Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Thank you for your welcome.

craftyone. I am presuming that having a share of the freehold is preferable to a management company. The flat I was interested in before lock down, which has since sold owns a share of the free hold. The service charges are very reasonable compared to some managed ones. Presumably the 'rules' are set by the leasholders. For example , no pets of any kind other than one cat. Any pointers would be very welcome.
I have just seen that a flat in the same block has come on. Not as nice as it has no private out door space and dated kitchen. But 20K dearer than the other one. I have revaluations booked so will be interested to see if my property has increased in value.

My flat (one of 25 in the block), we each own our part of the leasehold - management run by our own Residents Cttee, no outside organisation to take profit etc. This keeps down the cost of the annual maintenance charge and as that not only covers usual things like building insurance, etc. also covers all of our central htg service and maintenance (with BG), and also all our water charges. Obviously, we have no extra to pay land rental.

Thank you Franbern,

That explains the lower costs if management is run by a Residents committee. Also I would think they can negotiate prices for servicing and maintenance, so that would explain the lower charges. Also no ground rent to pay.

Think I need to do my homework. Thanks again.

Cathy, having a share in he freehold is good, the freeholders can then decide how to manage the communal areas. It takes a management company registered with companies house and accounts etc must be submitted. Shareholders would be directors and they would appoint sec, chair, treasurer and have a formal agm.

Self management very much depends on the willingness of a few to do the donkey work. When I left the last property, the management company pretty much collapsed because people were happy to let a few do it all. I was sec and chair

It is a good way to run communal areas but tbh depends on people pulling their weight, many don`t

Yikes, just come back to grab some clothes and my entire bathroom including the floor has gone! Only 9 more working days to finish! Whiff and Franbern didn't complain, so I'll try not to get impatient. Cold in the house too.
Crafty that's worrying about your niece, I hope she recovers soon.
Spice glad to hear things are better down your way and that you can resume the search.
Cathy welcome, everyone on here is ready to help and support you in the process. Sorry, I haven't a clue about leaseholds.
Off to my accommodation now and a hot shower.

Ellianne my floors are all concrete in the bungalow. So no holes in the floors . But did have a new ceiling put in the kitchen and shower room. And the loft hatch put into my bedroom. It will be lovely when it is finished. But be prepared they may find something they didn't expect. There was a problem with the pipe going from the loo to sewer. So had to dig up a bit of my drive. But I love all the work they did.

Cathy04 welcome. Don't know anything about leasehold unfortunately. At least there are others on here to help you.

Concrete floors in this flat, so no under floor piping.

Ellianne, I did moan quite a lot - and felt bad about it, as all the workpeople were so good and as unobtrusive as possible the whole time. As their ten days straddled a bank holiday, and they had been using my spare bedroom to store stuff - they kindly moved everything back into the bathroom for those few days so that my daughter and g.daughter could stay in that bedroom. They also put the loo back into the bathroom on a temporary basis so that my daughter could use that at night.

Like moving (although a much, much shorter time) once it is all completed, the pain and stress disappears in delight of new bathroom.`

I am, happily, now looking at what I am going to have for my new flooring in the hallway and Living room. Now that will be a stressful job when it is actually being carried out - but I am enjoying this stage - and will moan a lot whilst it is actually being done.

Today I have some Cholla bread to make, washing and then packing to be carried out ready for my few days trip to my daughter where I used to live and being able to see some of my friends there.

Thanks Franbern for the encouragement. I think it was the shock of seeing the empty space and hole in the floor last night. I left my husband in charge of all the pets and I came over to our daughter's to sleep. Very comfortable bedroom and a brand new ensuite. I could get used to this! Have a good time back in the city. Nice for you to see old friends again.
I'm off out now so I don't overstay my welcome. Dog walk in the hills no doubt.
Shandy have you recovered from your visit? It is still warmish here.

Ellianne, like your comment about being in the city. My daughter's house is less than a quarter of a mile from the Essex border, along a forest road - just a few shops along the High Street . Will actually feel more in the country there than I am here.

