Sold!

We actually sold the property back at the end of May finally, and given the current financial situation, we are so, so glad we did! We sold for the asking price, with the compromise of us paying the stamp duty, which seemed fair enough. On the odd day of nice weather, we thought about the new owners, and how lucky they were, especially to have the gorgeous decking area to enjoy into the evening. I really hope they love the place and have no regrets, despite probably being in negative equity by now!

I bumped into Roger & Rita, the neighbours, a few weeks back, and they said that all had not been entirely smooth unfortunately. The new owners were not particularly friendly (but they are young, and are probably just busy, wanting to get on with their own lives?), and had had a little dispute with them over the border between the properties. R&R had tended the border in the front garden for years, putting in lovely bedding plants etc. The new owners have been using R&R's dropped kerb to access the drive, and consequently crossing the end of the border with their cars. R&R discussed this with them, and the new owners showed them the deeds and said the land was theirs and they could drive over it if they liked. They also asked R&R not to continue to tend the patch!

Shame, R&R would make lovely neighbours, but that is up to them. All I can say is, we're so, so happy that we sold when we did and for the price we did, making a small profit. And anyway, the day before the money came through, we had our 12 week scan............... our new little baby is our next project!

1 year on

Well, a year ago we had the builders in, getting on with extending the kitchen and plastering the walls.

Spent another few hours round there this weekend, tyring to cover some cracks in that same plaster. Expected, but they are a bugger to cover, and seem to keep re-appearing despite the extensive use of flexigap!!

We changed estate agents a few weeks ago to Dixons. Not a big fan of theirs, but they are good at finding buyers. We've had a fair bit of interest, and an offer is on the table, but they have a 2 bed maisonette in Bromsgrove to sell, so we'll have to see how quickly that goes through. Some first time buyers went on Saturday and they liked it too. They are seeing a mortgage advisor this Saturday, so fingers crossed they may feel in a position to put in an offer too. That would be great! The offer we had was for £143k, and again we've met half way at £144k, but immaterial without their sale.

Positive thing to come out of this really is that the offers are still very near the asking price, so we really don't feel is over priced even considering the current housing climate.

We will sell this house, and I'm pretty sure it will be before the summer. I hope so, I'd like to know someone was getting the benefit of that lovely south facing decking in the nice weather!

And still they come!

Yes, I know, someone wanted it! How long ago was that??!

Here we are in the first throws of November, and we can only assume they still haven't sold their house.

At the beginning of September, we signed up with Chamerlains estate agents, and we've had a steady flow of viewings, but not a bite in terms of an offer.

We decided a while ago that the lack of furniture could be making it hard for potential buyers to envisage what the property could look like, and also making it feel cold. So, we've kitted it out with some quality bedroom furniture (which we'll keep for ourselves) and some very cheap sofas, which we'll sell on e-bay!! :-)


We had one viewing last weekend since the house was 'dressed', but you can't please everyone......he wanted to know if the loft was boarded as he wanted it as an office! Honestly, we've done everything else for him!!!

However, the estate agents do seem rejuvenated by the furniture too, and despite the doom and gloom mongers in the news this week, we have a viewing this afternoon, and 3 more tomorrow. Please, please, please may one of them like it enough to view it twice at least!!!

Someone wants it!!

Without us dancing on the ceiling too much, as to be honest it is early days.......but we had an offer, and after some negotiating, we've accepted!!!! Good price and they don't seem to want the kerb drop either so that will save a bit of cash!

Unfortunately they are not 1st time buyers, so they still need to sell theirs, hence we remain on the market, but we'll keep our fingers crossed for them!!!

Would be sooooooo nice to have it all sorted before Christmas....... only 5 months away!!!

Very useful having a second home though. We are doing some renovations on our own bathroom, so at least we can pop round the other one for a shower!!!

Any non washed people from Cheltenham/ Gloucester welcome to use too!!


Sadly Craig has had to remove the fireplace today, in readiness for the correct fitting tomorrow...... tragic to make a mess in there again, but hopefully it will all go ok, and we can make it look beautiful again very quickly!!!!

Can it possibly rain any more???

After Craig's efforts to dig out the driveway, not a lot has happened....too wet!!! We need to level the ground and then order the hardcore, but can't level it at the moment....the leveling plate will just splash everywhere to no effect other than shower mud over South Birmingham!!

But, this hasn't stop to further prospective buyers poking round the place, but no offers yet. web page looks lovely (house), and we just need to hold our nerve through the bad weather, and hope that soon the sun shines on us!..................Please!!!

But on top of this....that gas man is a gonner if I ever meet him again. New Gas man has said we need lintel above the fireplace and a bigger hearth to comply with regulations. Why couldn't that bloody man have told us that months ago. He's been in and out of that house since before we even bought it! When did he think it was a good time to tell us this??? Guess that's why he's become invisible...............idiot! I dread the day the new guy is coming. We have to take out the whole thing, surround and all, they fit the lintel and 'make good', but I suspect we'll need to do a bit of filling and painting again....we thought we were through all that!!!! nightmare...not to mention the extra £450!!!!

I'd name the flipping gas man we had, but it would do no good..............I'll just stalk him probably!!!!

Craig has worked really hard again this week, and the back garden is now complete, nice and tidy, with some bark to neaten up by the white terrace wall. Would have taken a photo, but the rain wouldn't have done it justice!!

So, without complete, all that is left is the small matter of the front garden. Craig began by digging out a massive tree stump, and then has systematically begun removing soil and turf from the area for parking. Today, once the rain stopped, we were back there digging out more. Craig is killing himself wheeling the barrow up a home made ramp to the skip!!!Quite a funny sight though!

While clearing the weeds from between the paving slabs that make up the path, we discovered one slab with a big hole underneath it! Craig nearly fell in! Worked out it was probably because of the roots from the tree stump Craig had removed! it was quite large, but least if was an easy place to dump some of the soil rather than getting another barrow load into the skip!!

Please Miss, can I take your photo??!!

Grand Designs Show live
We had a fantastic day out yesterday at the Grand Designs Live show in London, an dCraig was over the moon to meet his heroine....Ms Beeny herself!!! We didn't ahve chance to discuss the ins and outs, ups and downs of property development with her, but it was fab to meet her! We did sit in on her seminar where she spoke to 2 developers from Property Ladder, and it was quite cool to feel like we knew where they were coming from with things, having been there ourselves. Would they do it again???Jury still out!