Help calm me. house buying and selling stress. Part 5

I've been up and busy for an hour now getting everything ready for our daughter's house viewing day, four properties in a morning. They left London at 5 am and should be here at 9 am if all goes to plan. I have a bag of PPE ready - homemade masks, hand gel, soapy water and towels. I couldn't find any gloves, so it will have to be plastic food bags held on their wrists with elastic bands. In London the agent supplied all the PPE, down here they have to provide their own.
We will try to socially distance ourselves at lunchtime to mull over the choices. In the meantime we will be in charge of the puppy and the children but will be out on the moors in the fresh air, so fingers crossed. Luckily it should be a bit cooler today.
I hope all goes well for you Luckygirl. This thread is brilliant for step by step support on property buying and a few random discussions too, usually on fixtures and fittings. It's great to be part of a friendly team!

Ellianne thank you. Hope your daughter and family have a safe journey and find a house they like.

Luckygirl everything crossed for you today. Hope they love it and want a quick sale.

Franbern hope everything goes well with your bathroom man. And work can be started soon. I know I can't wait for work to start on Monday. It will be lovely to stay with my daughter and family. At least I can keep my grandson occupied while she gets a few minutes to herself. Just have to remember not to be too loud as her husband is working upstairs. Afraid once we get started my grandson and me can get rather noisey.

Craftyone will look for your new thread.

Shandy57 hope you still have the positive vibes going. Enjoy looking for your new home with your feet up and a cup of something nice.

More weeding today for me.

Good news, Luckygirl, and we are all hoping things work out well and quickly for you. A cash buyer would be ideal. I know we don’t necessarily get the luck we deserve, but I am still hoping that in your case things are different.

Good luck Luckygirl. Good that the damage is sorted Franbern, and great doors Elliane, wow so much happening today!

Glad you're ok and the car is back Franbern. Good service.
Whiff no problem, it was £2,600. German make, a few people have stopped to admire it!
Fingers crossed for you Luckygirl. The property market is seeing a lot of action at the moment which is good. Our daughter and family are driving for 8 hours tomorrow to view a house they like the look of, plus a couple more. Hope it's not too hot in the car for kids and puppy dog.

Fingers and toes crossed Luckygirl.
Good big garage door, Ellianne, would not have done the damage with nice wide doors.
Hyundi main dealers services as helpful down here as the one in London. Car all done, back in my garage and they just charged me a hundred pounds. Could not thank them enough.

Totally over that shock now, needed a rest at home to recover. Feel very stupid firstly, that I did this damage, and secondly at my over-reaction. Whiff, I think you hit the nail on the head, in that I am not having to cope totally by myself anymore. Although I did have a daughter nearby in London, could not have contacted her in this way. She would have just told me to sort it out. She did not have the time (in the past) and could do nothing now as she is shielded, to be able to run around after me.

Tomorrow, my bathroom man is due to come, will be interesting to see what is going to be decided/sorted out then.

luckygirl, most definitely yes, everything is crossed for you. We do work collective magic on here and everyone has eventually sold

Ellianne I do like your garage doors too, they are cheerful

I have finished the sewing room, completely and am planning projects again. I have started a sewing thread on the arts and crafts forum. I will be spending some time making a body double of me

Someone coming to view my bungalow tomorrow - first one since my buyers dropped out a couple of weeks ago. Collective crossing of fingers please!!!

When I lived in the Midlands if I hit my head I would just tell myself off for being an idiot. I suppose it's knowing that you aren't on your own anymore. And you don't have do all.

Craftyone umbra flex things ordered thank you.

Ellianne your garage doors are lovely if you don't mind me asking but how much where they. I will be needing a new one eventually and yours looked perfect.

