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

Shandy57 you don't have a lot to spend . I know you have your heart set on the south coast. But look on Rightmove at places I suggested and compare what you can get with your budget here. I think you will be surprised how far your money will go. All I ask is you look.

Oh Yes, Shandy, All the flats I looked at usually had their maintenance charges and ground rent (where applicable) shown clearly be Estate Agents, in their bumph about the property.

Surprising differences in same area. So, the Retirement flats that I looked at are £2400 pa for maintenance plus £600 pa for ground rent. That means three grand a year and will propably go up as they use an external maintaintance company AND no proper individual parking area (first come basis).

The two bedroom flat I am in cost me £1500 pa. However that includes all maintenance, communal area cleaning, all water charges AND central heating/boiler 24/7 cover by British Gas. There are no Land charges are we all own our own freehold, and the maintenance is run by our own Residents Cttee. AND, I have my own garage. Obviously, I am responsible for any maintenance, decorating, etc for INSIDE my flat - but feel that is very good value. All the garage doors are being painted this year.

So, if you are looking at any property - like a flat - if the EA does not make charges (what what they include) very clear, just ask them. Some flats do permit pets, others do not. Some do not permit people to let out their flats - that is a rule here - for me this is a plus.. Blocks of flats where some of them may be rented out either permanently, or for holiday use, can mean that the residents are not so careful and positive with each other as those that do not allow this.

Obviously, wherever you are community charge will still need to paid and utility bills.

When I was first looking back some five years ago, I was more keen on having a small garden, and found there were quite a few 'garden flats', with their own small self-contained garden, so you might want to ask estate agents in different areas about these. Usually, ground floor flats are slightly cheaper than those higher up, so something like that might well suit you with your cat.

Thank you Franbern, reassuring. I will be very careful.

Just back in from cutting the back lawn, it's so huge and bumpy. Lots of butterflies today.

I don't know what it is Whiff, I think I'm just a lopsided Londoner and can't imagine going over to the west coast. I never thought I'd manage on this east coast, either! I remember crying when my husband said he'd been promoted here - in private, of course. The girls at work said I'd freeze, they weren't far wrong.

I did have a look when you suggested it last time, it is astounding you can buy a house for £122K. I am very glad you are happy there

It is really useful being on the community facebook pages for the places I think I might like. I'm on the Broadstairs page, and someone woke up in the night to a burgular trying to kick his door in, he'd already got through one panel. So glad I have my sheltie now my hearing's not 100%,

Just turned the tv on, Rock Hudson, haven't seen him for years! I used to kiss his picture in my Mum's film stars book

So sad, that back then Rock Hudson, Jimmy Dean and so many other film actors were forced to deny their sexualities. Dean drove to his death aged just 25yrs. Rock Hudson died, aged 40 from AIDS.

Do understand how Shandy is seeking to stay somewhere in south or south east. Never really get rid of being a Londoner. Definitely will give you the warmer weather in those areas. Whenever, I used to visit my dughteer when she was living in Belfast, I ALWAYS mis-judged the sort of clothing to take with me, and often ended up having to purchase myself a warm coat or jacket whilst there. We really do find it hard to unerstand how different the temperatures and weather conditions are around the country.

Shandy do not be put off by community pages showing burgleries, etc. There are always some in every area, rich or poor.

I agree with everything said by whiff and franbern. I too have experience with freehold, leasehold and management companies. At one time my husband and 2 others worked very hard to to enable property owners to buy the freehold. This led to being able to run our own management company. It was a large estate, many acres and 3 dozen properties. I look at their details on RM from time to time, fees were £2000 pa when we were there, ten years later they are £2600. That is good going, an external management company would have charged £4000+ by now. It was quite stressful

My last property, we had a management company, we all had a share in the communal area, a courtyard with parking. We were all freeholders and my husband set up the management company via companies house. I took over the roles of chair and secretary when he died. We did whatever work we all saw fit and managed to keep the fees at under £250pm per property and even had a year without fees

