Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

As always, it is horses for courses. I always want to keep stairs as they keep my knee joints in good condition and give me physical exercise, especially when I carry things

Painter rang, he can only do the living room and cloakroom this next session. Drat, disappointment is an understatement. I will definitely try and pin him down for the last small bedroom. I almost feel like doing it myself but he does a far far better job and tackles the ceiling with no effort and he is very clean and tidy, I am not when I paint. Oh well, at least I will be able to restore those two rooms by the 19th of february. He will have to be back and forth as it is only one small room left

Thank you Shandy glad to hear everything is getting done for you after all your stressful times.

Thanks * Fran* re the aerial, I haven't looked into it yet as so much else to do! I cancelled my fridge engineer as fridge now working after putting 2 bowls of water in!

Welcome Coolgran hope all goes smoothly for you.

Lots of post, so I'll read more later....

Morning all, builders arrived early, dog is barking himself hoarse at them

Sorry your painter can't do the small room karmalady, but I'm sure he's worth waiting for. The ceilings here are so low the man painted it with a roller on a stick - I can just about reach to do that! I'm still dithering over pink or blue shades - the room is west facing - but now I've discarded the lantern skylight it is dark, so will have to go lighter than planned. I do love turquoise - Edward Bulmer has a lovely shade. I was so shocked at the cheap quality of the plastic lantern, so sunny at the back it could have cracked at any time. Decoration won't be happening for a long time as the room will be stuffed to the ceiling once I start packing.

There's a new estate I walk the dog and I looked for tv aerials Franbern - obviously all internal, I could only see a sky dish. All these modern inventions that have passed me by!

Feeling sorry for a friend this morning, she's gone in for a knee op and the anesthetist is concerned about her heart, she is having to wait to have a scan first.

Have the best day you can everyone

Karmalady I intended taking cuttings of my plants, but didn't. My garden table and chairs were left on the front drive, didn't realise till we left 2hrs after removal men. They were very expensive, told new owners to keep them. Also intended taking some pot plants, but as it was getting on for 5pm [new owners moving in next day, thank God] they just got left

Really miss my Robin first thing in the morning and my other birds. Bought lots of nice new bird feeders to put up, in the lovely mature trees here, bought my bird bath with me, about the only thing I took from the garden as the move was taking sooo long! Just needed to leave in the end.

There are 2 aerials on the roof, one looks like it's coming in to my place, but can only find the cable lead, where it looks like the aerial lead would come in [?]

The positives here are I'm just a few minutes drive from the lovely Thorp bay beach & Southchurch park, both have always been my favourites.

yogi, yes I felt like that during actual move day, it is so tiring towards the end of moving out and there is still that long offloading session to follow. It was very much s*d it for me at that stage. I am pleased that the fridge is working. I have a loft ariel, very reassuring for it to be out of the wind. It was connected to sockets in several rooms

I popped to the shops earlier, using them much more now and am loving the small shops such as the wholefood shop that also sells extras such as hand painted cards and the greengrocer that is also a deli. The walk is very pleasant and I am now getting a good morning before I even say it. Happy me, a smile and pleasantry are indeed infectious

Cleaning here and there today, have finished the main bathroom for painter use, I never use it but there was dust. Unscrewed a bit more from cloakroom, will clean all in there this morning and empty everything out. I see cracking around the door and down 2 corners so a fair bit of prepping in there for the painter. I do like working in hops, so much easier to nibble away and saves last minute panic

Shandy, west facing, evening sun. My west can be very warm in summer. Cooler colours. Blue, green, violet. The sun can get very intense

Decorating, garden re-furb, downsize/declutter carry-on, rests in between while gathering savings and making decisions. I reckon 2-3 years to be fully ready as in truly making a home ones own. Me? 2 years and 10 months. Whiff was quicker than me. I don`t know if a couple as in two would be quicker, probably, as there are two heads and 2 bodies to do the work, including the thinking. Did all the garden work myself as well as the de-cluttering. Getting people in costs a lot

So there we are £30,000 by me, not done the maths finely but an outside estimate, even on my new build, starting with flooring , new storage and stove. That is what I would aim to have in savings if deciding to move home, any less of a cost is definitely a plus. That does not count removals, estate agent, solicitor or stamp duty. Expensive business all in all

Evening all - builders have finished today, and I've had and paid the final bill including VAT and asked the insurer where to post it for reimbursement. I'm so very lucky to have a roof again - and a lounge/kitchen ceiling, with lights!

I'm going to have a rest before I plan my 'packing up' of the three rooms ready for the big woodworm hunt and water investigations. My late husband was the packer in the family, I haven't got his sense of spatial awareness and am rubbish at it!

I dread to think what the floors are going to cost me karmalady - and I then have to buy new carpets. Might start chopping up my clothes and making gigantic rag rugs!

