Help calm me. House buying and selling stress. Part 6

That is weird Spice, my cousin from NZ just sent me a photo walking along a sunny beach in a coat with snow topped mountains in the distance.
I'm trying not to read your final paragraph. That is not what anyone who is in the moving process wants.
Crafty my uncle was a GP, also in NZ, and when he retired he had a garage full of medicines he used to dish out to the family. Half of them were out of date from his days in practice, but luckily we are still all here to tell the tale.

Morning all, a definite autumn feel here today, overcast and drippy rain.

I wish I'd forced myself to sort out the garage whilst it was warmer, it's my last 'sorting' job. I'm always so worried about a wasps nest in there, hope the season for building is over now. I have to have the door open as there isn't any electricity and I worry one will get in. Hopefully some warmer dry days to come and I'll get to it.

I was sad last night to find a lethargic seagull lying on the sand. Our local wildlife centre aren't taking any more animals, and when I rang the vet, she said they would probably just euthanise. I put him on the dunes where there is a bit of cover so he wouldn't be attacked by dogs /other seagulls, and hope he just needed a rest. For such a large county with so much wildlife, we have hardly any provision for casualties.

Great to read all your news. Spice101 I'm glad you are in a rental you quite like, at least, this is all so unexpected isn't it. I am estranged from my Dad, he was 88 yesterday, I am glad he lives a few doors from my brother now and is being supported.

Enjoy your day whatever you are doing

ooh that holly sounds lovely

I have been in the garden again, pottering, cutting back and pulling a few hidden weeds. I can easily get through an hour, I kneel on a kneeler and it is therapeutic being so close to the soil

Shandy, when I was a child and it was my job to tidy the living room after the younger ones were put to bed, it could have been overwhelming but I started in one corner and worked through. I still do that now, otherwise a job as a whole would appear to be too much and nothing would be done

Ellianne

Good morning all. This is the week my daughter WILL exchange contracts, please keep me positive.
Don't talk to me about water charges in Devon Franbern! South West Water are the most expensive in the UK. We are paying nearly 4 times what we used to in London. I think it is to do with having the biggest coastline to look after, so I can kind of see why. At least car insurance is cheaper here, as is pet insurance!
Have a good day.

Ellianne we found that too even years ago.
Would you be better off on a water meter?

Ellianne, every time I see a post from you I hope it is good news re. the exchange!!!
I am very tired after a wonderful, but exhausting week.
Yesterday, we had a lovely seaside day holiday. The three g.children (aged 8 yrs and 2 x 10yrs)played together very well. First on beach, traditionally building sandcastles, racing backwards and forwards to the sea to fill up buckets for the moat. Not at all crowded, although we were in the very best part (a place called Marine Lake.
Then when it got rather windy there we took them over the road to a lovely play park. Is really a water park, but the Council has not switched in the water!!! There we picnicked, (adults able to sit in shade under a tree).
From there a walk along the front, game of crazy golf, whilst adults sat and had a welcome cup of coffee. Nowhere was at all crowded, loads of room. Finally ended up in Funland for them to each have a couple of rides - an excellent whole, long day out in the fresh air and sunshine, and we did then take them to an indoor restaurant. One that had only that day opened up it eat-in part. We were the first people in there, and even when a two or three more family groups arrived, we were very far away from them. Tables well apart.
As it had been me who had paid for everything (My choice - this is my holiday money spent in the way I get most enjoyment), but did help with half prices in that restaurant for the six of us.
Lovely day, but the final one for me after having had my friend visit for a couple of days, and a visit to another daughter last week at her holiday home in Devon.
Taking life very easy now - no more excitement in this way for me until end of the month,
oomm U3A meeting this morning, up early as I had a quick, early trip to Sainsbury. Later this afternoon, I have a visit from my bathroom people hopefully finalising all the details for that job due to start in three weeks time.
We are being forecast another really hot short spell later this week, intend to stay indoors for that .

my water bill came. £103, solo person, meter, only electric shower and reasonably careful with water apart from the first hot spell when I used the sprinkler in the garden a few times for longish times. Other than that my watering is via total of 660 litre butts

Ellianne, this exchange has to be this week, just has to be. This dangling is so awful for you and the family

I went on a longish cycle, have to use my pedelec (electric assist when it senses that I struggle up the nasty hills) first decent ride on it since I put different tyres on and so I did it in trepidation. Was good, I only had to raise the back mudguard. I saw mrs jemima puddleduck, honestly minus the beak, she was herding her mummy duck and several babies across the lane back into the pond. Owners can look like their pets, made my day

What a lovely thing to see on your cycle. I could see it in my mind's eye.

