Restoration Home

This was also on last night. Also not watched this yet!

Restoration Home 8:00pm-9:00pm Tue 19 Jul
Season 1 Episode 3 of 6
Stoke Caroline Quentin visits Stoke Hall in Calver, Derbyshire, the future of which has been uncertain for decades. Years of neglect have caused widespread rot throughout the property, and the 150-year-old Georgian decor is at risk of being lost for ever. However, a pair of local childhood sweethearts are convinced the mansion will make the perfect family home, and as they get to work, Caroline explores some of Stoke Hall’s connections to the highest and most influential people in the land

It’s on iplayer

Homes from Hell on ITV

Last night’s homes from hell is now available to watch.
I missed it but am going to watch it now

19th July 2011 Episode – people who bought a property on a development which is a ghost town (three out of fifty occupied, electricity from a generator), Their house is sound but the rest of the place is crumbling away already … They spent £180,000 and live there full time. 44 out of 47 are empty!
They’re not even connected to the electricity!

The TV Blurb says Featuring the family who awoke one morning to find a stream running underneath the floorboards of their Cornish cottage.

The bought the cornish one at Auction. Did they have a survey? That might not have helped as they think it’s to do with the former clay mines being filled in behind their house.

The Ianappa one – the builder offered them their money back – what more could they hope for?

Asking prices the problem

Asking prices are the problem says this Estate Agent

Nice article where he points this out:
The wrong agent is the one that suggests an unrealistic initial asking price (often to get your business) after which he will recommend price reductions.

It’s a point I agree with. Going with the estate agent that tells you your house is worth more doesn’t mean Iou’ll get that! Many people seem to think that the figure plucked fairly randomly out of the air is the price they will be guaranteed! Remember – it’s an asking price, not a written cheque!

What info to leave for the new owners?

Should you leave information for the new owners when you move out? Some people do and some don’t. A folder full of useful information would be nice about what days the bin days are, where the nearest shop is and what time it closes on a Sunday.

You could also leave local taxi numbers and Takeaway menus with recommendations! That’d be a nice touch especially as moving is so tiring.

You could also be very thorough and leave the receipts for every major purchase in the house – although you might not have kept the reciepts for the bathroom suite you had put in back in 2001.

You could if you were organised enough leave the names and brand of each paint colour used on the walls – same with wallpaper, blinds and curtains – so they could be matched although light exposed paint does change colour over time.
You should probably look out for the instruction booklets on every appliance in the house. You’ll have them in a folder somewhere tucked away. The alarm instructions are important too so they can change the code!

Some people might also leave the names and contact details of every workman that had been in the house and what work they had done so that any guarantees could be chased up – or if they wanted more work of the same quality doing they would have an idea who to contact.

If you have a chimney then leave the number of the chimney sweep and when you last had it done and when they should probably next get it done.

You could leave the numbers of any emergency plumbers you’ve used too if you recommend them! All the useful numbers you pass on to neighbours when they want work doing.
Health care – leave the local doctors and dentist addresses and numbers, as well as the nearest chemist.
You could also leave your mobile phone number so that if they have any questions you can answer them – but leaving the heating instructions is a better idea!

If you decide to leave some info then you’re probably the sort of person to leave them some flowers or a bottle of wine too! It’d be nice if everyone did this but lots of people don’t!

WICKHAMFORD – beautiful house

GRADE II LISTED MANOR HOUSEWickhamford has this beautiful house for sale at £2,750,000

You will drool over this historic building. It’s beautifully half timbered and so pretty!

Reception hall, drawing room, dining room, library, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, secondary kitchen, cloakroom, utility room, larder, study, butlers pantry.
Master bedroom suite with dressing room (or additional bedroom, 3 further bedroom suites, 2 further bedrooms, family bathroom and additional 2 WC’s.
Self contained staff/guest flat: hallway, kitchen, utility room, bathroom, 2 bedrooms and sitting room.
Attached barn: garden store, additional store, log store, 4 loose boxes, 2 large first floor storage rooms (hayloft and additional storage room)
Separage 4 car garage/barn with large storage room above and attached squash court.
Additional 17th century barn, 13th century dovecote.