I am glad that the roof stage is finished shandy. You still have a big upheaval, having to shift the stuff off the floor but you are certainly progressing well. I feel for you, it is a big mess to cope with. on your own

Yes, I reckon I have spent around twenty five grand (will be a lot more when kitchen is done). This has included new bathroom, eletrification of garage, new flooring and carpets throughout, pots, plants, light for balcony, some changes to electrical work, etc, two new internal doors, some new furniture (Dining table & chairs, some bedroom furniture, sofa bed for spare room, Ikea module for hall, etc.). It does add up very quickly. A large part of this came from excess on sale- but my new kitchen will come entirely from my savings, which was boosted when I sold my car.

Has been so worth it. I have a beautiful home and one that is entirely designed and suited for me. I am more and more, perfectly happy, just staying in it and enjoying it all. Once the kitchen is done, and I have paid out for that (later in the summer), I will take a deep breath and see exactly where I am financially. I reckon it is going to take me two to three years to replace those savings.

Have kept a small amount back for any emergencies.

Shandy so pleased your roof is all done. You have done so brilliantly over past few weeks with sorting this out. No idea how you coped. Well Done. Time to recover from that before going on to sorting out the floor.

When I first moved into my house is 2003, I had a new aerial installed and a point from it in every room (except bathroom). However, these days young people hardly watch tv - very much down to us oldies, When I put the house on the market, Estate Agents said it was not even worth mentioning. For my move, I got a firm promise from my Son-in-Law that he would have my Living Room tv all working properly by that evening. Very important to me.

In this flat we all seem to joined to some sort of large aerial in our loft. Have seen in the Minutes discussions on this being installed back in the 1990's with a strong enough signal for all 25 flats. Only one outlet in each flat (Living Room) , although most people here have had extensions to their main bedrooms, and some to their kitchens also. The only problem I had was with the aerial man I got in to run an extension to my bedroom and had not put in a proper 'splitter', this is what my SiL had to correct a couple of months ago.

It is so good having him so close. On Sunday, my laptop started to play up. would not properly connect to wifi when first turned on in the morning. I did all the usual turning off and on - still no joy. Did this again yesterday and he came over and sorted it all out for me in less than 30 minutes and all is well again.

Franbern I so agree with you about Shandy! Is this the same Mosaicwarts that was in such a twit and muddle all those years ago? Well done Shandy!

Hi midgey yes it's me, all these years later. I've been trying to make a nice life for myself but somehow bricks and mortar have got it in for me, it's all so very dull

I got a call today that the floor surveyor wants to return on Friday following my request to inspect all the floors, so I've started clearing the front bedroom. I'm using the dog's buggy rather than carrying and just put a really heavy box of pictures in it, pushed it forwards and the box fell off, scattering the luckily unbroken pictures everywhere. I said a lot of rude words!

The quote for replacing just two floors was £5K plus VAT, but that was with floorboards, hopefully weyroc chipboard will be cheaper.

Having a break now before the second burst, I've set the egg timer for twenty minutes and have managed to do quite a lot. I've just remembered my art deco sideboard is coming tomorrow I'll have to move some things before I forget.

Have a nice evening everyone.

Afternoon all, that'll teach me to read properly - I've rushed back from the beach for my delivery and reread the message and it said 'after 1 pm'.

I'm still clearing the front bedroom and do hope the whole floor won't be black when I can pull the carpet back.

I just popped in to say I've been reading about Bamber Gascoigne, may he RIP. What a fabulous life he had. My Wiki entry wouldn't be as interesting!

Whole floor is black with mould, just like the back bedroom. Now I've ripped the carpet up fully the smell is dreadful

yikes shandy. Is today the day for the floors? open the windows as soon as you can, the mould spores need to go and stay out of the mould areas as much as you are able

Today I am moving the rest of my living room and will be encamped in my kitchen for a week. It will be do-able and will be over by the 19th. As always, chin up chest out and get on with it. At least I can shut the kitchen door and use my ensuite facilities in private

Morning all, just woken up to a missed call from my insurance company about my final invoice to they can reimburse the VAT. My tiny printer hasn't got a scanner so I've used my phone to photograph it, hopefully I won't have to wait too long to get this VAT back, the bill was £8,580.00 plus VAT at £1,716.00. The builder popped back yesterday to redo the gutter at the front which rains on me like Niagra Falls - seems the fascia boards are rotten too

Not today luckily karmalady, I'm very tired at the moment, just clearing the floor of the front bedroom so the surveyor can see it tomorrow. Place looks like a bomb's gone off. He saw the other front and back bedroom on his last visit. The capped chimney is in both the front and back bedrooms, and there isn't a 'ventilator' in either of the rooms. I've asked for one to be put in - where can the condensation go otherwise?

Take it easy with all that lifting karmalady, my daughter's desk was so heavy to drag out, be very careful. So funny both of us are 'camping', I've got to check my tent hasn't been eaten by mice later today.

