SLLM (Single Lady Large Mortgage)

savingholmes

Hi @EndlessStruggle
Good luck. I would want to change that username to something more positive

curlywurly82

Hello @EndlessStruggle. Welcome to the thread :-)

I upgraded my one bed flat in the summer to a 3 bed with a much larger mortgage! In a similar situation with a fair amount of decorating required.

Jush had a new roof on the conservatory as storms in the Autumn damaged the existing polycarbonate. Not a cost i was expecting bit it will make the room more useable in the winter. 

Friday1989

Congratulations on the new house @EndlessStruggle What are your plans for the extra space? 

I've definitely had the same experience with tradespeople! I think they are just so busy they can pick and choose what they want to take and unless your job fits with what they want (e.g. a one day job between jobs or want a longer project) then they just don't bother contacting you. 

EndlessStruggle

Hey everyone. I know I should change it but it reminds me how things have improved ha.

I'm currently in a 2 bedroom quarter house with 3 noisy neighbours and thin walls and moving to a 3 bed detached chalet bungalow.

I always wanted a 3 bed but finding what I wanted was near impossible so this house was perfect as it ticked all the boxes.

House prices here are so unstable. 3 beds are anywhere from 220-500k so it depends what you need from the house and where it is.

My house was also underpriced by the EA, a rare thing I know! I had it valued a couple of times and they've all said it should have been 20k or 25k more, even with the issues.

I guess as it was tenanted and it looks really shabby comapred to the surrounding houses but the work need doing isn't too bad.

The house next door just sold for 40k more, although it is slightly modernised and some walls have been moved a few feet, the difference is minimal. It's the same floor plan. 

There were so many people interested in it I was surprised I wasn't gazumped. I put down a 27% deposit and a FTB so that probably had a lot to do with it as they wanted a quick sale to free up capital.

I've got a long list of jobs need doing - guttering, fascia/soffits, stop !!!!!! needs replacing, resealing showers, fake fireplace needs removing and hole plastering, every room needs repainting, every carpet is worn and needs to be removed, both dormers are near end of life, other small roofing repairs, repointing and more bits and bobs. 

I've got a budget for this so it's just getting it done.

There is a lot to be done so I was surprised he wasn't keen to quote as I told him I can be totally flexible and he can slot in an hour/few hours or a day whenever he wants. I'll move onto the next handyman. 

I own my own online business and the downstairs bedroom has a wall length/width window into the garden so that will be my my office/den.

Luckily the new house is just 5 mins drive from this one so I have been slowly moving the bulk across a car load at a time.

I've got a man with van coming tomorrow at 9am to take all the big items away, either to the house or the tip and the internet engineer will be coming in the afternoon.

I'll be sleeping there from tomorrow onwards, on a mattress until my bed base comes on Tuesday.

Sorry this has turned into an essay! 

Friday1989

I didn't realise you were a FTB. Even more exciting! It sounds like you got a good deal and have the vision to see the house's full potential. I have the vision but sadly not the motivation...

Just looking into Unf00k Your Habitat at the moment because clearly my monthly day of cleaning is not working (I'm not doing it) so maybe I should try this 'a little each day' thing. I have so many unfinished jobs (table and only one of four chairs put up, still have the awful curtains from the man who lived here before me, need to get a carpenter to quote for cupboards so I can actually put things away etc). I'm sometimes shocked by how functional I am at work yet how unfunctional I am at life things. Bills are always paid but, apart from that, there are times everything else is neglected. 

Sistergold

Friday1989 said:

I'm sometimes shocked by how functional I am at work yet how unfunctional I am at life things. Bills are always paid but, apart from that, there are times everything else is neglected. 

My excuse is I don’t get paid for house work 🤷‍♀️ So I postpone. The honest truth after work one can be so tired and
demotivated. Especially with children it’s not just my mess and I have to be starting again each time 😏

badmemory

I miss my cleaner.  I used to have one years ago but I need a massive declutter before I could have one now.  The great thing about having a cleaner is that you feel the need to tidy before they turn up, so kills 2 birds with one stone.  One of these days!!!!

Friday1989

@Sistergold I genuinely do not understand how single mothers who work manage work, parenting and managing a home. I can barely do two out of three! I'm starting to realise why my mum got me vacuuming, dusting and washing up as a kid now! 

@badmemory I keep thinking how much I'd love a cleaner to come once or twice a month but, like you say, you need to tidy first! 

Friday1989

badmemory said:

I miss my cleaner.  I used to have one years ago but I need a massive declutter before I could have one now.  

There's a decluttering challenge on the old style money saving board. I've just joined 

Sistergold

@badmemory you are so right. Since I moved I have wanted a cleaner a few days a week too and what has kept me form organising one is initially I felt I need to be tidy first, then it became I need to be tidy first and also we need to get over covid. With those two reasons it’s unlikely I will hire a cleaner anytime soon. A cleaner will definitely make me tidy all round.