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

Elliane not surprised at the cost, just surprised that we would have to organise and pay for Electrician, any building works and a Decorator and plasterer ourselves, I would have thought that he would have even able to at least organise the whole thing.
Franbern 10 days sounds doable, far better than 3 weeks!

Decorator was in this morning and will finish off tomorrow morning. Then on Monday the electrician will return to finish off everything.
I used one company (a local one). They project managed the whole thing - they are plumbers, so outsource electrician, decorating, flooring and tiling work. Obviously, they use the same people each time.
As the small corner bath was in the wrong place, there had to be quite a lot of moving of plumbing and of electricity. I also had them fit individual controls on each of my radiators in the flat, and they had to remove one rad completely and replace it, and then put in new electric towel rail into this bathroom. Also had soft close seats for loo in bathroom and one in en-suite, and flooring laid in en-suite. So, this extra work all added to time and cost.
I was sent to Topps Tiles where this firm gets a discount to choose and pay for my tiles, and I also chose and paid for the two floorings. Apart from that everything else was arranged by the main contractor. In all it has worked out around six grand.
18 years ago I paid the same amount for my bathroom being re-fitted in my house (by a large national company). It was all okay and usable, but nothing special and I had less choice in everything - so do not feel that this is unreasonably expensive .
It has taken a total of ten working days. Any good firm is likely to be well booked up. When I arranged it originally, it was a three months wait - think I would be more than a little suspicious of any company who could do it much in a much quicker time -span.
Water has only been off for a very short time on a couple of days.
Shandy, no my second fob never turned up. I think I dropped it between the garage and the front door of the flat, it is black, and I reckon just got swept up as rubbish. I had them come back to let me have a second one of these, they did have to rec=-configure the one I had also. Obviously, they did make a small charge, and I am very, very, careful with them now. My garage door works with these fobs - from quite a distance away -indeed, I can stand on my balcony and open/shut the garage. Can be used doing that - during lockdown my daughter got for me a large sack of compost for my balcony pots, she telephoned me from the the flats driveway and I was able to open the garage and she put that sack in there. This electric door was an expense but a very worthwhile one.

Shandy, if you can get some slippery elm powder mix a teaspoon in about half a cup of water and give it to your dog. Ideally give it before a meal but I usually just pour it over the food. May need a couple of doses but it generally works wonders for an upset tum. I use it for myself too if feeling a bit queezy.

Afternoon all, I'm just back from a friend's house and I thought of you Franbern, they are having their garage door converted to electric press and open. Did your other remote ever turn up? Glad you are having such a positive experience with your bathroom, good you have a bath. My dog is in the bath more than me having his bottom washed, he's still got an upset stomach after the kennels.

Sunny and lovely today, I'm taking my dog on a new walk by †he river shortly.

Enjoy your day

Really enjoying following your bathroom progress Franbern. I'm pleased they were considerate workers and that it wasn't too much upheaval. Oopsadaisy we are having the bathroom fitters in in a fortnight. They are doing the whole job, except a bit of painting, but to give you an idea it is costing more than 3 times the price of your first quote. We are going on holiday while the work is in progress. Hope you find some nice tiles.
A little bit of sunshine here today. We might manage a picnic lunch at the beach.

Franbern so pleased that your bathroom is almost done, we have our second potential bathroom fitter coming on Monday evening to give us a qoute.
The first chap wanted 3k , 3 weeks to put in a shower, loo and vanity unit, plus tiling and would only organise the plumbing, fitting the shower etc. and tiling. Said that we would have to organise and pay for electrician, decorator etc. Plus of course we had to buy all of the items.
Oh and he couldn’t come until late November.
If this other chap cant come in before end of October then we will retile the room with cheap tiles and book the redo for next Spring.
I really can’t be doing with 3 weeks without a shower, Some days without water or heating, Windows and doors all open, Plus the threat of Covid in the Winter.
Anyway, being optimistic we are going to look at wall tiles today and get some samples.
We’ve never lived anywhere long enough to have another new bathroom fitted!

Thank you Whiff, for your words of encouragement they do help. I'm also very aware that there are many far worse off than I am.
I am fortunately still able to have physio with my regular physio and that does help somewhat.

I love that bit about being like trees Whiff. It really resonates with me.

Spice101 all that you have gone through since you first posted with the sale of your house, renting, yours and your husband's health think you have had your big girl pants on for a long time.

