everything out before you do anything. The process of selling one house and buying another can easily cost £5,000 then there is stamp duty, I don't know how much there not knowing the type of house or where you live. It will be a few thousand pounds.

Removal anything from £2,000 upwards even if you only move to the next street and that is doing your own packing.

Chances are no curtains will fit you may need some extras you had to leave behind sometimes curtain rails need replacing you don't have enough hooks for the rails you have it is surprising how many people take everything with them including the curtain hooks and the light bulbs. 5 years ago I spend £3,500 on incidental necessities because nothing fitted. I have thousands of curtain hooks but not one was any good it cost me nearly £200 to replace all that had been taken. You will probably have to clean the carpets again. Just read Fuddles list of things they have done it is expensive.

This time we had to buy new furniture. We could not sell the old stuff no one would buy and we could not buy second hand because we did not have transport. It is easy to get lots of quotes and change your mind than it is to start everything and still end up paying if you can't find anything suitable.

Possession

I know nurse maggie I'm finding it all very worrying TBH.
DH thinks we must move rather than extend the term, as we'll be paying so much in interest otherwise.
On the plus side while not perfect my house is a great deal tidier than it has been for a long time!
Pooky just seen one that looks lovely, and is next door to my friend! But I think it's a bit too expensive.

savingqueen

Had a good day, boys went into school fine and came out very excitable about everything. Had various things to do which made me feel stressy so decided to bake some muffins and 2 banana loaves as had a load of very ripe bananas to use up. Felt calmer and was a nice treat for the kids to come to. I have decided I will get back into my baking after a year of hardly doing any.


I have also been doing more research on potential secondary schools and getting open day dates and other details. There are a few that clash which is very annoying. I could ask the school to do a tour another time but I can't get DS10 out of class for half days. There are even 2 selection tests (which we aren't sure DS will do yet) on the same morning. How bl**dy ridiculous. It is because we are looking out of catchment as local schools are dire.


Possession - big decisions I know and no ready answers. At least you are exploring the available options. Yay to a tidy house in the meantime! Have you done the actual maths with extending the term or a good guesstimate I should say?


DH is hovering so I must relinquish the PC. Only sat down 10 mins ago. Hurry up laptop battery, hopefully postie will bring it tomorrow.

Pooky

We moved from one town to another -The girls and I packed everything and the removal men came in - dismantled the beds and packed a 3 bed 3 storey house into the removal van in under an hour (and I've got a lot of stuff) - they were just as quick the other end (there was 7 of them) - it cost well under £200 - I think nearer the £150 mark. We gave them a good tip for their speedy work. (3 years ago)

Have a ring round some of the local solicitors and see what their conveyancing rates are too - it varies hugely. I'd suggest never go with the one the estate agents recommend - they're always slower if they've got a tie in.

It might be a big expense now but if it will lower your outgoings or reduce your mortgage term to a more "doable" level then it's worth it.

Have a look at the mortgage calculators (on here somewhere) and see how much extra interest you'd pay by extending your term now. Weigh that up with a one off moving cost and the additional savings from a lower mortgage/shorter term.


Up silly early again this morning - the upside is the bedding is washed and ready to go on the line and the pillows are in the machine as we speak. House is clean and tidy so not much to do there. Got to go to MIL's and feed her cats (they're on holiday) and have a bit of a clean up - my parents are staying there for a few days as of tomorrow and MILs house work standards and my Mums standards are very different things.

DD1 brought me home a lovely bunch of flowers last night - the cynical part of me thinks I'm being "buttered up" as she spent most of the afternoon in the tattoo shop holding her friends hand whilst he had a tattoo done. I'm not a tattoo lover and she knows this but wants one....its her body (but I shall still be vehemently against the idea).