Hello viewers!
What a stressful time I've had recently - hence, no blog posts for weeks. Whoops! I do apologise, this was not because I have been ignoring my wonderful readers, it's because things have been slightly hectic this week.
The reason for this?
I moved house last week! Hurrah!
Me and my boyfriend, Rob, bought a house and got the keys last Tuesday. Needless to say, since then things have been rather busy and I have not had much time to blog. Boohoo.
However, I am back...hopefully with a vengence.
Also, prior to moving house, I had some assignments due in for Uni so those cheeky little characters took up a lot of my time.
Prepare yourselves for mass blogging as I tell you about the things I have been up to...
Showing posts with label House Hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label House Hunting. Show all posts
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
House Hunting - Part 5
Well, today, me, my Mom, my Dad, Rob, his Mom, and his Dad all went en masse to have a second viewing of one of the houses we saw last week.
I was quite nervous as I thought that perhaps Rob and I would not like the house as much as we did the last time we saw it.
And you know what?
We loved it even more.
We could both see the potential of the house for our future and just generally see ourselves living there. Our 'rents liked it too and were really surprised with how nice it was as the pictures provided to the Estate Agents just do not do the house justice.
Obviously we are still thinking about things but...
Watch this space...
I don't want to pin all of my hopes on it just yet as I don't want to jinx anything.
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
I was quite nervous as I thought that perhaps Rob and I would not like the house as much as we did the last time we saw it.
And you know what?
We loved it even more.
We could both see the potential of the house for our future and just generally see ourselves living there. Our 'rents liked it too and were really surprised with how nice it was as the pictures provided to the Estate Agents just do not do the house justice.
Obviously we are still thinking about things but...
Watch this space...
I don't want to pin all of my hopes on it just yet as I don't want to jinx anything.
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
Monday, 23 May 2011
House Hunting - Part 4
Big day on Saturday. Rob and I viewed five, yes five, houses. It was quite the marathon.
Let me start from the beginning...
House 1 was like a TARDIS. It appeared so small on the outside but it actually turned out to be rather spacious on the inside.
The owner was lovely - she was the first to offer us a drink. She showed us round each room and offered such lovely stories about her time living there. It seemed homely.
The only thing we were unsure of was the area. It seemed OK but it's not somewhere that we're too familiar with. We would have to investigate...
House 2 was beautiful. It was an end terrace and had been designed wonderfully from the outside. The inside was just as inviting. It was the first house that Rob and I could see ourselves living in.
The decor was done very well. So much so that we would not immediately need to decorate it to our taste. There was a conservatory too. It was truly lovely. I had noticed that the living room possibly only had enough space for one sofa though. A little concerning if we were to have guests but I'm sure we could work around it...
The kitchen offered much space and had been designed very carefully. We couldn't fault it. We went upstairs and each bedroom (three in total) looked spacious and cosy at the same time.
I had been won over. Rob, on the other hand, was not as convinced. He really liked the house too, but there was a park on the opposite side of the road that led him, and ultimately myself, to believe there could be trouble.
A reasonable concern.
House 3 - I fell in love immediately. Everything from the outside to the interior design and decor allowed me to picture myself and Rob living there. We went from the living room to the diner to the kitchen to the garden. Everything seemed perfect.
I was gushing over each and every thing in the house. I didn't even know I could gush!
We went upstairs. The bathroom and smallest room were not of a huge size but there was certainly airspace above the kitchen for an extension to be put into place in the future.
The future - I was considering my future in this house. Surely that was a sign?
I'm pretty sure I had that feeling. I was very, VERY, excited about that house.
Rob, however, is far less irrational than me. I would have put an offer in for that house there and then, but Rob is sensible and considers everything carefully before rushing in. The house was located in the same area as the first house so we need to investigate a little further before committing to buy.
House 4 was strange to view. It was the first house we viewed that was empty. It seemed very nice, and was strange to picture where our furniture would go without having anything else in front of you.
