Quit everything , and start again over 50?

another_casualty

Thanks folks .
True harz . Got to think of everything . Hoping that the price won't go up much more . Have to make sure I don't get too attached to it .
I don't know if any of you have seen the one bedroom, in the building next door that I rejected . Quite a few of these flats appear from time to Time ,and prices vary . We'll see.
,

another_casualty

gallygirl wrote: »

I couldn't imagine living in a 'block of flats' but I could imagine living there. My thoughts:
Pluses:
Looks bright and in good condition.
As an older property I'm guessing it will have better sound insulation (though I'd be inclined to see if upstairs were in when I viewed and ask them to stomp about upstairs!).
Gas Central Heating (that has to be a big plus but description doesn't mention it!!!!)
Double glazed.
Ground floor may be better long term.
In one of your preferred locations (and it's obvious this is really important to you).
Reasonable EPC.
Looks a nice road (though busy?) - assume near or on a bus route, and it's near the station.

Minuses:
Front room won't have much privacy.
No window in kitchen and bathroom - possible cooking & humidity issues? I realise though no windows in these rooms are fairly common and people cope! I assume there's an extractor fan above hob?
Older building so may be pressure on the maintenance charges?
Service charges!

I like it AC. Though personally I'd move further out and go for a house

More pluses: 5/6 min walk to train station, and pubs shops etc Ashley cross .10 min walk to doctors surgery .
No overflowing bin in the kitchen

Minuses: no cats around . Would have to buy a fine net curtain for windows

enthusiasticsaver

The flat looks clean and bright AC and is obviously in an area you like and feel at home with. How much spare do you have if you go up to £175k though bearing in mind you will have stamp duty, storage costs, moving expenses and solicitors costs to pay out? I would be wary of going too close to the top of your budget as the service costs are £1200 a year plus council tax, utilities before you even start living. Keep looking and don't get too emotionally attached to this one. I hope you get it at £167k though.

I am not too sure what property prices are doing in the south west. My daughter completes on her sale and purchase tomorrow and has bought a flat in Bristol for £157500 which she offered on last October (reduced offer from £160k). 2 Identical flats on the same development are now being advertised for sale at £175000!! Properties up in the Midlands don't seem to have increased in price and neither do the ones in Cornwall where we live but Bristol seems to be in a property bubble. Hopefully Poole is not in one too.

dreaming

another_casualty wrote: »

More pluses: 5/6 min walk to train station, and pubs shops etc Ashley cross .10 min walk to doctors surgery .
No overflowing bin in the kitchen

Minuses: no cats around . Would have to buy a fine net curtain for windows

Hello, I go away for a couple of days and what happens - AC makes an offer! Funny thing about that place is I had looked at it online last week (I love looking at property even though I have no intention of moving) but didn't think it was your thing AC. It looks very similar to a flat youngest had a few years ago. Very nice but fairly expensive to heat as the ceilings were so high. The only other thing I would worry about is the noise level in bedroom as it on the corner - is it a drive way or a road next to the property. Very nice though but don't be too quick to increase the offer unless it's the one (and then try smallish increments).
Had a lovely couple of days with youngest - good company, good food (and wine) but she is extremely tired as she works really hard (often 6 days a week) trying to pay her debts off so came home to give her time for a quick snooze this afternoon. Her 2 cats won't come near me though and now mine is ignoring me as I had the audacity to go away.
ETA - re nets for windows. Youngest hates net curtains (dust gatherers she calls them) so she has applied that opaque film to the bottom half of her windows. It's very effective except that I am quite nosy and can't see what's going on but she likes it and it looks quite smart).

another_casualty

Thanks again for your thoughts on my situation
I like the area . I just walked 20/25 mins from my friends house, after having a great afternoon there. Pitch black.Hardly a soul around .
The flat is very much me , in ways . The downside for some is the road.
Very busy . I like the maissonnette effect . In a way it is. There are only 2 flats when you go in the front door . I love the look of all the converted houses, of which this is one. If i miss out on this ,hold my nerve and wait for another one , I think by spring another one will be for sale at similar price. Having said that, I may be going to Westbourne ( phone call permitting), and check an upstairs flat there.
If there were more places, I would be looking at them .

