Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

ajmoney

I have had 2 quotes for removing a tree from my back garden. I can never understand why they are so wildly different, £500 and £1200 (with a discount), it almost makes me think I should get a third quote to work out what is the norm. I was happy with the £500 quote and when I googled tree removal this seems to fit with the suggested prices, the larger one makes me wonder whether it is sensible although maybe the more expensive one doesn't want the job. Any advice?

Also, woodlice any idea why I have so many in my house? I get the porch area maybe but I have seen them all over the house today.

Final question for today, rough estimates for a new garage door? I have struggled to find out how much they are likely to cost so don't know what will be correct when I start looking.

SuperSecretSquirrel

Can't help with the other two questions, but in the past we've had quotes that were more than four times the lowest quote for the same job. I know sometimes people will quite a ridiculous price as they don't really want the job, but if they get a bite at their inflated price they'd come along and do the work as they would be crazy not to!

Get a few more quotes and go with who you think is best and at the right price. So long as the cheaper one knows what they are doing, are insured etc, why pay more? You can also post jobs online and have the companies come to you with quotes, saves you chasing down people that really don't want the work. We've had good results using these sites in the past

ajmoney

SuperSecretSquirrel wrote: »

You can also post jobs online and have the companies come to you with quotes, saves you chasing down people that really don't want the work. We've had good results using these sites in the past

This is how I got these quotes. Spoke to Mr AJM about it earlier, his brother used to work in the industry and he has recommended getting in touch with him to ask his advice and what he thinks the right cost would be. I have thought of this idea this morning but thought it might be a little awkward, seeing as he has suggested it I may send a message tomorrow.

I have spent a lot of money today, all things I needed or have wanted for a long time but I feel like I have undone all the hard work of the last 8 days. Some of it has been paid on the credit card to put back when I need to pay it.

Moneyfordreams

We spent £500 last summer on a tree removal from front garden. It was dead, and we kept the wood as we knew we were getting a log burner. They also took 1M of 2 sides of our garden trees. It's not a big garden.. average for our area, 25M?

This year the local free paper I called a guy to remove another stump. He was busy and came a week later. For removal of stump and a pear tree that was in touching distance of the house was £120..

We've had vastly different quotes for our drains too.... I'd probably do as SSS says and get another to be sure

ajmoney

My bank won't let me transfer less than £1 into my ISA in my account tidying I will just wait for now!

Mr AJM's brother is going to get rid of my tree,hopefully Friday if the weather is ok. He is going to pop by before and let me know a price. It certainly don't think it will be the expensive quote, even if it was I would trust him x

ajmoney

I spent 3 hours raking thatch out of the front lawn today :eek: my back is a little tired now as am I. There was a guy gardening 2 doors away so I stopped for a break and walked down to chat to him. It turns out he is employed by them and gave me loads of good advice about my lawn, he also said if I see him and I have any questions then he is happy to provide as much free advice as I need. I have a few shrubs that I am unsure what they are even with an app I have downloaded and so have no idea what to do with them, next time I see him I will be asking him for some help with those.

I have come up with a plan in my head for how I would like to style my back garden, now to try and get it down on paper so I can get some quotes for help with the manual labour.


I have managed to keep my spending diary for the whole of the month so it will be interesting at the end of June to see how much I have spent in each area.

ajmoney

It has been a busy day so far. Started the morning with a short bike ride, I fell off a few weeks ago (not going very fast) and it really knocked my confidence so I have been driving to the local promenade and cycling laps of it practising stopping at each end.

I treated myself to a cup of tea in the garden when I got back before dead heading some roses and starting to tidy the flower border closest to the house. I have used the trellis to train some of the roses upwards as they has been going a little feral with a year of neglect. I have no idea if what I have done is correct but it is the only way to learn I guess. It seems they have been put behind the trellis in the past but that would have got rid of all the flowers so I have used string.

Making myself sit and do nothing for a while as I am with a youth band for the afternoon and evening and will not stop otherwise. I am using the time to look for patio ideas to go with my planned back garden theme but can't really decide what I would like. I am planning a woodland theme and can't decide whether to go for a rustic style or something sleek to contrast against the rest of the garden. I am enjoying this planning.

Lots of rain due tomorrow and I have the day off so think I may go a little crazy. I am really enjoying being outside at the moment so will need to find something to do.

ajmoney

I am considering booking myself onto a sea kayaking course at the beginning of August on the North West Coast and am looking at affordable accommodation as the hotels/B & Bs are around £300 for 2 nights. I have found campsites that will cost less than £30 or glamping pods for £150 (minimum 3 night stay) so it is a debate between comfort and affordability! I have been considering booking with this company for a year, the scenery looks amazing. Question, will there be lots of midges up there?

Darpett

In August there will be loads of midges usually but on the sea you will be fine.

Probably best to avoid campsites at that time of year unless you want to get eaten alive every time you open your tent of an evening..

ajmoney

Darpett wrote: »

In August there will be loads of midges usually but on the sea you will be fine.

Probably best to avoid campsites at that time of year unless you want to get eaten alive every time you open your tent of an evening..

It is a choice between a hotel or going at a different time of year I think.