Sorry your mobility is suffering. I know how fulstrating it is when you want to do something and your body won't let you. I get so annoyed at times especially if I have been able to something a few years ago and now can't. When I got ill 32 years ago my late husband was brilliant and said we alter our life to suit you. Our children were 4 years and 6 months old. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't still be doing all the things I can today. He was great at finding solutions to problems and between us worked out I could do things differently. Our GP at that time was wonderful he organised getting my wheelchair, walking,stick and bits of equipment that made it so we had a normal family life. Because of my walking going shopping was easier with me in the wheelchair same with holidays. But my husband did suffer with what I called wheelchair rage. If people got in the way he would plough them down. It's making me smile just writing this remembering. It was very important to us our children had a normal childhood. Luckily had help from my parents and my mother in law.

Hopefully the restrictions will be lifted a bit for you soon. Are you still able to have the physio? You don't let life break you may have to bend a bit but you are soon standing tall. Like everyone on this thread. Think we are a bit like trees. Get blown about a bit , bits might droop, but fight off pests and diseases but because we have good roots we thrive.

Good to hear things have gone to plan with your bathroom Franbern. It seems as though everything has happened when it was supposed to and you have not had any delays with getting workmen or materials on the job. So glad you are happy with the end result. Enjoy your long soak in the bath.

No news on the house hunting front from me, the industry is still shut down as far as inspections and auctions is concerned. We are locked down for at least another 2 weeks and there is talk today of that being extended for an additional 8 weeks.. If this happens it will push so many people over the edge. Normally I'm a go with the flow person but I'm beginning to struggle with life as it is. I, like probably everyone else, just want to get back to some sort of "normal" life. Be able to do my hydrotherapy, see my grandchildren and other family and friends and go out occasionally. Not being able to do hydro is impacting on my mobility in a huge way but I cannot see me getting back into the pool this year.

Off to put on my big girl pants and deal with life as it is.

Feeling exhausted. Bathroom is virtually finished, but still need tomorrow and Saturday morning for the decorators to come in do their work, then Monday morning the electrician comes to compete that. THEN IT WILL BE DONE!!!!
Looks great, nice and clean and bright,.
Intend to have a long soak in the bath over the weekend.#
Looking forward to getting back to some sort of normality from Tuesday onwards.

get non slip slabs whiff. They are cheap and concrete, I can go out in icy weather and they are safe, the smooth ones are dangerous

kissngate sorry about that happening to you. Many on here had it done . I had 2 buyers pull out one on day of exchange second 4 days before exchange. Franbern had it worse. So we know how you feel. But you have a great attitude. Another get on with it person.

My planned trip has had to alter. My daughter told me where I was going has the highest rate of Covid cases at the moment and 2 restaurants have temporarily closed. So going out with her and grandson to local retail park . They have a big B&Q so can get some tester pots for my living room. As having it decorated next year gives me plenty of time to live with the colours especially over winter before making my final choice.

Had fun looking after my grandson this morning. He is very good at washing himself, brushing his teeth withna little help on his molars and dresses himself.

Got the man who does paving coming at 6 to give me a price. Hopefully not to eye watering only need bog standard slabs.

Time for lunch. Enjoy the rest of your day.

Don't worry, Ellianne - I had not noticed the 'even',

Garden flats can be lovely. I did, when I first started looking back five years ago, originally only looked at ground floor garden flats. Some have quite large courtyard type gardens. Do have to check whether or not pets are permitted in the block.
Flats have so many advantages - no worries about outside maintenance, drains, fences, gutterings, roofs, etc. Good feelings of security, obviously, as with all buildings you need to check that they are sound proof, etc.

another potential loose end to wrap up, for those singles amongst us in particular. Power of attorney, I did one, it names one dd as my attorney, to make decisions for me, my finances and my welfare if I lose capacity. I also named my ds as the stand by attorney in case something happens to this dd.

In future, when the dgc are grown, I may well put one of them down as the stand by, ds would have to travel a long way. It stops the expensive lumbering court of protection interfering if eg there are 2 AC who want to run our affairs when/if we cannot.

Sorry Franbern the word "even" for a flat popped out because Shandy and I both have dogs to consider, and anything other than ground floor might be an issue.

