Downsizing

SailorSam · 20 March 2015 at 1:08PM

I read your opening post 'cos i've thought about downsizing, saw the reasons you'd decided to stay and thought, yes that would put me off. But then have just come to the end and ............. you have gone. I think i'll go back and read the whole thread to see should i move to.

iris · 20 March 2015 at 2:28PM

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Completed!:T:T:j:j:beer::beer:

Congratulations Belinda

seven-day-weekend · 14 April 2015 at 11:29AM

Update: The bungalow needed more work doing than we expected.

The builder said it would be cheaper to knock the garage down and rebuild it (he showed us what was wrong with it, basically it had not been built properly in the first place). So it is gone. However, it lets so much more light into the kitchen diner that we are not replacing it.

Two floors needed the joists spraying with insecticide/fungicide and some in the kitchen diner need replacing. This was due to the previous owners blocking up airbricks so that there was no air circulation under the floor. This work has been started.

The kitchen diner patio door had no reinforcing lintel across the top, the whole gable end was resting on the window!:eek: It now has a sturdy RSJ in place.

Rewiring is taking place in two weeks, the little bit of plumbing on Thursday.

Our new windows are being installed on the 23rd April but we don't have to pay for them for a year

.

We have had the kitchen planned twice, but keep changing our minds so we are having it planned again on Friday

When finances allow we are having an orangery on the back, opening from the kitchen diner. This will give us a whole extra room, they do not have as much glass as conservatories so temperature control will be easier. Similar to this:

http://www.conservatories-extensions.com/wp-content/gallery/orangeries/orangery.jpg

Once all the work is done, we are fitting engineered oak flooring throughout (except the bathroom).

Much of the work has been caused by years of neglect and bungled DIY, however we don't mind all that much as we can get it done properly and it will look like our bungalow and not someone else's.

The garden is wonderful, it needs a good clear out but it is big and has mature shrubs and a couple of fruit trees.

I'm sure we'll be very happy there.

Savvy_Sue · 14 April 2015 at 5:36PM

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

The kitchen diner patio door had no reinforcing lintel across the top, the whole gable end was resting on the window!:eek: It now has a sturdy RSJ in place.

It never fails to amaze me how many times I hear of this happening. What ARE people thinking of?

pollypenny · 14 April 2015 at 5:40PM

That orangery looks lovely!

Lots of work to do, good thing you hadn't planned to move straight in, SDW?

It'll be great whe you have it as you want.

susiejq · 14 April 2015 at 5:40PM

I've just read the whole of this thread.
We are in our early 60's (me) and mid 60's (OH) and our DD has just announced she's not coming back from Uni leaving us free to relocate to somewhere that suits us better.

We do like where we live and our house but are car dependent. Also my OH's mobility is a problem and we think a bungalow would probably be a good bet.

We have had our house valued and if we move further north by an hour we are still going to be close enough to my parents and not too far from our DD. Property is cheaper and we can clear our mortgage. We've found a market town we like, researched it thoroughly, been and looked round, spoken to an estate agent and starting to feel excited. We need to make sure DD is settled in her new home, and working. We have a few jobs to do to our house before it goes on the market but for the first time in 20 years I think we're going to be on the move.

I keep looking at our house through the eyes of future possible purchasers - somehow, already it doesn't feel like mine anymore.

If anyone is interested I'll update as we go on - or start a new thread if that would be easier.

seven-day-weekend · 14 April 2015 at 5:57PM

susiejq wrote: »

I've just read the whole of this thread.
We are in our early 60's (me) and mid 60's (OH) and our DD has just announced she's not coming back from Uni leaving us free to relocate to somewhere that suits us better.

We do like where we live and our house but are car dependent. Also my OH's mobility is a problem and we think a bungalow would probably be a good bet.

We have had our house valued and if we move further north by an hour we are still going to be close enough to my parents and not too far from our DD. Property is cheaper and we can clear our mortgage. We've found a market town we like, researched it thoroughly, been and looked round, spoken to an estate agent and starting to feel excited. We need to make sure DD is settled in her new home, and working. We have a few jobs to do to our house before it goes on the market but for the first time in 20 years I think we're going to be on the move.

I keep looking at our house through the eyes of future possible purchasers - somehow, already it doesn't feel like mine anymore.

If anyone is interested I'll update as we go on - or start a new thread if that would be easier.

Hi, susie jq, I certainly would be interested - stick it on this thread if you like, it will be good to compare stories

pollypenny · 14 April 2015 at 9:30PM

That sounds exciting, susie. Good plan from a number of aspects.

lessonlearned · 15 April 2015 at 12:47AM

Loving the orangery.....my son has one on his house. I think they are fab.

Looking forward to reading your story too, Susie.

I'm currently living with my son but have now started looking for my own place. I have viewed a couple but not found "the one" yet.

seven-day-weekend · 17 May 2015 at 8:28AM

UUpdate: Bungalow now has new windows and the rewiring has been done. Floor joists have been spayed and the kitchen diner floor replaced. The plasterer is starting on Wednesday. The kitchen is being delivered on Monday, and will have to go in the shed, because of the plasterer

Speaking of which, we have a beautiful big shed (looks abit like a cabin) and have been working on what will be the veggie garden next year. My husband has repaired the fence at the top of the garden.

The lawned part of the garden is fine, we have really enjoyed sitting in it. It is twice as big as our existing garden and so private.

Once the plasterer has finished, the kitchen can be fitted and we can begin to think about moving in. Our existing house should be on the market by then.

The woodburner is being fitted on June 2nd.

There will still be a few odd jobs to do, like fitting some driveway gates and doing a proper step to the front door instead of the pile of bricks we have at the moment (there was a disabled ramp there when we bought it). The whole place needs re-rendering, but that will have to wait.

Still, should soon be in!

Downsizing

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