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

Happy 1st anniversary Whiff! We moved out on 8th, picked up the new keys on 9th, but the stupid removal men didn't get here until 11th.

Today I have owned my bungalow a year. Didn't pick the keys up until the 10th. The time has flown by. I was thinking all the things I do here that never did at my old house. Gardening , getting into my pjs after dinner , baby sitting, using the buses weekly, wearing trousers, going to craft , sit fit and U3A hopefully they will start up again sometime. Owning an electric screwdriver and putting together flat pack. Buying new furniture, furnishings and gardening equipment. Having a home as I want it no clutter. And being at peace.

Has anyone else done things they never did in their old houses?

My daughter and family have been and put my bench together. I looks lovely. And took a load to the tip for me.

Weeded the front garden so tomorrow I can have a lazy day. Sitting under my parasol on the bench reading. As long as it is nice.

Just popping in to say five wheelbarrows later the wood is done and safely in the garage, a far cry from the fifty odd shopping bag loads I had to heave upstairs! I wore sun cream but my face is a bit tingly, careful out there peeps!

midgey, you missed the champagne on Wednesday! Seems like a lifetime ago! All aboard for a new life in the country next week! Hopefully the good weather will hold, they will think they are on holiday. Thank you for your wishes.

Elliane, the week has gone, any joy for your daughter or have I missed it?

Morning all, boiling hot here today. Village is heaving with visitors, hopefully spending lots of dosh. One of the cafes sells cake/fruit outside, I've just bought some lovely grapes.

Interesting you talking about EA's this morning. I realise that I dealt with women only at both EA's.

I'm just washed my daughter's car and the wing mirror glass is broken, I can't remember where I parked it yesterday when I took it out for its drive. They don't fold in, unfortunately. Luckily my marvellous garage can fix on Monday. Glad it's going on 18th!

Off to do the wood now, so nice not to have to drag it up 18 steps!

Enjoy your afternoon

Also agree about a good EA being so important. The lady who looked after the sale of my house was very good indeed. When the sale collapsed at the point when I was getting in quotes for removal, she came round to tell me, did not just telephone me and allowed me to cry on her shoulder. (Even the Pickfords rep who was with me at the time, remarked that this was unusual.

I wanted to stop then and she asked for four more weeks, and it actually took her four days to get the actual purchaser.

It was she who spent a whole day on phone calls chasing up to get contracts exchanged. On the day of completion, she telephoned me keeping me informed as he monies moved between the different properties in the chain and informed me when the money had gone through on my flat - allowing my daughter to collect the keys and get the furniture being moved in a good half an hour before I arrived there AND, NEARLY FOUR HOURS EARLIER than I received this information from my Solicitor!!!
Would recommend her any time. Large local EA, do not know if others there are as good as her, but cannot praise her highly enough.

I second what Ellianne says, a good EA is worth every penny, the ones that sell the house and then hold your hand all through the long process

I have been out in the sun gardening, I need to get sun or my bodyclock will not let me sleep tonight. That is all my `out` for today, I am glad whiff said about gardeners world, will watch that later. I am just making a light rhubarb and strawberry compote, to freeze in very small pots for winter cheer-me-ups

Morning all. Chicken stew almost cooked. Once divided into 6 portions I will go and weed the the front garden. Very tired this morning so it will wake me up. Didn't nap yesterday afternoon. So fell asleep during Gardner's world. At least I can see it on iPlayer. Only when I went to go to bed did I realise I had left the garage light on. But wasn't going out to turn it off in my pjs. Only reason I put it on was I sowed some rosemary seeds after watering the garden. My kitchen window cill has 4 seed trays on. The lesser spearwort in my pond has flowered . It's a pretty little yellow flower. So I must have done something right planting it.

Hope you all have a good day

And that is correct Franbern. All the trials and tribulations of moving house are quickly forgotten once you're happily settled. It's like having a baby, you get the painful bit over with first then you enjoy it from there on. (Unless they cry all night!)
I sent a thank you email to the EA who sold our daughter's house as he sold ours last year and was brilliant. I had a lovely reply saying it was the first house they had sold STC after the lockdown so it was a momentous occasion for him too. All happy people, phew!
Hope this serves as an impetus for others in the process.