It's strange as you would have thought it would be the other way round.
As nice and spacious this house was, it did not offer the same excitement as the previous two houses. We also noticed a number of youths arrive next door leading us to believe that perhaps they could be trouble.
It was slightly off-putting.
Finally, House 5 was also quite nice. The garden was HUGE.
However, it did appear much smaller on the inside than it did on the outside. It was the opposite of the TARDIS.
It was a shame really as we knew that area quite well. We both know that it's a nice place.
The feeling just wasn't there.
House 4 is the strongest contender at the moment. We have booked a second viewing for next Tuesday and we are taking his parents too so that we will have someone else's perspective.
Also, MommaBear is coming with me tomorrow to see what the area is like when the kids come out of school.
I shall keep you posted of this potential dream house...
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
Let me start from the beginning...
House 1 was like a TARDIS. It appeared so small on the outside but it actually turned out to be rather spacious on the inside.
The owner was lovely - she was the first to offer us a drink. She showed us round each room and offered such lovely stories about her time living there. It seemed homely.
The only thing we were unsure of was the area. It seemed OK but it's not somewhere that we're too familiar with. We would have to investigate...
House 2 was beautiful. It was an end terrace and had been designed wonderfully from the outside. The inside was just as inviting. It was the first house that Rob and I could see ourselves living in.
The decor was done very well. So much so that we would not immediately need to decorate it to our taste. There was a conservatory too. It was truly lovely. I had noticed that the living room possibly only had enough space for one sofa though. A little concerning if we were to have guests but I'm sure we could work around it...
The kitchen offered much space and had been designed very carefully. We couldn't fault it. We went upstairs and each bedroom (three in total) looked spacious and cosy at the same time.
I had been won over. Rob, on the other hand, was not as convinced. He really liked the house too, but there was a park on the opposite side of the road that led him, and ultimately myself, to believe there could be trouble.
A reasonable concern.
House 3 - I fell in love immediately. Everything from the outside to the interior design and decor allowed me to picture myself and Rob living there. We went from the living room to the diner to the kitchen to the garden. Everything seemed perfect.
I was gushing over each and every thing in the house. I didn't even know I could gush!
We went upstairs. The bathroom and smallest room were not of a huge size but there was certainly airspace above the kitchen for an extension to be put into place in the future.
The future - I was considering my future in this house. Surely that was a sign?
I'm pretty sure I had that feeling. I was very, VERY, excited about that house.
Rob, however, is far less irrational than me. I would have put an offer in for that house there and then, but Rob is sensible and considers everything carefully before rushing in. The house was located in the same area as the first house so we need to investigate a little further before committing to buy.
House 4 was strange to view. It was the first house we viewed that was empty. It seemed very nice, and was strange to picture where our furniture would go without having anything else in front of you.
It's strange as you would have thought it would be the other way round.
As nice and spacious this house was, it did not offer the same excitement as the previous two houses. We also noticed a number of youths arrive next door leading us to believe that perhaps they could be trouble.
It was slightly off-putting.
Finally, House 5 was also quite nice. The garden was HUGE.
However, it did appear much smaller on the inside than it did on the outside. It was the opposite of the TARDIS.
It was a shame really as we knew that area quite well. We both know that it's a nice place.
The feeling just wasn't there.
House 4 is the strongest contender at the moment. We have booked a second viewing for next Tuesday and we are taking his parents too so that we will have someone else's perspective.
Also, MommaBear is coming with me tomorrow to see what the area is like when the kids come out of school.
I shall keep you posted of this potential dream house...
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
House Hunting - Part 3
A lovely house was viewed on Friday evening.
It was situated locally to where we live now and was also close to our friends.
The house itself was lovely. It certainly seemed cosy and had a beautiful long garden.
The only problem seemed to be that it was a two bedroom house. It was priced too expensive for a two bedroom and it also showed us that we would indeed need that third room for our future...
