Six Months on

Well, as of June 4 we've now been in our new digs for six months.

Anything to report? Well, the summer's on it's way and our massive windows mean it's sometimes warm when we get home.

Apart from that not much.

The complex STILL has flats to sell. I reckon by the time they leave (and we've been told they'll be gone by end of June) they'll have been here a year! That's quite the commitment.

The flat across the hall is STILL for sale as well.

We've got a few cursory things we need fixed, but in general the place is good. The area is fantastic and now the nice weather is here, we're really able to go out and explore.

Am I glad I took the plunge? Yes. Am I 100% happy with the flat? No. I just wish it was a tad bigger or had more storage, but those are minor gripes.

I would suggest anyone get on the ladder. There's nothing more satisfying than knowing when your mortgage cheque comes out each month you own just a little more of the place!

Fantastic.

Getting stuff fixed!

Today was a bumper day at the flat.

Problems were solved, complaints were addressed and I worked from home in the morning!

Around 10.45, a bloke from Atlantic came by to sort the radiators out. Until today, I'd switch all the radiators to "night" when we went to bed and "day" when we woke up. Nightmare of manualism. Now, thanks to Atlantic bloke, everything on a timer and the settings make everything work automatically. So nice.

As I was preparing to leave for work, the Barratt handy man stopped by to sort out some other problems - constantly running toilet (ball cock stuck in the cistern), the sound of water running behind the washing machine (outtake pipe didn't have a stop cock) and leaking airvent (no solution yet).

As we're getting closer and closer to the perfect flat, it's becoming nicer and nicer to hang out at home.

Just a couple more things to sort now and we're there!

Fun Fun ... and cleaning

Was supposed to go to dinner tonight, but as it turns out, I STILL have to visit the old flat to clear things out and do some cleaning. Hoping that it won't take that long. It HAS been a decent home over the last few years, but I really wanna get out of there.

Called Barratt's today to let them know that the main toilet is flowing like a waterfall after it's flushed. That's a pain. Also, I don't actually know how to lift the lids of these dual flush cisterns. How sad am I?

We're getting there. Now we just need to off load the headboard for bed 2 and figure out the security system, especially in time for our X-Mas jaunt to Canada.

Holy Ikea-hell

Well,

We've just finished putting together our Ikea stuff and it was sooo long winded.

Three book cases, a wardrobe (that's scratching the ceiling) and a CD rack. Took about 5 hours, much tea and food and some concentration. Now, at least, we have places to put stuff like clothing, books and DVDs.

The wardrobe needs some more shelves, but that's a job for LATER!

Ikea arrived this morning about 9am, so that's quite good for a 8am - 6pm window.

Around 11ish, the bed bloke showed up, in the middle of a tour by the Barratt's girl about where fuses are and how things work. That was a tad annoying. On top of that, he didn't take the head board as he's only got a dinky little car, so that's still sitting (quite heavily) in the hall way. Just wanna get rid of the damn thing!

All in all though, we had quite a productive day, and much thanks was steeped on Paul who helped immensely with the Ikea construction.

Sold the bed!

Well, we shifted the second bed for £120. It was advertised for £150, but someone of the pursuation that always haggles and barters talked us into £120 (actually, started there expecting us to go higher, but Sue jumped in with "if it's in cash, we'll take it").

He's coming to get the bits tomorrow. He was supposed to come this morning to see it, but as we cocked up the Ikea thing, we were still shopping at 1.30pm when he was supposed to come round.

Well that sucked

Just got off the phone with Barratt's. Seems that when they sent someone in to fix the hob yesterday, they locked the top lock on the door on their way out. Only problem is, we don't have a key for that lock.

Coming home at 12.30am from a wonderful evening of Patrick Stewart, the only thing I wanted was my bed. I was denied entry to the flat entirely.

We took a black cab back to Streatham (thank goodness I still had that place) and got a receipt.

Calling Barratt's today, they apologized profusely and asked me to give them the receipt and they'd take care of it. They also asked if I had received the other outstanding monies owed, which I hadn't.