Don't know where my day has gone. Everything know sort out. Found more things for charity. Thought I had got rid of a lot of paperwork before I moved. But looking through my folders found bank statements going back to 2008. All shredded even got rid of the paperwork to do with the sale of my old house. It's been almost a year so didn't need it anymore.

Hoping for good weather tomorrow so I can get in the front garden.

I gave the binmen some yummy homemade cake today, re-cycling people had some last week, they nearly snatch my hand off, good to see I truly am grateful for the empty bin, honestly it is usually so full lately, things stuffed down the sides this morning

I am quite glad to have had a normal day for once. I love that phrase `the minds eye` whiff

Does anyone else use paypal when possible, for online shopping? I have just started a dispute for a refund for something that was not sent, the shop owner is ducking and diving. I have just cottoned on that many businesses are suffering financial hardships, esp the small businesses. Be aware and on the ball.

Nothing in mind today but knitting went very well last evening. Ellianne very much in my thoughts, your family and exchange

I use my Barclaycard for virtually all my purchases, in real life and on-line. Have always found them extremely helpful when I have a dispute. Earlier this year I cancelled an overnight stay at a small hotel for Easter Sunday - did this as soon as lockdown was imposed (3 weeks before booked date), and they acknowledged, yet still took the money from my account at Easter. All my contacts with them were very difficult, with them refusing to refund this money - so I passed it over to Bcard, they investigated (I had to send them copies of all the emails, etc), refunded money to me, and (I assume) will get their money back from this hotel.
Feeling slightly less tired this morning. Off this afternoon to nearby National Trust gardens for a couple of hours. Last December I took out a family membership for the National Trust giving me, a carer and up to four children under the age of 18 free entry. This was meant for lots of outings this summer - Have not had any use for it yet.

I haven`t used my NT membership at all this year, I know I have to book for the gardens and will, as soon as I get bored with my own garden and being out cycling. Its a faff having to book, rather than jut popping out. Family membership is a good thing for you franbern

I am tackling paperwork and I hate doing it, it really does have to be nibbles, I put everything into a large whicker shopping basket so papers don`t get lost. I even put the coach company brochures in last year thinking I would go on holidays with them, sigh

First step was to open the bedroom windows and shutters and then the first quick sort ie to be binned and to be kept, two beds comes in useful for that. I have brought the binning stuff down and need a break before re-visiting that load, just in case, anyway some things will need a different pile, for shredding

I have tax details hanging over my head, I don`t do my own tax, I kept the accountant that my husband had, I still have minor affairs to do with the business as he was a director. Once that is over then I will do my own straightforward affairs online, which will then only be pension and savings interest

Oh I will have to have a coffee first

Craftyone
I've always used PayPal. You can't fault them ( imo) for sorting out a dispute.

same here merylstreep, I haven`t had to do that for years. I like the fact that they are an added layer of security. I got rather a flippant reply from my e mail to the online store this morning so have escalated my claim. Just watch the bankruptcies start to roll in and no-one will get anything back, hence being on the ball

Another break needed, what is it with paperwork? I just hate doing the sorting. I have filed my new will and power of attorney docs and have the old online docs in my basket for shredding

I also do `dying tidy` while at it and am bringing my list of current bank accounts up to date, hence me being on the laptop again to check.. It was a fair number of accounts last year and is now down to 3 plus ns&i which is my main saver account but not a bank account as such but is instant access

I have extracated my house insurance and all my car details and that is next to file and then the utility bills. I am getting there

