Retiring to listed Terraced House.

[a twig]

Team two dishwashers here as well, have been since 2014, best decision ever!

My inner Luddite has always prevented me from trusting the controls on humidity controlled fans but I’ve always installed proper vented extraction (on its own switch) in kitchens, utilities and bathrooms. Makes a big difference. Also use a vented tumble dryer rather than condensing - cheaper, more reliable and doesn’t make your house damp

 

[Richeee]

Supposedly the moisture admitted when hot plates are drying.

 

[Cubist]

Only one dishwasher allowed here but the First Lady has suggested a second on more than one occasion. So far we haven't managed to break the deadlock over respective preferred gender.

 

[Richeee]

Been a bit of traumatic 2 weeks as buyer pulled out over a right of way issue. Even though they were told from day 1. Then at 11th hour got cold feet. So put the dampners on my purchase. But the buyers are back in. ( With a financial inducement in case they have to incurr legal fees later ) and all good again.

I sold a buy to let once and it took 6 months to sell to a cash buyer. The online solicitors insisting on a gas cert for an all electric flat. Their 'dash board' just kept asking even though i repeatly explained.

This is the first time i have actually sold my main house. Lived with my parents till got married as we used to, then lived here ever since till she unfortunately died and im retiring early. Added complications because under 'survivorship' was advised did not need probate on my dearly beloved, and also not selling all land I own on ex family small holding.

Coming to the opinion that our conveyance system in England could do with a drastic revision.

Anyway moan over and looking forward to my new 'delayed' project.

 

[paulc]

Might well be removing the tank fed water system anyway. Installing a combi boiler and bypassing out the water storage tank.

Do have a look at a heat pump. With a £7500 grant available, you may find that someone like Octopus is cheaper than some of the gas options. They quoted me earlier in the year and were only £200 or so more than a gas combi. The only complication is the need to apply for listed building consent. Even if you don't go for the heat pump option, it is well worth fitting larger radiators all round along with smart controls. This would enable you to run at a lower flow temperature (higher efficiency) and set different temperatures throughout the day.

 

[Flyfisher]

Do have a look at a heat pump. With a £7500 grant available, you may find that someone like Octopus is cheaper than some of the gas options. They quoted me earlier in the year and were only £200 or so more than a gas combi.

I considered a heat pump around 15 years ago but then discovered I could connect to mains gas for £300. I may be out of date with current prices but my gas price is about 6p/kWh and my electricity price is about 26p/kWh, so that makes electricity nearly 4.5x the cost of gas and an air source heat pump is around 300% efficient so the primary heat source is going to be more expensive and that's before all the lower temperature issues requiring the replacement of radiators for larger ones.

I don't know the current LPG gas prices, so perhaps the numbers would favour a heat pump.

I've nothing against heat pumps and guess they could be ideal in a new build with underfloor heating, good insulation and perhaps some solar PV, but retrofitting to a draughty period property is, I think, likely to be problematic.

 

[paulc]

I considered a heat pump around 15 years ago but then discovered I could connect to mains gas for £300. I may be out of date with current prices but my gas price is about 6p/kWh and my electricity price is about 26p/kWh, so that makes electricity nearly 4.5x the cost of gas and an air source heat pump is around 300% efficient so the primary heat source is going to be more expensive and that's before all the lower temperature issues requiring the replacement of radiators for larger ones.

If you are basing your running costs on electricity at full price, you are not far off the mark. That said, as outside air temperature increases, so does the efficiency of an ASHP. On all but the coldest of days, 400% efficiency (or higher) is achievable with a properly specified & set up system. And once you have a heat pump, it makes sense to go on a different tariff (for example, Octopus Cosy where there are slots at 12.65p throughout the day).
The technology is improving all the time, and combined with smarter tariffs, running costs are coming down compared to traditional heating systems. There will come a time when we don't have an option but to use electricity. And yes, having to use massive radiators will be an issue until such time as there are efficient high temperature heat pumps.