My first stop off will be with a friend who does not drive, she is well into her 80's and we will just have a couple of hours of gossip before I go on to my daughters. Then the following day, my Sister-in-law is coming to have the whole day with me. She is finding life very difficult. A moved into very country area of Suffolk, gorgeous house, but she feels very isolated. Her very close sister died suddenly less than two years ago, and then earlier this year her eldest child died from cancer just prior to his 51st birthday.
Her husband will not permit her to be away for more than one night (suppose that sounds daft - but she says it is just not worth the sulks and bad humour he would get into if she did so), and I am just about her closest female friend now. She is seriously depressed, worryingly so - showing all signs of other illnesses due to this. She has so wanted to have time to chat to me, and that is what we will be doing all day on Thursday. Hope I can be of some help to her.

Do have some other arrangements for meeting up with people in Essex for the other days

Morning all, it's wet and miserable here today.

I was up and out in my pj's ridiculously early in the field opposite as my dog is still poorly, and so am I - sneezy cold and bad headache.

Enjoy your day with your SIL tomorrow Franbern.

I'll be off line for a while, take care everyone

Oh dear Shandy if it’s any consolation I’ve had it too, except I also got the trots, better now though.
Hope your poor dog gets well soon, take care and keep warm.

Thanks Oopsadaisy4, sorry you had it too. I've just tried to book a flu jab appointment - Boots are out of the vax, I've had to join the 'waiting list'.

I booked my flu jab with my GP yesterday. Have you tried your doctor's Shandy57?

Tried the doctor Whiff, have to ring mid October once they are through the priority patients, might be able to book for mid November.

I need to wait for dry weather so I can finish the big job in my garden, due to rampant invasive roots creeping under the ancient garden wall from next door. It is a massive passiflora, trained horizontally right along the wall and I noticed it sending suckers 20 feet into my garden. I am putting vertical bamboo root retaining membrane down but needed to dig an 18" deep trench all along, 6" inside the wall, I think I am down so far about 14 inches. It is hard going, ground is very rocky and dense. I need to get well below the roots

It is a necessary thing, my neighbour at the back is widowed and can barely look after her opposite fence, I am not going to tell her, I can deal with it. My sister says that passiflora likes alkaline so I will be acidifying the soil by the wall to discourage the roots from my garden. The plant will not die at all. Always see what is growing against the fence in neighbours gardens when buying, trees and invasive bamboo were a big no when I was looking. I think the passiflora is only 2 years old

I had to remove 15 good plants of mine and they are tipped, shame but I have to see any signs of passiflora growth and deal with it immediately. A job that I don`t want but better than eg leylandii, I turned a beautiful new bungalow down because of baby leylandii put in next to a rickety fence, 1m from the side wall. The second viewer bought it on the spot, obviously never realised the baby leylandii were there.

Heating is on now, very easy, gas ch plus a multi fuel stove when I want cheery. Ocado comes soon and I am making a 6" christmas cake, recipe for multi sizes from the mary berry cake book. Will only marzipan, not ice

Last delivery from ocado, I cancelled and was refunded my smart pass. Freezer is stuffed and have lots of good organic meats and fish, just cod and smoked mackerel and trout this time.

I have big piles of soil all over my garden and patio, I need to backfill and tamp down later. I will be very glad when that work is over but will probably have to use my pressure washer to clean the patio, even though the removals matress bags came in very handy, I bought too many and saved them.

Just proves that house and gardenmaintenance is on-going and can be unexpected and needs to be tackled asap

.Had an excellent journey up to Essex yesterday. M5 and M4 and even M25 all without any problems. Just had a quick Loo stop at Reading motorway services, then on to my friend in North London. We had a really great afternoon, just chatting and chatting. Her daughter, who now lives with them, has friends in the West side of Bristol and hopes to visit them in a few weeks time, and when she does will bring her Mum to stay overnight with me.

On to Daughters house, so good to see her and my g.daughter. Do miss them very much - was so used to living less than a mile away from them.

Today, my Sister-in-law will be coming here to spend a long, gossipy day with me. Have brought with me my Soup maker and appropriate veg, so we will not have to bother going out anywhere for lunch. Also made some lovely bread before I came to have with this.

