SLLM (Single Lady Large Mortgage)

EndlessStruggle

I've been so busy, I haven't had time to check in.

I've only been able to get one other person for quotes at the moment as everyone is so busy.

I got humidity meters for the house and I hadn't even noticed but it was so damp in here.

It was reading in the 70s and 80s but with a good dehumidifier I've got it down to the 40s/50s.

Only bad point is drawing out the moisture has cracked some of the plaster so I'll be doing some filling before I paint.

I've had quotes for the roof - £1412 vs £4150.... Quite the difference there haha. 

I've also had some quotes for other jobs but the total is well over £9000. 

I'm deciding to only have a new bedroom window, repair to rendering at front as it has caused a damp issue and properly resealing the back windows. That'll be about £1700 of work in total.

So along with the refelting of the roofs it's £3100 as a starting point...

Sistergold

@EndlessStruggle, 70-80a humidity is high for sure. Good you got a good dehumidifier! Good for drying laundry too so it’s not a bad investment at all. 

Yes the roof quotes seem quite different, did they quote for the same schedule of works? 

Looks like you could easily spend £20k on what you have listed above. House ownership? Sometimes you just go through a phase of spend spend spend?  

EndlessStruggle

Yes it was very high, probably due to the full gutters and it not been ventilated whilst it was empty for 4 months.

The difference is that the house feels so much nicer as it isn't damp! 

It just needed the moisture sucking out and it has been fine since with some ventilation and that running when needed.

I leave it set to 55 downstairs and tend to do 50 in the bedroom and it shuts off when it reaches it and then checks in 30 mins.

It'll be even better when I've got my windows sorted and sealed from the draughts and I won't have to use the dehumidifier hardly except for washing. 

The problem I'm having is one tradesman tells me I need a long list of things done and another comes along who says no that doesn't need doing they are trying to get more money out of you.

So I'm going with what 100% needs doing and then I'll see about the rest.

It is exactly the same job except the most expensive one also wanted to do my main roof and my soffits/fascias/guttering too but I told him I only wanted the flats done and he came back with that figure.

Sistergold

@EndlessStruggle, true you can not allow the roof and windows to be having issues as you need house to be water and draught tight. I keep one dehumidifier in the bathroom set at 50  plus or minus. The second dehumidifier goes wherever I am drying laundry. 

Some workman do tend to come and turn a small job into a big one thereby escalating costs. This is annoying if really you don’t need to do the said items but they try and make it look like it’s urgent to do it. 

badmemory

I love my dehumidifier.  My son sometimes takes 30 min showers, an extractor fan just doesn't even come close.  If I had known when I bought it just how great it would be I would have spent more & got one with a % cut out as it is I use a humidity meter & keep an eye on it.  It has been going a few years now what a find it was.  It was one of those "oh what the h***"  I am going to try it buys.  Got it home thinking oh no what have I done.  Unlike the normal me I had not read anything about them, it was totally out of character.

lantanna

Got my mortgage approved during the week, £138950 big enough for me! My completion date is August 19th at the minute. I’m putting in a 21 per cent deposit which I’ve got to save about 5k of yet.  

I hope to overpay £250per month in my first year and then I’ll review it. Itching to get started! Hoping you ladies will keep me on the right track. 

Sistergold

Congratulations 🥳 @lantanna on the mortgage approval! August, still some way to go but I am sure time will pass quickly! £250 OP is a good starting target! Gets addictive somewhat and it’s nice to see the numbers going down! 

lantanna

Thanks yes it will fly in.  £250 is def the max I can go for the first year without overstretching myself. At 42 I’m pretty late getting a mortgage so lots of work to be done to get shot of it so I can save for retirement.

Sistergold

@Lantana, you are only 42yrs young so still young enough, 🥰, 

Sistergold

Bro laddies
Today was mortgage payment day. Mortgage payed £1955 plus £1000 OP. 

Balance now 👇🏾