SLLM (Single Lady Large Mortgage)

Sistergold

@Felicityfandangle, that’s the thing, you pay through the nose after they have messed you about to even come, they do a shoddy job and still you discover you are no better off! I coughed out £60k and I am still scratching my head where to start! Knowing how to use a drill was the best thing I ever did for my self and the £1k I spent on power tools is the best money I have spent so far on this house! 

When I was quoted £20k for the perimeter wall I did wonder how difficult it can be to bricklay? I have considered doing a course on brick laying I must say! 

Sistergold

@slm6002, you said you wanted to decide one big bedroom into two? I can say it might not be that hard to actually put a stud wall if you put you mind to it. Certainly less daunting than plumbing as plumbing CAN go wrong! 

Felicityfandangle

@Sistergold it's probably a really good workout too! What did you decide? Will you do the course?
I have been really lucky, my dad let me use power tools since I was probably about 10 and he always said mixing concrete was 'woman's work'. He was only joking but still it was usually me that did the knocking up! I just never knew a time when I didn't do my own 'handyman' jobs which I am eternally grateful to my dad for. I tried to instil the same in my daughters. I think it's probably more important for girls, we're so conditioned to need a 'man' for those things and it's just not true! Of course there are men that aren't gifted in the diy department but it has a different connotation somehow if you have boy bits and you can't put a shelf up straight. 
Anyway I think I've gotten a bit soft. A decade ago I wouldn't have thought twice about giving bricklaying a go.

Sistergold

@Felicityfandangle, I will definitely go for the brick laying course if they do weekend blocks like they did with plumbing. I will look into booking it soon. You are so lucky your dad gave you a few skills in the diy department. Bricklaying will definitely be money saving for me and as a perimeter wall is not a house it’s not the end of the world if it’s a bit wonky. 🤔

Felicityfandangle

Kudos @Sistergold! I will look forward to keeping up with your progress. 😀

Sistergold

This morning in my garden 

LadyWithAPlan

Morning ladies, your garden looks gorgeous.
@Sistergold

I have never learnt any diy skills annoyingly beyond the painting and decorating ones. I am very creative abs have always hand painted my walls.. As in with  designs, layers of paint etc. 

I think brick laying sounds fun and doable.. Its the power tools that freak me out.. 
I will go do a couple of courses as suggested. 
@Felicityfandangle wonky shelves sounds fun as long as things don't slide off. 

Not put an offer in yet as I was away at the weekend and away all week now as well bar today.. Want to see it again but I am definitely thinking of doer upper even though its leasehold not share of freehold. Did not think about being less competition. I will put a much lower offer in as the initial works wil cost at least 20k for a new conservatory, floors, plastering plus the bathroom needs doing and really be good to tear down the wall between  the kitchen and dark lounge..

I could live in the chaos but think the conservatory really needs replacing ASAP. 

Felicityfandangle

@Sistergold, is that a heron. That's so cool!
@LadyWithAPlan I think you're going to love expanding you diy'ing skills. Once you get used to the power tools it'll open up a whole new world of making!
So.... I 've set up a £500 overpayment on my mortgage which is just about enough to pay it off before I hit 60 if I use my pension lump sum for the last bit. I'd like to improve on that but I feel like that's a good baseline to establish. That should leave me £6k for next year's home improvements (over the year) and I've got money saved up to finish the jobs I've got planned for the rest of this year which will be fine if I do my wall myself!!

Sistergold

@LadyWithAPlan, wow putting an offer that sounds exciting, and it’s on the doer upper? Well at least you can make it your own! Most of us ladies we have had to force ourselves to learn some skills as well also just managed to be painting previously. It’s good that you are creative as you can really make it all beautiful and personal! 

Sistergold

@Felicityfandangle, yes I think it’s a heron and I site it once in a while, beautiful!