Houses

[Tommy G]

1 hour ago, Izzy said:

Re-doing our kitchen involved pulling the old artex ceiling down to re-wire everything and install an extractor fan. Also had to dig the floor up to put in new pipes so it was chaos for a few weeks but it looks good now.

 

We also had creaky stairs but managed to fix them from the top without having to remove any plaster/drywall luckily. Shout out to Gorrila glue which is amazing stuff!

 

Talking of detailing cars, I haven't washed mine for nearly a year. It's mainly been sat on the drive in front of a skip gathering dust so will be nice to get back into that hobby again when the weather improves.

 

And you laugh about retirement delay but sadly it's inevitable. Hate the fact we've had to take another mortgage out in our 50's but needs must unfortunately 

 

Don't be too harsh on yourself re mortgage - it will be the norm to retire with a mortgage soon, just the way things are going!

[Jattdogg]

4 hours ago, Izzy said:

Re-doing our kitchen involved pulling the old artex ceiling down to re-wire everything and install an extractor fan. Also had to dig the floor up to put in new pipes so it was chaos for a few weeks but it looks good now.

 

We also had creaky stairs but managed to fix them from the top without having to remove any plaster/drywall luckily. Shout out to Gorrila glue which is amazing stuff!

 

Talking of detailing cars, I haven't washed mine for nearly a year. It's mainly been sat on the drive in front of a skip gathering dust so will be nice to get back into that hobby again when the weather improves.

 

And you laugh about retirement delay but sadly it's inevitable. Hate the fact we've had to take another mortgage out in our 50's but needs must unfortunately 

 

I will hope they can be fixed from above too!

 

That sucks about another mortgage but I can totally see how easily that will come about with that amount of work. Hoping mine wont be so bad seeing as our house was built in 2002. Never know what's hiding under the covers though as home on this side of the pond weren't built like they were in the 80s and before.

 

Hopefully you will get to detail that bad boy in the spring time!

[The Year Of The Fox]

On 02/12/2025 at 19:09, CornwallFox said:

 

 

 

 

 

Really appreciate all the input guys, really useful. Getting closer to taking the plunge on the house. It's 3 minutes from perranporth beach and location wise it's exactly what I've been looking for. I've not been down here as long as my username might suggest so getting my head around not having gas central heating like I always did in Leicester. My dad was a gas man so he'll have a fit when I tell him 🤣🤣

Why not get LPG?

[UniFox21]

12 hours ago, AyewJoking said:

just had cadent out to install the electric meter on the outside of building.

 

I cant see the point of this but they recommended doing so.

 

nobody reads meters anymore so why does it matter where the meter is?

They periodically will check meters, maybe once or twice a year at most. Water definitely do, ensure smart meters are reading correct, people are entering the correct numbers etc 

[CornwallFox]

3 hours ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

Why not get LPG?

I was wondering this. I'd need to install an entire central heating system - anybody have any idea how much it costs to put a system in from scratch on a large 3 bed house?

[dsr-burnley]

6 hours ago, Tommy G said:

Don't be too harsh on yourself re mortgage - it will be the norm to retire with a mortgage soon, just the way things are going!

Anyone who can afford to spend fortunes mending creaky stairs, doesn't have a problem with a mortgage. (Says a man whose stairs are made of stone and so they don't creak at all!)

[The Year Of The Fox]

2 hours ago, CornwallFox said:

I was wondering this. I'd need to install an entire central heating system - anybody have any idea how much it costs to put a system in from scratch on a large 3 bed house?

Depends on requirements, the system you want and cost of labour down there. 
 

Can imagine it costing anything between £7-15k inc boiler and maybe cylinder 

[AyewJoking]

3 hours ago, UniFox21 said:

They periodically will check meters, maybe once or twice a year at most. Water definitely do, ensure smart meters are reading correct, people are entering the correct numbers etc 

they installed it in the back garden by the kitchen window so still need to knock the door so we can open the back gate.

 

 

[CornwallFox]

10 hours ago, Tommy G said:

Don't be too harsh on yourself re mortgage - it will be the norm to retire with a mortgage soon, just the way things are going!

Get yourself a younger woman and she can pay the mortgage while you retire 😁

[danny.]

