Buying a home and don't know how anything works

[miss direct]

In that case I will just have a free standing one. This is not my "forever home".

 

[Cid]

In that case I will just have a free standing one. This is not my "forever home".

Yep. It can add to the value, but that’s always dependent on the purchaser… and as long as it looks ‘fine’ probably not super significant. The bathroom probably worth more attention, both in terms of being nice to use and value. Best to focus on the nice to use side of course, but yeah.

 

[WouldBe]

Yeah it’s going to be ‘in the thousands’. I think IKEA and a fitter you might be able to get in around £3-4k total (depending on appliances, configuration etc) but honestly not sure. Last one I did was £10k (labour and materials, not appliances etc), but that involved some restoration and a lot of bespoke parts. And it’s obviously pretty disruptive. See what you’ve got for now…

Not necessarily. A fitted oven usually fits in a 60cm unit. A freestanding cooker is usually 60cm wide so it depends how much space they have left around it.

A built in oven can be got for a couple of hundred, the housing is under a hundred. You may need to replace the worktop which will be another couple of hundred depending on how much you need.

 

[Cid]

Not necessarily. A fitted oven usually fits in a 60cm unit. A freestanding cooker is usually 60cm wide so it depends how much space they have left around it.

A built in oven can be got for a couple of hundred, the housing is under a hundred. You may need to replace the worktop which will be another couple of hundred depending on how much you need.

I though of mentioning that, but it’s pretty complicated and still expensive. You can’t just replace a worktop, you need to refit sinks, splashguards etc. Cut out for hob, that kind of thing. You can fiddle about with extensions, but you need a tradesperson who knows what they’re doing and is willing to do small jobs. It depends a lot on the state of the kitchen as is, what kind of units are used, condition etc.

It’s potentially not too bad if there’s a long run of worktop and all that needs doing is swapping out a cabinet. But ime things are rarely that simple.

 

[20Bees]

This house still has the kitchen fitted by the previous owners in 1986. It has a built-in eye-level double oven, which I much prefer to freestanding or under-counter ovens, easier on my back and knees! However, under the hob was an ‘integrated’ fridge - surely a daft place for a cold appliance? I pulled it out (the 13A plug was through a hole cut in the base cupboard backboard), taped over the hole to discourage mice, and replaced the original shelf which was lurking in a wardrobe. Tall fridge-freezer went in a space across the kitchen. A lot of what the previous owners did here beggars belief, that was just one of a long list of OMG crazy ideas they’d tried.

 

[WouldBe]

I though of mentioning that, but it’s pretty complicated and still expensive. You can’t just replace a worktop, you need to refit sinks, splashguards etc. Cut out for hob, that kind of thing. You can fiddle about with extensions, but you need a tradesperson who knows what they’re doing and is willing to do small jobs. It depends a lot on the state of the kitchen as is, what kind of units are used, condition etc.

It’s potentially not too bad if there’s a long run of worktop and all that needs doing is swapping out a cabinet. But ime things are rarely that simple.

Still not going to be in the £thousands unless you're changing the whole kitchen.

 

[Leafster]

This house still has the kitchen fitted by the previous owners in 1986. It has a built-in eye-level double oven, which I much prefer to freestanding or under-counter ovens, easier on my back and knees! However, under the hob was an ‘integrated’ fridge - surely a daft place for a cold appliance? I pulled it out (the 13A plug was through a hole cut in the base cupboard backboard), taped over the hole to discourage mice, and replaced the original shelf which was lurking in a wardrobe. Tall fridge-freezer went in a space across the kitchen. A lot of what the previous owners did here beggars belief, that was just one of a long list of OMG crazy ideas they’d tried.

I bet you haven't got a tap coming out the kitchen ceiling like I have.

 

[quiet guy]

I bet you haven't got a tap coming out the kitchen ceiling like I have.

Your kitchens USP .

 

[miss direct]

I've got a long list to take with me tomorrow, and will also take a measuring tape.

I went round some second hand furniture places today and have seen so many things I want. Including the exact model of rocking chair I am willing to pay full price for, for just £40. I may have to go back tomorrow and buy that...

Really hope it's the estate agent I know who lets me in tomorrow so I can pump her for inside information.

Actually allowed myself to buy a few bits for the new place since Debenhams has a big sale on. Never mind that I got a table cloth before I even have a table.

 

[hash tag]

Regardless of which agent, pump away. More importantly get them to chase solicitors

 

[miss direct]

I am bringing my friend and will instruct her to do some pumping. She's a Scottish American in her 70s and not one to be messed with


This is the week searches should be back. I didn't bother to chase my solicitor last week as there didn't seem to be anything to chase until the searches are back. They're still waiting for some paperwork from sellers solicitors too. Or they were the last time they contacted me.

 

[hash tag]

Little tip. Make sure your solicitors are being straight with you. Have they really not got the searches back yet or have they actually got them back and are simply sitting in the middle of a pile of post.

 

[Riklet]

Yeah sounds like you need to crack some skulls or they'll walk all over you.

