Daydream fund challenge part 4

alfie_1

phoebe... trying to be diplomatic here... but was it the original plan to sell all these houses you've "done up"

Better_Days

Thanks for your kind words about losing Old Dog, it's been a difficult few months, and its still overwhelming at times. Twice in the past we've rehomed old labs (10yo) - and they were both great chaps, how their owners could give them up I'll never understand. So maybe when I'm ready I'll contact lab rescue again. There is no look of devotion like a lab looking at you when you have a digestive biscuit in your hand

Been bloomin' cold today, put the heating on (I know, heresy to some of you) but my body thermostat has started going haywire again, hot then cold, hot then cold - it gets to the point I don't have a clue what the ambient temperature is. :o

When do you think you will be able to fit your new fireplace phoebe? Don't forget to post a photo when you do.

lostinrates

alfie_1 wrote: »

LIR... where are yoooooooooooo come out come out wherever you are .....

Here, just tired ATM, sleeping a lot.

alfie_1

lostinrates wrote: »

Here, just tired ATM, sleeping a lot.

that's ok just clock in now and then so I don't send the police, ambulance, firebrigade, rac, aa , .........;)

lostinrates

alfie_1 wrote: »

that's ok just clock in now and then so I don't send the police, ambulance, firebrigade, rac, aa , .........;)

Ok.

Will do. I try and thank when I remember so you know I am here.

alfie_1

never mind LABS better days, hows about asbo !!

phoebe1989seb

alfie_1 wrote: »

phoebe... trying to be diplomatic here... but was it the original plan to sell all these houses you've "done up"

No, Alfie, not all

We were in our *family home* on the South Coast (the one I put a RM link to recently) for ten years and planned to stay there forever, but at 3500 sq ft it just felt too big when DS went to uni so we stupidly sold up. The only good thing to come out of this was becoming mortgage-free at forty We had spent around 200k restoring that place from four flats to its originally intended layout as a family home.....at least we lost no money on that occasion.

When we sold, DH decided to quit the ratrace and start his own online business, but as we had a healthy cash injection leftover from buying the new house - in Essex, an area we were completely unacquainted with - we instead threw it at restoring the four hundred year old house despite realising from virtually day one that moving to an area where we knew no-one and had nothing in common with the locals was a *huge* mistake that needed rectifying ASAP

A significant amount of dosh and three and a half years later we sold at a stonking loss and moved to Wiltshire (2011), an area we both knew fairly well. Had we intended to do the house up and sell on we'd never have picked the place we did, as it was obvious from the outset that the place was a moneypit (unmortgageable and literally falling down) that was unlikely to provide a decent return on any investment made.

No, this time DH at least was convinced we'd see out our days there, but I was missing our old house in Hants and as this was closer in size if not style to the place we had spent so many happy times, and had the potential to become a proper home, I kind of went along thinking it would come right eventually. *Eventually* being the word, as on our budget - remember we'd lost all our savings on the last place - we knew it could be years before we had it how we wanted.....

An unexpected inheritance from my late uncle enabled us to start a program of restoration, but unfortunately we'd already realised the position of the property (on a rural A road) was far from our idea of perfect. Trouble was we knew if we didn't complete the work, we'd lose out financially again as prior to us purchasing it had gone unsold at auction as no-one could obtain the finance, plus it was a case of making it worse before it got better iyswim

So we embarked on the project with the knowledge that when complete we'd be selling, although DH hoped I'd grow to love the house.....I didn't

This time we made a small (35k?) profit, but as we had done virtually all the donkey work ourselves in order to come in within budget - I've lost count of how many wheelbarrows of rubble I tipped into skips - it didn't feel as though we were quids-in.

During the past thirty months we've also lost our last three parents (DH's mum had passed away in 2006) and that too has taken its toll, especially as they all had dementia

I honestly would rather have our Hants house back and go back to having a ginormous mortgage than have gone through what we have over the last few
years......in fact, sadly I'd still give my right arm to be able to go back eight years.

I could never be a property developer as I feel so much empathy for neglected houses I either want to leave them as they are or else we spend so much on lovely wallpaper, plants for the garden etc that any profit would disappear before I'd got beyond the first room, lol

Our biggest mistake is to fall in love with houses and let our hearts rule our heads....something I'd strongly caution anyone against when house-buying!

Time for more wine, methinks!

phoebe1989seb

Better_Days wrote: »

When do you think you will be able to fit your new fireplace phoebe? Don't forget to post a photo when you do.

The rate we're going BD? Years probably

Seriously though, hopefully before Christmas (2015 that is ), but DH needs to build a faux chimney breast as ours is on the external wall and as we have -

a) a rather lovely antique copper Arts & Crafts mirror that needs to go in this room above the f/p and currently there's not enough height to accommodate both the f/p and mirror
b) a sloping ceiling that side of the room contributing to issues with a) above
c) a ruddy 5' rad in front of the concealed chimney opening, it'll be a while before we're ready

Pics will be forthcoming when done....promise x

Better_Days

alfie_1 wrote: »

never mind LABS better days, hows about asbo !!

Nooooo, cuddle alert :D:D

Soooo cute button nose and furry face :D:D

Better_Days

But I just have to post a piccie of my Jet


Only had him for 2 years but he enjoyed his retirement with us.