Franbern gave yourself a shock. Luckily it's nothing serious. When my seizures went out of control I told the children they would rue the day I came to live by them. Last week I was cleaning the hearth and forgot about the mantel piece and cracked my head . Immediately I phoned my daughter she laughed are you 5 I said no, is it bleeding no. Then I think you will live. She phoned me back a bit later I said sorry she said it's ok she heard the panic in my voice. The week before I went to sit on my IKEA footstool and ended up on the floor. She had to come and help me up. How I ended up on the floor no idea the foot stool is 32" long. Trouble is once down haven't got the strength in my arms or knees to get myself up.

When Ibl

I have never been the type to NOT to catastrophe, so when I first telephoned my daughter, I told her that I thought I had 'written off' the car. It was not until she brought me back with my shopping (I insisted that I had to get that out of the way),that she had a look, laughed at me, and said I had just pulled out the front bumper panel.

I was worried about taking the car to the Main Dealers, so telephoned RAC (I am a member), to have it taken there. It is less than a mile from my home - and I do pay for full recovery with the RAC - when they told me that it would cost me nearly two hundred pounds to have that journey made!!. Not sure what that is all about and will be looking into it more closely now.

Obviously I refused - as it happens my car was quite safe to drive, it was confirmed that the water was from the front screen plastic bottle wash. Followed my daughter there, their mechanic looked it, pushed the panel back a bit - but said he would keep it for a few hours to do a proper job and also find a replacement for that plastic bottle.

Not sure why I always jump to worst possible conclusions, Just saw that panel pulled out, and fluid on floor and that was it!!!

Yes, Shandy, do keep all the money - you have no idea at this point as to how much you will need to pay for a new property and the cost of removal, etc. Remember VAT is on everything now at 20%. Also, once you move in there is no doubt that you will want to be able spend money on alterations, decoration, new furniture, etc. etc. It is quite amazing how much that can all cost. I am still waiting for my guest bathroom to be done and all the new curtains, etc in my Living Room and bedroom.

Am pleased I kept back a lot of money, much of which has now been spent, but also have enough so that my stupid damage to my car this morning, is not going to be a problem for me.

The property itself will, of course, all go to be shared by my children when I die, have money put away to cover my burial costs, and anything else will also go to them. Far better that way.

I do agree that it is good for adult children to learn to stand on their own feet. All mine had to do so - and the five surviving have done so well, All have their own homes, cars, etc. All done by themselves. Indeed, if it came down to it, it would be more likely that I would go to some of them for financial help these days, than for them to come to me.

I know of people the same age as them who came from much more financially secure parents, who have always been digging into their bank accounts to help them, and even at 50 years old plus these people are still reliant on that assistance - never having learned how to cope for themselves. Has not really done them any favours in the long run.

But ....the reason in WSM appears to be that there was an asymptomic member of staff in the hospital, and that is such a small hospital- much too small for the area it serves. which is why it closed - although they are already saying, they are looking at ways of re-opening it. So cannot see how any sort of extra lockdown will help anyone.

Surprised at how long tests take - seems pointless having this if they do not get results for over a week. My son-in law is still waiting for his results - pretty sure his gastric upset had nothing to do with the virus - BUT without quick return not sure how good they are.

Had an upset this morning. Reversing my car out of the garage ready to go to Sainsbury, I caught the front bumper corner on the garage edge (I turned the wheel much too early). It pulled that panel away, and loads of liquid came out. I panicked, rang my daughter, I still wanted to go shopping, she took me, got home, - Telephoned Hyundai and arranged to take car there. It appears as if the water was from the window screen bottle (this had actually started to leak slightly last week).

Car now being repaired, shopping done and put away, cup of tea at my daughters to calm me down, relaxing back at home after a fraught morning. Told my daughter, she must be regretting getting me down here - phoning her in a panic at 8.00 this morning!!!

in the news, WsM and Barrow are examples of smaller areas to potentially be placed under stricter lockdown as they are showing up to be hotspots.

Its already too warm out in the garden so have prepped lunch and am sitting on my derriere, going to have a recovery rest day today.