 

[miss direct]

Little tip. Make sure your solicitors are being straight with you. Have they really not got the searches back yet or have they actually got them back and are simply sitting in the middle of a pile of post.

But how am I supposed to know that, if I ask them and they say they're still waiting?

Back from viewing

 

[miss direct]

First of all, living room floor:


I'm thinking that with a good scrub and a decent rug it will be ok. No need to rush into getting a fitted carpet.

 

[platinumsage]

They look a bit like the asbestos floor tiles I once had to deal with.

Lots of non-asbestos floor tiles look similar mind.

 

[miss direct]

Some wallpaper pics


The room that will be my office. Not sure why anyone would ever choose this.

Bit of the living room. It is that chateau wallpaper and apparently cost £35 a roll.

 

[sheothebudworths]

They look a bit like the asbestos floor tiles I once had to deal with.

Lots of non-asbestos floor tiles look similar mind.

Is what I was thinking - but no idea how you check?

I believe it's safe to recover (so long as they're not damaged) but if you wanted them removed you'd definitely want it done professionally.
If they are asbestos, it's not a great idea to leave them uncovered though!

 

[Saunders]

You can send off a little chip of the material you think might be asbestos and get it checked.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Some wallpaper pics

for a modest fee, boris johnson may be able to offer some wallpaper advice

 

[miss direct]

The asbestos talk is bothering me. I have no intention of removing the tiles - either cleaning them and putting a big rug down, and then maybe getting a fitted carpet when the weather gets colder. As I understand it, potential asbestos isn't an issue unless you start fiddling with it.

 

[WouldBe]

The asbestos talk is bothering me. I have no intention of removing the tiles - either cleaning them and putting a big rug down, and then maybe getting a fitted carpet when the weather gets colder. As I understand it, potential asbestos isn't an issue unless you start fiddling with it.

Correct. It's ok as long as you don't damage it.

How old is the flat?

 

[miss direct]

I'm not sure. Would that be in some of the paperwork somewhere? Current owners moved in in 1995. It's certainly not particularly old.

 

[Cid]

I think long term you're going to need to carpet over it either way... so if it's just the one room maybe get a quote from a carpet fitter sooner rather than later? Shouldn't be too expensive and kind of worth getting out of the way before you move in.

Then you don't have to be reminded it's possible asbestos, out of sight, out of mind...

Also really nicer to not be thinking you'll have to shunt stuff about at some point. I know I've said 'you'll live with it' re various things, but I think flooring is one of those priorities worth doing early.

 

[Cid]

Oh and any half-decent decorator should have no problem painting a room that's already carpeted. I think usually people will do floors before decorating (in case it involves moving skirtings, or the paint gets damaged during install).

 

[20Bees]

They’re like my kitchen floor, which probably had these tiles laid over the concrete floor slab in the 1970s. There are some loose broken bits that are very thin and brittle and snap like hard plastic. It’s never crossed my mind that they could be asbestos. The ceilings and internal walls are all painted asbestos sheeting and I’ve just left them as they are.
The kitchen floor had nasty green Flotex carpet over the tiles when I moved here. Melted in several places where they’d dropped a hot roasting tin onto it, and these tiles have marks suggesting those under the spillage were damaged too. Asbestos wouldn’t blister or melt.

 

[Cid]

They’re like my kitchen floor, which probably had these tiles laid over the concrete floor slab in the 1970s. There are some loose broken bits that are very thin and brittle and snap like hard plastic. It’s never crossed my mind that they could be asbestos. The ceilings and internal walls are all painted asbestos sheeting and I’ve just left them as they are.
The kitchen floor had nasty green Flotex carpet over the tiles when I moved here. Melted in several places where they’d dropped a hot roasting tin onto it, and these tiles have marks suggesting those under the spillage were damaged too. Asbestos wouldn’t blister or melt.

According to google it's vinyl products that contain asbestos, so you might still see damage.

 

[Cid]

But yeah, when 'according to google' is the main reference, take with a pinch of salt...

 

[20Bees]

According to google it's vinyl products that contain asbestos, so you might still see damage.

Hmm. As long as the house stays standing until I’m wheeled out, the people who eventually demolish it can worry about that. I’ll stop snapping bits of broken tile and won’t be drilling anywhere... best give the floor a good wash though.

 

[spanglechick]

Have you had the survey back? What did they say about the floor?

Tiles that look like that are really common anywhere with concrete floors. I had them in my first flat, and I have them here. My mum called them “encaustic” tile, though no idea if that’s right. You can’t really take them up, but you can cover them with carpet, wood, a nice polished concrete like all the cool kids have these days... if you’re going to have a rug you could paint the exposed edges with white (or whatever) floor paint, which would brighten things up a bit. Floor paint over those tiles won’t work forever in a high traffic area like a hall or kitchen, but is perfect around the edges of a rug, or in a bedroom. Just painting the edges is a totally legitimate thing to do. Ask anyone who’s tried to restore floorboards in a Victorian house. They were all over that “edges only” hack. It does make you wonder how bad that carpet must’ve been, though.