Watty's Awakening

beanielou

Good idea to just go ahead with someone who you like & who turns up. Priceless. 

greenbee

Honestly, if you've managed to get someone to turn up and they're coming up with information that makes sense now you've done your research, then go with it. Getting lots of quotes can be time-consuming and confusing as they are rarely comparable. And once you have an electrician/plumber/builder that you like you tend to keep using them anyway!

Agree on the alarm - disconnect it and then get a couple of camera. I've got an Arlo system here (which I brought from the last house), and put Blink cameras in at my mum's. My brother has a couple of Nest cameras. There are plenty of options, all of which will work. I even keep the 'dead' old cameras to put up as decoys - if you talk to the police/crime prevention people they'll tell you that they work best as a deterrent. I also find them handy as I get alerts on my phone so know when people have come into the drive (which means if deliveries are early I can get up and dressed quickly, or if I'm at the end of the garden I can come back to the house.

I know it seems like every job highlights something else, but I think you're probably just in the zone for getting stuff done. So get it done, and then you can get on with your life.

And on that note, I'm going to go and look at my list and see what I can do to get things ticked off it!

Watty1

Thanks for the comments and the advice.  The house is freezing so I keep popping into the office where I have put an electric radiator, but, in between that I have finished repairing and re-grouting the bathroom tiles. Really pleased with this as the cracks are gone and the chipped tiles don't show.   (Poly cell tile fix and grout repair was wonderful for both jobs) and refitted the lights.  Cleaned the room up and returned the odd item then will make a start on the main bedroom where I want to remove the vinyl that is coming away from the fitted furniture. Eventually the fitted furniture will be repainted but just not yet and then cut the roller blind to fit the window recess and if the VNM has finished his course ask him to help me put in the last of the blue light sockets.    

Whilst keeping warm though I am going to look at replacement doors for fitted furniture as it might be a better option than painting them. The quotes for spraying the furniture were over £1000 with the highest coming in at £1900 so I have been thinking about leaving the frames and just painting the drawers and doors.   

Watty1

Well the furniture being repainted for sure now as that is the cheapest option.

Quote for all painting all 2 x patio doors and the outside windows doing the boards under the guttering and repointing and fixing the brickwork where needed is in and the decorator will stay on and start the windows when she has finished inside and the pointing starts next weekend.    (Builder is saving his house deposit so working at weekends at mine to boost his savings pot which I do so admire).

KajiKita

This is all coming on really well 😊👏

KK

greenbee

When you've finished with your builder can you send him over please? Mine didn't turn up last week to look at what needs doing and I REALLY need the dog flap turned into a cat flap and the sitting room door blocked up. 

Watty1

@greenbee will do.  He was a lucky find. He built a two bedroom annex opposite so I had had a chance to see his work beforehand and chatted to him occasionally about how it was going so I felt he would be a good bet and with him being keen to make his money for his first house he quotes and turns up.  Possibly helps that he is friends with next door too!

Watty1

Despite being busy at work I needed to sort out a new lock and handle for the front door which is being painted.  As the door is almost done the lock / handle combination needed to be slightly bigger than existing or same size.

Sounded simple enough but proved impossible.   Ended up with the most wonderful little trade shop that specialises in such things who concluded the handle I have is lovely but broken and he couldn't suggest anything but would look through his supplies and then email me.  As I was leaving he said why not call in at the blacksmiths round the corner.  Finally found blacksmiths after driving around a very odd yard and wahoo the blacksmith thinks he can fix the lock and handle.  He agreed it was a beautiful elegant lock and handle combo and worth saving.  We agreed it would be no more than £100 

I am so pleased with this.  A lock and handle for the door would have most likely been over this and the one I have will look, once restored wonderful again. 

Bargainhunter30

Well done Watty, you are proving you can do amazing things alone and live a rich life 😁

savingholmes

Bargainhunter30 said:

Well done Watty, you are proving you can do amazing things alone and live a rich life 😁

So agree with this. You are being very resourceful and developing your skills and contacts. All good.