 

[Richeee]

Thanks everyone for your advice regarding heat pumps.
I have for all my life had to use coal electricity and oil. Oil is very expensive . Oil and leccy costs me about £3,200 a year. Yep a lot. I like a warm house. 21.c & heat every room even though only me. Presently got a large 4 bed house with every room having 2 external walls as house is on a double dog leg.

Looking forward to the cheapness of gas, and proved reliability. Then.i can truelly say ' Cookin on gas'
Fear that in an older building will need quite a bit of energy and that the house supply wont be man enough. And will need the available electricity for the garage. 16amp compressor, welder car lift etc. And perhaps car charger.
Theres also the noise problem in a terrace house.
I will investigate heat pumps and give them due consideration.

But dont want to have a beta max in a vhs world.

 

[Richeee]

Finally exchanged yesterday. Lots of heart ache getting to this point. Not helped by property not being registered and a collection of old deeds over several years. Also my buyer dropped out then two weeks later decided he wanted to proceed but at a lower price. €#%#%>/%.
But all good now.
Insurance was arranged via the meerkat and Admiral. Even allowing for the fact its in a zone 3 risk area with boats outside the door on the street in year 2000 it was not that bad price wise considering. Using the govt's Re scheme.
Rebuild value came courtesy of my surveyor who i had just paid for a listed building survey.
Off on holibobs next week on an over 50's solo river cruise, then 2 weeks later mad panic of completing and moving.
Trying to compact 5 sheds, 3 garages 4 bed with 4 reception rooms down to fit into my cottage is taking some doing. Especially as a bit of a hoarder of tools and car bits. My hired lock up is bursting. Been to the tip so many times that im on first name terms and they are thinking of inviting me to their christmas party.
The daughter and son in law cleared the house roof for me yesterday. Including such things as late wifes wedding dress and accessories. What do i do with them. Gave the box to the daughter, saying 'I have passed it on but if you dont want it you can chuck'. But at least i have passed on. Conscience clear.(at least in my mind)

That is a road by the way.

Better stop rambling and sort those boxs that came from.the roof yesterday.

When i move in i will start a new thread in the project section or if admin could move this thread across. Thanks all.

 

[mardinor]

Congratulations!

Building an Ark is a wonderful retirement hobby. Just saying.

 

[Richeee]

The old couple in my house were the only ones not to move out in 2000.

Being a decorator he repainted everything including kitchen cupboards. In the previous flood a few years before he had the carpet tiles ripped up and quarry tiles put down. Different breed then. He just swept the water out and carried on.

 

[Cubist]

Your photos above brought to mind, along with a shudder, a near escape.

The First Lady and I once went to view a lovely old cottage sitting in an acre of land with its own small barn and wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. Having done so and being suitably impressed we adjourned to a local hostelry four hundred metres away - another tick in the box for 'Good Pub in Walking Distance' - to compare notes and decide whether to make an offer. After collecting a couple of pints of the local most excellent jollup, I sat down to join the other half and took a look around at the decor. The First Lady was a trifle surprised and alarmed when my first words to her, after choking back a hearty splutter, were "Nope! We're not making an offer under any circumstances whatsoever".

Her obvious consternation, and small amount of anger, were only assuaged when I drew her attention to the marker on the wall behind her head which proudly indicated - The Height of the Flood Waters resulting from the last time the Severn, just outside, had burst it banks.

