Houses

[StanSP]

23 hours ago, Raj said:

Anyone recommend  local alarm companies please?

 

This is weird because I've been looking at alarm companies too as need to get better security here

 

I've been given a couple of companies, but unfortunately not local to you probably! 

[Raj]

27 minutes ago, StanSP said:

This is weird because I've been looking at alarm companies too as need to get better security here

 

I've been given a couple of companies, but unfortunately not local to you probably! 

I've got one already installed but the keypad plays up and Its been installed since we have been here which is now over 9 years.

I've had two quotes  from local Leicester companies for a new keypad, new outside bell, new battery and a service.

£280 and £425

[ian__marshall]

The increase in building materials over the past year is so frustrating. We started planning for a kitchen and side room extension with wetroom adding approximately 47m2 to the house. 

 

Architect said we'd be looking at around £70-80k for the shell and another £30k to fit out the kitchen, and wet room. Obviously need to get a lot more quotes but the first 2 builders to quote have quoted £120k and £130k respectively just for the shell without window installation (we had new double glazing last year which uses a specialist type of window so I've insisted we use the original installer). 

 

Genuinely contemplating ditching our plans as I reckon we're looking at £150k minimum and that's before spending another £15-20k just relaying the garden after the builders have trashed it. 

 

Really not sure what to do as moving house won't give us the extra space we need within our budget. 

[Strokes]

2 hours ago, Raj said:

I've got one already installed but the keypad plays up and Its been installed since we have been here which is now over 9 years.

I've had two quotes  from local Leicester companies for a new keypad, new outside bell, new battery and a service.

£280 and £425

I do alarms and all types of security systems. Happy to help, even if you just need advice. Feel free to DM me.

[Tommy Fresh]

 

[Lako42]

15 hours ago, ian__marshall said:

 

 

Really not sure what to do as moving house won't give us the extra space we need within our budget. 

Wait until this financial crisis (Tory government) really bites and you will be getting much more competitive quotes is my guess. 

 

When the shit hits the fan people will stop this level of work pretty sharpish, not to mention the increased costs of the borrowing aspect. 

 

A lot of trades that have had it incredibly good over the last decade will start to see thinner and thinner order books. 

 

[Tommy G]

28 minutes ago, Lako42 said:

Wait until this financial crisis (Tory government) really bites and you will be getting much more competitive quotes is my guess. 

 

When the shit hits the fan people will stop this level of work pretty sharpish, not to mention the increased costs of the borrowing aspect. 

 

A lot of trades that have had it incredibly good over the last decade will start to see thinner and thinner order books. 

 

Agree with this, and see what happens to house prices over the next 12-18 months. I was contemplating moving (already had extension built and added value) but I'm sitting tight, got a 5 year fix at 2.04% so just sitting tight to see what happens for a bit.

 

Unless you are in a desperate state to move I'd leave it - plus the building costs will overrrun, we budgeted about 55K for ours and came in at £75k, that was 2 years ago just as prices started to uptick. 

[ian__marshall]

8 minutes ago, Lako42 said:

Wait until this financial crisis (Tory government) really bites and you will be getting much more competitive quotes is my guess. 

 

When the shit hits the fan people will stop this level of work pretty sharpish, not to mention the increased costs of the borrowing aspect. 

 

A lot of trades that have had it incredibly good over the last decade will start to see thinner and thinner order books. 

 

I agree that the cost of living crisis will see a decline in demand and subsequent short term reduction in prices as builders desperately try to secure work, however I also foresee that beyond the initial desperation it'll have the knock on effect of putting many builders out of business thereby limiting the supply which will in turn drive up costs as those remaining will be able to charge what they like.

 

Also in terms of materials I think they will continue to increase in price as I think we've got a few more years at least before the supply chains normalise and if building work does slow down the price of these will increase not decrease as the merchants will need to cover their overheads (many of which will likely increase) by passing the cost on to the customer. 

[ian__marshall]

13 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Agree with this, and see what happens to house prices over the next 12-18 months. I was contemplating moving (already had extension built and added value) but I'm sitting tight, got a 5 year fix at 2.04% so just sitting tight to see what happens for a bit.

 

Unless you are in a desperate state to move I'd leave it - plus the building costs will overrrun, we budgeted about 55K for ours and came in at £75k, that was 2 years ago just as prices started to uptick. 

We're in a similar situation with regards to mortgage having another 4 years fixed at around 3%, but I'm not sure a decline in the market value is actually a benefit as your own property declines by a similar rate. I guess the borrowing gap between the price of your own home and any prospective new one narrows which is a benefit but some of that will be offset by increased borrowing costs so will be interesting to see how it plays out. 

[Tommy G]

2 hours ago, ian__marshall said:

We're in a similar situation with regards to mortgage having another 4 years fixed at around 3%, but I'm not sure a decline in the market value is actually a benefit as your own property declines by a similar rate. I guess the borrowing gap between the price of your own home and any prospective new one narrows which is a benefit but some of that will be offset by increased borrowing costs so will be interesting to see how it plays out. 

Indeed - if you were upscaling your property from £400K to £700K then a 10% fall would benefit you as the purchaser given the £700K would fall more than the current property you own, basic maths - but indeed this could be offset by extra borrowing costs, stamp duty, removals etc etc. The only real benefactors in this situation is cash buyers who want to upscale. I'm guessing the majority of the population don't have a few hundred thousand lying around to do that unless you are in receipt of a business sale or inheritance. 

[ian__marshall]

1 minute ago, Tommy G said:

Indeed - if you were upscaling your property from £400K to £700K then a 10% fall would benefit you as the purchaser given the £700K would fall more than the current property you own, basic maths - but indeed this could be offset by extra borrowing costs, stamp duty, removals etc etc. The only real benefactors in this situation is cash buyers who want to upscale. I'm guessing the majority of the population don't have a few hundred thousand lying around to do that unless you are in receipt of a business sale or inheritance. 

