Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Elusivebutterfly

I was thinking of replacing my kitchen pre lockdown and finally booked a company to come round and give me a quote last week. They cancelled as the designer was unwell (she said it would be only a couple of days, not covid) and hasn't called back to rebook so not a good start. It's so tedious getting builders.

If you are thinking of spending quite a lot of money on a new fitted kitchen you should be aware that the "designers" who work for fitted kitchen companies are actually salespeople. They usually have minimal design training and their instructions are to sell you the most expensive kitchen layout possible, regardless of your needs.

The best way to chose a fitted kitchen is to commission an architect or properly qualified interior designer to measure your space, take a brief and design a layout to suit you.

Then take your designer's plan to various fitted kitchen companies to look at the quality of their products (which tend to be quite similar) and see what thy would charge to fit out your kitchen to your own designer's plan.

Elusivebutterfly my home improvements guy recommend Benchmark when I had my new kitchen. He let me have his discount as it's trade. Vast section of units, doors worktops etc. Only had sink and tap from them Source appliances myself. Only induction hob and oven build in everything else free fitting. The guy who measured up was the designer. What I liked was he said the most important thing is what you want and don't want. After we talked he measured up. I described what I wanted. He draw the plans and didn't alter a thing as he listened to me. Also had discount through my home improvements guy for tiles and flooring.

Mine be worth finding someone local who does everything like my guys . Plumbing , electrics ,tiling etc. Saves time and money.

Nice spuds Shandy. I have picked strawberries,courgettes and french beans.

Yes, I am very aware of using so-called designers from the large companies. This is why I am taking so much time to do all my own research. Have drawn out my kitchen on a large sheet of graph paper. Pretty much know what I want and what needs to be done. As this will include some electrical work and a small amount of re-jigging the plumbing, I want a company that does the whole lot. I will be giving them MY design for layout, etc.
A couple of years ago - just pre-pandemic, I saw my friends get 'sold' such an expensive kitchen by Wickes. Yes, it is nice, but most definitely NOT worth what I know they paid for it. They were - for a company like this - the ideal purchasers. Just went along with exactly what was suggested.
will be interesting when I start to get quotes in.

We went to 3 companies for bathroom quotes as well as 2 independent plumbers. All the designs were roughly the same.
We went with the company that seemed to have the best reputation locally which happened to be the middle price.
The fitter has visited this morning, hummed and ha-ed about the soil stack....we have feelings the price will go up...but seemed very nice and accomodating.
He was quite young and seemed surprised that a 50 year old house wasn't up to 21st century building specs. He'll learn.

Afternoon all, I'm just coming on to see how you all are. I am not enjoying the heat and will definitely have to go to NZ during the cooler months. I went out on Saturday and felt as though I was going to faint, perhaps I should get a hat!

As I'm stuck in I'm having a mad no regrets declutter. It really made me think when my daughter made me throw away the pottery swan/duck (she doesn't know I still have her larger papier mache version!) I only went out on Saturday because I'm trying to sell some curtains on the sales pages of FB - easier than ebay as sales are normally collection. Someone asked me if I'd post them and I packed them all, rushed to the PO, queued up outside for five or six minutes - only to get in and realise they were closed all day Saturday. I got home again and messaged the person to let them know, and yesterday asked if she'd still like to know the posting price. No response, so rude.

So today, reluctantly, I listed my broken Imperial 'Good Companion' typewriter for free - I've had seven enquiries. Choosing the first one, he lives remotely, and I've agreed to wait in for a courier! I loved this typewriter when we had our self catering and typed out the Welcome to our guests on it, but I stored it in the rental cottage garage and the damp has got to it. And I don't need it. Do I?

And I've just given the bloke my old postcode, I definitely need to cool down! Choc ice where are you!

WsM is in the centre of the Amber Weather warning. Have found the heat far too much. Have virtually every window open wide, day and night, sun canopies on the balcony to prevent sun getting to the windows. Fan on all day in my Living Room. Still reached 33 degrees in there yesterday afternoon!!!
Fine at night, small fan at bedside, and I am sleeping well. If this is the future, may have to consider looking at some sort of air cooling system. It is lovely now - before 9 am - but forecast is for this extreme weather to continue for at least two more days.
Apart from my normal Sainsbury's run early yesterday morning, did not go out, nor will I today. Am concerned as to how the school children are coping - they do not breakup here until tomorrow and a lot of schools do not have many windows that open.
When I did go for a quick trundle round on Sunday afternoon, I was astonished to see how many people were taking their dogs for walks either on the sand or on pavements - their poor paws -far too hot for them. And people on the beach totally exposed to the sun and many had small children with them. WsM is known for its sinking mud, when the tide goes out - and has loads of notices all along the beach warning people not to go past them. Either people are unable to read, or think this does not apply to them - but our poor rescue services has had to be in action so often these last few days rescuing people. I do sometimes despair!!!!
Hope everyone is finding ways of keeping cool and hydrated

I'm just watching the news about it Franbern, it's so unusual isn't it, I do feel for the sheep here. I was melting in the car on Saturday morning when I went to the PO, my Mum was a redhead and I don't cope well with the heat.