I have a nice large file for `dying tidy` it contains everything that my executor would need. All in indexed compartments and all ring filed in poly pockets. It was sheer hell when I had to do stuff after my husband died and I was the one who did the paperwork and knew all the details. My dd does not have the same explicit details hence the indexed file. I love her to much to leave her to sort it all, chances are that I am the top of that tree. Also a good reason for me to keep on top of de-cluttering whilst in the right mood

I am leaving the house files for now, old house and new house

Morning all, I've woken up to a much warmer day. It's ridiculous I still can't understand the heating controls, tried to turn the heating on last night to dry my coats near the radiators and it didn't come on. Definitely have oil! I'm going to take the instruction sheet to be enlarged somewhere, it is minute print.

I'm doing a 'dying tidy' too craftyone, when my husband died it was hell on earth finding everything for probate. Unfortunately I signed up with an HP printing app, and cancelled recently as I didn't like the restrictions - I can't print until it ends on 8 August. I've written letters to my kids and friends and included them in my Will folder. Saying that, I should buy my cremation at the co-op, will do once I've bought somewhere.

I've gone off Kent a bit, I've just found out the airport will be reopening.

I've found a semi detached bungalow I like in Devon, priced at £260K. I can't view it now, and it will probably have gone by the time I get down there, but can I ask how to do 'offers'? If it meets all my needs, should I offer the asking price? I can't find out what the stamp duty costs would be as all the calculators are set to 0 as it is a holiday at the moment. There is so much in the news about financial uncertainty I do feel very nervous.

Enjoy your day - I've got a bonus day today, I put the bin out, convinced it was Thursday

My husband had everything in files to do with home and work. When we knew he had cancer I took over looking after filing to get me in the habit. We did our first will just after we got married and updated when the children came along and kept it updated . I have done the same since he died. When we knew he was terminal he wrote out lists of who to contact as soon as he died and put them up on the pin boards in the study. Everything was changed into my name apart from the house which was joint anyway. We even went to funeral directors the first was very serious and asked who the deceased was and my husband said me but I'm not dead yet. He didn't think it was funny so my husband said his not having my body. When went to the Co Op. Like I said yesterday found paperwork I thought I had got rid so had a shredding time. Got rid of all to do with my old house. That part of my life is over.

Thought I would sort out the photos today but just broken down in tears. Photos of my husband and son set me off. That was it . Decided until things are settled with my son I can't face those photos. Photos of my grandson's I'm fine with.

Shandy57 you can find out stamp duty on gov.org. You say the bungalow is £260 have you allowed for any work you would want to do on it. So far I've spend £30 k and a bit. Also don't forget all the other expenses.

Another busy time for you Franbern have a nice time. Not long until you get your bathroom done.

My brother and sister in law had the plasterers in yesterday and probably today. Doing the living room, ceilings , hall, stairs and landing. Don't even them. I remember the mess very well. Thank goodness for no nonsense carpet protector. Not a bit of plaster or paint got through it. Once up it didn't damage the carpets either.

Lazy day today. Housework done. Can't go in the garden as it's raining hard. So reading and cross stitching day. It's a hard life lol.

shandy you need to gauge your offer carefully, 10% less could well insult the seller. and get their backs up 5% less would probably be right. If the bungalow is empty and no chain then try 7% less. Sellers will also be nervous so would probably accept an offer. A probate sale could take some time as the executors are duty bound to get the best price. Someone moving house to eg be closer to children or with a job, that would be perfect

I have mostly finished the papers and am getting rid of the cumbersome expanding file for house and car, will be using a leather-look ring file that I bought for dh once. The dying tidy file is finished. Everything is in a suitcase in my wardrobe, dd already knows that. I also put down my internet and mobile phone providers as well as bank account numbers

It was worth doing it, I had to make 2 phone calls, one was to check my address changefor saga assistance (AA) and I am covered but the actual saga assistance had no details from 2017, imagine me in a breakdown having to sort that. The other to check same with bus pass via council

I have masses of paperwork to shred now, including bits from the old house. My water bill here is same as there and my total energy is £200 pa cheaper, council tax is now similar because I had the band refund

I will keep the tax submission for another day, at least I can see the wood for the trees now. I will shred later today and that will be IT, no more nothing, only knitting and drinking tea

Sorry about the photos whiff, I am eternally grateful that dh did ours. Alternative of course is to leave them for the AC to sort, this is not something that you have to do

For those sorting paperwork, where do you store it? I need to reduce mine more and currently have a desk and 2 drawer filing cabinet (not all filled with paperwork). I want to get rid of the filing cabinet and possibly replace the desk with a smaller one with less drawers but wonder the best way to store papers?

