Me again!! Help Me!! (again, you were all so good last time!!!)

[gabity]

Well, since the magic (or coincidence) of mumsnet helped me sell my house - help me buy a house (before I need to be confined to the looney bin or divorce DH)

1. Do-er upper. House needing totally re-done inside. 8k of work needed structurally. Fantastic garden. Forever house. Middle price range. Okay location. Would need to work but not full time.
   
   
2. Move in condition. Ideal location. No prospect of making money on it. Not forever house. Cheaper than cheap. Would let me stay at home with DD or return to uni and finish my degree. Terraced house, with less than ideal neighbour.
   
   
3. New build. Ideal location. Forever house. Quite expensive but affordable. I would need to work full time. (house right next to my mum, she would have DD no probs there). I wouldn't get a chance to finish degree.
   
   
4. Okay condition, but needs cosmetic work. Totally out of the way location. (but great for DH's and my work, just not family). Middle price range. Would need to work but not full time. Lots of land and stables.
   
   
5. Rent somewhere until something ideal comes along? Maybe wait forever? (but there have been ideals for sale in the last 18 months) There is nothing in the ideal location rental wise at the moment, but plenty round about.
   
   
6. Cardboard box on the street.
   
   How do people make these decisions without going crazy? Is it just us that are inept at decision making? (bearing in mind we are out of here 5 weeks on Monday)

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Oh - that flew off before I was ready to post?! What have you decided to do?

[gabity]

Well interview done, home now, baby in bed, dinner in the oven!

Interview went really well, (i think) I would certainly enjoy the work. Money isn't fantastic but was shown what is achievable with a few steps up and it gets pretty good, pretty quick. So fingers crossed for that one.

Got DH to ring any estate agents that we hadn't already registered with (not many!) but no one mentioned having anything coming up that 'our' area.

Have thought about leaflet dropping, also putting an add in the local newsletter or church notice board. Had actually started writing the e-mail to the woman for the newsletter but couldn't put into words what I was trying to say! - Help?

Going up to Mums again this Friday, but hopefully we will have a decision by then?? DH is off on Sat and then we have his Christmas works dance at night - tartan and tiaras - so also have to organise a kilt and a tiara by Sat!

Was just thinking on the way home tonight - this time last year I was on bed rest in hospital after my waters broke early, no stress or running around - bliss! Yet at the time I hated it!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Great.

Enjoying work is brilliant. If you can up the income with some hard work/smarts then great (is it commission?). Any idea when they will get back to you? When they'd want you to start etc?

At least now you are listed with all of the agents - hopefully you'll hear about the house as soon as it's on the market. I'd ring the agent you spoke to and tell her DH has done this, then if they choose to multi list she will ring you very quickly

I wouldn't bother with the local newslatter or church thing, I'd just 'leaftlet' drop, it's only 30 houses. I'd go so far as handwriting as many as possible and putting them through the door of the houses you are most interested in buying... it does weaken your bargaining power, but it ups the chances of getting the house you want!

Learning to live in the moment is quite a skill!! :)

[gabity]

No, not commission based, i'm crap at sales - too nice ! He said he had two more interviews to do this evening and would be in touch. Said I would be available to start mid-march which is fine for him. Even if I don't get it I now have the confidence to go for other similar jobs and I am sure I want to make the career change.

So how would I word my leaflet?

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Work stuff sounds good :)

Hmm - Giv us yer owse, tis lovelie an we wann it....


hmmm - maybe not...

Hi
We are moving into the area and are looking to buy a house. Unfortunately there isn't anything on the market to fit our needs. We saw you house and liked the look of it, if you are thinking of selling could you please get in touch. Kind regards, Gabity 07910 123 456

I'm sure someone else can come up with something better though!

[gabity]

Nooooooo Cheese - we are in Scotland - and DH is Glasgow born and bred.

"aye yur hoose is a belter. goni gie us it?"

That sounds look for a note, will people not think we are completely mental though?

[LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop]

Sorry to come in late, but 1 all the way for me.