Regarding me and an s o a : I won't be doing it. I went through things with fine tooth comb during the week . I intend to stick to it .
I find it very depressing tbh. I'm in a better situation than many others , and imho i must buy somewhere which is within my budget.
I need to have day to day living and an emergency fund etc.
Also to have 5-10 years of service charges to put away .

I'm not trying to be arrogant or anything like that , but I won't be looking for employment yet .im just not ready . It may take a few months longer.
If god is good , and I find something soon , hopefully the rest will slot into place . I feel things slowly improving health wise since last week.
I intend to join gym this week and get on with it ..no excuses.
Looking at a50+ fat bar steward , I'm not the most employable person at the moment . If boredom sets in, and the holiday feels over then I may go all out to get employment then.

Speaking of holidays : something is telling me to go on a train ride around Europe .Holiday on my own ..mmm

harz99

AC, one thing about Kingsbridge Road - the bus service is pretty poor at one per hour, no early morning or late night runs. As far as I can see you may need to walk to Bournemouth Road for more buses if/when a job comes up, and that is a fair step especially in poor weather.

another_casualty

Thanks harz.
Good point . I have taken that into consideration . Bournemouth road is where I do most of my food shopping . It's also the place I get the bus to Poole / baranksome/ Westbourne / Bournemouth .
The yellow bus service would've been great , if it wasn't invisible where I am now. It's more or less right outside the flat I'm I at present.
Another compromise ,if I do go for it . Also if I do go for it , I would do shopping with Ocado or whoever .

dreaming

AC - sounds like you are thinking things through. You can see that it has been a good plan to rent for a while as you are getting to know the areas you like and use most. It's funny that you say the flat you have offered on is more your thing as the impression I got was that you were looking for a more modern, upmarket flat. Just goes to show how you can form an impression of someone over the internet that's completely wrong. A few years ago I used to talk to a guy every day on the phone for work and we used to have quite a laugh about certain tv programmes we both liked. Then one day I said something about my daughter and he asked how old she was - "27", I replied. Cue stunned silence, then he blurted out "Oh god, I bet you're really old". The phone conversation the next day (and afterwards) was very brief and stuck to business.:rotfl:
I think a rail trip round Europe sounds great before you get back into the world of work (as long as you can budget for it). Youngest did something similar 10 years ago - flew out to Spain on a cheap flight then trained/bussed back.

Verbatim

I'm still a bit puzzled by the 5-10 years of service charges. Do you think you won't be alive in 10 years? If you are still breathing what happens about paying the charges, no doubt much increased by then,
at that point?

another_casualty

Thanks dreaming
It's a bit like pre internet days of trying to put a face to the voice on radio.
I love the look of the flat externally . I normally go for upstairs maisonettes as you can see trees , wildlife etc., and a garden .
This flat seems to have a newish feel inside , and in spite of it being on a main road , looks very peaceful and plush.
One thing that irks me though, is the amount of sky dishes there are these days . If sky believe in better , can't they redisgn the ugly things?
Just a thought .

So, just had a horrendous viewing in Westbourne . When I spoke to the eastate agents ( you home?), I never received a follow up text or email.
The map which shows the streets, and the street view didn't work.

I'm standing in the area I think it should be . I Wait 15 mins or so, expecting the guy to call me on his mobile and we liaise and I get there.
No! A call from the office. He said about meeting at the rear of the property. He told me the address. It was bang opposite the flats I looked at last Monday . So, I waited. I looked through a metal gate. No sign.
I eventually got to see the young estate agent on the other side of the gate.
He told me to go around the back. He mentioned car. I told him I don't drive. So, I phone them up, told them to forget it . 'Please please .,hold on 'etc
Eventually he appears. The walk around the back of the block ,was laborious . Inside , it was ghastly . I told him a catalogue of things him and the company need to do,, to get a grip basically .
If I like the service ., positive feedback all the way. If not, then zero all the way . On leaving the block, I climbed over a fence by the bus stop .
Today, I'm probably the nearest to geldoff , about not liking Mondays .

Waiting for more properties to appear