sleaterkinney
Well-Known Member
Moving tomorrow but we have a few days so not that rushed.
Buying a home and don't know how anything works
- Thread starter miss direct
- Start date
miss direct
misfungled
Is it really true that most people move on Fridays?
Glitter
Goddess of rock!
It would appear so
Epona
Sonic: 1 Nov 2006 - 8 Jan 2022
Makes sense given that a fair number of people work Monday-Friday (including estate agents/conveyancers!) - gives the people moving the weekend to get vaguely sorted out while ensuring that the estate agent/conveyancer is still on the job for last minute things
Elpenor
Dancing as fast as I can
A lot of people do. Often cheaper - and more available - removals on other days.
Out of my 4 transactions, one has been a Thursday, one a Friday, one a Wednesday and one a Tuesday.
miss direct
misfungled
True.
Chased my solicitor and the estate agent today.
I should be getting a new contract and deeds in the post. Solicitor hasn't clarified whether I am supposed to sign and return these. I know I need a witness. Luckily have a friend coming over tomorrow so can ask her. Is there anything else I can be doing in the mean time? (Other than looking up washing machines and clothes pegs...)
Can anyone help me with a budget for the following: oven, fridge, kettle, other kitchen stuff like bins, a whole home's worth of cleaning stuff and equipment (do I really need a hoover?), living room furniture (sofa, coffee table), dining table and chairs. I'm sure there will be more stuff I need but those are the basics. In two minds as to what is better to buy new and what I can get second hand. And the logistics of getting it all when I don't have a car/don't drive. And whether I should get the place carpeted/decorated before bothering. Perhaps I should just "live" in one of the carpeted rooms upstairs until the living room is sorted.
Chased my solicitor and the estate agent today.
I should be getting a new contract and deeds in the post. Solicitor hasn't clarified whether I am supposed to sign and return these. I know I need a witness. Luckily have a friend coming over tomorrow so can ask her. Is there anything else I can be doing in the mean time? (Other than looking up washing machines and clothes pegs...)
Can anyone help me with a budget for the following: oven, fridge, kettle, other kitchen stuff like bins, a whole home's worth of cleaning stuff and equipment (do I really need a hoover?), living room furniture (sofa, coffee table), dining table and chairs. I'm sure there will be more stuff I need but those are the basics. In two minds as to what is better to buy new and what I can get second hand. And the logistics of getting it all when I don't have a car/don't drive. And whether I should get the place carpeted/decorated before bothering. Perhaps I should just "live" in one of the carpeted rooms upstairs until the living room is sorted.
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hash tag
Books, not bombs
I came back hoping to see news that you had exchanged
what about a hob and a toaster?
Things like washing machines, tumble dryers and even toasters have taken up pages of threads on their own; cheap, pricey, mid range
guarantees that come with them, where to get them from, fitted or free standing, eye level or lower. getting them installed Etc.
miss direct
misfungled
I don't think exchange can happen before contracts are signed, can it? Or is that what exchange means? Sellers have been in and signed their contract and mine should arrive in today's post.
I suppose I meant an oven with a built in hob. Is an extractor fan necessary, or is an open window enough?
I've already got a microwave, toaster and freezer.
Will have a look for the other threads!
I suppose I meant an oven with a built in hob. Is an extractor fan necessary, or is an open window enough?
I've already got a microwave, toaster and freezer.
Will have a look for the other threads!
Elpenor
Dancing as fast as I can
Exchange means that the usigned contracts are exchanged by the solicitors. It’s sounding like exchange could take place the middle of next week.
You’d want an extractor fan I think. Cooking smells can get everywhere - most modern kitchens have them.
I’ve only ever bought appliances from John Lewis - and I’ve only bought 2 - a tumble dryer this year and a washing machine 7 years ago. I bought the t/d as no outside space in my cottage and it’s open plan downstairs so cooking smells would impact on drying clothes. W/m is still in good shape - it’s a Siemens. One of these things where buying cheap can mean buying twice.
Experience with JL was good - I paid for installation which was a hassle well worth outsourcing in my view. When the w/m dropped in price in the sale between ordering and delivery they reimbursed me straight away, with the t/d there was a tiny dent the size of a £1 coin on one side and they gave me 10% back.
You’d want an extractor fan I think. Cooking smells can get everywhere - most modern kitchens have them.
I’ve only ever bought appliances from John Lewis - and I’ve only bought 2 - a tumble dryer this year and a washing machine 7 years ago. I bought the t/d as no outside space in my cottage and it’s open plan downstairs so cooking smells would impact on drying clothes. W/m is still in good shape - it’s a Siemens. One of these things where buying cheap can mean buying twice.
Experience with JL was good - I paid for installation which was a hassle well worth outsourcing in my view. When the w/m dropped in price in the sale between ordering and delivery they reimbursed me straight away, with the t/d there was a tiny dent the size of a £1 coin on one side and they gave me 10% back.
hash tag
Books, not bombs
Contracts need to be signed before they are exchanged.
baldrick
hmmmmm
Second hand furniture is generally really cheap especially sofas which are worth almost nothing second hand compared to new. Your difficulty is going to be collecting stuff so I would find charity shops that do furniture like BHF and see what they have. Unless you know someone with a van?