Shandy - I don't think Manston reopening will have a big effect. I live near a small airport and there is no noise and less overhead flights than when I lived in inner London.

I use 2 leather look, zipped conference folders with pockets and rings for polypockets, no idea where I got them from but they are lovely. I also have a plastic file full of old accountants tax documents. These 3 items are in a medium sized case and in the wardrobe. It`s a case that I can easily manhandle. I used to have a filing cabinet and have also tried box files and a large sturdy concertina file but this system now is far better. It also means that dd would have everything to hand, rather than staying here to sort. I don`t have anything filed digitally

I finished shredding!! Am now in the throes of doing nothing except sup hot tea. I watered essentials in the garden and think I have done for the day.

It was terribly hard also when hubbie was alive, making sure I got his passwords and he mine, he would never have coped with this. Credit cards are something to think about seriously if in a couple, essential to have one each in your own name as principal cardholder. We got dh one, it would have seen him through sudden essential expenses. If I had died first as things were, he was the additional card holder and his card would have been no use.

There were so many expenses, straight out of the blue, after dh died

Phew! Thank you for all your good wishes and positive vibes. They've exchanged and in two weeks will be escaping to a new life in the country.
The last few weeks were the most stressful as always, and I am now an expert on holding tanks and soakaways. I'm hoping they can get their removal men sorted smoothly.
Good luck to those of you entering the process, especially Shandy. Everyone on this thread is here to offer support.
The solicitor did say to them she was getting very busy with new instructions, so fingers crossed nobody gets caught in another lockdown.

Ellianne, congratulations to your daughter. That must be a relief.

oh what a huge relief ellianne, wow, great news. It is ridiculously stressful

I am sitting but am a bit too twitchy for my liking, I feel as though I should be doing something. I will just tidy the mess I made in the kitchen and force myself to do nothing apart from knitting and watching something on tv. Maybe I need a nap, think I will go and lie on the bed, my eyes feel heavy

Ellianne brilliant news . It's what we have all been waiting for. Will they be nearer to you?

GrandmaMoria my household bills are keep in level arch folder. Medical, guarantees, instruction manuals, bank details are keep in individual plastic envelope wallets. I have a plastic concertina wallet for will and other paperwork. All of it is in a 50l plastic box with lid which is under my bed.

Congratulations Ellianne, what wonderful news! Off to walk the dog again and I'm going to have a celebration ice cream to toast your daughter!

Great news,Ellianne. All systems go now.
When I got rid of my home office in my old house, I purchased a white upright slim drawers from Ikea. Has four deep drawers and five smaller ones. Takes up ,little room, and is very sturdy. Cellotaped to the side is the typed list as to contents of each drawer. So, in one are all paperwork for the flat including deeds, etc. In another 'Private Papers, is my passport, driving licence, birth, marriage and divorce certificates and deep poll, etc. etc. and my Will.
One drawer also takes all my many knitting and crochet needles, and a further one, my store of greetings card. A further drawer has all the letter I received from my children when they were away from home and then students. Very precious the contents of that drawer to me.
This has proved a great asset and moved easily from house to flat, where it sits in a corner of my bedroom.
All receipts and paid invoices are kept in a large plastic storage box in a cupboard, and a further wooden box takes all the extra parts, etc for anything I have purchased. I check these two boxes twice a year throwing out anything lo longer required.
Had a pleasant afternoon, out in the sunshine around the Tyndesfield Gardens. Mooched round the National Trust shop there, still had my £15 introductory voucher to spend there.
Relaxing time now, tea, tv and knitting.