Gates and Lights

 

Aluminium Gates in Anthracite Grey.

Welcome to our home! We finally moved in this month. Still bits to do but it's habitable and very pleasant, especially with Summer just around the corner. Here is a selection of external photographs.

SunSeeker UltraSlim doors in anthracite grey

The image above is of the lounge before we cluttered it with our furniture! You can see the log burner reflected in the door glass and the panel blinds we bought on-line, taking a chance on the colour (neutral), and the grey oak laminate flooring. 

We've taken some night time shots, too, showing the external lights through the gates and on the front of the house.

More still to come, including:

• Internal photographs;
• New out-building (scheduled for July);
• Garden project, ongoing... 

Thanks for taking an interest.

Another Time Lapse ... and adieu to our lovely home.

SELLING & BUYING. We didn't even mean to stay here for almost ten years but it's been difficult to find something affordable that is as good! Here goes with a long story that is still unfinished...

Our home was completed about eight years ago and we still love the house and garden; we also love the nature reserve (walkable) and the old town centre (walkable). "So why move?" I hear you ask. We always promised ourselves that we would return to the open countryside - we only moved into town to be within walking distance of the school for seven years - but we have spent three years looking for a new home.

Finally, we found something. It was another project (although we keep saying 'never again') that we could just about afford to buy and make livable, in a fantastic location where we had often dreamed of living but where property rarely comes up for sale and most houses are way above our price range.

Property #1

We offered the full asking price and were one of three offers put forward: a cash purchase from a developer, £35k less than the asking price, and one other offer, slightly below ours. We needed to be in a position to proceed and were given a week to sell our house - this was a Thursday in early May. It actually took us eight days to receive an offer on our house (these were the first people to view and they offered the next morning); the next couple to view our house also made an offer and, with a completed, short chain, wanted a quick move.

We called the vendor's agent with the good news but were told that the vendors of the property we wanted had accepted an offer from a cash buyer the previous day. Gutted, we decided that as we had finally started the moving process, we should continue...

Property #2

A house we had previously seen for sale three months earlier had dropped in price and was now of interest to us. It was in a nice location and had a lovely garden but the property, whilst livable, needed some work. We were told that the price had been reduced because the owners had now found somewhere to buy and wanted a quick sale.

We offered just under the asking price and had to wait for a response because the owners were away on a cruise. In the meantime, another would-be purchaser viewed the house and made a similar offer so both parties were asked to submit a 'best and final' offer. The owners were still on holiday but, after a few days, we were told that, again, the offers were similar and we were asked if we would be prepared to offer more. Apparently, we both did. The owners were still on holiday but promised to inform us of their decision on their return to the UK..

We are now into June and the owners finally arrive back on Thursday evening. At 5.20pm on Friday, we were advised that the owners are no longer buying the property they wanted and do not wish to rent a property. They asked whether either of the potential purchasers would be willing to have their offer accepted with a delay while they looked around.

No! Enough is enough! We felt that we had been 'played' by the vendors who procrastinated while they enjoyed their relaxing holiday yet we had agreed along our chain to target a moving date of mid-to-late August. Having wasted almost a month awaiting various responses, we currently have only ten weeks to find somewhere to move to. We were told that the other offer has been accepted and we wish the purchasers lots of luck in their dealings with the procrastinators.

Property #3

This will need to be covered in the next blog post as we are in limbo at the moment. We hope to get back to you soon with a happy ending, third time lucky and all that! Meanwhile, some photos of our completed project, our 'Sold (stc)' house, are featured above for you to see.

Final Stages of Preparation for the Main Extension

The builders left the roof of the old lean-to for as long as possible, to provide shelter while they worked, removing the existing groundworks so that modern methods of insulation can be laid: it seemed to me like a mix of a different type of rubble plus cement plus layers of polysomething and silver foil (biodegradeable? I think not. How will that affect future generations?) plus rusty old metal and more concrete on top.

The lean-to roof had to go and therefore a door opening was made into the garage so the builders could sit in there for their teas. A sheet of plastic roofing was used as a makeshift door. We are near the end of September now so the weather could be a bit unpleasant.

The walls were now being built so a decision was made regarding the bi-folding door system. Having solicited various quotes from prominent companies on the Internet, we discounted those who could not install within six weeks and those who could not also supply the particular windows we wanted. We had also decided that the integral venetian blinds were a must-have so out went the contenders who did not accommodate them. From 8 companies, we were down to two - prices were similar, both were based in London's home counties. We chose SunSeeker Doors, based in Luton, who showed us an installation in our home town and who had the shortest lead time. Additionally, it turns out that SunSeeker Doors not only manufacture their own bifolding doors (which we were invited to see by appointment) but the aluminium they used for said doors was also manufactured in England, yay us! If you are interested, visit www.sunseekerdoors.co.uk (I mentioned that their web site was a bit naff and another one is under construction for Spring 2008). We opted for the 8ft opening (3-door bifold system) and two very large tilt-and-turn windows either side of the door opening, all with integral blinds (requiring no dusting and guaranteed for a few years); we played safe and stuck to standard white for the blinds and the aluminium window/door frames.