[gabity]

Have (almost) totally discounted 1 Loopy. What would make you choose that one?

[MrsSharp]

I think that note sounds fine (Chipping's one, not yours so much!). Our friends found their wonderful house exactly the same way. Good luck!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Probably - but if they sell their house to you, what do you care?? If it ever comes up in conversation in the village later - deny deny deny.... you don't even have to put Gabity on the note you can put Fred & Wilma - they wont remember what name you put on it when they're signing the papers!!

[LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop]

Purely that I like doing up! Plus garden is important, forever house...

[gabity]

Honestly can't cope with this any more!



3) Valued at less than we could possibly of imagined!! (like 60k less!) But now he says he can't afford to sell it for that??? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

I lost you!!!!!!

What's the latest??

[gabity]

I'm KNACKERED! Packing all day, DDs birthday party on Thursday, leaving party on Saturday and been working evenings.

Anyway - update:

We have been having trouble with our house sale, apparently the people who had the house before us extended the bathroom and didn't get a building warrent . So now require a letter of comfort. Hopefully that will go through no problem and it will all still go through in time.

We have agreed (subject to our missives getting signed) to rent the new build for 18 months, paying less rent than mortgage we were paying for this place! And then purchase it for what it is valued at then less 5%, as builder will save on estate agent fees etc. We are happy with that, we can save a large amount every month and put it towards a larger deposit. In 18 months we would hope (if everything goes according to plan!) to have at least 15k extra to put down.

Also getting to choose floor coverings, bathroom tiles, blinds etc and having the garden landscaped the way we want it with a large fence to keep the dog in.

Downside is that it is now looking like it will be may before he gets completion certificates so will be living with my Mum for 2 months. EEEEEK. Anyone with a positive experience of living with parents, along with husband, baby and dog in a 2 bed house please talk to me!!!

Will stick a couple of photos on my profile to let you see the new house. Feedback welcome, but don't really care what you think cos I LOVE IT!!!

Hope this and my previous thread can give some hope to someone who has had their property on the market for a while and watched houses come and go - it all works out in the end!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

No wonder you are knackered - you have been doing loads and making some pretty big decisions!

What a hassle (re your bathroom) hopefully that will get signed off quickly! How come you were able to buy it without it being signed off?

You sound happy with the financial deal on the new place, so that's good. It's brilliant you have got there in time to choose some of your own fittings/floor etc - it makes a big difference.

I don't know how to break this to you - but living with your parents wont be for two months - it will be forever - what's 2 front doors between parents & children . I will try never to mention my post 31.01.11 (15:21) ever again




How do you feel about not doing your degree?

What's the news on the job front??

I couldn't get onto your profile to see the pics :( I'll keep checking!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

I can see them now :)

Weather looks vile!!

Strange about the windows isn't it? You can always apply to have them changed later or put skylights in if it bothers you!

It will be lovely once you have the outside all sorted out! I look forward to the update photos! I have now saved you onto my watch list!! Don't want to lose you again.

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Just thought too - DH was right - you will be sitting in your own garden this summer drinking wine (or whatever it was he said he wanted to do)!!

Save me trawling through the thread again - where abouts in the country is it?

[gabity]

Oooh you offer job advice? FAB!!!

Options:

1. Stay what I am doing just now, but in a different location about 5 miles from new house. No problem getting a transfer. Now I can either go in a junior position, set hours, no responsibility but crap pay. Or go back to a management position. Fab pay, long hours.
   
   
2. Been for an interview last week (did I tell you that?), doing something completely different from what I have ever done. 9-5, reasonable money, but a total change. Been offered job.
   
   
3. Going for an interview on Friday, similar to 2 but a bit closer to home, and a bit less money. Nicer environment, think it would be quite a nice place to work.
   
   Will certainly have to work for the 18 months to build up a better deposit, depending on how much we manage I don't think the mortgage will be very different to what we have at the moment so going back to Uni is still a posibility in the future.

