Work starts on the eagerly awaited new Foxtons office on Brixton Road

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I was unconvinced when Mr Shakes insisted using Farrow and Ball but having painted the house when we first moved in I was really surprised at how much less stinky it was than normal paint and it does need fewer coats.

The paint lasts really well and we are only having it re-painted as I did such a bad job and now we've had the bathroom done it the rest of the house looks shabby. I put my foot down and we are getting it done professionally this time.

My argument was helped by the fact that Mr Shakes still hasn't done the bits I can't reach and I finished it 2.5 years ago!

If you're going to use expensive paint, then you can't afford to waste it, and should therefore get yourself someone who knows what they're doing!

 

[Rushy]

I have NEVER used Foxtons! <<spits>>

I once gave them my phone number as I wanted to look at a house they had for sale and they then called me daily for three weeks trying to get me to look at stuff that was the wrong spec, for the wrong price, in the wrong area. They are a nightmare.

*The house I wanted to look at went under offer, which they didn't tell me until I was in their car- they took me to see something else, it was wildly overpriced, the agent tried to give me a patronising little lecture on housing economics (which was incorrect in both generality and specifics), gave me dangerously incompetent advice on what building work it needed (but what would I know, I'm just a little woman right?) and offered me sight of a survey paid for by a previous attempted purchaser, which is against their code of conduct

That's more like it!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I got THREE envelopes from them today, after only getting TWO on Saturday.

*spits on Fuckstons*

 

[shakespearegirl]

If you're going to use expensive paint, then you can't afford to waste it, and should therefore get yourself someone who knows what they're doing!

I totally agree Minnie. DIY is not one of my strengths.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I totally agree Minnie. DIY is not one of my strengths.

See, if you'd asked me, I'd have put you on to a brilliant decorator

 

[Winot]

tapas would be a good segue. Suitably surreal

I can imagine them doing a green called Padrón Pepper.

 

[leanderman]

See, if you'd asked me, I'd have put you on to a brilliant decorator

Nothing entertains me more in a recession than people moaning about money - while still having cleaners and decorators.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Nothing entertains me more in a recession than people moaning about money - while still having cleaners and decorators.

Who's moaning?

 

[leanderman]

I was unconvinced when Mr Shakes insisted using Farrow and Ball but having painted the house when we first moved in I was really surprised at how much less stinky it was than normal paint and it does need fewer coats.

The paint lasts really well and we are only having it re-painted as I did such a bad job and now we've had the bathroom done it the rest of the house looks shabby. I put my foot down and we are getting it done professionally this time.

My argument was helped by the fact that Mr Shakes still hasn't done the bits I can't reach and I finished it 2.5 years ago!

Maybe. Our downstairs is mainly Farrow and Ball but I'm going to repaint in Dulux pure brilliant white.

Hugely cheaper. Something like a quarter of the cost last time I checked.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Maybe. Our downstairs is mainly Farrow and Ball but I'm going to repaint in Dulux pure brilliant white.

Hugely cheaper. Something like a quarter of the cost last time I checked.

I'd be careful of Dulux pure whites. There was a thing on Watchdog about the pure whites turning yellow in no time. Can't remember if it was a bad batch or whether it applied to all of a particular type, or whether the problem's been rectified, but I'd look it up if I were you

 

[leanderman]

Who's moaning?

I didn't mean you!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I didn't mean you!

I should think not! I didn't see shakespearegirl moaning either, so wasn't sure who you were talking about

 

[shakespearegirl]

I'm not moaning! I'm thrilled to have a decorator this time.

 

[leanderman]

I should think not! I didn't see shakespearegirl moaning either, so wasn't sure who you were talking about

I meant no one on these boards. Just a general observation.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Here you go leanderman

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2012/03/dulux.html

Looks like it's only gloss and satin

btw, it happened to the doors I painted. They're now more of a cream colour

 

[Manter]

Maybe. Our downstairs is mainly Farrow and Ball but I'm going to repaint in Dulux pure brilliant white.

Hugely cheaper. Something like a quarter of the cost last time I checked.

but then you'll have a bright white house...??

 

[leanderman]

but then you'll have a bright white house...??

