Hecateh

+ one + one My architect told me £100k was a realistic cost for my 2 bed split level bungalow on a slope. I budgeted for that with a 25k contingency. It's going to come in at around £160k and that's after many compromises on my initial wish list. Everyone tells me it will be worth it in the end. I'm hoping that in a few months I can agree with them

I don't think so - wide angle lense in selling houses is well known and, I think, apart from weird perspectives, they do cover more as we see things. Ordinary photos show the areas we don't normally focus on so seem to minimise the interesting areas.

The pics definitely sell yours.

Happy to be in control once professional photos and description done. Your photos sell your house. Mine looked like they were done on a mobile phone. Having said that, I went with a traditional EA and they haven't done much either even though their photos are better. This is the view from my lounge, even with the new house in shot. Purple bricks didn't put it in at all and Hunter's put one in taken with a wide angle so the view looked like a slice of pizza dominated by tree and new property.

I decided to go with Purple Bricks until I saw their ad for my house. The guy who did the valuation took pictures with an ordinary camera when he came to value - I thought the pics were just reminders for him when it came to writing the blurb. The blurb was pathetic; the photos were worse and the floor plan got the shape all wrong. I cancelled

From my uneducated viewpoint the difference in QA for cars and houses has something to do with the fact that if something goes badly wrong in a car beetling down the motorway at 70 mph+ then it doesn't just affect the occupants of the car. Things that are wrong in a house, are rarely discovered immediately (apart from knowledgable or well advised self builders), and rarely (apart from gas or fire) affect anyone but the house owner - so nobody gives a fugg except to congratulate self that it hasn't affected them. Basis I trusted a 'professional' to do the job we both thought we had agreed. Regardless of that being wrong, if I hadn't been on here there are other things that would have passed unnoticed. Gaps in insulation round the window - new house is going to be so much better than my current one I would never have realised it should have been better still. My son noticed that there was no ventilation to the underfloor area (resulting in BB adding some telescopic vents). Would have caused an issue eventually but certainly not immediately Straps securing gable ends to joists - if I hadn't thought about getting the BI in before BB left, there wouldn't be any. Is it likely anything would have happened. I don't know. A part (3/4) cut through roof joist - probably wouldn't have been an issue in my lifetime, maybe never - still a crap job. I'm sure there will be others plus more things that I would have specced differently if I had any idea that the builder didn't really have any idea. If I buy a car and it uses drastically more fuel than expected, has dramatically less power or brakes don't work then regardless of the fact I don't know how it works, I know it isn't working correctly. That is far harder to do with a building.

oh no

I'd dare you to say that to her face - but I think it's a noun. ???????????She may be the femme but she definitely wears the trousers

I've delivered babies - and at least there, there is no pain involved (for the obstetrician anyway) I've also given birth but that's not relevant seized nuts and gynecology - what a wide range of topics we cover

Don't know what it translates as but I think its polish (type it all out and then google translate it )

Have a friend whose partner is a plumber. Obviously can't post photos but let's just say they are both xx but one is all sparkly nails and the other is short back and sides, piercings and lots of tats

female plumber - dirty toilet and sparkling nails ?? @Nickfromwales you know what she's like after a voddy! @newhome working from home today were we?

plus one - the cost of putting in those lintels needs to come off the cost. They probably can't or won't afford that - so it's time to walk away. My son has just done his first reno on an end terrace, total rip out and start again, new windows, heating, rewire etc. but no structural issues. Made a reasonable profit. Bought at 40k sold for 97k after spending about 25k on materials and what they couldn't do themselves. (Ceiling for the area was allegedly 90k) so it is still possible but only if you buy at the right price

Love those stones

Just one thing to add. I am really regretting doing this at the moment AND it certainly isn't going to leave me with a lump sum at the end which was going to pay my way for the next 2 years and then supplement my pension once I reach state pension age. I am probably going to have to go back to work (after being 'retired' for 3 years once I move into the new house. BUT once I am in there, despite all the compromises I have had to make and despite not having the money left at the end of it all. I won't regret doing it as much as I would have regretted not doing it. If I hadn't done it I would have forever wished I did. In my imagination I would have known it would have been stressful and that some things would have cost more, caused stress or just been so frustrating but I would never have predicted this so I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.