Do you know that it is very good for young AC to make their own way in life, they learn so much when at that age, full of energy and that is the time when they develop aspirations for themselves. Handing them money on a plate takes that `hunger` away from them and they grow older not having learnt that money has to be earned and that nice things are earned by from savings

I never kept a book of house expenses but 8k for flooring, stove, garage cladding etc. 2k for extra kitchen storage. 2k for white goods. 2k for extra patio. Lots of k for garden and outdoor storage. Blinds and shutters about 8k. fitted cupboards 2k. I reckon overall, around 20k+ for me and that did not involve major improvements to any rooms, so yes could well be 20-30k, depending on how comfy and useful you want the property to be

Shandy57 so glad you are going to keep the money to yourself. Your kids will inherit after you die. You will be surprised how much you will need to spent on your new home in the first year getting it as you wanted. Know I have spent about £28k so far. But things I've had done and still doing will not need doing in my life time. When you do find your new home make sure you have a proper survey done. Mine cost £450 he was very good and knew exactly what I was taking on.

Craftyone thanks for the info I will take a look later. Going into the garden now.

Enjoy your day everyone.

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I'm pleased with our new garage door we had installed yesterday. It isn't electric because we will only be using the split entrance for the dog on a daily basis. The car will live outside. Today we have the window man coming to measure for patio doors across the other end into the garden. This will give ne an extra room of sorts for hobbies or exercise.

Morning everyone, sunny today.

I have woken up feeling hugely relieved today, and am so grateful to you all for keeping me going. I have decided location is more important to me than the property, so probably small in an area I really like, rather than large in an area I don't really like. I'm going to start looking very seriously in a few days, just need a short rest. Thanks for the heads up about Eastbourne Franbern.

Ha ha, how did you all know I've been toying with giving the kids money! I would like to, but actually don't have any to spare. When my Mum moved in the early 90's she gave me a little something - I used most of it to buy my husband's false teeth £500!

I've just looked at a bungalow for £219K - poor person must have been freezing, no central heating, not sure how much installing it would cost. I will say cash under the bed craftyone.

I had an 'inspection' email yesterday, saying the rental agent are coming today. I've written to ask for a time, I hope it is just a computer email triggered by the date and my photos and report were sufficient.

My daughter messaged yesterday, she is going to Belfast on Monday by train/boat, when flights resume she is going to fly back with her boyfriend sometime in June to pick up the car.

I'm going to start on my paperwork today, I have bags and boxes of it, I must get to grips with it and dig out all the house paperwork and put in one place.

Enjoy your day. Sewing bee tonight!

oh yes shandy re estate agents don`t just say cash buyer, say cash under the bed, there are cash buyers and there are cash buyers as we all know

What a lovely and inspiring new day.

Whiff if they are going onto tiles then the suction soap dishes work very well, The ones I have are from amazon and are called umbra flex. The ones with a good strong fixing are by hoomtaook and I have the corner one in the shower, it has 2 shelves. By the washbasin corner I have 2 single hoomtaook shelves, bottles stand on one. They only use a glue and are very very good. I have drilled nothing in the bathrooms, even the toilet roll holders are the ones with the glue. There are other makes besides hoomtaook. I used small alcohol wipes to make sure the tiles were prepared, amazon for injection wipes

I started putting things onto my pegboards last night, I have so many different scissors, much better in plain sight. That room is on the east side and has a lovely aspect over higgeldy back gardens and up and down wonky red old roofs on old properties. It feels like a calming room and I had a very comfy easy chair put up there, wide apart low arms and very good for knitting. That is my aim now, it will be a multi purpose room for me, I could get the single sized inflatable aerobed in there if needed but that will remain under another bed and it is MY room, not a just in case someone visits room

I put the pegs in and the shelves and it looks stylish but will be very useful and sticks out much less than permanent shelving. I can move the shelves around and they are only 12cm deep, on 2 pegs each. I won`t be moving again but if ever, I would take the boards with me. It is not a big room, I would call it a small double before the furniture went in.