Be aware that some blocks have large comuunal areas that need to be lit and heated, lifts too which are extremely expensive to maintain. we even spotted 2 owners `stealing` electricity from sockets outside their apartments. Roofs have to be maintained, parking, grassland, insurance. There should be a sinking fund but some dishonest freeholders play dodgy dealings with that. I would never be leasehold again at the whim of an externally managed management company. Self-management is good

Shandy you would be very much better off away from the expensive south and in a freehold bungalow with just council tax plus your own bills. I wish you could get that oomph back that I am sure you had when young and fancy free and I am sad that you are again letting money slip through your hands. You have to be very careful, there are rules and regulations, not least about deliberate deprivation of capital and they can go back endless years for that. You always need a nest egg, even if it is all wrapped up in the property.

Do be aware that Management or Service charges in flats are not eligible for any sort of housing benefit.

I know of several people who have thought they could get help with these fees, as they were on other benefits. Not so, no matter what benefits you may be on.

Yes, Craftyone, my block of flats has a large lobby where you come in on the ground floor, well lit and heated in the winter, and then one lift, two small lobbies on each floor, just lit, no heating there (three front doors in one lobby, and two in the other). We have a lovely lady who comes in very early each morning to clean all those public areas, including the stairs. It is always spotlessly clean everywhere

Obviously, with a residents run maintenance company, there are no wages to be paid to anyone, or profit to be made. So all the monies paid by the 25 residents is used entirely for maintenance.

I'm with Franbern on this one, you can take yourself out of London, but you can't take London out of your blood. I have only ever lived in the capital, Hertfordshire, West Essex or the South West. I'd be pepared to give living north of Watford a try, but somehow I know I would feel more at home in the milder southern counties.

The nain problem lies in the price of property. For anyone who is returning to the area after being away for a while, it can be difficult because prices in the south east will have risen at a far greater pace. I'm guessing that is why some people struggle to find what they want for their money.

Shandy you will no doubt appreciate that as you visit your different choices and each place will have its compromises. You ask why we left Exmouth, it was work related and we moved nearly 300 miles away, nothing untoward. It is a nice place.
Community pages are great but on occasions they do seem like they are full of petty crime and anti social goings on. It's best not to scare oneself silly because anything really nasty is unlikely to happen to you personally.

my neighbour just e mailed me about which trolley I got for my kitchen as he is now finding that he is short of space. I got eddingtons lambourn and yes it was very expensive but will last my heirs and beyond. I love that trolley but wanted the steel top, to make it feel lighter. I already have a small butchers block, same make, bought 39 years ago, all wood and could not imagine a bigger version of that in the centre of my kitchen. This is mine. Too much thick wood would drain the kitchen of lightness
www.hartsofstur.com/lambourn-three-drawer-stainless-steel-top-kitchen-trolley.html

So I got a burst of energy, just when I was wondering how to stay awake and I oiled both trolleys and got a ring mark off the wooden one with wire wool. It isn`t going to be nice coming down to the mess in the morning but at least everything will go back dust-free. Crikey it is a whole year since that trolley arrived and needed about 6 coats of oil. I remember calling it moving expenses, as was all that money spent on the garden, floors, stove, shutters, garage. It seemed never-ending

Whiff, what you did in the garden, clever clogs you think from outside the box

what size tv is best in a bedroom? I am thinking ahead to winter cosiness

I can understand and relate to, what some think of, Shandy's apparent lack of commitment in looking for her new home. I'm sure she is weighing up many issues and in fact is fully committed to finding the right home for her.

What I am finding is that after spending so long living in one place and going through the drama of selling it never occurred to me that we would not be able to find something else relatively easily. Add to that moving into a rental which in my case is quite comfortable and one sometimes forgets, albeit briefly, this is not the end of the journey and the urgency to look subsides. Also sometimes other factors in life take precedence.

I know our market is not the UK market but we have not seen any evidence of the market getting weaker or for that matter stronger in terms of price. Of course we are in winter which is traditionally a quieter time but the market is dead. We have reviewed our preferences so many times and still are not able to find anything that comes close. If I cannot have what is my third or 4th choice perhaps I should hang out for my first choice.

It is so frustrating and not helped by the current situation.

