Help calm me. House buying and selling stress

Sorry it's so tiny, not sure what I've done but I'm heading for Morrisons!

karmalady I meant to ask, do we get our searches? I've got my purchase paperwork buried under lots of boxes. I don't remember seeing the results of the searches for my purchase, only the searches for my sale.

Shandy you should have had your searches on your bungalow when you had the contents etc documents. I had one that had been done by Groundsure which showed it had passed on contaminated land,flood risk ,ground stability , radon etc. Had loads of documents about the bungalow . Including HM land registry map of my property.

shandy yes, I have my searches in a file. They picked up on low radon risk and I was assured that there was a radon membrane beneath the house. This development is built on a quarry, hence my footings are 12 feet deep. I saw them build footings on another property, they had to dig down to solid rock

These are the main searches

www.coseyhomes.co.uk/news/searches-buying-house/

Yes, I have all the searches for my flats - radon (fine), This does tell me that I am in a 'flood area'. Mind you, so did the one on my house back in 2003. In fact think there are few places in England which are not Flood areas at present!!!

Mind you if sea levels rise as predicted, then the whole of WsM will be under water by the end of the century!!! Long, long after I will be long gone.

I am amazed at what Solicitors seem to want to know. Our block of flats have two roads, one each side, which are unadopted. They have been 'in situ' for a long time, before there was any real building here. I have documents from way back (early 19th century), showing them as a right of way - but some Solicitors do get worried about these. The right of way has NEVER EVER been questioned, at any time, by anyone. Then, of course, they then question that there are no maps of water pipes, etc. and I often have to point out to them, that of course there are not....as local authority maps do not show anything under private roads. Solicitors know this, but often their conveyancing clerks do not.

Still, providing all this information to them just helps our Management Committee get some money in our bank account.!!!

Thanks - I've finally found my file, and I don't have the actual searches, my solicitor has just summarised the results in his letter to me. There is no mention of an Environmental search. I'll email him tomorrow.

Shandy you paid for the searches so ask for the full report. And check your solicitor hasn't held any other documents back that you should have.

I'm going to ring tomorrow Whiff. I've just been researching and the environmental search is mainly to establish if the land is contaminated.

They have a new search available now to see if HS2 will affect your property - I'd definitely pay for that if I was buying anywhere near the route.

Hmm...that environmental search.........The side of the Close on which mine plus seven other houses were built had a driveway between houses 4 & 5, and then driveway at the back of each of our gardens. Then there was a wall, and the other side of that was an Esso Petrol station. This had been there for about 40 - 50, years, during which time, each of our eight houses had been bought and sold on several occasions. On one side of that petrol station had been a pub, and was then extended and changed into a Care Home. The other side had been a bungalow, which had been bought, demolished and eight flats built there, finally finished in 2019.

So, I assume that all environmental searches for all of these came back clear - all the land had originally (back up to early part of 20th century - had been farmland. I was, therefore, rather astonished when the reason my first buyers pulled out so late was that their Solicitor had expressed his 'concern' that the petrol station might have ;spillage' which would contanimate our back garden. The purchasers wanted to use that garden for vegetable growing and said they could not take the risk. This was such total rubbish. No such spillage had ever been reported, not sure how it could even happen. All searches for all the buildings in the area being sold, including the new flats which actually adjoined the petrol station had all come back totally clear. Just another case of a Solicitor more concerned about covering their own backs, without any good reason to be concerned.

Sorry to bring back a bad memory Franbern!

covid is rampant, just met another two neighbours who feel poorly, not tested yet, was outside. Also a whole family nearby, also a man of 83 and now my son in law. I am still going to their house to drop a few things today, keeping my distance, not going in and no hugs. I am abandoning my planned supermarket shopping on the way back. Will manage on what I have in

Oh dear karmalady, I am worried I might get it.

Two years since we had first lockdown, I remember the auction house phoning me on 22 March to say the auction would be on line. Thinking about it I should have negotiated a reduction in the fees considering I wasn't benefiting from the 'in room' competition.

Just going to give the front lawn it's first cut, I don't know why I dislike doing it so much. The back lawn is ruined after the roof etc was on it for so many weeks, still yellow and flat.

yes me too shandy, I don`t want to get it either. Trouble is that many are asymtomatic and are out and about as are those who tested +ve and couldn`t care twopence about anyone else. Symptoms are very varied, my son had it, after the 3 jabs and he said it was horrible, worse than a bad cold. Long covid worries me too. If it is bad enough to stay in bed, then who on earth looks after us, no-one. Having to stumble about to get drinks and paracetamol to take back to bed. Shivery, aching, bad head, doesn`t bear thinking about. Bad enough when you have someone to give tlc. I admit to trying to avoid it, similar to being in lockdown. Won`t be for more than a few weeks, it will sweep through uk and then we will be at epidemic stage and we will have good herd immunity

A few years ago, I found that each winter I would get through the bad cold months and then, in April, go down with a very bad cold - not quite 'flu but just short of that.

So, during March, I would get everything ready for that time Plenty or paracetamol, different flavour squashes, etc. etc. When it came, would just spend the two or three really bad days, in bed with everything to hand. Even small electric kettle for hot water drinks. TBH, when I am feeling that bad, I am happier being by myself and not having to have people asking me how I feel.

In my flat,everything is so easy to get to as kitchen is directly opposite to my bedroom - just a walk or stagger across the hallway. Yes, this current virus is circulating around everywhere, would prefer NOT to get it , but if I do, I can manage for those few days. I am, most definitely, not stopping attending the different groups I go to.
Just home from a fascinating one today - on environmental issues. Excellent speaker, good workshop, AND curry supplied for our lunch.

