The hayfever season has started for me. Itchy eyes and face and all those sneezes. It's terrible! But then it also means that better weather is on it's way. People have started wearing sandals and ts. I still have my fleece on. Not young anymore I have to admit.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Sunday, 15 March 2009
House Hunting 3
Properties viewed - >40
Shortlisted - 3
New potential - 1
Dream home - 2 (one sold and one over budget)
Shortlisted - 3
New potential - 1
Dream home - 2 (one sold and one over budget)
Both Adrian and I like new build or at least refurbished houses. It saves us the hassle of any DIY work and we can just bring our stuff over. We have agreed that the most we will do is change the carpet and paint walls. If kitchens are old, I can give it a new coat of paint but it will have to be workable (ie enough storage and space for our fridge/freezer). New build appeals to us because everything is brand new and is built for today's modern living. Of course one can give a tired house some TLC and make it look nice again. New kitchen, new bathroom, new flooring. But all that cost extra pennies which we don't have. So the next best option will be to find one within budget which is of acceptable condition. A new coat of paint can do wonders. But then again, there are some houses which just 'cannot make it'. Perhaps I am extra fussy. Maybe I have too many requirements. But like many people have told me, buying a house is not like buying clothes. One vendor said if you don't like it, you won't be able to return it. It is true we have to be realistic with what our money can buy us. But a home is not just a roof over our heads. It has to work for us. It has to cater to our needs and requirements. It has to feel 'right'. If we just find somewhere so we could live in but not be happy in it, it then defeats the purpose. It'll be wonderful if we can find one which ticks all the boxes. If not, like I said, it HAS to work for us. How I wish I can combine all the merits of all the houses to get the perfect one - right location, right garden, right size, right kitchen, right decor and at the RIGHT PRICE! But this is rather impossible unless you buy a piece of land and build your own house from scratch. I'm going to make an appointment to view the 'new potential' first thing in the morning tomorrow when the estate agent's office is opened. Fingers crossed.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
House Hunting 2
DESCRIPTION
This beautifully extended four bedroom family home boasts a cloakroom, large lounge/dining room, recently fitted luxury kitchen/dining room with granite work tops, modern en suite to master bedroom, a garage, off road parking and a landscaped rear garden.
Ground Floor
Entrance Hall
Door to front aspect. Double glazed window to front aspect. Storage cupboard housing electric metres. Door to cloakroom.
Cloakroom
Suite comprises of low level wc and wash hand basin. Tiling to complement. Carpet. Extractor fan.
Lounge / Dining Room
Fire place with electric fire and surround. Double glazed window to front aspect. Double glazed patio doors to rear aspect. Gas warm air vent. Television point. Telephone point. Wood flooring.
Fitted Kitchen / Dining Room
Fully fitted range of wall and base units with granite work surfaces over. Sink and drainer with one bowl. Stainless steel electric oven with gas hob and cooker hood over. Intregrated stainless steel microwave. Intregrated washing machine and dishwasher. Intregrated fridge and frezzer. Radiator. Double glazed window to rear aspect. Rear aspect door to garden and to garage. (I'm surprised they didn't do any spellcheck)
First Floor
Landing
Stairs from entrance hall. Airing cupboard. Loft access. Carpet. Gas warm air boiler.
Master Bedroom
Double glazed window to front aspect. Radiator. Wood flooring. Leading to dressing room.
Dressing Room
Wood flooring. Radiator. Spot lights. Leading to en-suite.
En Suite
Suite comprises of wash hand basin and Aqualisa shower in large cubicle. Tiling to complement. Extractor fan. Heated towel rail. Frosted double glazed window to rear aspect.
Bedroom Two
Double glazed window to front aspect. Built in wardrobes. Gas warm air vent. Carpet.
Bedroom Three
Double glazed window to rear aspect. Built in wardrobes. Gas warm air vent. Carpet.
Bedroom Four
Double glazed window to front aspect. Gas warm air vent. Wood flooring.
Bathroom
Suite comprises of low level wc, wash hand basin and bath with mixer taps and over head shower. Fully tiled. Extractor fan. Frosted double glazed window to rear aspect.
Exterior
Garage
Manual up and over door. Light and power supply. Door to kitchen.
Front Garden
Brick paved driveway for off street parking. Part laid lawn. Outside light.