I agree with loopyloo, modern houses look rather nice these days and the security of neighbours is very important, no-one would be able to climb over the property back fence and yes re the poker face and driving a hard bargain. If you like it then make an offer quite quickly but don`t employ any solicitor to start on it until after your devon trip. They would want to know who the solicitor is but that is ok, you will not be spending any money until you say so

Building site work is absolutely fine to live with, I have done it since I moved here and have an on-going building site behind my garage and a small part of my garden as well as my own development which is in process

Oh my flat is crowded this morning. Just before 8.00 two men arrived to lay the flooring in the bathroom and my en-suite. Then at 9 00 am, three of the apprentices from the plumbers arrived with their College Supervisor. Have made them all coffee and biscuits. As soon as the flooring is down, then the rest can start to come together. Quite exciting!!!!
Kissngate - how horrible for you. Several of the regular contributors to this thread have been through a similar experience. It is stomach-wrenching when it happens! I wanted to give it all up. So glad the EA made me stay with it - and it worked out well for me, because the new buyer paid more than the one who had dropped out, and the this flat went down ten grand in the interim.
My daughter popped by for ten minutes last night to let me know how it was going in her new job (she had just finished her second Inset Induction day - pupils arrive today), and to have a look at the tiling - which had helped me choose.
The flat is getting very dusty form all of this work, next week will do a thorough cleaning throughout and also start putting in spring bulbs into patio pots.
Shandy, as Craftyone said, there will be strict rules in place regarding end of garden fences, etc. It is quite usual these days for back gardens to back onto other people's back gardens. If you really like the house, if it is in your price range, if it does not need too much to be spent on it and if it is available, then go for it.
I know it may not sound totally ethical, but if you get an offer accepted on that house, you can still do your trip to the South West and if something there is better for you, then you can just withdraw that offer.

Yes, Shandy I would. It would make me feel more secure. But use it as a bargaining chip and don't convey too much enthusiasm for this house. Keep a poker face. Drive a hard bargain. You are a cash buyer! A real cash buyer.
But then what do I know?
Have a good day.

Good morning all.

Hmmm, not sure Shandy. My concerns would be living on or next to a building site for some time (noise, dirt etc). And then like you describe, living on top of other people, and not the best views in the world. I might even prefer a flat like Franbern's with a nice outlook.

something to add here, on re-reading shandy`s post. My house has a back garden, built right up to the neighbouring back gardens of two properties. There are all sorts of restrictions on me ie I am not supposed to have plants over a certain height and no structure like a tall greehouse etc. All designed to protect the existing homes. They are not onerous restrictions to me btw. Those new builds shandy would have the same restrictions on their gardens

Better the devil you know shandy. Find out who the builders are and find the planning application which will have lots of attached documents. Hard without the lenovo right now I know. Look up the county council online planning site and put the name of the area in the search box

Any field behind anywhere will be at risk of development, particularly now that the planning restrictions have been relaxed. A great deal of land has been banked by developers, the farmer at the family home told me that developers had a stake in 2 of his 4 fields, that was in 2004, not claimed by the developer, yet

It takes a long time to get these developments built, it will be another 2 years here I think and now a green space opposite me has a planning application on it. There have been 4 comments and I was the only one in favour, so my stomach is churning over that. At the moment it is weed infested. It has been refused twice in the past before the other houses were built. I really like having neighbours rather than weeds with potentially a fence around. Builder told me that he would `give` it to me if he is refused and that makes my stomach churn too.

The upside of living in a settled area with houses all around is that there will be no more unexpected building works. Its very hard shandy

Morning all, great to read all your news.

I know what you mean about spending savings crafty one , I've not got a 'contactless' card for my 'living' account and have been using my savings instead, I've got into a right mess.

I couldn't sleep last night, thinking about the house I'm viewing on Saturday. I know it's silly to worry as it might even be under offer by then anyway - but I wonder if you would buy somewhere knowing that 60 houses were going to be built behind it. I've looked at the plans and the back gardens of the new houses seem to come up to the fence of the existing houses.

That didn`t take long at all and has made me appreciate that I have a fixed income now and that is quite stomach churning while being a lightbulb moment. Any extras would have to come from savings, which are deflating because of awful interest rates. It has taken me 5 years to come to terms with that, money meant nothing after my husband died and I spent too much

Spending savings now is like getting rid of the goose that laid the golden egg.

kissngate, so sorry that happened, I like your attitude, another pick yourself up person, not moping around and waiting for things to happen