SLLM (Single Lady Large Mortgage)

curlywurly82

@EndlessStruggle the joys of home ownership and all those initial things that become apparent.

Comgrstulations on your new home!

I have today arranged for the electrician to return for the final fix for the light installation in the conservatory.

As i was having a proper roof i decides i would take the opportunity to put a light in there as there were plug sockets and a radiator connected to the central heating but no light. 

I also need to replace the radiator in there as i think the current one leaks, it is also rusty at the bottom. 

EndlessStruggle

Yeah I'm discovering all the quirks as I go along.

There are a lot of jobs to be done but none are immediate or serious issues, it's all maintenance that has been neglected.

The house was a rental for about 15 years and they just haven't maintained it as well as you would if it was your own home. 

We have a fantastic appliance shop here and he promises to beat the big suppliers and he also sells refurbed ovens.

I actually had the same problem the first time I used my oven at my rental, I turned it on and it blew the electrics as it was faulty so I'm beginning to wonder if I'm cursed with ovens haha.

Sistergold

ha ha ha @EndlessStruggle, I think some people just don’t use the oven much? So maybe when you move in you then use it for the first time in who knows how long and it blows? The hob and maybe microwave is most used maybe as easy to clean and quick to cook? Yes a rental property is likely to not be well maintained. Some tenants find it a hustle to let a renovation be done and so if they stay for years the place will not be touched for years! Lucky you have a good local supplier and you are familiar with your local area. C

EndlessStruggle

I've just been in and it was £479 for the oven, delivery, disconnection and disposal of old one and connection of the new one. 

Cheaper than ao and other big chains by at least £20 so can't go wrong. 

Spoken to a few electricians about getting some new light fittings, due to age of house and houses round here they all want asbestos checks on the ceiling so luckily I've got the bloke coming so will get those done too.

Sistergold

You are making great progress @EndlessStruggle! 🥁

Sistergold

Progress update
gas engineer has just left. To move boiler from kitchen to garage £700! Tried negotiating down he did not budge! I must say haggling has never been my strong point. So the old boiler will be kept but he will put new flu, add pipe work to come from garage etc. I feel it’s expensive but what can I do? He has done several jobs for me and I would rather he did it than start shopping around incase I bring in a cowboy. I am happy though as it will mean one step closer to kitchen refit. It also means extra cupboard space so yey! 🥳

EndlessStruggle

Wow that is pricey.

I fear my boiler engineer will tell me I need a new boiler, I think that is always the fear at a service though ha.

The board turned out to be wood but he took two samples from ceilings to test. 

At first glance he said he doesn't think they are the original ceilings and they don't look too old so hopeful they aren't asbestos but likely they are.

Will find out in a few days.

I've also noticed that the windows have hardly any sealant around them, inside or outside which might explain why they all had so much condensation to wipe off.

Another job to get done.

Sistergold

@EndlessStruggle, that will be lucky if it’s not asbestos 

badmemory

I am not sure that is really expensive.  About 14 years ago it cost me over £500 just to put a new larger gas pipe through from the meter to the boiler.  Have you looked at the price of the pipework recently?  It's enough to make you faint.

Sistergold

Thanks @badmemory maybe that’s okay then?  He did ague that materials alone were expensive etc so I then left trying to negotiate price down. I never want to squeeze someone down so that they end up working for next to nothing. I do understand that life is expensive for everyone especially more so in London. The good thing is he always comes when he says he will.