Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

savingholmes

My waterfall... So pleased it's working again.

beanielou

Wow, that is awesome 

savingholmes

Chrystal said:

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

Crystal - I really appreciate your comment about not jumping too quickly to 'sell mode'. I could have a new kitchen for what it would cost to move... and that's before the costs of customising the next place to what I want or any potential extra mortgage / loan costs. I have a lot to think about.

Because I'm looking for something quite specific in terms of countryside views - not many come on the market that fit my desired description. I've asked one of today's valuers to chase a viewing on a property I'm interested in. It's the best of what's within an hour's drive of work. It has a gorgeous setting but I worry it may be too small - but at least then I'd know. One of the agent's that came today wasn't 'no sale no fee' unless I paid £1K more than their medium price so it makes it all the more important to be sure before going ahead. I doubt I'd go ahead with that model as she also casually told me about properties they'd over valued by £25K which then hadn't sold and had to be reduced. That's a huge difference in price... I very much got the feeling today that they come with a set figure in mind and just check you've not done anything outlandish to the property.

At least everything's as sorted as it's going to be for tomorrow's valuation. Just need to put the outdoor cushions back out in the morning. The new ones I bought yesterday looked lovely. My cleaner really loved my new plants out the front too. She'd been eyeing up the same cushions. I am working tomorrow so the valuer is coming at lunchtime. 

I am completely wiped tonight. I had to laugh at myself this morning as I should have been at least attempting to rush around to get everything ready - and instead made my knicker and sock drawer perfect... Erm hello???

Good luck with your decluttering - I'd say look for and pay for help if you can. Ask friends for recommendations. It's been eye opening how little the handyman costs compared to what he gets done. You become blind to your own stuff. Take photos before you start and try the 15 minutes timer trick or the one hour better model. Anything that works for you.

savingholmes

beanielou said:

Wow, that is awesome 

Thanks for your encouragement as ever, Beanie.

Blackcats

Had to laugh at the sock and knicker drawer tidying.  

You will have some useful figures from the valuations to help with your thinking.  

Moving house is such a chicken and egg situation - find somewhere new and then go on the market or vice versa?  The property market round here is odd at the moment - some places are gone in a flash and others are sticking for ages and there's nothing in the middle.  I always search on RM by newest listed and that really highlights the speed of the market.

savingholmes

Thanks Blackcats. The ones I like there tends to be heavy competition for.

After the therapeutic fold of the laundry items and any hanging of other clothing - I did get back with the programme and do more visible stuff. It is why I struggle to get things done in house organisation terms. I do a little in every room and congratulate myself where I'd be better off focusing on one room at a time. I even wrote a list a week or two ago of the priority items - but then only noticed it on the fridge today when I realised most of them were still outstanding... Oops... 

savingholmes

Yesterday after accounting for their fee I got £4.87 in cashback from S-dr. Today I got over £20 in interest from my B saver. That effectively means I got about an hour's worth of passive income this month. I need to look into getting an ISA  - as the very welcome £ from nwide - could tip me over the £500 interest income threshold when I combine it with my planned savings over the year. It looks like the tax office sort that automatically though so perhaps I needn't worry. When I've looked into ISAs previously the rate difference doesn't seem worth it but I will look again. 

My mortgage has gone out so now owe around £657 less. 

I kept waking through the night so finally got up. It's been a while since I pushed myself as hard as I have this week so I am still tired. Glad I've only got 2 days to work until the weekend. 

Yesterday I put another crate and a bag of stuff in the car to go to charity. It's lovely waking up to a clear surface bedroom. I had to hide boxes of stuff in wardrobes or DS's bedroom to achieve some of that but it is still progress. My cleaner also moved some stuff to the garage and shed for me. I can now tackle it a box at a time. I'll need to put the cushions back outside before the valuer comes. It's due to be nice weather again here today. Not used to that in half term week! The birds have a lively chorus going on. It's lovely to see them come and bathe in the pond.

I am seeing a friend for tea tonight. I've not seen her in over a year so that will be special. Need to consider what I can take as a mini gift.

I've ordered some pond dye and a water lily feed. I will look for some more marginal pond plants. Even if I decide to sell I'lll have a few months of enjoyment from them. 

Have a lovely day y'all.

jwil

Have a lovely day.  The waterfall is beautiful.

I agree with not rushing to buy/sell unless you see something perfect for you.  You've done so much to your house, it will be like a different property soon and you might find it's good for day to day life combined with some lovely weekend/weeks away like you've been doing recently.  Dealing with the clutter will give you more headspace to concentrate on your writing and art and all the other things you do to relax.

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil.

Today's valuation was disappointing. I would go with the first out of those 3 or would choose a free one. Today's valuer seemed very patronising and dismissive.

I did however watch little tits with pale bellies splash in my waterfall as I ate breakfast. A squirrel also ran up and down along the fence. That was lovely. I caught the wildlife on film too.

Had a lovely time with my friend. I took her a plant basket with bedding plants in it. She gave me a belated birthday present of a decorative pebble. I will put it by my pond.

Glad I just have one day's work before the weekend.

SandyShores

Sorry to hear about your last estate agent's attitude savingholmes.  I've dealt with some really lovely ones and some really naff ones.  The naff ones seem to be a bit like doctors receptionists, they don't need any qualifications but feel that they yield a lot of power.  And they seem to get confused about who the customer is (i.e. you paying them commission).  You definitely don't want to be dealing with (or giving any money to) anyone who seems patronising and dismissive.  Hopefully they'll ring you back to find out if you'll be listing with them and you can give them some feedback.

Here's to one more day before the week end