The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

Cakeguts

GDB2222 wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3550011/fireworks-bogof-free-30-fireworks-on-15-spend-sainsburys&page=1

That’s Sainsbury doing a 3-4-1 on fireworks a few years ago. Marketing tactics don’t by themselves mean the fireworks are dodgy.

It may be quite hard for people to know which fireworks are dodgy. The manufacturers know to print an e-Mark on the packaging, without necessarily knowing what it means, and certainly without complying.

The weight of the fireworks doesn’t by itself mean they’ll dent a car. It depends how hard and dense the fireworks are. They may reach terminal velocity, so the height makes no difference. In any case, I would worry about people being hit on the head more than about cars. I’ve never heard of people being hurt like that though. You would think it would get into the papers if it is a problem.

What I have is not a firework. What I have is a hard plastic tube that is hollow and weighs 61grams. It is the part of the firework that comes down after it has been fired as a rocket. I have another one that weighs 47grams. The plastic is hard. It doesn't break it shatters. I have one where the plastic has shattered at some time either when it landed on the pavement or during firing. When I was showing them to someone today they tried to break the plastic but you can't because it is thick hard plastic.

PasturesNew

I've identified the next contender, but it "frightens me"... as do all older/dated homes to be honest The ideal is up to 10 or so years old.

So, what's turned up this morning....

In budget: Yes, £10k under
S garden: Yes
Garage: Yes, with full side drive too
Conservatory: Yes, proper "smart" one, not a bit of uPVC lean to.
Location: Border of preferred area and 2nd preferred, so yes.

A bit OAP dated, but smart/clean enough, avocado bathroom.

Cons: It backs onto some businesses, possibly including an MoT centre.
That in itself doesn't look too bad, indeed it'd be quieter weekends/evenings, but I'd have to scout the area to look at accesses there, potential for "hoody nuisance" as anything motor related can be a magnet for ferals after dark. An MoT centre is "more interesting" to ne'er do wells than, say, a mattress warehouse or candles factory.

So only two obvious cons.... what it backs onto + how much work to clean it up inside, but it looks all right/doable on photos.

It's 3 beds, when my budget is really better placed for 2 beds, so then you think "why so cheap?". Looks like somebody's gone into a nursing home as there's a medical bed in one bedroom and it's "no chain".

Despite my reservations, I expect it to sell this week.
Cons: It is with the agent I "upset" 2 weeks ago when I offered/withdrew ... which is inevitable as most places round this area are with that agent.

I actually think it's a contender.... or should be if I were more confident.

It's not a "pretty little place"... it's non-descript, but you can't have "a lovely looking little place" + everything else I want in my budget Beggars/choosers and I should feel "lucky I have any money to buy anything as many others don't".

GDB2222

I would not worry about having upset the agent. You’re a proceedable buyer with cash in the bank. And it’s a property without a chain. You’re made for each other, and he’ll welcome you like the commission cheque you undoubtedly represent in his eyes, if not for this property then for another.

Is avocado coming back into fashion yet?

PasturesNew

Done more investigating, it actually backs onto a "posh" food supplier/family business. The MoT centre is behind that.

Band D.... didn't really want Band D.

Earning £25,500/year the full council tax is equivalent to a whole month's take home salary.

After single person discount it's a whole month's salary for somebody earning £18,000.

When you view the cost of council tax like that, it's a massive amount of a year's income!

I'll now have to "work up to" picking up the phone for a viewing.

silvercar

Is there scope to question the Band D? Should it really be C? There is an MSE guide to questioning this somewhere.

The other way to look at it is that you are getting a property valued at a band D for money you were going to pay for a band B or C, so more house for your money.

PasturesNew

silvercar wrote: »

Is there scope to question the Band D? Should it really be C? There is an MSE guide to questioning this somewhere.

The other way to look at it is that you are getting a property valued at a band D for money you were going to pay for a band B or C, so more house for your money.

No. I looked. They're all D in that road.

Other houses in other locations, the same size, have come up as C. D is unusual for what I'm looking at. I've never seen a B; most are a C.

Unusually, there is no floorplan for this bungalow. This agent don't give the square footage on their plans, but I could work it out from the plan.

At the moment I am "sitting on it". Dithering. Reasons to dither: might need a bit of a rewire, boiler might be on last legs, it's a D. So faffing about "thinking about it".

It's perpetually that "take the money or open the box" moment. Do I go for this ... or wait/convinced something better/more suitable will turn up soon..... and that is the dilemma.

For the record, the one £10k cheaper/10 years old, 2 beds, right beside the VERY noisy bypass, that I offered/withdrew on is still for sale.

Cakeguts

PasturesNew wrote: »

No. I looked. They're all D in that road.

Other houses in other locations, the same size, have come up as C. D is unusual for what I'm looking at. I've never seen a B; most are a C.

Unusually, there is no floorplan for this bungalow. This agent don't give the square footage on their plans, but I could work it out from the plan.

At the moment I am "sitting on it". Dithering. Reasons to dither: might need a bit of a rewire, boiler might be on last legs, it's a D. So faffing about "thinking about it".

It's perpetually that "take the money or open the box" moment. Do I go for this ... or wait/convinced something better/more suitable will turn up soon..... and that is the dilemma.

For the record, the one £10k cheaper/10 years old, 2 beds, right beside the VERY noisy bypass, that I offered/withdrew on is still for sale.

I would suggest that you view as soon as possible. If you find something that you can't live with you can then stop worrying/dithering and forget about it. If you discover that you really like it you can decide if you want to make an offer.

Sunshinemummy

Jesus H ............for god sake get on the phone, go see the house, and if you like it bang an offer in... you will be getting a 3 bedroomed house, and can spend the extra 10K getting it up to date and how you like it.

It sounds perfect. x

hjd

PasturesNew wrote: »

No. I looked. They're all D in that road.

Other houses in other locations, the same size, have come up as C. D is unusual for what I'm looking at. I've never seen a B; most are a C.

Unusually, there is no floorplan for this bungalow. This agent don't give the square footage on their plans, but I could work it out from the plan.

At the moment I am "sitting on it". Dithering. Reasons to dither: might need a bit of a rewire, boiler might be on last legs, it's a D. So faffing about "thinking about it".

It's perpetually that "take the money or open the box" moment. Do I go for this ... or wait/convinced something better/more suitable will turn up soon..... and that is the dilemma.

For the record, the one £10k cheaper/10 years old, 2 beds, right beside the VERY noisy bypass, that I offered/withdrew on is still for sale.

You need to view it. That doesn't commit you to anything.
I personally hate making phone calls and talking to people I don't have to - but it has to be done. Nothing to lose by making a phone call.
Good luck.

PasturesNew

Cakeguts wrote: »

.... If you discover that you really like it ...

In my budget/location "really liking it" is highly unlikely. I'm looking for "something that will have to do"

In my budget the housing stock is quite tired/shabby a lot of the time, or marred by "poor choices" of extensions/changes that are clunky and don't work/flow.