[gabity]

Its right between Edinburgh and Glasgow, but really in the middle of no where. No shops or buses for miles, sounds dire but what a fab place for kids to grow up! Primary school has 20 pupils and is excellent. Little nursary in the village hall for DD at the moment.

Re parents, we all get on incredibly well really. Mum isn't the type to be nosying around us all the time. She is really fab and have no worries long term. 2 months of us under each others feet in the same house however....

[gabity]

p.s re Bathroom

Tried to contact the solicitor that we used to buy the house. He is dead. He would be. (sorry no sympathy left) He was the main partner in the company so it now ceases to exist. After some serious research and trawling of papers found our orignial file which has a letter from the council stating that they didn't need a building warrent for the works done.

Only found that out after arranging to get a letter of comfort, our solicitor suggests getting it anyway to avoid any problems, or come backs. Which is fine by me, anything for an easy life. Sodding £160 though.

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Yes - I offer job advice too, but the fee is double - is that OK?



You did say about the interview and you seemed quite excited about the prospect of doing the job, so 2 sounds good - where does the pay fit in with that of the first job - between the Junior and Manager rates??

3 sounds even better depending on the £££ how much less than 2 would they offer do you think?

The thing is, money isn't everything - however, if you are leaving DD all day to work full time (when you didn't really want to) you need it to be worthwhile and whether that in monetary terms or satisfaction that's only something you can decide isn't it?!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

It sounds like a lovely little village :)

I'm going to be up that way in June - I have now spoken to so many MNers in Scotland that I think I'm going to have to do another trip up there just having coffee/lunch/dinner with MNers

It's great your Mum is like that - I could not live next to mine (see earlier post, that's just a snippet). The two months will probably be quite hard work because it's a lot of people in a smaller house... but as long as she remembers DD is yours and you remember it's her house and you all remember it's only for a few months... it will all be fine (gulp)

Where are you storing all of your stuff?

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

He is dead. He would be

Couldn't help but laugh!!! Farking typical isn't it!

£160 isn't the end of the world when you are talking about a house sale - but there are nicer ways of spending it huh!!

[ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak]

Anyway, buggering off to bed now - will catch up tomorrow x

[gabity]

No, money isn't everything - Have done this job long enough to know that! Really don't want to go back to it. Thought my mind was made up, if I get this one on Friday I will take it, however my old boss text me this morning to say there is a huge meeting at work today and along with a big shake up, the roles are being redefined and there will be some interesting vancencies coming up.

The guy who is building the house is making getting the garage finished his priority, it only really needs painted. It is massive so will get all our stuff into it without having to pay storage costs. He e-mailed me this morning asking for final choices for flooring and tiles, thats all that is really to do cosmetically and just the radiators to be fitted. Its the landscaping that is going to take the time, which has to be done to get completion certs. Mum said it was snowing there yesterday (1000ft above sea level, snow there when we are sunbathing in Glasgow!) so that won't help matters!

Think OH is getting worried about the couple of months with mum! He was saying last night about how much money we can save as will have no bills or mortgage, then in the next breath say that will pay for some lovely nights out and maybe even a weekend away to give us all some space! Maybe he is right!

Scotland is beautiful, especially if you get the weather. Where about are you going? Further up is where the real beauty is, if you could guarentee the weather it would beat anywhere else in the world imo.

Right, that is my breakfast had and I need to get on, laptop is being switched off for the day! Apart from the usual day of chasing DD round the house, I have to clean, DHs sister and BIL coming to stay tonight and tomorrow night, decided all of a sudden, they know what kind of mess we are in with boxes etc and they are the richest couple I know, couldn't they have found a hotel? Grrr. So that to do, make the house look as presentable as possible, trip to Tesco to get breakfast stuff for them for tomorrow, then working 3-10. Mum is coming tomorrow morning for DDs birthday, she is terrifed to drive on the M8 and will only do it first thing so says she will be here for 7am! Oh the joys. Think I will be telling OH to sod the weekend away and lets book a fortnight in the sun with no family or stress!!