Of course, this puts a kaybosh on our plans this morning - mainly getting to Ikea to buy the furniture first thing and get a delivery date today. Paul is coming to pick us up and we're going to Ikea with him. However, he won't be here until about 11.30.

Oh well.

All these useless things

Ha ha ha.

There's just a few things wrong with the new flat, but the Barratt's girl said we'd find as much (15-20 things in her estimation).

Latest thing? The hob in the kitchen doesn't work. Having shopped at Tesco's last night for dinner, we were left with having cereal and bags of crisps as we couldn't actually cook the stir fry we'd bought.

Having said that, the previous "biggy" was the washing machine didn't turn on. Having called the site office to let them know, we came home to a wonderful working unit. Thus, I have a lot of faith that we can be hobbing along this evening.

Still a few other things outstanding but nothing big.

Sunday Sunday is here again!

Left mum and dad and Ben in Streatham last night to spend my first night in Wallington.

Waking up Sunday morning, the ONLY thing I wanted to do was explore my new town, but as the flat was a boxed up hell-hole, I knew that would have to wait.

We unpacked a few things, and then headed off to the charity shops to see if they'd take our crap. They must have seen us coming, as they were closed.

NO fear, we headed off to Ikea to get some book cases, chest of drawers, etc. The only thing we ended up getting was lunch! I also got my Ikea store card, so I feel like a real home owner now. It also entitles me to free tea and/or coffee for life, which I heartily took them up on.

Went to B&Q afterwards and bought a faux X-Mas tree! Too cool.

Also went to MFI and saw an awesome rotating wardrobe which was soooo expensive, it wasn't funny, but very very nice!

This eve we put the tree up and sorted the surround sound out, just in time for West Wing at 8pm!

We also met a neighbour. He completed in June and still hasn't moved in. I guess the few things we've found wrong with our flat are rather overshadowed by his concerns. Yikes!

Moving on in!

Well, today was moving day and it went ok... with a few problems at first.

The biggest problem was the van we rented wasn't anywhere near appropriate for the task at hand. It was a smallish transit van that had been modified. Behind the driver, instead of a sizeable cabin, there was now three seats bolted in. Behind that, there was a plywood divide meaning that nothing big could be transported (or purchased from Ikea!)

We also hadn't finished packing by this morning, which meant that while we were packing the stuff that had been packed, we were also simulatenously packing other stuff. Thankfully, there was a few of us, as two cousins arrived to help, mum and dad were here, Sue and her mate John. Paul arrived about 4.30 to enjoy the beer and pizza I picked up for everyone.

The best thing about today was seeing that everything DID fit into the flat and we probably won't have to fork out £50 a month on storage!

Another bummer was that the Barratt girl was off ill, so I couldn't get the tour of the flat, my key back, air my complains or get my deposit cheque. Oh well, sometime this week I guess.

Moving in has begun

Took a load of stuff that was already in boxes down to the flat today.

Doesn't seem to have made a dent on what we still have to pack or take down, but it's a start.

When we got there, I obviously had to collect the keys and such and it was the first time I'd been in the flat when it was ready to go. The hole in the wall was gone, doors were all put in and it all looked good.

Awaiting us was a welcome pack from Barratt's including some tea, instant coffee, biscuits and a bottle of Moet & Chandon champers. Not bad at all!

Move the boxes in with mum, dad, ben and sue then enjoyed a bottle of champers that we brought with us (the Moet wasn't chilled yet). Everyone was suitably impressed that I'd made a wise investment. Here's hoping it all works out.

There's a few problems with the place and the Barratt's girl said to expect about 10-15 things that we'll notice over the course of the first month or so. Will endeavour to write them down so as not to forget.

We are aiming to get most of the other stuff in the flat moved in next Saturday.

That's all she wrote

Well, I've just received a call from my solicitor to congratulate me on finishing everything up.

All that remains is for me to collect the keys tomorrow. I am now a homeowner (again!)

Of course, the pain is only beginning as the fun of mail redirects, packing, moving and sorting out all the bills, utilities, etc. is just beginning. Watch this space as I begin to pull my hair out in frustration!

Completion

Apparently means completion!

When I complete the flat tomorrow, I get the keys and am the legal owner of a brand new flat!

