Moving forward and upwards

MovingForwards

Thanks Skinty, sorry I was in the middle of writing today's adventure!

Living the high life up here, bet you're envious with what I get up too 🤣 I'm funding it as I want to make sure the drains are fine for running a better shower, CBA to get everyone involved with a cheap job.

Potentially the works add value, unless the buyers detest what has been done!

In theory I could change the wall tiles, worktops and unit handles and put lino down in the kitchen, all of which would make it look so much better and for a fraction of the cost, but I don't like the brown units.

I think doing the shower room definitely would add value. 

savingholmes

How lovely to have spare money again. Great reward for clearing your car finance.

atrixa

Well done on the CF! Shower room should definitely add value, and if you don't sell, you get to enjoy it. Sounds like a win-win

MovingForwards

Thanks SH and Atrixa

Definitely a big reward and will look better with what I wear at work; I totally dress down now, no one has said anything.

It will probably be next year I do the shower room, gives me time to save up this year and look at what's around. I'd like an overhead shower, with a huge showerhead and running off the boiler; winter electric showers are a bit fresh compared to the rest of the year.

I'll stick with a double size shower area for ease of me using it, having a seat etc. I need to look into those wipe down wall board things instead of tiles. The sink will have push / pull taps as I find them easier to use than the grip to turn ones.

A loose plan is front door and makeovers 2022, shower room 2023 and kitchen 2024. Gives things time to get back to normal a bit, allows me to save a lot and wrap the estate up.

MovingForwards

I've done some weeding, felt good to have sun on my face.

Had a break for a vanilla latte and the drain guys arrived a lot earlier than expected. I now know where all the manholes are and there's no issues with the drains; not bad for a property over 110 years old 🤭 

I pre-warned my below neighbour and he offered to share the cost. I've declined as I'm not following proper procedure with small / cheap jobs, just getting them done.

Had a good chat afterwards about other cheap plans to tidy up our shared communal areas, he's offered to contribute and assist with the DIY and I've only agreed to the DIY help.
- He knows I won't be funding any big jobs off my own back, but will follow the correct procedure with that.

To do the TLC (painting and filling dinks across our two floors) will cost about £200 and would take about a week, if we were doing it every day. Once I've got everything, the work can commence.

I know it's not down to me to pay for it all, but sub-£200 jobs are negligible and I've an ongoing pot for these, it also increases overall value as a nice looking place shows (some) people care about where they live.

I'm about to have cheese on toast for lunch 😃

savingwannabe

Hello, how busy are you???? Glad the drain people are in and that everything is working ok. What lovely ideas you have for your property. It all sounds wonderful. I would like a  new kitchen when i retire or just before so i am saving for that but i am not sure how much it will be and retirement. I keep meaning to look at kitchens and then never get round to it!

MovingForwards

Thanks SW the price will depend on what you want and how much work is involved to fit everything.

Every time I finished doing something and sat down, I got itchy feet to crack on with doing something, anything. This is why I don't really rest enough during the better weather!

I've gardened three times, went back out to harvest things for SIL and went round to hers; we all went to the park, mini me had a fab time.

On top of that I'm searching online for a few things for the flat and building, looking up paint colours, glanced at shower rooms but knew I'd be browsing for hours. Costing things, checking budgets, checking weekend weather, planning what to sow tomorrow, checked growing seedlings.

I've totally overdone it, but finally slowed down.

We had beef stew, homegrown veg, and mashed spuds, about to have ice cream for pudding.

savingholmes

Food sounds yummy. The plans will help with your budget and help you dream of a better future - there or elsewhere.

atrixa

Bathroom plans sound great. Completely with you on the taps and wall panel thingies. They look easier to maintain than tile and I bet they're cheaper/easier to install, too.

MovingForwards

Thanks SH and Atrixa

The tile board things have been discussed a bit in the DIY section. Aunt and uncle have them in their bungalow, it looks clean and fresh with minimal effort.

The flat is in a great location for getting around up here and building wise only needs time spending rather than loads of money. 

Being mortgage free would mean I could personally save £12k a year, which would quickly replenish a potential mortgage deposit, let alone adding in the money from TomBo each month.

I'm not convinced TomBo really wants to move either at this stage, I'm more thinking of the future and my health, prioritising that which makes it a hard decision.