It was a very lovely house but it just wasn't for us. We still haven't had that feeling that people keep telling us about...
It was situated locally to where we live now and was also close to our friends.
The house itself was lovely. It certainly seemed cosy and had a beautiful long garden.
The only problem seemed to be that it was a two bedroom house. It was priced too expensive for a two bedroom and it also showed us that we would indeed need that third room for our future...
It was a very lovely house but it just wasn't for us. We still haven't had that feeling that people keep telling us about...
Thursday, 19 May 2011
House Hunting - Viewings
I think I am spending more time talking to the Estate Agents than Rob at the moment.
However, this is just an update (and a warning for the length of my next HH blog) to say that I have about five or six houses to view on Saturday. Phew! It's tiring me out just thinking about it.
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
However, this is just an update (and a warning for the length of my next HH blog) to say that I have about five or six houses to view on Saturday. Phew! It's tiring me out just thinking about it.
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
House Hunting
And so it begins, the next step of my journey into adulthood. The plans of living with a boy are becoming more and more real as the viewings of our potential first house loom ever closer.
Until now I had not really thought about actually moving out from the humble support of the 'rents. Now that a viewing is booked I am faced with the realism of it all. I'll have to cook for myself, wash my own clothes, and even tidy up after myself.
*shock*horror*
This Saturday, Rob and I will go and see, not one but, two houses. Rob seems to have built up a great rapport with the Estate Agent, with emails being fluently batted back and forth throughout the day. As first time buyers we knew that the EAs would either love us or hate us in the modern climate that is the recession.
I shall keep you posted as to how we get on. Part of me is hoping that we fall in love with the first house we see and we live happily ever after. The other part? Well, that part is just scared that we will hate each and every one of the houses we see and we'll be forced to grow old with the 'rents.
We are also currently faced with the frustration of finding lovely looking houses that are in our price range, then when we request the deets from the EAs, we are informed that they have already been sold. Grr! Very disheartening.
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
Until now I had not really thought about actually moving out from the humble support of the 'rents. Now that a viewing is booked I am faced with the realism of it all. I'll have to cook for myself, wash my own clothes, and even tidy up after myself.
*shock*horror*
This Saturday, Rob and I will go and see, not one but, two houses. Rob seems to have built up a great rapport with the Estate Agent, with emails being fluently batted back and forth throughout the day. As first time buyers we knew that the EAs would either love us or hate us in the modern climate that is the recession.
I shall keep you posted as to how we get on. Part of me is hoping that we fall in love with the first house we see and we live happily ever after. The other part? Well, that part is just scared that we will hate each and every one of the houses we see and we'll be forced to grow old with the 'rents.
We are also currently faced with the frustration of finding lovely looking houses that are in our price range, then when we request the deets from the EAs, we are informed that they have already been sold. Grr! Very disheartening.
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
House Hunting - Part 2
We viewed another house last night.
It did not fill me with joyous excitement.
It did, in fact, leave me frustrated and disheartened...
It was a lovely spacious house in a very well-respected area. It was slightly over our budget and required quite a bit of work. Rob seemed keen and looked to the future, surmising that it is a house we would not rush to leave.
It was previously owned by an old lady and, although I agreed with Rob, it meant that we would have to live in that old lady's house until we could afford to decorate it so that it became our house.
I understand that a lick of paint amongst the walls would indeed change its appearance instantly, but we would not be able to replace the carpets so speedily.
Personally, I think they were asking for a higher price than it was worth and we would have primarily been paying for the area rather than the house itself.
Needless to say, the search continues...
P.s. Luckily, no creepy owners to show us round!
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
It did not fill me with joyous excitement.
It did, in fact, leave me frustrated and disheartened...
It was a lovely spacious house in a very well-respected area. It was slightly over our budget and required quite a bit of work. Rob seemed keen and looked to the future, surmising that it is a house we would not rush to leave.