Have a good day all

I am now camped in the kitchen, I also have my bedroom and en suite. It is going to be incredibly boring all week but there is an end in sight now. At least it will be sunny and I can hand pluck weeds from my pots. I turned heating off in the lounge yesterday, it takes a long time to cool. I hate it when the front door is left open all day but so be it, he is back and forth to his van

Morning all

I was just about to reply to posts, when my little dog disappeared through a gap at the back of our garden, chasing a cat. Tiny little gap, couldn't see him, calling him, not coming back and couldn't hear him, finally he squashed back through, phew! I thought 'hope he didn't do a poo on their lawn', but then it would pay them back for all the poos their cat [& many others] have done on mine

I was going to say congratulations Shandy on getting your roof sorted once and for all and being straight at last, but then saw your next post re floors, Oh dear!

Fran I need to borrow your s.i.l a couple of times a week, if that's ok with you

Happy camping Karmalady & Shandy &

I will contact 'my builder' this morning about getting my patio doors put in, I cannot open the door to the garden easily and actually took 3 days before I could open it at all! No way can I lock it, my son can open it no problem but even he has an effort to lock it!

We are going to do the shed base ourselves. My son helped his friend put up a log cabin last year, so he thinks he can manage with a little help from me.

Been so busy with things haven't been able to get on GN till today. Picking up a kitchen table & chairs today, so looking forward to that. Lovely dinning table still in the garden!
Sorry Whiff you must think de`javu

yogi, have you sprayed all the moving door parts with silicone. It may well have been terribly neglected and never maintained. Also it may well have dropped a bit.

Interesting how faults unfold after moving in and discovering what may be hidden

Morning all, really sunny and 39 degrees today. This is the warmest winter I remember but the tides are very violent after the high winds, I always go to the beach when it's coming in as I worry about my dog. I should have learnt how to swim!

Good to hear your dog came back Yogi. A new owner around the corner is having terrible problems with her miniature schnauzer who is often finding 'holes' in her hedge and disappearing after the neighbour's cat - who only seems to come to poo in her garden. I have a cat litter tray but my elderly cat has started going out in the garden, but she can't get over the fence, so doesn't upset my neighbours.

Sorry you couldn't open the patio doors, mine aren't great either, the locking rail had a bit sticking out that had jammed. Fixed by the local locksmith £60 later. Front door isn't great either.

Waiting for the floor surveyor and then I can plan my packing. Thanks so much for the kite packaging link when I was moving karmalady, I didn't imagine I'd be in this situation and gave them all away. Ordering more so I can pack everything to the ceiling, as they are double bunded I know they'll stack and hold. Hope your week in the kitchen passes quickly, I'm still stuck on my bed and look forward to buying a new sofa in the summer.

Have a good day all

I have a mini bottle of champage in the fridge and a small box of bojangles, ready to celebrate when I finally get straight. I do empathise with you shandy, mine is all clean and self-inflicted, your enforced camping is a zillian times worse.

That sounds good karmalady!

Surveyor has just left, he cut a big hole in the weyroc chipboard and the joists are wet - but not rotten. He said the bungalow has a very serious condensation problem, it's not the chimney. If it's the water table rising when we have torrential rain, it will be an ongoing problem.

I have two options - replace all weyroc with timber floorboards with lots of ventilation, or go fully concrete. I've asked my surveyor to speak to him to discuss these options, and imagine the costs are going to be eye watering in either case. What an unexpected and dreadful situation to be in. The only good thing is that the builder that fixed my roof does concrete floors.

Off to the beach to relax!

Blooming water. Oh crumbs shandy. I think you will sleep better with concrete once and for all.

My painter discovered a small water mark near my extract fan in the en suite ceiling. Grhhh, it might only be minor such as the oulet not being properly sealed or it might be condensation. I am going up there later, with trepidation, will make sure to only step on joists. Why on earth is there always something?

in case my findings help anyone else. Firstly I dressed properly in jeans old sweatshirt and trainers. I wore a head torch. Inched my way across, standing only where I knew there was wood. Checked that the silver insulated vent pipes were properly connected to outlets. in the roof. Tick

The floor end of those pipes are connected to very thin non-insulated, flexible plastic hose, thin as paper, which is connected to the vent. Some of that was showing, the insulation over that was thin. Pulled the insulation right back. No damp on ceiling board. Phew I felt a small bit of damp on insulation, drat, never noticed where that came from. Pulled much insulation back so I could see the motor and then the vent. Estimated where the wet mark was, no wet there now. Retraced my steps, got a narrow tray and put it underneath the white hose. Replaced the insulation properly with damp patch on the top to dry

The other exhaust had a large bit of white hose showing and not insulated, I was thinking that would have given me trouble but I don`t use the bath or the shower in that bathroom. Moved that insulation to cover

Now I shall see. I am so tempted not to use my en suite exhaust, just my dehumidifier in that room. Painter has put tiny pencil marks on the edges of the watermark, its a good chance for a good test I suppose

I followed this up pgq as one neighbour had big watermarks and it took a lot of remedial work, he had reported in snagging time so had no costs, apart from it taking a long time