5 hours ago, UniFox21 said:

They periodically will check meters, maybe once or twice a year at most. Water definitely do, ensure smart meters are reading correct, people are entering the correct numbers etc 

No one has checked ours in over 7 years!

[Wolfox]

On 13/01/2026 at 04:09, Izzy said:

Apologies for quoting myself but we're nearly there with this renovation! Carpets going down this week and then all that's left to do is replace the internal doors.

 

Gotta say the house looks fvcking amazing. Everything is new and I'm just staring to feel like it's all been worth it. Six months of hell but we're nearly there.

 

Then there's the outside to tackle in the spring and sort the garden out. New fence going up soon then the next big job is to replace 200m2 of old timber cladding with new composite cladding. Will replace all the guttering at the same time and get it properly insulated, so another expensive job but it needs doing.

 

Thanks again to @kenny and @Wolfox for their initial help and support. It's been a journey that I don't ever want to do again and we're 50% over budget so I'm now officailly skint.

 

Ah…. Great 👍🏽

 

You get there in the end…. You’ll be sat there in the summer reflecting on whether ‘it was all worth it’ - you’ll conclude that it definitely was!

[FoyleFox]

On 13/01/2026 at 00:09, Izzy said:

Apologies for quoting myself but we're nearly there with this renovation! Carpets going down this week and then all that's left to do is replace the internal doors.

 

Gotta say the house looks fvcking amazing. Everything is new and I'm just staring to feel like it's all been worth it. Six months of hell but we're nearly there.

 

Then there's the outside to tackle in the spring and sort the garden out. New fence going up soon then the next big job is to replace 200m2 of old timber cladding with new composite cladding. Will replace all the guttering at the same time and get it properly insulated, so another expensive job but it needs doing.

 

Thanks again to @kenny and @Wolfox for their initial help and support. It's been a journey that I don't ever want to do again and we're 50% over budget so I'm now officailly skint.

 

I guarantee that 6 months after it's all done, the pain, if not the payments will be forgotten and you'll be so pleased you did it and certain it was worth the effort. 

[MiDuck55]

Can anyone recommend a good conveyancing solicitor in Leicester please?

My house was not on the market, but I was planning to sell later in the year. The builder who renovated the house next door has approached me with an offer to buy mine, (he was aware I was planning to sell at some point).

We have agreed a price I'm happy with and so I'm hoping that we can proceed without an Estate Agent and associated costs, but I need a good solicitor who will be prepared to proceed without the EA.

Has anyone got a recommendation?

Has anyone sold without an EA and got any advice got me?

Thanks.

 

 

[Tommy G]

51 minutes ago, MiDuck55 said:

Can anyone recommend a good conveyancing solicitor in Leicester please?

My house was not on the market, but I was planning to sell later in the year. The builder who renovated the house next door has approached me with an offer to buy mine, (he was aware I was planning to sell at some point).

We have agreed a price I'm happy with and so I'm hoping that we can proceed without an Estate Agent and associated costs, but I need a good solicitor who will be prepared to proceed without the EA.

Has anyone got a recommendation?

Has anyone sold without an EA and got any advice got me?

Thanks.

 

 

Yes - Broomfields in Lutterworth, specifically Taylor Wilmot. If you want any specifics PM me

[Grebfromgrebland]

1 hour ago, MiDuck55 said:

Can anyone recommend a good conveyancing solicitor in Leicester please?

My house was not on the market, but I was planning to sell later in the year. The builder who renovated the house next door has approached me with an offer to buy mine, (he was aware I was planning to sell at some point).

We have agreed a price I'm happy with and so I'm hoping that we can proceed without an Estate Agent and associated costs, but I need a good solicitor who will be prepared to proceed without the EA.

Has anyone got a recommendation?

Has anyone sold without an EA and got any advice got me?

Thanks.

 

 

You don't actually need a solicitor. I sold a house without one before there's just a few firms to fill out. But if there's any complications like mortgages to deal with then just use a solicitor. 

 

 

[VLC86]

Can anyone recommend a trustworthy and reliable roofer in Leicestershire? I know someone who thinks they need some work doing but they are concerned about getting ripped off. Thanks 

[Raj]

https://share.google/bfUbKsgWQn10ASWn3

 

 

Not the football forum but Kerry at Bentley Roofing is awesome.

