Just bought my first house and regret it

helibob

lessonlearned wrote: »

You can strengthen sagging drawer bottoms. I forget what they are called but you can buy strengtheners on Amazon, £6 a pair.

Wow - you learn all sorts of useful things on there. Never occurred to me such a thing would exist. They're called Fix-a-drawer, apparently - cheaper still on ebay. I've just ordered a couple to try. Thanks, lessonlearned.

mustang121

Dan-Dan wrote: »

Where we are (home counties) , 35-40 year old house are attracting the same asking prices as new builds , and being in one that old myself , i know as well as anyone , after that amount of time , it seems everything needs refreshing/replacing and fixing :eek:

35-40 year "old" house is young isn't it? Considering my house is around a 100 years old. My house may have a 100 year outer shell, but the insides, roofing, windows are slowly being modernised.


He he reminds me of that Only Fools & Horses joke. "Had me broom for 50 years and its only had 20 new heads and 15 new handles".

mustang121

Oh and another tip for FTB's who might need new windows and doors.


AVOID CORAL WINDOWS AND ESPECIALLY EVEREST LIKE THE BLOODY PLAGUE. There prices are ridiculously over priced and there Sales Reps are !!!!!! imbeciles.

goodwithsaving

mustang121 wrote: »

Oh and another tip for FTB's who might need new windows and doors.


AVOID CORAL WINDOWS AND ESPECIALLY EVEREST LIKE THE BLOODY PLAGUE. There prices are ridiculously over priced and there Sales Reps are !!!!!! imbeciles.

Everest came to my house, were there for THREE hours (I couldn't get rid of them) and refused to give me a quote on a series of options, because my other half wasn't present. She also wouldn't show me the lowest in the range because "I can tell you now, you won't be having that. You will be having the more expensive, quality ranges". Who did she think she was to state what I'll be having in my house, and what my budget was.
The local firm came out, took 15 minutes to measure, went away with instructions for a variety of quotes and sent through quotes the next day.


Everest won't ever be setting foot in my house again.

Pixie5740

I picked up the keys for my new home an hour ago and went straight round to see it. Underwhelmed is the feeling I'm experiencing now. I'm thinking, "I paid how much for this?!"

The flat is smaller than I remember and the previous owner has left a few items behind including a used toilet brush. Boak!

The place also has an odour about it. Not absolutely horrid but like cheap air freshener and stale smoke.

So you're not alone OP.

I know that after a good clean and airing that things will improve though. Then once my furniture is moved in it will start to feel more like home.

mrstick

goodwithsaving wrote: »

Everest came to my house, were there for THREE hours (I couldn't get rid of them) and refused to give me a quote on a series of options, because my other half wasn't present.

Safestyle did the same to me, we deliberately didn't want my wife there so that we couldn't be pressured. I believe they call it a 'one-legger'.

I'd left work early so that I could come home and see the salesman, so the fact that they wouldn't go ahead with the sales pitch because they wouldn't be able to do a pressure sell really, really annoyed me. :mad:

moneyistooshorttomention

mustang121 wrote: »

Oh and another tip for FTB's who might need new windows and doors.


AVOID CORAL WINDOWS AND ESPECIALLY EVEREST LIKE THE BLOODY PLAGUE. There prices are ridiculously over priced and there Sales Reps are !!!!!! imbeciles.

Aint that the truth. I don't know about Coral Windows - but Everest brings a whole new meaning to "the sky is the limit". I found it was a totally pointless exercise to warn them not to take me for a fool (phrased a bit better than that) and that I wanted their "best price" to start with. Yeh...right...and they still quoted me more than twice the price of the local firm I chose for recent work on my house.

Add that I've had compliments on the standard of work done by this firm - and yep...I'd use them again.

NB; Mustnt forget that Everest are now big enough that they reckon they can quote "health and safety" as an excuse to get out of any aspect of the work they don't actually want to do....but the local firm just got on with it. Took a lot of hot drinks - but give 'em their due and they were out there in all weathers getting on with it and openly stroking chin wondering how to do a more craftsman type job.

ampersand

op - you are receiving mostly good advice and much sense of the 'present companion' you lacked at viewings.

Focus on these:
'and came with a good sized and well kept garden, it was also conveniently close to work.'

Those are two Grade A* Plus-es.

How do you feel about Hello's over back fence at the weekend?

A well-kept garden can be your safe harbour/suntrap/ice-breaker[pick brains; find other knowledgeables]and productive of peace, colour, scent, crops, wildlife.

It needn't be your millstone, more your sanctuary after the intense working weeks you have.

For furniture/oven/garden extras: tools, furniture - use local auctions[especially], gumtree, freecycle, carboots, charity shops. This is a fresh neighbourhood, even though near work, for you to discover and you are not doing so against the clock.

Do nothing at the £000 level or above in a hurry.

If you hear recommendations of local tradesmen, check out at least 2 or 3 of their jobs before deciding. Don't feel railroaded even then by talk of 'my mate' or 'my bro' etc.etc.
Until you make new trusted contacts, running ANY plans past the mse threadmeisters is as good as anything and better than nothing.

It won't be long before that quick trip HOME will feel a wonderful bonus end to each working day.
#
Enjoy making this place your home. You have worked hard to save and buy it. The pleasure starts now - as soon as you re-read leassonlearned's #81:-)

What treats you have in store! Keep taking the photos. This Thread can become your Diary.

cloo

All in all it just sounds like it doesn't feel as though it's yours. Even small things like new curtains, lightshades and some cushions could make a difference if you don't currently have the time and money for more.

The dingy mustard lightshade in our bedroom in our new place (which has soooo much bloody *brown* in every room) drove me nuts within a week, and it felt so much better when I went and got a larger, colourful shade to put on instead. I smile every time I look at it because of the improvement, however small.

lessonlearned

helibob wrote: »

Wow - you learn all sorts of useful things on there. Never occurred to me such a thing would exist. They're called Fix-a-drawer, apparently - cheaper still on ebay. I've just ordered a couple to try. Thanks, lessonlearned.

No problem, that's what these threads are for, exchanging ideas and tips.

I'm 64. My career was spent in housing - ive picked up,all sorts of useful/useless information.

The first house I bought was a wreck - it was all I could afford. The place had been empty for three years and prior to that it had been owned by an elderly couple so it hadnt really been touched for decades. The garden was a wilderness.

I had no real skills, there was no Internet then so no you tube tutorials - so I just bought a couple of diy manuals. I lived in the bedroom for 4 months because the downstairs was uninhabitable.

I worked slowly and steadily. 3 years later I sold that house for over double what I paid For it.

By the way - not that it matters - I am female, quite girly, not a big strapping bloke......:rotfl:

I'm currently living with my son - we are nearly at the end of a full renovation project. IT's been huge fun and the house is looking good.

I am now househunting for myself. Hopefully another wreck to rescue. I just love it.

I'm knocking on a bit now, my back plays up and I cant be quite as Gung Ho as I used to be but I still love rescuing a sad unloved house and bringing it back to its former glory. I have to pace myself now and I do occasionally have to either get my sons to do the heavy stuff or buy in "muscle" but I still love the thrill of transforming a tired house.