Like you we are a tourist area, and it's heaving. Poor dogs are being dragged along by brainless people and the beach is chokka.

We have an estuary with a strong current joining the sea at our local beach, it's changed course after the bad spring storms. There are signs saying 'danger, no bathing' but people were watching their kids in the water. The RNLI have been out to inflatables and paddle boarders over the weekend - the North Sea shows no mercy.

Just about to go out for a quick dog walk as I've agreed to wait in for the courier to collect my old typewriter. When I get back I'm going through our twenty year old camera collection, silly me left the batteries in them and one of them is ruined as they've leaked. The card is huge and won't fit any other camera, hopefully it is empty.

Stay cool and well everyone!

Franbern the advice is that you should have all windows closed while the sun is out! No wonder your home is so hot!

Sorry Midgey, if I closed all my windows with the sun playing directly on them, it would be unbearable in my flat. I have windows open, but today I have blinds closed on them. On my balcony I have two sun umbrellas which prevents the sun actually playing onto the windows there, and with the large patio door wide open, allows a little bit of a breeze.
Think the problem yesterday was that my usual living room fan is just not big and powerful enough for that room in this sort of heat. Normally, it is excellent in keeping the air moving. Today, I have brought in the desk top fan from my spare bedroom and have that right next to me - and am feeling absolutely fine.
Has anyone purchased an air cooler? I know that they are not air conditioners wondered if they are any better than just placing a bowl of ice in front of a normal fan?. Going to try to that as the sun moves round onto my balcony this afternoon.

Windows closed AND curtains closed, not just my advice!

My system today if open windows, but blinds closed against the sun, plus two fans, the larger one of these has ice in front of it is keeping my Living Room very comfortable this afternoon.

Good! Wish my house was cool.

Interestingly - just seen advice on Television to KEEP WINDOWS OPEN and BLINDS AND CURTAINS CLOSED.

This is what I did yesterday, along with a fan playing directly onto me. Was very successful in keeping my double aspect Living Room quite comfortable and me feeling fine all day.
Obviously, lots of fluids -which I alway have as I am an ostomist.

As my diet has virtually no processed food and I never add salt to anything I cook, when I felt very listless a couple of days ago I did have a salt lick (eating a packet of crisps would also have been good but I do have any such thing in stock).

Morning all, much cooler but humid here, I think we might have an electric storm. My friend lived in Portugal and she said they kept the windows open with blinds down, their flat faced west.

I didn't know we could buy a salt lick Franbern, thought they were for horses!

I've just learnt a 'first aid' lesson - keep some plasters ready to use out of their paper wrapping. Plunged my hand into the first aid box looking for something and hadn't realised my daughter's leg razors were in there - sliced the tip of my index finger, blood everywhere, had to grab my flannel. Hurts! I'd never make a nurse!

I keep wondering about Yogi, has anyone heard from her?

The neighbour at the back must have banged their bin lid ten times this morning, it really gets on my nerves!

Thank you for your useful comments about kitchens. I had a Howdens kitchen at my old house. I used builders recommended to me and they only used Howdens. The kitchen was good but the designer and the service were awful. Wickes quoted a similar price but did not provide fitters then.
I want to keep the design I have, just minor changes. I now have an appointment tomorrow with the local company and will see what they say. There are recommended builders/fitters on the local FB page but until you contact them, it is impossible to tell if they let you choose the kitchen or insist on their choice of supplier.

Good luck Elusivebutterfly, it is such a big outlay and you must love it when it's done. I had a Howden's kitchen in our self catering apartment, unfortunately a customer melted the kitchen cupboard next to the oven, the thermostat had gone. He was an RAF fighter pilot and demonstated the oven wasn't working in such a funny way, he 'flew it'!

No-one has mentioned Magnet, have they gone? My husband's father always recommended them as they come ready made, our first kitchen in late 80's was from them.

I'm looking forward to painting my kitchen when I get to the right stage, I've just found the hair dryer to remove the vinyl. I've found a handyman I know and trust, and have so many decisions to make about mirror/shelf positioning etc. Unfortunately have had to change plans as mirrors from the station are huge and the ceilings here much much lower, but will have to do for the moment.