[RobHawk]

Just had an offer accepted on a house, took me 6 months to find something suitable at the right price since accepting an offer on our house. Luckily our first time buyers were very patient. Can't wait to move now although packing everything up will be a huge ball ache. 

[slymunn]

I've just put an offer in on a house, but the estate agents won't allow it to be accepted till our house has sold.

Its the first time this has happened to me, so just wondering is this standard now?

[Tommy G]

2 hours ago, slymunn said:

I've just put an offer in on a house, but the estate agents won't allow it to be accepted till our house has sold.

Its the first time this has happened to me, so just wondering is this standard now?

Was for us yes, it's meaningless as you aren't proceedable 

Edited 9 February by Tommy G

[Izzy]

2 hours ago, slymunn said:

I've just put an offer in on a house, but the estate agents won't allow it to be accepted till our house has sold.

Its the first time this has happened to me, so just wondering is this standard now?

 

9 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Was for us yes, it's meaningless as you aren't proceedable 

Can an estate agent legally refuse to pass on an offer to the seller in the UK?

No, they can’t. Estate agents in the UK must tell the seller about every offer they receive, right up until the moment contracts are exchanged. That’s the law. They don’t have a choice unless the seller has given written instructions not to be told about certain types of offers, like ones under a specific amount. Otherwise, agents must pass everything on promptly and in writing.

What estate agents are meant to do

Estate agents are hired by the seller to help sell their home, but that doesn’t mean they can ignore buyers or pick and choose which offers to pass on. They’re expected to be fair and honest with everyone involved. Their job is to act in the seller’s best interest, but they still have rules to follow that protect buyers too.

[slymunn]

14 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Was for us yes, it's meaningless as you aren't proceedable 

 

4 minutes ago, Izzy said:

 

Can an estate agent legally refuse to pass on an offer to the seller in the UK?

No, they can’t. Estate agents in the UK must tell the seller about every offer they receive, right up until the moment contracts are exchanged. That’s the law. They don’t have a choice unless the seller has given written instructions not to be told about certain types of offers, like ones under a specific amount. Otherwise, agents must pass everything on promptly and in writing.

What estate agents are meant to do

Estate agents are hired by the seller to help sell their home, but that doesn’t mean they can ignore buyers or pick and choose which offers to pass on. They’re expected to be fair and honest with everyone involved. Their job is to act in the seller’s best interest, but they still have rules to follow that protect buyers too.

Thanks both. I haven't bought too many houses before, but its the first time Ive had it said to me. 

[Izzy]

14 minutes ago, slymunn said:

 

Thanks both. I haven't bought too many houses before, but its the first time Ive had it said to me. 

There's nothing to stop you posting a note through the sellers letter box with your offer.

 

The seller might not get any more offers so they need to know about yours in case they want to come back to you at a later date when you are proceedable.

[slymunn]

15 minutes ago, Izzy said:

There's nothing to stop you posting a note through the sellers letter box with your offer.

 

The seller might not get any more offers so they need to know about yours in case they want to come back to you at a later date when you are proceedable.

I think it confused me more as they have a house they want to buy, but we have to have an accepted offer on our house before they would let our offer be accepted.

 

Just not had this before, but I haven't moved for a few years so might be might be a newer thing. I'll see what happens and if they get back to us about this.

[Izzy]

27 minutes ago, slymunn said:

I think it confused me more as they have a house they want to buy, but we have to have an accepted offer on our house before they would let our offer be accepted.

 

Just not had this before, but I haven't moved for a few years so might be might be a newer thing. I'll see what happens and if they get back to us about this.

Sounds like something the EA and seller have decided this between themselves. As stated above, the EA has to submit all offers by law unless specifically instructed otherwise by the seller in writing.

 

My Dad is downsizing and had a few viewings on his. He put in an offer of full asking price on a smaller property which has been accepted but he was up front that he hadn't sold his yet.

 

He fully undertands that if the seller gets another offer from someone who is proceedable, he'll lose out - that's the way it goes.

 

*Anyone can make offers, accept/decline, pull out, change their mind, renegociate, anthing, up until contrats are exchanged with no pentalty.

 

This isn't a new thing.

 

Edit * unless you're buying/selling in Scotland where the laws are different

 

 

 

Edited 9 February by Izzy