UK Landlord Forum / Life

Love Dwell - will pop into a show room next week and check out the quality - but it looks pretty impressive on the web site.

I particularly like the freaky two seater settee that flips round to be a recliner.




A bit pricey for Faux leather - but, like.... wow, man!

Cheerio, FB.

Ooh I love Dwell!

Theres one just opened up in Cheltenham right next door to a Habitat - heaven! 

The survey went in on Monday - interestingly, the surveyor reckoned that the extension could be saved by raking out, repointing and lining - but he also uncovered some broken bricks under the front bay window where there has been some movement. Drat.

I'd been very clever and arranged a builder to attend the property this Thursday, but he pulled out at the last minute as he is moving out the the area (was it something I said?). I have therefore spent the last few days calling every builder in the local area to have a conversation that goes something like this:

<ringing dial tone noise>
"<sniff> Uh Hello, what do you want?"
"Er - Hi - My name is FryingBullet and I am looking for a builder to undertake some remedial work to brickwork and roofing as well as some fairly substantial repairs to an extension. Is that your bag and if so, when could you do it?"
"Oh, yeah - well, I mean, we do that, sort of, stuff - let me just get my calendar"
"...er - don't you mean diary?"
"No, actually, I mean my 2009 calendar - how would September do you...?"

I'm being grossly unfair here - many of the people I spoke to were wonderfully charming, some came across as a bit disinterested and one was really quite annoyed that I had managed to find out their telephone number (sheesh - if that's their sales pitch, what must it be like in the complaints department?). (Extra points if you spot the quotation slipped in there!)

Anyway - finally managed to attract the interest of a builder (and one that came from a personal recommendation where I have seen their work) - so back on track. Hope to have him out to the property this weekend.

Keeping the extension though does mean a radical rethink on the development of the property. Repair isn't going to cost as much as a rebuild, but it will sink enough of the budget to mean I can't be banging holes in structural walls in the rest of the property. So, having gone through all the fun of redesigning the layout - the original layout makes a grand re-entrance - Ta daaaaaa!

I'm still getting a quote for french windows to the rear of the property from what will be the "kitchen-diner" as I think this will transform the large, but somewhat dissatisfying kitchen in to a bright and airy veritable palatial space with the acoustic properties of the Albert Hall. Well, there is that - and the fact that Sarah Beeny has never said that french windows are a bad idea. Not ever. Well, maybe she has - but not on camera.

But who would live in a house like this? Well, David - it's over to you...

Cheerio, FB.

Builders are abit like that , but always in demand.
But I hope you get to keep this builder for your propery/hopefully future properties.

As for french windows, I totally agree they let in soo much light ... but it does mean you need to make the garden look perfect. But thats not tooo hard really.
The only thing I can say though is, the bigger the better really. Height wise I mean.
My mother in law got some french doors in her kitchen out to a side decked area and they are really high , im guessing about 8-9 foot and they look so nice.

Anyways good luck with the builder coming around !

Why are patio doors considered inferior to 'French doors' these days?


cheers

simhar

landlord software - http://www.properite.co.uk

I would have always looked to extend that place or refurb existing walls etc, people these days look for space.
I would scrap the dishwasher, but most want a space for laundry.  If your having some building work why not factor in extending the extention to make it square.

Nice project Mr Bullet please keep us updated with your progress,

FB - how is it going?

We need updates! 

Last month, I already transferred to my new house. I understand the dilemma of putting everything together in a small space. My kitchen area is also small, but I can not let go of all the appliances I have because they are very essential to me. What I did was to convert a little space from the dining area to give more room in the kitchen.