Our dining table and chairs are from a BHF shop - I think it was about £150. We paid for delivery but it wasn't much.
For other home basics (cups, plates, towels, cutlery, pans, dishes, bins, coasters, soap dishes, tea towels, mats, dish racks etc etc) I would go to IKEA if there's one handy and you can get all your shopping delivered for a fee.
Our dining table and chairs are from a BHF shop - I think it was about £150. We paid for delivery but it wasn't much.
For other home basics (cups, plates, towels, cutlery, pans, dishes, bins, coasters, soap dishes, tea towels, mats, dish racks etc etc) I would go to IKEA if there's one handy and you can get all your shopping delivered for a fee.
Cid
Proper break this time
Wrong way round, floors first. This is because carpet laying can damage paintwork anyway… it does obviously mean you need to be pretty damn careful about putting protective sheeting down of course. That said in this particular case it would probably be a good idea to get the walls stripped and cleaned up ASAP.
miss direct
misfungled
Kitchen in its current state.
miss direct
misfungled
Yes, the washing machine has to go next to the sink and the oven has to go in the other space. There's no space for a fridge, the previous people had a big fridge freezer against the wall where the photo was taken from.
Cid
Proper break this time
Ok, so basics:
First there's a kind of in-between point for buying new/second hand. You can buy reconditioned, you can also buy rejected stock. You'll find businesses that specialise in this on eBay etc. Rejected stock will just have a chip on it or something, companies buy pallets of the stuff at auction and sell it. Often has some kind of warranty... I bought my hob off one, but fridge was from John Lewis iirc.
Washing machine, generally buy new. That's an open slot, so you should just be able to get a normal free-standing one. Double-check measurements, but should be fine.
Fridge, I'd stick with what they did. New is generally better, but they do get expensive fast. Depends how you feel about spotting a good deal, and whether you've got a mate with a car. The problem with them is they can be quite easy to damage in transit.
Oven... You have choices here. Think you've got a gas outlet there, so that's a possibility. It would be reasonably easy to switch from free-standing to fitted. I'm guessing that slot is a standard unit width, so all that needs to be done is stick an oven unit in, plus a bit of extra worktop. Although if you did that it would probably be worth replacing that whole run of worktop. The wiring might also be an issue for new stuff (because it's bloody daft having wiring right behind a hob, regs may have changed). Generally it's fine to keep things like outdated wiring if you're just swapping like-for-like, but not if you're redoing something. That wiring should be very easy to re-route though.
As above it would also be worth getting a cooker hood in above that, though personally don't know how easy it is to arrange the ducting to the outside (you can also get recirculating ones, but less effective).
Any half-way competent joiner should be able to advise you on this, and it shouldn't be super expensive. It's not more than a day's work really, although would need to call in a gas safe plumber and maybe an electrician.
The easiest/cheapest solution would be to get in an electric freestanding stove, that just needs to be wired in. But redoing the worktop potentially gives you the option of a nice big gas hob. Depends what you want to spend really.
First there's a kind of in-between point for buying new/second hand. You can buy reconditioned, you can also buy rejected stock. You'll find businesses that specialise in this on eBay etc. Rejected stock will just have a chip on it or something, companies buy pallets of the stuff at auction and sell it. Often has some kind of warranty... I bought my hob off one, but fridge was from John Lewis iirc.
Washing machine, generally buy new. That's an open slot, so you should just be able to get a normal free-standing one. Double-check measurements, but should be fine.
Fridge, I'd stick with what they did. New is generally better, but they do get expensive fast. Depends how you feel about spotting a good deal, and whether you've got a mate with a car. The problem with them is they can be quite easy to damage in transit.
Oven... You have choices here. Think you've got a gas outlet there, so that's a possibility. It would be reasonably easy to switch from free-standing to fitted. I'm guessing that slot is a standard unit width, so all that needs to be done is stick an oven unit in, plus a bit of extra worktop. Although if you did that it would probably be worth replacing that whole run of worktop. The wiring might also be an issue for new stuff (because it's bloody daft having wiring right behind a hob, regs may have changed). Generally it's fine to keep things like outdated wiring if you're just swapping like-for-like, but not if you're redoing something. That wiring should be very easy to re-route though.
As above it would also be worth getting a cooker hood in above that, though personally don't know how easy it is to arrange the ducting to the outside (you can also get recirculating ones, but less effective).
Any half-way competent joiner should be able to advise you on this, and it shouldn't be super expensive. It's not more than a day's work really, although would need to call in a gas safe plumber and maybe an electrician.
The easiest/cheapest solution would be to get in an electric freestanding stove, that just needs to be wired in. But redoing the worktop potentially gives you the option of a nice big gas hob. Depends what you want to spend really.
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Cid
Proper break this time
I don't think it's a full width slot. But hard to tell. Weird one that. Also it would overlap the washing machine slot, though that may not be an issue for a dryer.
miss direct
misfungled
I dont think I want a tumble dryer or a dishwasher. There's a washing line and I'll get a clothes dryer thing. Dishwashers are nice but not really necessary and not really space.
