Been in our home since May...absolute house of horrors...

wesleyad

beefturnmail wrote: »

Learn some DIY skills, you can save a fortune. Some stuff you're always going to need to get the pros, but there's a lot you can do yourself just from watching videos on youtube.

Cant agree more, I think I'm reasonably handy, but even if not, with youtube nowadays there's very little that can't be done (bar electrics that might need part P approval).

In last two years I've done complete refurbs on both bathrooms, built a weatherproof hottub/ bar area, complete kitchen fit out, entire ground floor laminate, laid paving, changed front door, the list goes on and on. It must have saved tens of thousands, and anytime you get stuck or are unsure you just turn to google. Any problem you hit, someone has solved it for you.

goodwithsaving

I moved in, a few days later the boiler broke and it was when we had the first lot of snow. £3600 later.
Then the snow came through the roof. After investigations, I had the ridge re-set. A few months later, rain was pouring through. New roof £5000 later.
TV aerial wasn't connected to anything. Had to get someone in to do that too.
That's before I did any of the work I knew about such as decorating, re-doing the bathroom, re-carpeting, windows....... The previous owners did everything on the cheap so the underlay wasn't even proper underlay. But the 'new' patio doors they had? Mega-draughty so I have to get them fixed.
On the plus side, the house is nearly 70 years old but they had lived in it since new so DIY damage is limited.

All part of owning. In my previous place, the wardrobe door fell on me and the kitchen cupboard fell off the wall within an hour of me moving in.
It's rubbish, it's expensive and my god does it try you, but I still prefer it to renting

lewishardwick

I discovered a rotten floor under the bath a few weeks after moving into my place. £5k on on a few bathroom, it's much nicer, and will (hopefully) lay for a long time!

missprice

I'd like to say my house is finished. But that's not possible. Although on paper it's mostly been replaced, There are still niggles.

The outside cupboard which is really large, needs bricking up and bringing inside.

I really want a porch, every other house here has one, but not me.

The roof is probably nearing the end of it's life, it definitely needs some work on the chimney.

None of these are cheap, the roof is possibly the most important depending on what a professional will say.
The cupboard I costed at a grand, because it houses the electric meter, because it's much lower than inside, because it needs bricking up and insulating and then shelving added.
The porch I think would be 1500 ish, possibly need planning permission possibly not.
So unless I win the lottery in which case I would be moving then it's tough.

Crashy_Time

faerielight wrote: »

I bought my 1st home in June, the sellers had done so man bodge jobs which have taken a lot of money to fix, plus things like a water leak under the new oak flooring I had just put down, so had to replace the warped boards, and the boiler died on week 1.

I do have a difficult neighbour/ share of freehold who refuses to give me a contact other than notes under the door, but luckily I rarely see her...

But I am in love with my home, and feel gratitude that I’m never going to be trapped in a bad tenancy with awful disrepair and under the threat of section 21 evictions and the constant fear of homelessness.I can go to sleep feeling safe and secure, and that feeling is worth a new boiler or two

:rotfl:....assume you are joking here? If renting you could just move out :rotfl:

bertiewhite

Morata_ wrote: »

It’s not things that would come up on surveys just things like leaking shower units

Actually, my last home-buyers survey did detail a leaking shower unit!!

Like Spadoosh though, I've always tried to turn my house problems into positives eg. I found a rotten wooden lintel in my last house but by the time I'd replaced it with concrete ones, it was better than ever and I learnt how to re-fix & point stonework in the process.

airandwater

Niv wrote: »

My current place was bought as a doer upper but there is so much more to do than met the eye (and the full survey!).

Well said. There can be problems and Frankenstein-type fixes from the past lurking behind walls or below floors.

Setting aside a few thousand pounds for unforeseen niggles is advisable before buying a house.

Davesnave

Crashy_Time wrote: »

If renting you could just move out :rotfl:

Renting can indeed be a transient sort of life. It suits some people, so I wouldn't knock it if it's something deliberately chosen.


However, you seem to have ignored faerielight's comment that in spite of teething problems, she still loves her new home and the feeling of a settled life it's provided.

I'd say that feeling is worth all the hassles owning a house brings. By your reaction, you probably wouldn't. All this proves is that people have different attitudes to the basic urge to have adequate shelter and a measure of control over their home environment.


In my experience, ownership is better for the element of control.

Crashy_Time

Davesnave wrote: »

Renting can indeed be a transient sort of life. It suits some people, so I wouldn't knock it if it's something deliberately chosen.


However, you seem to have ignored faerielight's comment that in spite of teething problems, she still loves her new home and the feeling of a settled life it's provided.

I'd say that feeling is worth all the hassles owning a house brings. By your reaction, you probably wouldn't. All this proves is that people have different attitudes to the basic urge to have adequate shelter and a measure of control over their home environment.


In my experience, ownership is better for the element of control.

IME the idea that people are kicked out of rented every six months is a fantasy that people use to feel better about their big mortgage in a rising rate environment :rotfl:

Davesnave

Crashy_Time wrote: »

IME the idea that people are kicked out of rented every six months is a fantasy that people use to feel better about their big mortgage in a rising rate environment :rotfl:

I never claimed that. It was you who suggested that a problem or two with the plumbing could be resolved by upping sticks.

I remember interest rates @ 15%. We still paid the mortgage and wages climbed to compensate. Prices followed suit, so debt was inflated away.

But we are rather far away from 15% at present!