Yeah unfortunately I don't have couple of hundred thousand stashed down the back of the sofa so probably won't see any benefit. I guess first time buyers will potentially benefit too so long as they have a decent deposit and the rate rise doesn't price them out, but overall think the market is in for a tricky couple of years. 

[Tommy G]

Just now, ian__marshall said:

Yeah unfortunately I don't have couple of hundred thousand stashed down the back of the sofa so probably won't see any benefit. I guess first time buyers will potentially benefit too so long as they have a decent deposit and the rate rise doesn't price them out, but overall think the market is in for a tricky couple of years. 

I think 1st time buyers are going to be shafted - interest rates on LTV, affordability and even a drastic 10% reduction wont knock much off a typical 1st time home. Grim 

[tom27111]

On 11/10/2022 at 15:48, FoxesDeb said:

Get @tom27111on the decking, I've heard he's good at it 

@Jattdogg loves me to give him a good decking 

[tom27111]

On 11/10/2022 at 15:48, FoxesDeb said:

Get @tom27111on the decking, I've heard he's good at it 

More than happy.

 

You up for that @Milo?

 

I tell you what, if I beat you at golf, I design and build it 

[Jattdogg]

5 hours ago, tom27111 said:

@Jattdogg loves me to give him a good decking 

Cant keep me off of it.

[FoxFromCoalville]

On 10/10/2022 at 16:11, FoyleFox said:

Just looking toward our next set of projects. We need to replace the driveway, a crap gravel thing and re-landscape the front garden - it's also just a crap gravel patch.

The back garden needs the patio relaying as the slabs all wobble and replace another crap gravel area, which we're looking at artificial turf there.

 

Anyone had a new drive or landscaping and can give me a steer on prices. I recall someone here last year saying they'd had a quote for a patio which was double the previous year's quote. Curious if anyone has realistic recent costings before we start getting quotes in for comparison.

For a patio with a pcc flag you’d be looking around £75/sqm+ jointed up. A lot more for porcelain etc and if there’s an existing patio to be dug out and removed then there’s more costs. Is the driveway macadam or pavers?

[goose2010]

On 11/10/2022 at 16:44, FoyleFox said:

Imagine how bored we were for 4 months without a kitchen!

i have no idea how you coped! although i think our annoyance and lack of patience's it down to having a 10-month-old daughter too! 

Edited 13 October 2022 by goose2010

[FoyleFox]

3 hours ago, FoxFromCoalville said:

For a patio with a pcc flag you’d be looking around £75/sqm+ jointed up. A lot more for porcelain etc and if there’s an existing patio to be dug out and removed then there’s more costs. Is the driveway macadam or pavers?

We aren't replacing the patio paving flags, the existing ones just need to be taken up and relaid, as a few aren't stable or level.

We'd be looking for a tarmac drive with block surround edging.

Edited 13 October 2022 by FoyleFox

[FoxFromCoalville]

17 hours ago, FoyleFox said:

We aren't replacing the patio paving flags, the existing ones just need to be taken up and relaid, as a few aren't stable or level.

We'd be looking for a tarmac drive with block surround edging.

For the patio I’d probably work out how much mot/sand/cement/easyjoint you need and order it from WSG and find somebody to do it on a labour only basis. It will be hard to know exactly how much you need until they come up but any left over can do the drive if it works logistically. Expect to pay £250 a day maybe a little more for somebody half decent who will supply a mixer whacker breaker if needed etc. How big is the drive?

Edited 14 October 2022 by FoxFromCoalville

[FoyleFox]

@FoxFromCoalville The drive is 100m2.

Labour only is ideal for the patio, we can help, but doing the whole thing is a bit much, physically speaking.

[Milo]

On 12/10/2022 at 22:48, tom27111 said:

More than happy.

 

You up for that @Milo?

 

I tell you what, if I beat you at golf, I design and build it 

I’d best start collecting pallets then, I suppose! 

[FoxFromCoalville]

On 14/10/2022 at 10:48, FoyleFox said:

@FoxFromCoalville The drive is 100m2.

Labour only is ideal for the patio, we can help, but doing the whole thing is a bit much, physically speaking.

I’d need to see the orientation to properly tell you an estimate but if you’re anywhere near Coalville I can put you in touch with some good quality ground-workers who would come round and give you a quote 

[SpacedX]

On 17/10/2022 at 18:06, FoxFromCoalville said:

I’d need to see the orientation to properly tell you an estimate but if you’re anywhere near Coalville I can put you in touch with some good quality ground-workers who would come round and give you a quote 

Providing you let them park the caravans on the drive when it's finished. 

[FoyleFox]

On 17/10/2022 at 18:06, FoxFromCoalville said:

I’d need to see the orientation to properly tell you an estimate but if you’re anywhere near Coalville I can put you in touch with some good quality ground-workers who would come round and give you a quote 

 

3 hours ago, Line-X said:

Providing you let them park the caravans on the drive when it's finished. 

The drive is just an L shape, side of property to garage and a bit across the front - definitely not enough space for caravans @Line-X

 

We are NW Leics but as we're a few months away from actually doing the work, we felt we didn't want to waste companies time getting quotes yet. If you could send me a few names, though, that would be great. Thanks.

[rachhere]

Anyone know anything about electrics?! My husband was cooking this evening and suddenly noticed a really weird smell coming from one of our under cabinet lights. We have turned the relevant light switch off for the kitchen as well as a separate switch for that particular light. Any electricians who come across this thing with some potential diagnosis. I am wondering if we should turn the downstairs light switches off overnight at the mains as well, or is that just overkill. Thanks for a clueless female!