My contract is here, as well as a transfer deed and some financial stuff. And a pre paid envelope to return it in. Don't have anyone to witness till tomorrow afternoon so won't get it in the post until Monday, annoyingly. But with them on Tuesday and can then set a date?
I'm having fun forwarding emails between estate agent and solicitor today and getting scornful replies with one blaming the other
My contract is here, as well as a transfer deed and some financial stuff. And a pre paid envelope to return it in. Don't have anyone to witness till tomorrow afternoon so won't get it in the post until Monday, annoyingly. But with them on Tuesday and can then set a date?
I'm having fun forwarding emails between estate agent and solicitor today and getting scornful replies with one blaming the other
bellaozzydog
rolling turds in glitter
Talked to solicitor, he’s talked to vendors solicitor it’s all with them on (or as my solicitors said “it’s all on them now, they can’t stitch you up now”)
fired off a 10% deposit to my solicitor so I’m hoping that’s it done and dusted bar swapping funds around
Looks like about a week left of this pantomime…typically I’ve potentially lined up an 8 week job starting Tuesday…..
Shrugging shoulders, it’s the weekend, what’s the worst that could happen
fired off a 10% deposit to my solicitor so I’m hoping that’s it done and dusted bar swapping funds around
Looks like about a week left of this pantomime…typically I’ve potentially lined up an 8 week job starting Tuesday…..
Shrugging shoulders, it’s the weekend, what’s the worst that could happen
Elpenor
Dancing as fast as I can
Having looked again I agree with you know, I think it’s the size for a slimline dishwasher and there may be some sort of hole for plumbing in on the left side.
miss direct I hate dishwashers as well. Remember that you can’t have a family member witness anything.
prunus
Tick tock.
You can - the only people who can’t witness are other parties to the deed. It’s not considered best practice, but it’s perfectly allowed. If they have a different surname to you no-one will even ask…
You can even get it witnesses by under 18s - technically it’s just necessary to show they have the mental capacity to understand what they’re witnessing and that they could theoretically attest to it at a later date (this never happens, basically!)
On the other hand you also don’t need to know the witness - you can literally go out into the street and see if someone will do it for you, if you want to get them in the post today, fwiw.
miss direct
misfungled
Ah not sure I can be bothered to go out in the rain and talk to a stranger. Feeling a bit poo today and have lessons later. What's a few more days, eh?
Riklet
procrastinación
You can always just get the essentials and very basics and just live there for a few months before making any decisions. See what you feel then.
Not sure what they've removed from that kitchen from that pic but quite a lot! Plenty of room for a small dishwasher no? Id just get it all on freecycle/gumtree/fb and see how long that stuff lasts, then get the proper lush stuff once youve measured and budgeted and read reviews bla bla. No rush. I mean you can spend a grand on a fridge or get one for free so it's hard to advise re budget really....
Not sure what they've removed from that kitchen from that pic but quite a lot! Plenty of room for a small dishwasher no? Id just get it all on freecycle/gumtree/fb and see how long that stuff lasts, then get the proper lush stuff once youve measured and budgeted and read reviews bla bla. No rush. I mean you can spend a grand on a fridge or get one for free so it's hard to advise re budget really....
20Bees
Well-Known Member
I buy washing machines new as the water here is so hard, any second hand ones within a reasonable distance are already badly affected by limescale. I get low-end machines as I only ever use two programmes and I’m not interested in fancy gimmicks. A colleague just paid £1200 for a flashy machine, I’ve never paid more than £400. And buying new means they can be connected up for me and the old one removed at the same time. That said, my dishwasher was pre-owned and still fine after 15 years. Henry Hoover was £99 new about 12 years ago, it’s heavy and cumbersome but basic and pretty indestructible!
I buy new mattresses but second hand wooden bed frames, all mine were from eBay or Marketplace and all under £50, though I’ll use the BHF shop in future as they’ll deliver. Bought my first ever new oven 18 months ago from John Lewis and they fitted it ( into the existing eye-level housing) and took the old one away, it was around £420 total.
All my other furniture - sofas, tables, chairs, drawers - were eBay, junk shop, or being chucked out. It does the job.
ETS I love the kitchen, I’d probably paint over the tiles but the units are nice and the floor is lovely!
I buy new mattresses but second hand wooden bed frames, all mine were from eBay or Marketplace and all under £50, though I’ll use the BHF shop in future as they’ll deliver. Bought my first ever new oven 18 months ago from John Lewis and they fitted it ( into the existing eye-level housing) and took the old one away, it was around £420 total.
All my other furniture - sofas, tables, chairs, drawers - were eBay, junk shop, or being chucked out. It does the job.
ETS I love the kitchen, I’d probably paint over the tiles but the units are nice and the floor is lovely!
clicker
nanook rubs it....
Your solicitor should be able to sign the contract on your behalf to get things moving, if you give him permission.
Especially if there's a reason why you can't do it ASAP considering how much you want things finalised.
I know that's what I did, maybe not all solicitors offer that?
Especially if there's a reason why you can't do it ASAP considering how much you want things finalised.
I know that's what I did, maybe not all solicitors offer that?