It was previously owned by an old lady and, although I agreed with Rob, it meant that we would have to live in that old lady's house until we could afford to decorate it so that it became our house.
I understand that a lick of paint amongst the walls would indeed change its appearance instantly, but we would not be able to replace the carpets so speedily.
Personally, I think they were asking for a higher price than it was worth and we would have primarily been paying for the area rather than the house itself.
Needless to say, the search continues...
P.s. Luckily, no creepy owners to show us round!
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
House Hunting - Part 1
So, Saturday kicked off with a house viewing at 10:00am. It was a nice house in a nice area but we noticed that it needed a lot of work done. Even the Estate Agent was pointing out what he would do to the house. Slightly off-putting... If he's not enthusiastic about the house then we certainly won't be.
We were also under the impression that there was a canal at the back of the house. A lovely notion that made the house seem very pleasant. However, there was no canal, so we just had a house that needed lots of work. Not a great start but things can only get better...right?
Our next viewing was not until 1:00pm so we went back to mine for some breakfast. The post arrived and I was greeted with some property information. We sifted through them and spotted our 1:00pm house in the pile. We both just looked at each other. We didn't like the look of it at all. Was it too late to cancel the viewing? It was 11:15am. I didn't have the heart to call them. Instead, I phoned the Estate Agent and enquired about two of the other houses from the pile.
Next thing I know, we're making our way to one of the houses with a viewing at 12:00pm, followed by another at 12:30pm. It was all happening so fast.
This house would be shown to us by the owner's daughter. We were a little apprehensive about not being shown round the house by the EA. At least we could be brutally honest with them.
We rang the doorbell, our hearts beating ten to the dozen. A lady opened the door and invited us in. She showed us each room with such consideration, offering an insight into the previous owner's care for the house. It was a lovely house, and a lovely owner. The garden was striking too. Very spacious. I could vividly picture the BBQ parties we could have there.
Upstairs was possibly the downfall of the house. Don't get me wrong, it was in lovely condition and we could certainly picture ourselves living there. We just found the rooms to be slightly smaller than we would perhaps have liked them to be.
However, it's not ruled out just yet and it is certainly a strong contender...
At 12:30pm, we moved on to the next house. From the outside it looked huge. We were very excited about looking inside.
We rang the doorbell and a gentleman opened the door. "Hello!" I beamed. He walked away and left the door open. He'd gone into the kitchen. What do we do? We entered the house and stood in the hallway. His wife came out to us and stared at us as if we were unwelcome aliens. It was very awkward.
We said that we'd come to view the house. She just shrugged her shoulders at us, pointed to the door on our right and said "well there's the living room".
Were we supposed to show ourselves round? Is that what usually happens at viewings? Was our first viewing just a very fortunate one with the friendly owner?
Luckily, the woman showed us the rest of the house. There was not much conversation between us and I had to avoid any eye-contact with Rob in case I got a mad case of the giggles. An act that could have led us to never leaving that house again...
Now, I know I was slightly put off by the EA from the first house telling us of the amendments he would make to the house, but this woman actually told us that she hated the house. It didn't fill us with much confidence, even if it was a beautiful house.
When Rob and I finally escaped we were filled with a great sense of relief and deflation. Perhaps we had just struck lucky with the friendly owner at our second house. Now, at 1:00pm, we had to go and view the house that we didn't want to view anymore.
We pulled up a few yards away from the house. It was clear that Rob didn't want to go in. It was only when I pointed out that it would take just 30 mins from our lives to view it, then we could leave and forget all about it.
Walking up the driveway, the owner came out to greet us. Very promising. She took us through to the kitchen and detailed everything that was necessary. The owner was very enthusiastic and even interested in us too. Faith had been restored.
When Rob and I had a little wander round the house by ourselves we felt very comfortable with the house and could picture ourselves living there. There would indeed need to be a lot of work done to make it our own but it had so much potential and it was the first house that we felt very enthusiastic, and excited, about.