Just off to get flowers for the vet's administator, Petplan have paid me, thankfully. Taking my elderly cat to have her claws cut this later this afternoon.

Thanks Shandy for info on MSE. Someone told my OH that we didnt need them but we have already paid the fee to the solicitors. Hindsight is a wonderful thing - if we had known our Solicitors used a search company instead of paying the Local Authority themselves we would not have used them. However it's not just the searches as probate is complicated. Totally fed up.

Morning all, a lot cooler this morning thankfully.

Kissngate I'm sorry you are having to wait in this way, I'm glad the link on MSE was useful. Keep your chin up, it will happen.

For anyone with an old cat, do check their claws regularly - I was just in time yesterday, my cat's dew claw was nearly into her flesh. I'd got mixed up with dates - the April vet visit was for her microchip, not her claw cutting. I know of people that cut their own pets claws but I have heard several terrible stories and wouldn't risk injuring her.

The typewriter courier finally turned up at 5.15 pm last night, so another part of my history has gone.

I've got to wait in from 11 am - 2 pm today for the door locksmith - the modern front door (modern to me, probably quite old!) wouldn't open, and when I close it, I can hear the metal rattling. I've checked the lock strip and all the knobs seem to go in and out when I turn the handle - but something is sticking.

Have a good day everyone.

Shandy - is it possible your door is swollen in the heat? I have this issue when hot with my porch door and patio doors.
A friend had a Magnet kitchen a couple of years ago so think they are still going.

Not purchased a salt lick, Shandy - just sprinke a little table salt into my hand and lick it off!!!
I have just been sent on email a wonderful photograph taken at my parents Golden Wedding, back at beginning of 1979. Their actual 50 anniversary was 25th December 1978. One of my cousins found it in their collection of pictures. No idea why I did not have one of these. Shows my parents and their siblings, and in the front row are all my six children - all looking very small and young!!!
Was a difficult time for me, hubbie was unemployed, he had crashed and written off our car in the snow on 1st January, I had spent part of December in hospital and was only allowed out on a very strong drug regime. Amazing how we survive these dreadful periods in our life. Sad, when I look at the photo that my niece and nephew and brother are not in it. We had no idea where my brother was at that time (he had done one of his often disappearing acts when things got tough for him), his wife and children had been given a home by her parents, who had forbidden them any contact with our family,
This coming weekend I will be going to visit that niece - who is now a g.mother, several times over - all that happened is now well in the past.
Still very hot in Somerset - do worry when I see small chlldren playing on the beach during the hottest part of the day. I am sitting in the cool of my Living room, windows and patio door wide open, curtains closed on the window where the sun is at present, sun umbrellas ready to open on my patio balcony as the sun moves round there early this afternoon. Fan playing directly on me. Great life!!

Reading all the posts about new kitchens with interest. My plan to have one is for mid 2022, but just want to have one company to do the lot, plumbing, electricity, taking out and disposing of old units, putting in new ones, floor and tiling. Big project although quite a small kitchen.

Morning all, just coming on because I've had a shock and feel so for the family who own the local gallery.

Their mature daughter (47 and married) has gone missing. I know her through visiting the gallery, but also her dog hates mine, and we often have to play hide and seek in the local churchyard. It seems she was in the local hospital as the police report says she has a cannula in her hand, but was last seen at 3 am by a garage on a major road, a thirty minute walk from the hospital. The helicopter is out looking for her, just gone overhead, please pray she is found safe and well.

The search request has now been deleted from the Northumbria Police website, assuming this mean she has been found, thank heavens.

Is anyone else going to see 'The Father' tonight? I'm quite excited to be going to the cinema again, last time was January 2020. They have lots of Covid procedures in place, only 50% capacity, I must remember my sweets (not crackly, I always feel like attacking bag cracklers) as I think my normal Magnum treat won't be available

Morning all, a bit cooler this morning, I'm glad for my dog, he's been suffering and was sick in the night.

My cinema trip was really safe, but it was hot wearing the mask for the 1 hour and 37 minutes, I don't think I'll go again. The film was fantastic if anyone else is thinking of going.

I just wanted to tell you I've purchased my first piece of furniture!

It's an unusual shaped tv unit, from a local person, and when I got there it was the lady that made me the lemon cake, in return for my tin trunk Unfortunately I couldn't lift it with her , I seem to have lost so much strength in recent years.
She offered to deliver it when her son returns home, I did give her some extra money. I hope he'll help me carry it through to the lounge.

I've made a bad decision with my lounge curtains as I bought unlined, far too sunny in here. Now looking for good readymade curtain liners.

Have a good day everyone, wishing luck to those waiting for news.