Housework is such good exercise and I find it is better to look upon it as exercise rather than a chore. I have done a fair bit this morning, bottoming two rooms and cleaning and creaming two leather chairs. I am definitely resting right now, having been on my feet for a couple of hours, moving this and that and the side to side wiggle when polishing. I also did a bit of lifting and carrying in the garden, pumped up my tyres and therein I have muscle building as well as flexibility

I had a voucher today via e mail so have made an order to restore the meat in my freezer drawer. As always I do portion and vac pack everything, so it lasts a long time in the freezer. I am a very big fan of bulk cooking right now and will prep ready meals with most. I think I have a dozen already prepped, so will leave bulk cooking for a couple of weeks.

I cycled yesterday, third time in 5 days and it was definitely easier, I dread the first `big` hills on each ride but they are necessary for me to keep strong and as fit as possible wrt my age. Muscles protect bones and joints and we can still muscle-build as we get older.

Just coming on to say good luck Nana3, I hope the builder's visit goes well tonight

First lovely warm and sunny dog walk, it's 51F today. Had to find my skechers but they've deteriorated through washing, I need a new pair. Another dog walker friend has tested positive, thankfully we shouted across the road to each other yesterday!

Housework is good exercise karmalady, I hate doing it but it does make you bend and stretch.

I did a 'bulk bake' last night, a huge vegan shepherd's pie, three portions in the freezer. I haven't peeled a vegetable since I moved in, couldn't find the peeler at first! I want to replace the wobbly shed and get one with electrics so I can have a chest freezer. This freezer has small drawers - a loaf fills it. I meant to tell you I tried to store some apples in a 'lakeland' dark bag - I wrapped them in paper first, and put the bag under the sink. I've got six small brown wizened balls!

When I was sorting out my large 'cleaner cupboard' few months back, I found two packs of those green bags which are supposed to preserve fresh fruit and veg. So, I tried them out with my salad stuff in my fridge and also apples, etc.

Must say, I have been left unimpressed. DO not think they have made any difference. I purchase all sorts of fresh salad items weekly when I do my shop. Most evenings my main meal consists of salad, so this all lasts me the week. I have found that if I take all of this out of the plastic 'pillowcases' type things they last much longer. Lettuce, spinach are kept in boxes, lined with paper towels, cucumber wrapped in paper towels, tomatoes kept on the vine, etc.etc. I keep small eating apples in the fridge, unwrapped. They do last very well in there.

I have a very small under-the counter freezer. Keep a good amount of purchased veg in there, and some chicken and fist. No room for anything else, so batch cooking is not for me. Mind you, when I had an enormous freezer at the house, I would freeze a lot in portion size containers - then either forget about them , or not bother. Ended up throwing more food away then than I do now when I just cook each day for what I am having each day. By using my combi-microwave, compact soup maker, etc. I am not using a lot of fuel to do this. And, I find that I more likely to be a little more adventurous than if I had meals already in the freezer.

shandy I hate housework too and admit to being selectively blind. Doing it today was energising but I think it was the sun giving me the oomph

ha ha Franbern I'm not looking forward to the second portion of the stew tonight I must say I am disappointed in Aldi salads, I got mine out for lunch and it was all slimy. Was dated 21st though!

karmalady I always keep the toilet spotless after the incident with the 'drying machine' man. I think I did post that he unexpectedly said 'I'm going to the toilet' and I was too shocked to stop him. I'd arrived home with my dog and his dirty back end minutes before he arrived, and had used wipes and just thrown them in the open waste bin. I'm sure he thought they were mine! I'm always ready now!

I remember shandy, it is funny now but wasn`t for you at the time

I have just looked at my bank account. at some savings interest that came in today, reality is that it is 1/4 of what it was last year when it was a decent fixed rate. Urghh

I still need to plod on with my new finances/info/passwords book, I have only done some basics so far but not during the nice weather. Painter is coming to do the last room next week, I will do it then. I have house insurance in two weeks and will continue with the company I have now. So painter and insurance plus council tax starts again in april, I do 10 monthly payments. May will see me back on an even keel but I am going to add up all my big bills plus some extra for maintenance, christmas and birthdays and divide by 12, will transfer that amount every month into a different bank savings account as a holding fund. Crikey this reminds me of dividing the months money and keeping it in envelopes in a drawer. Upside is that it worked then and will work now.

Morning all, 52F this morning!

At least the interest rates are going up karmalady. I do feel for the people that have stretched themselves 'offering over' with mortgages. When we bought in 1987 the interest rate was high and we didn't have two pennies to rub together, it was miserable.

Martin Lewis is saying to ditch the ISA as rates are only 0.8, whereas fixed rates are 1%, so anyone with less than £100K in savings won't pay tax anyway. I'm going to make sure my money works for me this year, State pension next April thank heavens!

Have you had an up to date forecast shandy, so you know exactly what will be coming in?

No not yet, I get mine six monthly. Only peanuts so I'm not excited!

I remember that dh had to take some contracted out pension and the result is that I now get £79 a month after being widowed, static ie no increases. I looked into it after dh died and kind of worked it out then and tbh cannot be bothered looking into it any more.

I paid a large amount of money to increase my state pension by £25 a week. I worked out at the time that I needed to live for 14 years to make it worthwhile, I cannot remember the date off the top of my head. I never appreciated that I would have to count that in tax calculations, foggy head so may have been soon after dh died

I found the two older smaller finance books, very messy again, going back to 2004. I really will be methodical picking out what I need now and going forward. I have already taken my on-going `dying tidy` file out and will have to sort that too in order to provide up to date information

It is so much psychologically easier to just do house maintenance. I bear in mind that none of us can forsee the future. My mother was living happily in her house and had a stroke, was than in a care home for a number of months. All out of the blue