Rear Garden
Landscaped garden. Mainly laid to lawn. Flower and shrub borders. Patio area. Garden shed. Side access. Outside tap
Sounds impressive huh? I thought I'd found THE house. I vaguely remember seeing it listed on a property search site previously but it was relisted this morning and it caught my attention. Rang the agent to arrange for viewing but he didn't call me back. I'm not sure why but I was really excited about this property and my heart was racing. There weren't even any internal pictures. Texted A about it but did say I wasn't going to have high hopes or expectations. Since the house was near to Lavigne's school, I drove there to have a look.
Then my heart sank. There's a 'Sold' sign outside the house. I couldn't believe it. It'd been relisted today. How could it be? Many questions ran through my mind. The house looked better in real life and it's in a good position. I kept asking myself why didn't this house stand out to me on my search list? I look through it many times everyday. Why didn't I request to view it before? When was this house sold? All sorts of questions. Alas! I just have to console myself it's not meant to be and a more appropriate one will come along, that the house may not be as nice as it had been described. How can I love a house so much even before viewing it? Simple. It ticked all the boxes and many more.
Then my heart sank. There's a 'Sold' sign outside the house. I couldn't believe it. It'd been relisted today. How could it be? Many questions ran through my mind. The house looked better in real life and it's in a good position. I kept asking myself why didn't this house stand out to me on my search list? I look through it many times everyday. Why didn't I request to view it before? When was this house sold? All sorts of questions. Alas! I just have to console myself it's not meant to be and a more appropriate one will come along, that the house may not be as nice as it had been described. How can I love a house so much even before viewing it? Simple. It ticked all the boxes and many more.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
House Hunting 1
The search started a week ago and I must have viewed more than 20 properties. There are 3, dare I say, potential ones. However, I don't like them that much to want to put in an offer yet. They ticked most of the boxes but not all. If I can combine all the good elements of those houses, I'll get the perfect house. It's always the case, isn't it? You like the house but the location is not right. The location is right but the rooms are too small. Or the layout is not suitable blah blah blah. If I have plenty of time, I can afford to sit around and wait for the right property to come along. But I don't. The whole process can take up to 12 weeks. We're going back to Singapore end of July. I want to move out and have ample time to unpack before we leave. The girls will start their new school term early September and I want to come back to a proper home and not one which is still full of unpacked cartons.
The house hunt has, so far been quite an interesting experience but also very tiring and stressful. I get to go into other people's homes and get to see what their houses are like. There are some which you want to walk out the minute you walk in but of course you can't and still make small talks with the owners and walk around just to be polite Some houses smell real bad. There was one which I couldn't wait to get out but the owners were very chatty and I had to tell them I was running late (which was actually true) and got out before I faint in there. The smell lingered on in my nose and on my clothes. That was a pretty bad experience though the owners were lovely people. Some houses are stuck in the 60s. Everything looked so retro and I mean everything. Alot are not 'what you see is what you get'. The photos on the internet and brochures can look very promising but when you actually see the house, it's another story. You don't see poor workmanship on pictures and some photos are dated which means the condition of the house has deteriorated since then. Last Saturday, I spent 6 hours viewing houses and by the end of the day, I was absolutely knackered!
I think it's the early days since I've only started looking last week though I'm hoping I will step into one property and go 'YES! THIS is THE ONE!' soon. It's hard to find somewhere comparable to the one we're living in right now be it location or size wise. Of course I'm not banging on finding somewhere this close to town but it will have to be big enough for our family use. The 'For Sale' sign went up yesterday and I was so sad when I saw it. Soon, people will be coming to view the property (hopefully none) which is going to be very inconvenient and disruptive for us. Nonetheless, just like our house hunt previously, I trust that the right one will come along eventually. Fingers crossed!
The house hunt has, so far been quite an interesting experience but also very tiring and stressful. I get to go into other people's homes and get to see what their houses are like. There are some which you want to walk out the minute you walk in but of course you can't and still make small talks with the owners and walk around just to be polite Some houses smell real bad. There was one which I couldn't wait to get out but the owners were very chatty and I had to tell them I was running late (which was actually true) and got out before I faint in there. The smell lingered on in my nose and on my clothes. That was a pretty bad experience though the owners were lovely people. Some houses are stuck in the 60s. Everything looked so retro and I mean everything. Alot are not 'what you see is what you get'. The photos on the internet and brochures can look very promising but when you actually see the house, it's another story. You don't see poor workmanship on pictures and some photos are dated which means the condition of the house has deteriorated since then. Last Saturday, I spent 6 hours viewing houses and by the end of the day, I was absolutely knackered!