There was a bit of worry that completion meant the completion of everything but a couple of weeks of paperwork. Not true!

All that's left is to transfer the money from my account to the solicitor's account (incurring a £21 telegraphic transfer fee, of course) sign some papers at the solicitor's (doing that this evening) and sit back and wait for the all clear.

Watch this site!

Barratt's call ... take 2

Just received a call from the Barratt's site asking where we were with everything.

Looks like I may be able to get the keys tomorrow or Saturday!

Only problem is, the furniture needs to be put back in and the curtains rehung. This will probably happen on Monday now, but most of the furniture should be in the place over the weekend.

All good news.

I can't believe it's almost happening!

Need Money!

So, if i complete the flat by Friday I now get £250 from Barratt's plus a whole extra weekend to move stuff. Problem is, I'm about £2500 short.

If time was of no problem, I could use my credit card which has a higher credit limit than most people's annual income. Downside? It takes 7 - 10 working days for the money to get transferred.

Other option? Cash advance. Again, there's a downside - you can only take out £250 per day. At that rate it would take 10 days to get the amount I need.

My solution has been to call my bank and raise my overdraft limit. It sat at £250 and had never been touched until this month (never buy a flat then go on holiday in the same month!). I felt rather cheeky asking it to be raised to £3000, but alas it has been done and I now have access to the £20,333.59 I need to move in.

It cost me £45 to sort the overdraft, but the solicitor managed to get me an extra £50 anyway, so again I'm even Steven!

Mixed Blessing

Got a call from the solicitor today.

Apparently Barretts are keen to have everyone complete by this Friday. To aid in this, they're willing to give me £200 to help spur on any problems with notice periods and the like.

This is all good, except my ISA money hasn't appeared in my account yet. I've been told to expect it five working days after the application of withdrawl, which was Monday.

Like everything else with this flat, luck comes quite backhandedly at times. Offering money to complete early, thus getting in this weekend and being able to move in piecemeal is quite attractive, but if I don't have the funds I'm scoobied.

Will have to look into cash advances on my credit card methinks.

Ten Days

Just got back from the solicitors and it seems that now I've signed the mortgage deed and handed it in, it's going to take ten working days to complete. At that point, I should have the keys and a whole new flat!

I was originally told it would be this Friday if I was lucky, but with this house, luck has been a mixed blessing.

Of course, I now have to get off my ass and cash in my ISAs from L & G. There's always something else to do.

Signing of document held off

Well, the solicitor called and it seems that I will have to sign a Mortgage Deed whenever Halifax decide to offer it.

As I am out of country for the next 13 days, this pushes the completion and moving in dates back even further.

Having discussed this with the solicitor, she gave me ball park dates of 10 days after signing to move in... maybe.

So, still have to let everyone know, and I MAY be able to move in before the end of November (as ten days from signing will be the 28th).

This holiday was rather ill-timed, all things considered.

Monday now!

Well, Halifax are still humming and hawing, so there's going to be no decision until Monday. For those following the plot, I will be in Oz on Monday, so this works well... not!

As the time change means we (the mortgage people and I) will never be awake at the same time, I will have to conduct business over the next little while via email, which isn't going to be fun.

As Sue's folks don't have internet access at the moment, it will be imperative that I haul ass to various internet cafes across Australia making sure all this purchasing malarky goes ahead.

Now I'm waiting to hear from my solicitor so I can let them know I'll be on hols from this evening. Problem is, my actual solicitor isn't available today. Hurrah!

A nice exterior shot of the flat

Here we are - a nice external shot of the flat. All airy and windowy and stuff. Cool, huh? 

Home stretch... maybe?

Had the mortgage people on the phone today, just trying to nail down the monies - how much I wanted to borrow, how much I had as a deposit and how much Barratts are putting up. As Halifax will only lend 75%, it looks like I will have to dip into my ISAs now to make up the £20,000 I need. Halifax originally said they'd lend me £155,000, but it's now going to be £150,000 which I guess is good, that's £10,000 worth of interest less.

Now that they have all that info, I have to wait until tomorrow morning, when it should be all good news.

Fingers definitely crossed!