Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

savingholmes

MovingForwards said:

You're doing so well decluttering and tidying. The proposed stay / move encouragement has come at the right time in your life.

Make use of maps and 3arth to check out the immediate area as that could save money rather than the expense of going to viewings and immediately ruling a property out.

With the weekends away, if DD does move out take care away with you. They'll get to explore a new property, can look out at different views and when you're both back home the outdoor adventures will carry on. There's plenty of places that do allow cats, for a small fee.

Embrace the swimming and classes, use that as downtime and chill out. Can't have you running out of steam.

I will get there it just feels endless currently. I'm proud of what I've achieved though even if there is a long way to go. 

I use street view as my default on RM - as you say - clever angles hide a multitude of sins.

I worry my cat is a bit destructive - he likes to sharpen his claws on anything available so can't imagine taking him with me.

I'm loving the swimming... 

Sunshine_girl2

I did SH , I wondered where I had put the comment , now I know. 

All the decluttering is sounding very good , as whether you move or not it's all for the good . They swimming sounds lovely as well. 

SandyShores

When we sold the last house I was amazed at how unbothered the estate agents were about the photos.  So I made them retake them whilst I cleared stuff out of the way for the angles they wanted.  I only had to clear a few things and then put them back again and it made such a difference.  And then you see properties online where they haven't even made the beds or have left clothes on the floor and/or clothes horses full of clothes etc.  It sounds like you are enjoying the results of your decluttering, so maybe if the price is right just advertise and see what happens - the right person might turn up.  But if not, you can keep decluttering and working on the house anyway, and if you need to relist in the future you'll be ready for those professional photos.  Sounds like you are making such good progress, I'm really pleased for you.

EssexHebridean

@SandyShores see also "left the toilet seat up" - aaarghhh! 

savingholmes

Thanks EH, Sunshinegirl2 and Sandy

Well the cleaner and I made heroic efforts today and made it look respectable - even if there is plenty more clutter left to resolve.

One valuation down - two more to go.  One later today and one at lunchtime tomorrow. The EA didn't think I'd have any trouble selling.

jwil

Well done on today's progress.  Hope you get good news from the valuations.

DancingInTheRain

Well done on the progress made x

Chrystal

I would just say try not to jump in too quickly to the 'sell' mode.  Get your house the way you always wanted it to be and live in it that way for a few months before you make any decisions. 

Remember it cost thousands of £ for buying and selling, and that money could just turn the house you already live in into your perfect home (and you'll get to keep your cleaner and handyman!  ) 

Great that you've got so much decluttering done.  I'm left feeling really guilty that I've so much to do and not a smidgen of oomph! and I also need to get this done to decide whether to 'love it or list it'
(REALLY wish I had your cleaner and handyman)  ((((hugs)))) XXX

beanielou

Well done 
Also wish I had your cleaner & handyman.

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil, Beanie, Dancing and Crystal

I felt walked off my feet yesterday and today. I didn't do any more yesterday evening as I was too wiped. Both EAs seemed relaxed about the clutter - albeit it wasn't photo day. There's plenty more to do. They loved my cottage style garden, my paintings and the amount of light in the property. Their figures were in a similar range to z00pla with one near the bottom end and one closer to the top. There was a £25k difference between the two though. I trust the one coming tomorrow more so we'll see what she says. I am expecting her to be closer to the lower number. I also don't know whether to do my own viewings or not from a safety perspective or whether it would just be easier and safer to let the EA do it.

I was showing family before and after pictures of the garden from two years ago and a year ago and the difference is astonishing as it had got all over grown. Where my veg patch is now was a mass of waist high weeds, my pond area and the path behind it was also all over-grown. A lot to celebrate. 

The handyman turned up just as the first valuer left. He painted the worst bits of the fence and gate. If any more needs painting - I need to buy another tin. He got me a secondhand pump for £20 - and I gave him an extra fiver as I know he's been looking for a while for me. He got my 'waterfall' working...  I'll see if I can take a piccie and share later - the sun was at the wrong angle earlier... It now means I have a mini waterfall feeding via a short rill to my pond. Best of all he was able to connect it to the existing electrics and I didn't need an electrician to do that part which I thought I would. If I want to put lights in (if I was staying) I'd need an electrician to put extra sockets in.

I am very grateful to my handyman and cleaner and gave my cleaner a little extra too. The handyman said he'd bring me a load of free cobbles next time he comes to add to the pond area. (He's given me some previously too). I am very excited about that. I need to buy some pond cleaning solution. I am considering wildlife friendly black dye to help deal with and prevent algae. Too many choice on Am**** so if anyone has a recommendation as to which to get and how long that's likely to last that would be fab... I may also go looking for some marginal plants. My most local garden centre doesn't have a wide range so I may go further afield to look at the weekend.