I think it's the early days since I've only started looking last week though I'm hoping I will step into one property and go 'YES! THIS is THE ONE!' soon. It's hard to find somewhere comparable to the one we're living in right now be it location or size wise. Of course I'm not banging on finding somewhere this close to town but it will have to be big enough for our family use. The 'For Sale' sign went up yesterday and I was so sad when I saw it. Soon, people will be coming to view the property (hopefully none) which is going to be very inconvenient and disruptive for us. Nonetheless, just like our house hunt previously, I trust that the right one will come along eventually. Fingers crossed!
The 'Potential' houses
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Drought
Now I realise my problem. Last week I made a few new dishes. I was able to do so because I was on sick leave - no work, no kids in the morning, house is tidier which means happier mood, more time to surf for ideas, didn't need to rush about, less stressed (though in pain) and as a result more inspired to cook!
This week is the right opposite. Not only was I called up on Monday to cover for a colleague 40min before start time while I was at the hospital waiting for a blood test, I had to shortlist properties for viewings and then drive around town to view the houses with Lavigne in tow (read the previous post). So it's been sticking something to bake in the oven while I surf the net or making a quickie one pot dish.
Since I started watching 'Little Nonya' (thanks to V who very sweetly lent me the dvds and no, I'm not addicted to it, maybe not just yet), I've been wanting to make some kuey kueys but now simply don't have the time or mood for it.
This week is the right opposite. Not only was I called up on Monday to cover for a colleague 40min before start time while I was at the hospital waiting for a blood test, I had to shortlist properties for viewings and then drive around town to view the houses with Lavigne in tow (read the previous post). So it's been sticking something to bake in the oven while I surf the net or making a quickie one pot dish.
Since I started watching 'Little Nonya' (thanks to V who very sweetly lent me the dvds and no, I'm not addicted to it, maybe not just yet), I've been wanting to make some kuey kueys but now simply don't have the time or mood for it.
House hunting again
So the whole process starts again. Our landlord wants to sell the house so we've been asked to move. Actually our tenancy agreement runs out end July but he had explicitly told us it'll be beneficially to both parties if we move once we find somewhere suitable. So it's as good as he wants us out asap. Oh I love this house so much I feel kind of sad we'll be moving out soon. Its location is just so central! Too bad our landlord is going to sell it at a high price which we simply can't afford.
Even though viewing properties is much easier now that we live in this town, I have to fit them during the hours I don't work and preferably when the girls are at school. Louisa's fine. I'd taken Lavigne with me to view a couple of houses but she'd been a nightmare - running about and opening every cupboards and doors. I can't check out the houses properly as a result. I shall squeeze all the viewings on Mondays and Fridays when I don't work.
The plan is for me to view as many as possible during the weekdays and shortlist those that I like for second viewings with Adrian during the weekends. I started the first viewing yesterday and had seen 6 houses so far. There is none that I really like. Nothing which makes me go 'wow! I must have this house'. However, there's one brand new townhouse which has a great living space (was booked in to see a smaller plot but requested to see this bigger one next door) but it's way over our budget. Let's hope a suitable house will come on the market soon.
Even though viewing properties is much easier now that we live in this town, I have to fit them during the hours I don't work and preferably when the girls are at school. Louisa's fine. I'd taken Lavigne with me to view a couple of houses but she'd been a nightmare - running about and opening every cupboards and doors. I can't check out the houses properly as a result. I shall squeeze all the viewings on Mondays and Fridays when I don't work.
The plan is for me to view as many as possible during the weekdays and shortlist those that I like for second viewings with Adrian during the weekends. I started the first viewing yesterday and had seen 6 houses so far. There is none that I really like. Nothing which makes me go 'wow! I must have this house'. However, there's one brand new townhouse which has a great living space (was booked in to see a smaller plot but requested to see this bigger one next door) but it's way over our budget. Let's hope a suitable house will come on the market soon.
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