Hi Tony, Welcome and as @lizzie says I am building in my garden. Mine is on a much smaller scale and at the end of a cul de sac so selling this one first was definitely a no no. No income to support a proper mortgage so had to go down the bridging loan route. Quote was ridiculously high but the only way forward (about 10%) but by the time I got round to actually getting the loan interest rates had increased slightly but bridging loan hugely so I am accruing 13% interest. This house was valued at 250k with the garden by estate agents but only 200k by the mortgage company and they would only lend me 125k Oh - and their claim is over the whole plot not just the original house. Arrangements costs were astronomical and the insisted on a 10 year warranty costing 2.5k which is underwritten by Alpha who have just gone bust. The original build quote was less than 100k and a budgeted 130k to cover utilities etc (about 5k) and a healthy 25% contingency. Things went badly from the start. Sloping site so extra 13k on foundations (that could have been at least partly averted had I known about this place back then) and then 13k for electricity as supply at the end of the drive was at capacity to had to come 50m down the road. Scary but ok - it's in the contingency, nothing else major can go wrong; can it? It certainly can. Cutting a long story short - my builder told me just before roof on stage that walls, floors, plaster, doors, windows and plumbing were not in the quote and it was my fault because I hadn't specified them. Wanted another 46k to finish. Not possible. Got him to finish the roof and dispensed with his services. Limped along since then trying to project manage myself with lots and lots of help from people on here, (on and off the forum). Have had to put this one up for sale which I didn't want to do until I moved, although not exactly a building site as such anymore it's still not attractive as there is no drive or garden just a load of hardcore and part of the garden in the 'to sell' bit is just bare earth that I can't do anything with yet as I need to move a load of topsoil off it. Have had to borrow money from family and on credit card. The bridge is due for repayment in November and I feel permanently sick and wake up around 4am most mornings with no chance of going back to sleep. Not trying to put you off but self builds are very very stressful, especially if you are unable to actually get involved in the build yourself or even fully understand what is going on. That is one area this place has been a lifesaver as whatever questions you have someone will either know the answer or be able to point you in the right direction. Emotional support and banter also freely available Self builds frequently go over budget, again even more so if you are not experienced in the trades. Self builds almost invariably take longer than expected. Having said all that - you've started well by finding this place and you have a healthy budget, so may be able to scale back if some things come in over. Pictures and plans are always of interest

Also have to think about neighbours. There may be available parking off site but are they willing to use it. Mine didn't want me building - always wanted to go out - or in - when deliveries were being made. Phoning the council every week about obstructions etc etc. Not insurmountable but very unpleasant and some may be even worse than mine

Yes the 2 on the right were fitted later, about 2010 if I remember rightly, One is the fan and lighting for the bathroom and the second is the electric UFH in there. The house had a total rewire in 2000 when I moved in because there were still brown bakelite light switches and round pin sockets lol (and only one of them in each room)

Found it, sort of, I was looking for red for some reason and it's yellow There are 2 but one covers the bathroom lights and one covers the underfloor heating. Nothing else is protected.

Where is this RCD supposed to be. I can't see anything with a red button. The board was fitted in 2000 and has a note on it (as described by @JSHarris) about checking the RCD but there is nothing between the meter and it or between it and where the cable disappears

I've never even heard of RCD testing and I can't find any label on my fuse board - how do I do it?

very smart

https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-12v-li-ion-cordless-drill/p/096353211655500?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsZXG75mo3AIVwR4bCh2XvwxFEAQYAiABEgKjJPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CLWgz_6ZqNwCFRa6GwoddWUEbA one here from Aldi £29.99 with free delivery

Yep definitely with Alpha Policy bought in December last year If the firm has gone bust what difference does it make if they have treated us unfairly - there is no money anyway

It's gone into liquidation but "it’s honoring all present and future obligations!" CRL are telling people no need to do anything at present "It may also cover claims but only for 4 weeks or so after the company goes bust." Is this an attempt to make sure that people don't do anything until after the 4 week period and then they can say they are not liable. I've still heard nothing from them. I suspect the first I will hear is from my lending company who will demand I buy another useless policy as the CRL one (that was on their recommended list) is no longer valid. They can get lost if they do.