Today I will try and arrange my books neater, they slide down behind a curved glass door in a beautiful curved floor to ceiling unit. I remember when we bought that, from arthur llewellyn jenkins near pontyclun in 2007, it is either german or scandi, pale smooth light oak and I still remember the nightmare of me up a ladder with heavy doors on my shoulder trying to hang the 6 doors properly. The middle cupboards are glass and the curve is on the left side down from centre to wall. It has 6 big doors and 2 drawers at the bottom and adjustable shelves

Anyway, I thought I had finished my house until I wanted something for sewing and realised that stuff was still in a dumped state because I needed to arrange it somewhere. The pegboards were not at all cheap, I paid just shy of £500 for 2 tall boards and one horizontal board for over my desk. The peg it all midi and large pegshelf with extra pegs and shelves. They are very well made
kreisdesign.com/collections/peg-boards

Shandy do please allow yourself to keep all the cash for yourself, for your future, maybe 30 or 40 years ahead of you, so get that nice home and add exactly what you want and need to make life as comfortable and as future-proofed as possible

One of my children and her family moved to Eastbourne a couple of years ago, (from North Ireland)- Now, that was a logisitical nightmare of a move - hubbie ran his own business there, and had never lived anywhere else, two young school aged children, etc. etc.

They love it there, very, very happy and settled. Trains and coaches there are good (to and from London), takes a little longer from M25 than (for example - than to Brighton), as it is not a motorway. But still pretty easy. Haywards Heath is a lot closer to the M25 than Eastbourne, so that is what your friend is comparing. On the other hand, I have often sat forever on the motorway from around Haywards Heath up to the M25- so less distance, but can be much more time.

Expensive area though (not as much as Hove), a little further along that coast, St Leonards, Hastings - prices are a lot less. Lovely on the South Coast, good weather.

If you want to look at the South Coast, then go Westwards from Brighton, past Hove, and you have all the advantages and a good motorway to M25.

Shandy - huge congratulations!!! You can now begin to relax and live the rest of your life on your own terms, in a property of your own choosing. You did so well to clear out the Station on your own, I would imagine that you will be exhausted for a few weeks as the relief hits you. Be kind to yourself and have a rest, with your feet up browsing Rightmove! You will be a VIP when you start contacting estate agents - that rare thing, a cash buyer!!!! Have a lovely day today, your first day of your new life!!!!

Know what I wanted to ask on one the parts can't remember if it was you Craftyone saying about soap / shampoo holders that can be stuck to the tiles in the shower that don't need drilling. As I will be needing that sort of thing soon. What were the best ones to use?

Shandy57 hope you had the best night's sleep for months. New day new you. Hopefully you will feel like a new woman. You have a wonderful future to look forward to. Enjoy every minute of it. No looking back. No regrets. Life as we all know is to short for that. Don't be tempted to give your children any of the money. It's surprising how much you will need once you have brought your new home. I was amazed at all the things you can get for the home. Loved choosing carpets , colours etc
More properties will be coming on the market but first you must choose an area as quickly as possible. But you are in an excellent position as you are a cash buyer and not in a chain. Hopefully you will find a home that is empty as they will speed things up. Good luck with your new chapter my friend.

Craftyone I am always amazed at your DIY skills and quite green with envy. Hope your shoulders and arms aren't hurting after your drilling and mauling with those peg boards. Look after yourself you are the glue that keeps this thread together.

Oh Shandy you did it! Well done you. I’ve been following all this time and am so very, very happy for you. We’re all really looking forward to the next adventure, as you look for your lovely new home.

What you did, all on your own (I know your virtual friends on here cheered you on, but physically you did it yourself) was nothing short of remarkable. You should give yourself a massive pat on the back.

This has given us all such a boost in this rubbish time, and I’m so pleased that you can spend the rest of the summer without having to worry about the station.

Have a nice rest now, by God lass, you deserve it

Shandy - I think Eastbourne is quite accessible. There's direct train services to Gatwick, London and Brighton and direct roads to the M25. There's plenty going on in the town. It would be a definite possibility if I was thinking of moving to the coast.