I am spending a lot of time, now, looking at exactly what sort and pattern of flooring I will have put down in my Living Room and Hallway. Want job carried out next March time, so will want to put order in as soon 2021 starts. I always love the planning part of any big work to be carried out where I live, so am enjoying this.

Mind you - did enjoy something I saw on Fb - which said -
'Before I sign up to 2021, I want to see the Terms and Conditions' - Made me laugh anyway.

Morning all . Start of a new month. Had to spend the night at my daughter's due loo problem. Whilst talking on the phone heard a gurgling noise had a look room couldn't see anything wrong happened again few minutes later. Used the loo and the water came nearly to the brim then only when half way down . Flushed a couple of times same thing. Homeserve can't come until tomorrow morning. Dawned on me in the early hours what to do so I don't have to worry. Don't put paper down after flushes take out the excess water done to its usual level. So did that and it gurgled twice but water stayed same level. What annoys me is why I didn't think of that last night and I could have stayed here. Why it's I get my best ideas and make plans when I am either in the shower or on the loo!

I will be glad to get in the garden Craftyone. Summer plants that have died need to come up, weeding front and back and dead heading. But we have had a lot of rain for a few days just to wet. Brought some growmore to spread round the plants to slowly feed them over winter.

Next major job is to tidy out the garage as all the charity things finally went yesterday. Had Sainsbury's delivery yesterday so cupboards and freezer fully stocked. More Christmas presents arriving today and tomorrow. Start to make Christmas cards the weekend.

Have a good day everyone

Homeserve have been there was a blockage in the sewer pipe all clear. Don't have to worry about using loo now.

Phoned my GP this morning think I have another UTI. Found out they have sent me a letter. I have a telephone appointment with GP this after my urine sample came back abnormal. What ever it is I will face it like everything else in my life. Read up on all the things it could be just have to wait and see what she says. Can admit to you but not my daughter I am a bit worried. Will keep myself busy so I don't let it get to me.

Fingers crossed there is nothing serious to be concerned about Whiff

I hope your GP can get on top of the problem Whiff. Try not to worry yourself reading all the nasty scenarios. Good luck!

urine sample covers many things whiff, could be a bit of protein, anything. Try not to worry, they will likely test you for the likes of diabetes.

If anyone is moving, I suggest getting mobile, 4G, internet and landline sorted asap. I had to do a lot of tethering to my laptop to make phone calls. I am still uptight, have been on the phone for an hour to fix my new broadband and phone contract and they talk so flipping fast I couldn`t understand half of what he was saying. There are no bargains out there

Thank you all. Whatever it is I can face it. My worry it is my anti seizure tablets causing because I don't want to come off them . Only take 1 mg a day in 2 tablets they have made such a big difference in my life. I don't want to go back to the seizures going out of control where I am seizing for 8 plus hours . It took me weeks to get back to my normal. Let you know what the GP says. Back to being busy.

Just popping in and sorry to see you are poorly too Whiff, fingers crossed it isn't anything and you can continue your seizure meds. I didn't know you sometimes suffered for eight hours, you poor thing. Get well soon

I'm feeling a bit better, still sneezing but my headache has gone, but I've hurt the inside of my nose. I started buying cheap tissues years ago to save money, but have treated myself to Kleenex, what a difference, they are so much softer.

Craftyone I thought you were sorted with broadband, sorry you are having trouble, I was lost without it here that first week.

Enjoy your afternoon everyone, I'm off to buy some slippers, I have a credit notes in a local shop and they've just come in.

yes I am ok with broadband etc but it is end of contract and they offered me another at an extortionate cost. I had to bargain for a reduction

Thinking about you whiff, I like your `can do` attitude

Glad to say it's only another UTI 10 day course this time. Anti seizure tablets safe. Thank goodness.

Hope you feel better soon Shandy ,your poor nose. I always buy Tesco's memory foam slippers they are so comfortable. And keep my feet toasty in the winter. Got my heating on very cold here today.

I don't normally worry about medical matters don't really know why I did today.
Thank you all for listening.