chelsea Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 thanks SOOOO much everyone for your tips/assurance and advice it really means a lot. I knew I could rely on everyone on here. We are going away tomorrow morning in the caravan for the weekend to north devon, so plenty to think about and im sure hubby will be doing a lot of this - whilst I blab on and on and on about this cottage mind you, it did work when I did this trying to get an eglu !! Thanks for all the weblinks too.....very useful and Ive got loads to read about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Only one thing to say Chelsea - GOFORITGOFORITGOFORIT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Chelsea it looks wonderful go into this with your head up and your eyes open, unless you're tall and its got low ceilings! It looks wonderful Good luck with getting in to view it and hope it all works out for you. A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 go into this with your head up and your eyes open, unless you're tall and its got low ceilings! Go for it Chelsea, go with your heart! note to self, never listen to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Chelsea it certainly is a pretty house! And lovely garden too.....I would love a bigger garden No real advice to offer (plenty of excellent advice already given by others ) other than suggest you do a worst case scenario - get a piece of paper and a pen and write down everything and costs (e.g. re-thatching, additional insurance, rewiring etc) and then have another think! A friend's Dad lives in a Grade II listed cottage and loves it but couldn't get planning permission to convert a barn to a workshop (even though the barn is in a bad state and without work on it will fall down ). I think the only problem he has had with the house was there was a family of mice living within the walls and you could hear them scurrying around at night! Have a lovely weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Chelsea, that is a really gorgeous cottage There was a thatched cottage on Grand Designs a couple of weeks ago http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/grand-designs/houses/H/hampshire.html You might find some hints and tips on the link, it includes a thatcher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 (edited) Thankyou Back from our weekend away in Woolacombe. (fantastic weather). We are going to visit the cottage tomorrow morning, 10.30am. I rang the estate agents last friday to book the appointment and she was VERY abrupt I said hello and enquired about the cottage, her reply was £100,000, I said "sorry" (in a confused way) she said "£100,000 of refurbishment is needed", she didnt try to SELL me the cottage in any shape or form whatsoever and she stunned me really, I said "it looks habitable" (as there are curtains and furniture in the cottage) and replied "its basically 4 walls" . I said forget it, and put the phone down as she was really beginning to annoy me. Told hubby, he rang her up and she said exactly the same to him "£100,000" !! he said I dont care how much it costs, I want to see it !! Apparently the agent has had a couple of builders in for quotes of approx £100,000 to modernise it. Hubbys father is builder so we can cut that down, I know it needs a new thatch, rewiring, new kitchen, bathroom etc so that is what I call "modernisation" and not "renovation" as what the agent is calling it. I wouldnt be happy with the estate agent if I was the vendor - I was NOT impressed with her and shall tell her so tomorrow when I see her Edited March 25, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 Oh and another thing, I dont think the agent knows much about grade II Listing either, she said the metal windows HAVE to stay in the property and if we re-new that we have to replace with metal Now how many period properties were built with metal windows eh?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Sounds to me as if she wants it for herself Chelsea! Persist/insist! Re the windows...when I saw the pics, I wondered how whoever put them in had got way with it....presumably it became listed at a date later than the installation of the windows which have a distinctly '60's look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 I agree, somewhere along the lines its had modern windows and an extension, so I dont think the listing has been done that long. Also the agent said someone has dry lined the walls inside which is very weird for a period cottage, so the walls might be a bit dodgy and they have just stuck up some 4 x2 and hammered plaster board over the top mmmmm.... we shall see wont we!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 We've just sold our thatched cottage so my answers The insurance thing is rubbish. ours was minutely more. Heating costs are fab, ours stayed wonderfully cool in summer and snug in winter. What we saved on heating more than made up for the slight extra on the insurance. A nicely done cottage will always fetch loads whereas a rundown one will be a lot cheaper than their tiled counterparts. If you can get good advise on the building side like you can then I would say its well worth consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Good luck for tomorrow Chelsea, and try not to bop that horrid lady on the nose when you meet her Hope it all works out for you! A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Thinking of you today Chelsea! Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Good luck Chelsea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Good Luck Chelsea - I hope it goes well. ...and I'm glad you're going to tell the vendor what the Agent is like on the phone. We sent a 'mystery viewer' to our house just to test the Agents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Good Luck Chelsea - I hope it goes well. ...and I'm glad you're going to tell the vendor what the Agent is like on the phone. We sent a 'mystery viewer' to our house just to test the Agents. Sneaky - I like it! Looking forward to an update on this,Chelsea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Good Luck Chelsea - I hope it goes well. ...and I'm glad you're going to tell the vendor what the Agent is like on the phone. We sent a 'mystery viewer' to our house just to test the Agents. Sneaky - I like it! We needed to check if it was just that the market in that price bracket was quiet or whether the person conducting the viewings couldn't be bothered to do a good job at selling. My hairdresser really liked our house but couldn't afford it and she agreed to go and look at it as well as another one with the same agent in the same village, which they could afford. It was really helpful - and they did do a good job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 What an appalling attitude from the Estate Agent! She must be after it herself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Or have a friend who wants it for a knock down price Good luck with this mornings viewing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Ohh... I wonder how it went? Cooo eeeeee....... Chelsea!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 26, 2007 Author Share Posted March 26, 2007 UPDATE !! Well, im even more in love than I was before !! I gave the estate agent a frosty reception, She met us at the house.Prior going to view we rang the local planning authority to ask about the windows - and the CAN be replaced and they dont have to be metal, so PAH ! to the estate agent Also replacing the thatch on the listed cottage wouldnt have any problems with planning either. The viewing - well - it has been a glorious day, and birds were tweeting in the garden and bee's buzzing.....it was beautiful. The cottage DEFINITELY needs a new roof (there is a big hole in the bedroom ceiling), the house is habitable and still has the prior owners stuff in it - clothes, coats, photos and even dishes on the draining board . The previous owner was an old lady of 93 years who had been living in it for years and was taken into a home and unfortunately died. The house is being sold through solicitors/will etc and the beneficiary of the sale is actually a "Lady" wotsit or other. The kitchen is very dated but has a lovely old rayburn in it. There is a dining room with open fire, living room with open fire and the bedrooms are huge with open fires. Every window has open views over farmland. The agents had an open viewing day last saturday and they have received an offer of £220,000 - 5 thousand under the asking price, but she didnt say if this had been accepted, also the agent thinks that anyone buying the house will have problems getting a mortgage because of the roof so she is dubious the person who put in the offer will proceed with the sale. Anyway, we were straight home and on to our mortgage lender, they will lend us enough to buy the house but not enough to do the roof. We are now in talks with an independant advisor who will source the market and he doesnt think lending the money will be a problem......or the roof so that sounds positive !! Hubby is very dubious why are ALL men like this? he was the same with the eglu I want to get going and proceed and he's putting the brakes on. I cant get this cottage out of my head and he's happy to sit on the sofa and watch tv !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Oooh Chelsea, it sounds fab and so long as you are buying with your eyes open to the work that needs doing then I can understand why you want to go for it! NOW! My OH needs a gentle nudge (more like a hard kick ) sometimes to get him moving so I can understand your frustration! GOOD LUCK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Chelsea!!!! So excited for you. I'll jump up and down with you in joy even if hubby won't! (men - what are they like ) Do keep us updated with all thats happening - room enough there for another eglu or 3?! Helen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 How exciting! Chelsea, re. the man thing: They like to bury their heads in the sand rather than face uncertainties..... It sounds great! But cold... so don't forget to put central heating down on your list of what needs doing..... Best of luck with things! Fingers still crossed here for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Men! If the sums add up, go for it Chelsea! We bought a virtually derelict house 23 years ago...We could never have afforded a house of its type otherwise....similar story.....a couple in their late 80's dying within 6 weeks of each other and daughter in her 60's who couldn't wait to get rid. We offered the asking price, with the proviso that we were not going to be fannied about... we wanted a firm answer within 24 hours.....It paid off, and the offer was accepted. We than spent the next 5 years absolutely destitute, and camping from room to room as we did things up...I even managed to have our 2nd baby during this phase. It was worth it as the house is no worth more than 10 times what we paid for it. Even allowing for inflation and the amount we have spent to date we have still had a good return for our money. Work is still ongoing! Looking at the pics of "your" house, I'm sure that too it will be a sound investment and it will be worth a few years upheaval. All the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