Had always thought this was too clinical and cold. But, where I've seen it done, it works well.

 

[leanderman]

Here you go leanderman

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2012/03/dulux.html

Looks like it's only gloss and satin

btw, it happened to the doors I painted. They're now more of a cream colour

Good spot. Thanks.

 

[Manter]

Had always thought this was too clinical and cold. But, where I've seen it done, it works well.

I did it in the last place, but it was 1960s and the architectural white box thing suited it. Seems a bit hard for an old house like yours...

 

[Orang Utan]

One if our neighbours has just painted their door pillar box red. And their railings. And gate. And drainpipe. And lead flashings. And wheely bin

That sounds ace - brightens up the street

 

[ViolentPanda]

It supposedly has a different finish- a Matt chalky finish that isn't available in cheaper paints. And there is the whole heritage formulations, low toxicity thing- they don't have plastics in them for example and are safe to use on toys etc. Plus all made in Dorset, British company, British manufacturing.

Like many premium ranges its mostly, IMO, about providing reassurance that they are doing something 'tasteful' for people who aren't naturally creative or lack confidence in their own taste. But no harm in it, I generally like people buying things from British craftsman brands not global conglomerates

Their paints don't contain solvent-based drying agents, either, so you don't get the pervasive odour that you do with basic emulsions. Handy if you're sensitive to such things.

 

[sparkybird]

In other bonkers news...

Apparently this is under offer within days at over the asking price.....

http://www.foxtons.co.uk/property-for-sale-in-brixton-hill/chpk0309263

 

[snowy_again]

I saw the £1.4m Dalberg Road one has a Sale sign on it too. Bizarre.

 

[Rushy]

I saw the £1.4m Dalberg Road one has a Sale sign on it too. Bizarre.

Is that the £1.1million place?
Bizarre, even so.

 

[leanderman]

I don't understand how people can afford these prices, in terms of salary multiples, if nothing else.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

I might start trolling the estate agents....

...all ideas gratefully received

 

[Brixton Hatter]

My original idea was to ring up all the estate agents and say I own a load of old victorian houses in Brixton that I'm desperate to get rid of quickly (cashflow problems) and give them a load of appointment times and addresses all over the borough........then go down the pub, sit back and enjoy.

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

Westgate Court, a crumbling block of flats adjacent to The Canterbury Arms. I have to ask why they (Lambeth Council) are vandalising the interiors of tenants flats with their "improvements" while they allow the much needed external works to go undone? Is it the leaseholders that have exercised their "Right To Buy" that block/delay the work so they escape financial penalty before they sell up? Or is it incompetence on the part of Lambeth Council that the external work escapes the attention of all contractors? Or is something a bit dodgy going on?
A few years ago a one bedroom flat in this block went for £120,000. (You can discount the £160,000 previous best , that was a result of mortgage fraud and the one that went for £160,000 (subsequently repossessed) then sold for the new mark of £120,000.)
Now one of the flats in this block is under offer at £230,000. (Foxtons wanted to market it at £250,000 but that was laughed at as too much, bait if you will to the seller, especially given the limited terms contract offered between the estate agent and the seller regarding fees. Their valuation and zero fee offer was regarded as an unrealistic inducement to attract new custom.)
Seller went with another estate agent that has an outlet on the main drag, just a few doors down.
You can do your own checks on property prices.

Recently, a young couple moved into the block , they pay just short of £1,000 per month (Council rent approx £500 per month) to a leaseholder that bought the flat less than a year ago and has fucked off somewhere else (on a lie) because they know it is profitable to buy to let. (Mortgage approx £250 per month)
That young couple are newcomers, they are victims of the leaseholder and the agent they rent the flat from. They might also look at those like me on housing benefit and think i am the problem.

Do you ever get the feeling you are being fucked over?

 

[snowy_again]

There's an Economist article today citing the polarisation of Islington as the chattering classes get priced out, leaving them with no option other than to bite the bullet and move south.

 

[Manter]

There's an Economist article today citing the polarisation of Islington as the chattering classes get priced out, leaving them with no option other than to bite the bullet and move south.

there was an article in the guardian about notting hill saying its going the way of chelsea and the chattering classes are priced out. The north london media set are obviously feeling vulnerable