 

[Lacan07]

Finally exchanged yesterday. Lots of heart ache getting to this point. Not helped by property not being registered and a collection of old deeds over several years. Also my buyer dropped out then two weeks later decided he wanted to proceed but at a lower price. €#%#%>/%.
But all good now.
Insurance was arranged via the meerkat and Admiral. Even allowing for the fact its in a zone 3 risk area with boats outside the door on the street in year 2000 it was not that bad price wise considering. Using the govt's Re scheme.
Rebuild value came courtesy of my surveyor who i had just paid for a listed building survey.
Off on holibobs next week on an over 50's solo river cruise, then 2 weeks later mad panic of completing and moving.
Trying to compact 5 sheds, 3 garages 4 bed with 4 reception rooms down to fit into my cottage is taking some doing. Especially as a bit of a hoarder of tools and car bits. My hired lock up is bursting. Been to the tip so many times that im on first name terms and they are thinking of inviting me to their christmas party.
The daughter and son in law cleared the house roof for me yesterday. Including such things as late wifes wedding dress and accessories. What do i do with them. Gave the box to the daughter, saying 'I have passed it on but if you dont want it you can chuck'. But at least i have passed on. Conscience clear.(at least in my mind)
View attachment 14778
That is a road by the way.

Better stop rambling and sort those boxs that came from.the roof yesterday.

When i move in i will start a new thread in the project section or if admin could move this thread across. Thanks all.

Nice one, I wish you all he luck in the world and knowing the weather in this country at the moment your gonna need it.

 

[Richeee]

Thank you.

Presently sat in a cafe in Salamanca. Enjoying a few days before 2 mad weeks before completion.
That is when the real fun begins.

 

[Richeee]

Getting excited for move. 11 days.

Problem. 1. My 300 year old grandfather clock wont fit. Might have to do a little excavating in conc floor to get it in. Long term may have to go into new extension. With ffl to ceiling level of....... 'to fit the bl%@£y clock' on the drawings.

Problem 2. Openreach now fufilling fibre orders only. They wont connect copper. My new place currently has overhead copper. Fortunately the new fibre will also be overhead. So they will remove the copper overhead and replace with fibre. It may mean router is upstairs. Hopefully fulfilling like for like replacement. Just hoping not looking to bad. As the UN said. Internet data is a human right.
The thing is at present i get 7mbs. Will when i move get 425. What do i do with spare 418mbs.

 

[a twig]

My grandfather’s clock was too tall for the shelf so it stood 90 years on the floor… etc etc

 

[Richeee]

Right. Im in. Just. This Friday.






Welcome to the land of magnolia and sooty smoke on walls.

First pression after 24 hours was that I was selling up and moving to a hotel. So over whelming.

Seriously not to damp and salts to chimneys etc dont look to bad.

Owned by same couple since 67. Last major work was double height extension in 77 and repairs after last floods in 2000. So tired and daunting renovations required.

Question.
Need to splash some paint everwhere quite quickly to brighten up. As i said walls and plaster not bad.
Sure its had ordinary emulsion over the years but dont want to keep adding emulsion to the original lime plaster areas. Dont want to add another coat of impermeable paint. (Will be testing with vinegar over the next few days to see it is lime above about 1 meter.)

What white paint thats breathable and cheap that i can apply. ? Just need to brighten up after scrubbing the open fire soot of walls. Before renovations and conversations with consultants and officers commence.

 

[Cubist]

My opinion..... Sod it. Get the bags unpacked, empty the boxes and find a home for your stuff, put your feet up, open a bottle of wine and get yourself ready for the holiday. When you've taken a little time to breathe, relax and have welcomed the New Year maybe then you can have a stroll through a colour chart or two.

 

[Stevers]

Wellcome to your new home!
Contract matt emulsion, cheap as chips, can be lightly coloured with paint dyes/pigments. Definitely on the 'breathable' end of the breathability spectrum. It comes off on a cloth when wiped - so can't be all bad. Could (I suppose) be considered a synthetic distemper, but with no subsequent paint adhesion problems.

 

[Flyfisher]

I would second the contract matt emulsion suggestion. As stated, cheap as chips and non-vinyl so far more breathable than other standard paints. Also available in magnolia if you don't fancy everything being plain white.

Having said that, I'd also second Cubist's suggestion about not rushing into things. In fact, I still have a few boxes unopened since we moved here in 2007
so I'm a definite advocate of getting to know a house before doing anything too drastic. Plus, there's the holiday season fast approaching as you ease into retirement.