When I moved at end of last year I was very concerned at sorting out broadband, etc. Did investigate carefully for the are I was moving to over the month I was preparing to move. Seemed that BT was going to be the best option for me. I was with Virgin, knew they could not argue about me cancelling that contract as they were unable to supply to my block of flats.
I waited until contracts were exchanged then spent the next day contacting all utility companies to get things ready for the removal day. No problems with gas and leccie, as EDF who were my suppliers discovered that the last people who had lived in that flat had also used them.
Had long chat with BT over the phone, and found a good contract for two years (to give me a chance to settle down before any changes would be needed). Problem was they said they would be take about five days from removal day to get it all set up (Landline and Broadband).
So, for those five days, I had to use my mobile for everything - only time that I have ever nearly used all my monthly allowance (only pay £7 per month for that). Did go over to my daughters house one day to use their broadband.
I was fortunate in that I had my Son in Law able to come and sort out setting up the new broadband for me, which was lucky, as BT failed to include one of the connector cables in their package and he popped out to purchase one. Had it been just me I would not even have understood what was missing and just got into a state!!!
So much felaffal these days with moving home. And, so quickly forgotten when happily settled.
A paper diary is useful for writing down ALL contracts that may need renewal and looking into.

that reminded me so much of all that stress, not from physically moving but from sorting out internet as well as phone just so I could stay in touch with the banks and it was stressful this evening. Ooo got my sums wrong, saving is over £7 a month, more like £170 over the 2 years. That`ll help

what a frustrating palaver. When I moved I took out a vod plan with more GB than I need now because I had to use tethering to link laptop to mobile, was very important at the time because money was being transferred. I went on vod site and there is a plan 5GB for £13.60 pm, I am paying over £23 now because my plan lapsed in april and I didn`t follow it up then.

I clicked on change plan and that ended up with a new sim and a new number to my old address. I had to go onto chat to get that sorted and have been on there for an absolute age with oner person and then another. Now I have a 24 month contract for £15 pm because they could not get any cheaper. I dare not change broadband to them, at least plusnet is simple.

I have an old payg nokia in the car but now I am tied into everyone having my smartphone number. Its an expensive state of affairs. All because I started to transfer data from my old notebook to my new one and realised that vod contract had come and gone. I am uptight now, it took ages to get logged on in the first place. At least, being positive, that is about £134 saved over the 2 years and no more messing until then

Ahh ellianne, you hit the nail on the head, that is it, there is no other source of income, no extra overtime to earn money. That is the lightbilb going on!! It has to be savings, hence the very important budget, which I should have done before I moved but didn`t, I only had a rough idea. I know my budget now and can plan accordingly and try to replenish some of my spent savings

I think talking about the amount of money one has to spend when moving house is salutary reminder. From the cost of removals to new bathrooms and kitchen appliances, people on this thread have offered helpful suggestions. I think if we were younger, working people the amount would have been swallowed up in the new mortgage, but because we are more likely to be using savings we count the pennies more and like to compare notes. I'm guessing £30k is about average depending on the condition and size of the property.

The heatwave didn't arrive here today and the beach wasn't that crowded. I hope we see a bit more of the sun tomorrow.

Ahhh shandy. Yes keep looking ahead to easier times in an easier home. I would allow two lots of expenses, first for solicitor, survey, stamp duty and removals, second for making it a home. Then subtract and you will have a good idea of what you can afford in reality. I expect it all feels very iffy at the moment but it does need to be pinned down to a realistic amount.

I used to go to the lyth valley near kendal to get damsons, I have always loved damson jam. My allotment had rows of these fruits along the edge, all for the picking. Its a great fruit to have whiff

I am going to buy bananas to freeze, I`ll put them on my shopping list. There is nothing else on the list and I haven`t been in 2 weeks, I freeze milk and butter and can get eggs locally now, ouside farm gates.

Good job you didn't swallow it. I had 10 damsons in total just stewed them and mixed them with my yogurt. Next year should have more .

Congratulations Teetime! I got a tip from other GN'ers to pay the removal company an insurance for 'late keys', to cover you for late funds coming in on completion day.