We didn't want to leave it!
We have more houses to view this week and we're still not sure we've found our perfect house yet. I'll certainly keep you updated.
Many people have told us about the "feeling" you get when you find your perfect house. I'm not sure if we've felt that yet but I definitely think we will. If we were excited about a house that is not the perfect one, I'm sure we will know when it is...
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
We were also under the impression that there was a canal at the back of the house. A lovely notion that made the house seem very pleasant. However, there was no canal, so we just had a house that needed lots of work. Not a great start but things can only get better...right?
Our next viewing was not until 1:00pm so we went back to mine for some breakfast. The post arrived and I was greeted with some property information. We sifted through them and spotted our 1:00pm house in the pile. We both just looked at each other. We didn't like the look of it at all. Was it too late to cancel the viewing? It was 11:15am. I didn't have the heart to call them. Instead, I phoned the Estate Agent and enquired about two of the other houses from the pile.
Next thing I know, we're making our way to one of the houses with a viewing at 12:00pm, followed by another at 12:30pm. It was all happening so fast.
This house would be shown to us by the owner's daughter. We were a little apprehensive about not being shown round the house by the EA. At least we could be brutally honest with them.
We rang the doorbell, our hearts beating ten to the dozen. A lady opened the door and invited us in. She showed us each room with such consideration, offering an insight into the previous owner's care for the house. It was a lovely house, and a lovely owner. The garden was striking too. Very spacious. I could vividly picture the BBQ parties we could have there.
Upstairs was possibly the downfall of the house. Don't get me wrong, it was in lovely condition and we could certainly picture ourselves living there. We just found the rooms to be slightly smaller than we would perhaps have liked them to be.
However, it's not ruled out just yet and it is certainly a strong contender...
At 12:30pm, we moved on to the next house. From the outside it looked huge. We were very excited about looking inside.
We rang the doorbell and a gentleman opened the door. "Hello!" I beamed. He walked away and left the door open. He'd gone into the kitchen. What do we do? We entered the house and stood in the hallway. His wife came out to us and stared at us as if we were unwelcome aliens. It was very awkward.
We said that we'd come to view the house. She just shrugged her shoulders at us, pointed to the door on our right and said "well there's the living room".
Were we supposed to show ourselves round? Is that what usually happens at viewings? Was our first viewing just a very fortunate one with the friendly owner?
Luckily, the woman showed us the rest of the house. There was not much conversation between us and I had to avoid any eye-contact with Rob in case I got a mad case of the giggles. An act that could have led us to never leaving that house again...
Now, I know I was slightly put off by the EA from the first house telling us of the amendments he would make to the house, but this woman actually told us that she hated the house. It didn't fill us with much confidence, even if it was a beautiful house.
When Rob and I finally escaped we were filled with a great sense of relief and deflation. Perhaps we had just struck lucky with the friendly owner at our second house. Now, at 1:00pm, we had to go and view the house that we didn't want to view anymore.
We pulled up a few yards away from the house. It was clear that Rob didn't want to go in. It was only when I pointed out that it would take just 30 mins from our lives to view it, then we could leave and forget all about it.
Walking up the driveway, the owner came out to greet us. Very promising. She took us through to the kitchen and detailed everything that was necessary. The owner was very enthusiastic and even interested in us too. Faith had been restored.
When Rob and I had a little wander round the house by ourselves we felt very comfortable with the house and could picture ourselves living there. There would indeed need to be a lot of work done to make it our own but it had so much potential and it was the first house that we felt very enthusiastic, and excited, about.
We didn't want to leave it!
We have more houses to view this week and we're still not sure we've found our perfect house yet. I'll certainly keep you updated.
Many people have told us about the "feeling" you get when you find your perfect house. I'm not sure if we've felt that yet but I definitely think we will. If we were excited about a house that is not the perfect one, I'm sure we will know when it is...
- Loulabella posting from her iPhone
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