On the matter of the virus, Melbourne has had an incredible number of new cases over the last couple of weeks over 50 every day for two weeks. Yesterday, another 127 cases detected, our highest daily number since this started. About 36 Melbourne suburbs have been put back into lockdown and nine public housing towers also. In the case of the towers which house approx 3000 people they are not allowed out of their flats. I can see all of Melbourne if not Victoria going back onto restrictions before too long. We are told our numbers are up due to the testing being done and of course that will have a huge impact but it's the number of community transmitted cases that are the problem now. Panic buying is back and supermarkets have put limits back on many items.

It is indeed crazy times we live in.

Spice101 sorry things are getting worse again with the virus again. Unfortunately it's going to be with us for a very long time. People want instant answers and solutions. But it takes time to study new viruses. People have just got to be patient but unfortunately are not. Ever though more things are opening here we still need to be careful and keep some distance.

How is your recovery going? Are you able to move about a bit better?

Hopefully you will find your new home but as you say it's winter and that is usually a slow time for people to sell. Fingers crossed you will find something soon.

My friend in the Midlands has finally decided on integrated appliances but still can't decide which fridge freezer. Ah! The builder is coming at 7 to start work. She says she is all prepared but have tried to prepare her for the mess but think she is still in for a shock. All the cats but one went to the cattery yesterday , one escaped so will be going today.

My long term friend from college has an appointment at the hairdresser's this morning. They phoned her last week to say they where opening and offered her the appointment. She usually goes every 6 weeks for a cut and colour just to hide the greys. My badly needs a cut but will wait a few more months to have it done. Decided years ago with my first grey hair not to colour and embrace it. Luckily what grey I have got is a slivery grey and because it's appeared over time looks natural.

Hopefully it stays dry and can get on with the weeding and planting out. Ordered a garden bench this morning from Wayfair. With my trusty screwdriver hopefully it won't be to difficult to put together. I laugh at myself sometimes the things I am doing since moving I would never have done them in the Midlands.

Well hope you all have a good day and some sunshine.

Whiff, my recovery is pleasing. I saw the surgeon on Thursday and he was very happy with my progress. A Physio comes in twice a week at the moment and she too is impressed with my progress. Some days are hard and I get fed up at not being able to get around easily others are good. I have some pain but not much most of the time. Nights are the worst and not being able to sleep properly makes it worse. I go to bed with a hot water bottle and an ice pack and swap between the two to get relief as needed. How I envy people that can sleep for 6 or 7+ hours every night.

I'm sure you get a huge amount of satisfaction when you look at new things you have done and so you should.

Spice101 I'm glad you are recovering well though it isn't nice to have trouble sleeping. A friend of mine here says the same, but 6 months on she is just getting back to proper rest in bed. I'm sure our side of the world will be closely monitoring the spread of the virus down under during the winter to learn what might be in store for us.

Hey, a stroke of luck for house buyers, hopefully my DD included, I heard stamp duty is being AXED for 6 months! Go Shandy, go! Unless I am only half awake?

Craftyone, I got that same nice trolley in Robert Dyas, much cheaper (I do love a bargain) but it's never been moved - so I didn't really need the wheels!

Ellianne, it's not that great - only a temporary (6 month) exemption - and just on homes less than 500K (no help here in London).

Ellianne, exciting for your that your daughter is moving close to you. Done remarkably well with this considering the times.

Spice - glad you are recovering - might be a good idea to sit out the winter and, hopefully, in the spring the house market will book and you will find just what you have been looking for,

I am not surprised that areas where there was a very low original problem with this virus is now seeing higher figures Yes, testing is part of this - but also the fact that unless and until such time as any sort of vaccine is found (or the virus does weaken), some sort of 'herd immunity' is the only real answer - or else staying in continuous 'lockdown'.

In England, the government seems to have given up all pretence of lockdown and have reverted (unofficially) to their original herd immunity policy - so the speed of getting rid of lockdown procedures is almost breathtaking. I think their new mantra is now 'Shop, Spend, Save the Economy'.

