Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

selloptape

Good luck with the viewing today

jwil

Good luck with the viewing!  Have a lovely day.

You've made huge amounts of progress over the last two years, it's amazing.

Last I heard one of the ballots was going to be carrying on until well into October, so I don't think the pay settlement is forthcoming.

lucielle

Fingers crossed the house ticks all the boxes. 

L

SuperSecretSquirrel

Best of luck today SH!

doingitanyway

I hope the viewing goes well.

EssexHebridean

Hope all goes well with the viewing and the house is “the one” - and massive congrats to DD for her driving test pass too - superb news! 

savingholmes

Chrystal said:

Hoping that things go your way tomorrow, and you get some positive outcomes.  It's hard to believe it's nearly 2 years  since your split with Ex, seems like five minutes ago! .... having said that you have moved mountains since then, so it's my sense of time that's scewed!
Really pleased that DD passed her driving test, it will make life a lot easier for both of you, and help her sense of independence (and self worth)  Did she move in with Ex or somewhere else? (((hugs))) XX

Thanks on the moved mountains. It's definitely been a slog at times - but I still think easier and happier than if we'd stayed together.

DD has a BF - so part that and part in the process of moving to Ex's house that he doesn't live in now he's remarried. It was always the plan she'd move out when she passed her test - the BF just accelerated things (he already had a car). It's made my life easier. I'm glad she has the independence with passing her test - and it was part of why I gave her money towards a car to give her a head start. Her insurance went up about a grand when she changed address though so that was a wakeup call for her. We try to consciously meet up and spend time together now - like the day of her test. She's still coming back here to do her washing so I still see her every week at the moment - sometimes several times a week. We agreed a while ago that she needed a 'bridge' between places to help her with the transition period. She sometimes still returns here to entertain friends. Most of her clothes and other belongings have gone now which is slightly surreal. 

DancingInTheRain said:

I'm pleased to read the extra meds have helped yesterday. You really have achieved so much over the last 2 years, well done. Congratulations to DD on passing her test too, it will benefit you with her being more independent. Really hope today goes your way, good luck. Also sending positive thoughts for the next few weeks at work.

Thanks Dancing. I spoke to BIL who understands the kind of work I've had to do recently and helped me put some things into context and gave me some technical 'language' I can use... Will see if things improve.

skint_spice said:

Have a great day with your sister, I hope there are many positive noises from her.

Well done on all your achievements over the last couple of years🎉🎉🎉

Thanks Skint. I have to be grateful for how far I've come and DD and DS.

savingholmes

selloptape said:

Good luck with the viewing today

Thanks Sellotape. Thanks too to Lucielle, SSS, Jwil, DIA and EH.

jwil said:

Good luck with the viewing!  Have a lovely day.

You've made huge amounts of progress over the last two years, it's amazing.

Last I heard one of the ballots was going to be carrying on until well into October, so I don't think the pay settlement is forthcoming.

Yes - I did wonder about the third ballot - they did the same last year like they are being deliberately awkward. Likely to be Xmas again then. An inbuilt savings plan even if someone else gets the interest instead of us!

DD work up ill so didn't come with me in the end.TBH not sure where I am on the house search. I still adore the views. We ended up on a single track road for the last mile to a mile and half that I didn't remember from last week so there may be a way to avoid it. It's not single track all of that distance - it just keeps narrowing and then widening which is equally freaky.

BIL and Sis ended up buying a house last year that needed a lot of work. They knew some of it from the survey but there were hidden surprises. Unfortunately, they think this house has quite a few of those.

So if I start with outside - there is a three tiered garden with the second layer having decking and posts and rails. The decking is rotten and the rails unreliable. They could therefore be a major hazard for me - and I'd have to spend money to resolve that. I didn't get to explore the garden last week so this was the first time. Having said that - I like having a wildlife friendly garden to look at rather than sit out in much (I hate insects, light can be too intense and I over-heat easily). I'm therefore not too worried about the tiers themselves - especially the top tier which is mostly grass currently - as I'd just make sure there were pretty plants / shrubs /evergreens lining the sides of the garden and the back fence to give privacy and interest. I would have to do something about the decking and post though - and BIL felt because it was on a raised tier that would be harder to resolve. Some of the protective barriers to stop you/kids falling down tiers was also too flimsy.

The roof triangle on the conservatory/orangery has blown so would need to resolve that. It smelt very strongly of dog downstairs today but that should sort over time. Sis felt they'd used a weird counter top in the kitchen it is very thin - and she felt it would not stand up to every day use. The main downstairs rooms are nice but the integral door to the garage is in an understairs cupboard that also has coats in it so was a bit odd. You wouldn't be able to do my wardrobe sliding doors on the lounge idea we don't think (to create an inner hall and give more privacy to the lounge) - although it could be an option between the inner work space type room and the orangery. There was no slot for a dishwasher in the kitchen - so would have to resolve that - although could have a washer drier if needed to help with that. 

The stairs according to BIL and Sis are bad. They think they are very steep and narrow and that I'm likely to slip and fall on them. They also creaked a lot right from the bottom. The top banister rail / protection board isn't high enough to meet modern standards - and given I am ultra clumsy - could present an issue. That might be resolveable by fixing something to it. When you get to the upstairs the floor of the landing isn't remotely level and sis and BIL think every joist upstairs needs supporting work. Every floor board is tremendously creaky and bowing away from the joist. They know as they uncovered the same issue in their house unexpectedly after they bought it. They reckon that could easily cost £2K an upstairs room to fix (so 3 bedrooms plus bathroom) - and at least 2 days per room with 2 people working on it. They also think the landing ceiling is experiencing a similar issue. The owners claimed to have re-roofed - but sis wonders if the roof joists also have an issue - or if the house has dipped somehow at some point. Sis and BIL felt there was no workable way of putting in an ensuite without sacrificing too much off a bedroom and therefore reducing long term saleability.

And breathe... 

savingholmes

We went to a nearby country park and had a picnic while the kids played, ran around etc - while we pondered next steps.

She's going to go with me to a second viewing of one more local on Monday lunchtime - which will be interesting with my workload!! I've already agreed time out in principle with my boss though for viewings and said I'd just work my hours differently to fit them in. The more local house had great views, is on for £35K less, has better quality workmanship but felt a lot smaller. She thinks I'm still falling into the trap of narrowing my house search prematurely - and that I need to be careful of moving without securing the 'right' property. Sis thinks I need to look at more expensive houses - £25-50K more expensive with a view to bargaining them down. She's going to help with that as it's not my strength - I have to much empathy for the seller. 

I feel like I have an impossible set of criteria

• Great views
• Not overlooked 
• Decent quality and energy efficiency - or easy to overcome issues
• Preferably existing ensuite and downstairs toilet
• Preferably multiple reception rooms - if elements are open plan - ideally not including the kitchen - Kitchen devices are very noisy - and can waft smells around the space that can linger.
• I would prefer kitchen diner as don't want to waste a room on a dining table
• Need at least 2 double bedrooms (one big enough for a superking) and a separate work from home / art space (or ideally both)
• Decent garden 
• Planned storage spaces
• Ideally a cul de sac. I'm noise sensitive. I'm woken by trains here and by a neighbour 2 doors up who is often on call overnight and goes out. I'd struggle more if I was on a busy road. Many modern estates are far too big and connected - increasing the likelihood of cars and even pedestrians going past noisily in the night.
• Nearby corner shop
• Be aware of air quality - so try not to be too close to major roads. Spotted a pretty house earlier - and then noticed there was a motorway very close to it... erm that would be no then
• Ideally not too far from hospital, shops etc

beanielou

I think that you can rule out that house then.