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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tell me I can get the whole place walloped in a weekend...

462 replies

AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley · 04/11/2017 06:01

Long and boring- sorry.

We've been on the council list for a while now. Yesterday, we were offered a place. It's PERFECT.

The officer than came back to check ours. That's when we came back down to earth with a bump...

She's told us that, as the place is ready now, we may not be able to do the work in time (I asked for a week). That's painting the place magnolia, and a deep clean (we have cats).

She's going back to the office on Monday, and it would put us in good stead, I think, to be able to tell her that we've already painted, nd the deep clean is booked (it is- first thing I did)

Give me hope, please? I spent last night sobbing my heart out (unlike me- I'm one tough mf).

On a side note, we feel we should have been told what was expected of us BEFORE we viewed...we could have done it way before now!

It's mainly just me and DH. My DB will give us a few hours this afternoon, and I've had tentative offers of help from a friend- but she has so much on that I wouldn't be surprised if she cried off. (She's lovely- she's just going through a berevement)

I can see the hall being an issue, it's Noddy Hat Blue!

Please give me hope? I'm going to make a start now before the DC wake up, and I have to start working around them!

OP posts:
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9
CantChoose · 04/11/2017 06:13

Depends how big it is but yes I think you probably can.
Is there anyone who might not be able to help with the work but might be able to look after your DC for a few hours?

scurryfunge · 04/11/2017 06:16

Is your current property council too? Otherwise don't you have to give more than a few days notice? If the week is on offer then I'd take that to give yourself more time.
Good luck and grab as many people as you can.

AJPTaylor · 04/11/2017 06:27

yes you can

do not skimp on materials. but a decent stain blocker base coat for the hall. it will save tears.

buy enough paint to do the whole place. over estimate, you can take unopened tins back

Ecureuil · 04/11/2017 06:27

Yes definitely doable. We’ve just bought a place, we completed on the Thursday, I painted the DC’s bedrooms and the playroom on the Friday with help from my dad (3 large rooms), and we moved in on Saturday. How many rooms have you got?

LaurieFairyCake · 04/11/2017 06:29

Is it your NEW place you’re doing?

CredulousThickos · 04/11/2017 06:32

I’m confused. Is this your current property or the new one?

I’ve never heard of anyone having to redecorate and clean before handing back a council or HA house. And if it was private rented surely you’d have to give notice?

Caulk · 04/11/2017 06:33

I don’t know about the clean, as it depends on how much is needed but you can definitely paint. Get a few friends to help.

Three of us painted a whole three bed, two reception room house over a weekend recently as re carpets were coming earlier than anticipated. It was a long weekend but we managed it.

abbsisspartacus · 04/11/2017 06:36

Yes paint and move on to the next room stick the heating on and it will dry fast enough by the time you have given everything a first coat room 1 should be dry enough for a second coat

BloodyGordon · 04/11/2017 07:00

You can do it! I agree with pp's good undercoat fo the dark walls, and plan what you're doing - masking tape the boarders cheap rollers and work your way round the flat so walls are drying while you go. Start either darkest walls though as they'll need the most work.
Might be worth starting to pack, if you're having to deep clean it might be easier to put your stuff in boxes and then clean, two birds with one stone so to speak, good luck!

Original poster
AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley · 04/11/2017 07:01

It's the current property. A two bedrioned flat. I have to do the lounge, both bedrooms, kitchen, hall and balcony.

Apparantly, because our colors are bright (yellow and turquoise in the lounge) it looks "unattractive to potential renters".

I should have made this clear: the woman said that we may not get this property now, as it was available to let from Monday, and they nweded to move somwone in ASAP. TOTALLY different to what I was told when I got the call on Wednesday with the offer: I was told I could pick up the keys on the 10th, then I had the option of paying rent on the two properties for a week which would give us a week to move.

I'd planned to do a deep clean anyway, whwn we'd moved all of our stuff- as i said, we have cats, and I'm very polite

OP posts:
Original poster
AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley · 04/11/2017 07:02

Stick the heating ON? I assumed I needed it as cool as possible, so I've opened all the windows! On it.

OP posts:
frenchfancy17 · 04/11/2017 07:04

YOU CAN DO IT!

Think of the new house and just go for it.
Good luck xxx

HarHer · 04/11/2017 07:05

Yes, you can do it. We have just had all our carpets deep cleaned (we also have cats) and they were fragrant and dry by the end of the day. For a small 'two-up, two-down' it cost just over £100 (it would have been significantly less if we had done the work ourselves),

However, I am surprised how much council policy has changed. There is normally a reasonable waiting period, even if a property is available immediately. Furthermore, although there may be a requirement for tenants to return the walls to their original colour, most properties are cleaned, checked and any repairs and maintenance is undertaken when the old tenants move out. The repainting is often undertaken by the council/HA where we live.

Anyway, congratulations on your new home. :)

Original poster
AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley · 04/11/2017 07:09

We have laminate flooring thank fuck! So, easy to clean.

Deep clean is booked- so I can tell them I've booked it, and it'll be done before we move.

It is on like Donkey Kong.

Half the lounge done. I just fell through the chair I was standing on, so waiting until DH comes home from work, then he can do the top. Hall next...

OP posts:
Nancy91 · 04/11/2017 07:10

It's definitely doable, I have done similar in a similar timeframe, just put some old clothes on and a few tunes and really go for it. Any friends or family you can ask for a hand?

You've got this!

Original poster
AllRoadsLeadBackToRadley · 04/11/2017 07:10

Congratulations on your new home

This is the issue...they may not give it to us now, because our current place needs "so much work" and they may have to offer it to the next person!

OP posts:
frenchfancy17 · 04/11/2017 07:11

Is there anyone that can have the children?

itsnearlychristmas · 04/11/2017 07:12

That's shit of your council

It's early sat you can do it...

You'll be exhausted Monday but it'll be worth it

MissWimpyDimple · 04/11/2017 07:16

Definitely do-able. One coat paint will help (probably need two coats anyway but not as much).

Careful with the edges, you need to do a decent job!

You’ll be shattered but I’ve managed it before. In fact yesterday I was in a property from 6.30 am to 7pm. I’m shattered but it’s nearly done (I wasn’t painting everything, but there was also a lot of other stuff to do)

FuckingDiet · 04/11/2017 07:18

I would paint everything white, you will save so much time not needing to fanny about with masking tape to edge ceilings and skirting boards. It will be clean, light and neutral for the next people to make into their home.

64BooLane · 04/11/2017 07:20

It sounds like they’ve handled this really weirdly. Good luck! Brew

FuckingDiet · 04/11/2017 07:21

What HA is this as I have never heard of a HA making people paint houses back, the private sector yes but social housing never. We had wallpaper hanging off walls we we got our house.

ThePhoenixBird · 04/11/2017 07:23

As above, I have never heard of social housing asking for houses to be painted neutral colours when handing it back!

When we got a HA flat the colours weren’t to our taste so we painted it when we moved in. When we gave it up, we weren’t asked to do anything to it other than give it a basic clean!

marmiteloversunite · 04/11/2017 07:27

Get off mumsnet and get painting!!! Grin
Good luck!!

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 04/11/2017 07:39

Repainting everything will go a long way towards the deep clean. I agree paint everything white - it is very impractical but hopefully only needs to last a few days!

Heating on and windows open will help. See whether anyone can have the dc or if old enough get them to help - e.g. masking tape duty. Take before and after photos for motivation.