Will definitely result in more cases of CV19, and almost definitely more deaths - but they are now so much in more panic about the economy, that they cannot really see past that. Local lockdowns will be used to pay lip service to this, but, I think, will only take place in areas which are far from any economic centre.

It was interesting that a large barbers in town had queues all day Saturday (when they first re-opened) going right along the street - but they opened again on Sunday - and had hardly any customers. I intend to wait about another four weeks before going to the hairdresser for a cut.

I always coloured my own hair for years, had no idea how much grey I actually had. Stopped a year or two into my 70's and it was still very 'salt and pepper', but went with nature, and now is nearly all silvery grey and I love it like that.

Shandy - hope you are taking serious notice of what we, your friends, are telling you. Be very very careful with the money you have - once you have properly settled into your new home, and know what you need to spend there, that is the time to become generous to others if you have any excess, although chances are - you will not.

Ellianne, I agree about London. When I moved to WsM last year it was the first time I had EVER lived outside London (okay, we did live in Loughton for four years - but that hardly really counts as 'outside' London). So, that is why everyone was so concerned for me - and we all knew it was a one-way journey. Going West, was okay, I could nver have gone North - my DiL did ask if I wished to join them when she and my son moved to Warrington some five or six years back. Lovely offer - but I am so pleased I did not go with that - always have to remember to take warm clothing when i visit them.

Had a nice 'picnic in the park' yesterday with daughter and young g.son. Also accompanied her on a drive to Weston Woods to collect her No. 2 child who was meeting up with a couple of her friends for a day out there. Saw parts of WsM I did not know existed - very nice areas.

Off shopping this morning, as we are all having a day out on Wednesday.

Ellianne, there is talk of stamp duty on property being removed here but it would be replaced with an annual land tax. I'm not sure which would be worse. Stamp duty is about 5.5% so adds a lot onto the purchase price. However, no government is going to give that revenue up without adding income from another source. Not sure what happens if you buy with SD and it is removed, I assume no annual tax would apply in that case. It's a tax for nothing.

I've not slept well for years, lucky if I get 2 hours without waking although usually I go back to sleep. However lately I'm lucky to sleep for an hour before waking up and I may or may not get back to sleep quickly but regardless it leaves me feeling very washed out during the day.

Oh my goodness, Franbern. I lived in Loughton for 5 years! I'd very much call it London (in terms of distance and the central line), but with an Essex flavouring!

You're right Hetty, and as I already said, London is in its own bubble where house prices are concerned. The temporary exemption would work well for my daughter, however, because she is moving out of London to the provinces and downsizing so as to be mortgage free. Having been out of work for what will be 4 months soon and little prospect of a job, the extra £10k will be very welcome. Likewise Shandy will have more in her pocket to spend on furnishings, decorating etc.

I don`t think stamp duty will be removed, the chancellor will be looking to refill the tax coffers in whatever which way and house buying will not stop with or without the tax.

Spice, in a way it is good that you are coming into winter and a stagnant market, you will be almost healed by the time winter is over, timing was actually very good. We have the market slowdown in a couple of weeks when children are officially on school holidays, then september uplift, which lasts about 6 weeks and that is it for this year, the housing market goes back into slumber for next winter. In the meantime, many with the means to do so and who can work from home, will be looking for properties with gardens out of the big cities. My EA neice who owns a big EA, is being flooded with enquiries about properties in the SW. It seems that everyone asking wants the fresh air, the slower pace and less crowding

craftyone that's so funny that everyone often wants to move to the SW and have a big garden. When we moved from London to Devon with young children we bought a house with a huge garden. It was a mistake, not only because we had to spend so much time looking after it, but more so because the children spent all their time on the beach or in the fields by the river. They hardly used the garden when there was so much free space on the doorstep!

Hetty, I have never seen an eddingtons butchers block cheaper, it is a quality trolley, several look alikes available. I also have a smaller eddingtons trolley, had it for 39 years and still fit to pass on in my will. Far too heavy to lift, there is a terrific weight of wood, beech with dovetailed joints on the drawers. Robert dyas trolleys are pine or bamboo

ellianne, it is the escape to the country influence, that dream of apple trees and chickens, a few would cope but most would not and they will be forever grockles