Your shake sounds good craftyone. I've kept off the biscuits for three days now, I am still picking but only fruit. I had a similar sinking feeling doing my budget, it works out if I do 'budget' for everything annually I only have £150 per month for emergencies. I've had to take out my proposed holiday spend this year, boo! Hopefully where I live will be like being on holiday, everything will be easier in three years when I get my long awaited state pension. Luckily two of my three items have bids on ebay, so that's one bill paid.

Thought of you and your damsons last night Whiff ... I was drinking my coffee when I saw a lump in the bottom. Blimin' plum pip, I thought I'd thrown it into the bin but it had gone into my cup on the coffee maker, ha ha!

East Sussex on ETTC . Well remember a few years back the wonderful fish meal we had in Hastings, The board in that restaurant gave us the name of the fishing boat and Captain that had brought it in and the time (that day) of its landing.
Shandy, this is an area I strongly recommended you look at. Got everything, beaches, easy reach of London, good weather conditions, nice towns and villages.

Merylstreep, why did you have a pit in your stomach? I am glad that my spending on here is over, it all came at once because I wanted it all finished asap, to enjoy asap. I am very grateful that I had put the money by to do it and I really don`t mind at all talking about it

People could do worse than talk about the expenses involved in setting up home, we all want a property to become home quickly and it won`t be until we put our stamp on it and it all costs, even diy costs a lot

It is surpising how that first year in a new home brings to light so many things to purchase and things to be done.
My main expenses for my flat have included new whites (dishawasher, freezer, tumble dryer, convector microwave, washing machine. Was able to keep my fridge which was less than a year old. I did exactly this back in my old house when I had the kitchen re-done - so except for fridge (which had been replaced), and freezer (also replaced but far too large), I needed to start again. I really do not expect to have to replace any of these items in my lifetime.
Had to pay out for aerial extension, quite a lot for electrician to put in more points in kitchen, alter lights, put up outdoor light on balcony and - quite a lot of money electrify my garage and door.
My curtains cost a very large sum of money - but are gorgeous material, very well made, and will be the last time in my life I buy curtains.
I had wardrobes put into two bedrooms, and also furniture for my bedroom, also purchased new dining table and chairs.
Balcony furniture and plants, etc.
Biggest expense will be getting my bathroom completely re-done in a couple of weeks time. After that is all done, the only thing needing doing will be the floor in my living room and hallway (decision next year as to whether to re-carpet or to have hard floor).
Obviously, did have a bit of spending spree on other bits and pieces, but reckon that (not including whatever flooring will cost next year), I have spent around nineteen thousand pounds.
However, have a beautiful and very comfortable home which will last me, with little future expenditure, for the rest of my days.
My central htg and boiler service, etc and my water rates are all included in my £1300 annual service charge.

Craftyone
I hate talking about money especially other people's money.
But reading your posts from the off your spending gave me a pit in the stomach ?
I hope I haven't offended ?

That is a lot of compost whiff, no wonder you are tired. You are braver than me re adding up the cost of everything, I daren`t but just a quick estimate of outside, well it must have been about 8k. I am not going to think about inside, good appliances included. oh ok I was charged 8k for the extras that the builder did which included flooring and stove and then there is all the stuff I needed and put up and had built in. Many hidden expenses. 25-30k is needed unless happy to live as is

Lovely temperature inside but very dark. I have one more important job and that is to transfer all the important stuff from my tatty notebook, into my new notebook. Bank account passwords and phone numbers etc and all my passwords for everything from the year dot. I am not looking forward to it, its a mess alright but is now full of crossings out and the book is falling apart. I use it a lot

I believe the main roads are packed with beakdowns and long queues on the M5 from Bristol

Teetime that's brilliant. Are you moving far from your present house?

Craftyone I had a shock when I added up all I had spent getting the bungalow as I want it. But wasn't as much as it could have been. Because of my home improvements guy I saved almost £5k by him letting me have his discounts. But I have got the home I wanted for a long time.

Spent another 3hours in the front garden. Put down another 50l of compost. Nap time this afternoon. It's getting very hot here now.