When pushed for time and personal recommendations are not an option where do you turn to for advice?
Today I turned to an old faithful, Google.
Conveyancy is a fairly straightforward process, and I learned more in 10 minutes on various company websites than I would have if I had been ringing around to get quotes.
After taking into consideration the prices, look and feel, and calling the various numbers advertised to ensure people existed (always an unknown) I used the online calculators to determine actual costs and receive written quotes.
2 out of 3 appeared in my inbox, and from this I was able to make my decision.
Thanks Google!
Inzvestor
Fancy a day being me?
Lets rewind the last 24 hours and start again.
Today was possibly the most challenging day I have faced in the past 4 years.
No single factor has contributed to this but combined the events are astounding.
Juggling with fire is a phrase I would use…
Tomorrow I am off to Warwick, a day out of the office is a welcome event.
Inzvestor
We’re a step closer to home ownership in the UK, with an offer accepted on an apartment in London.
Finance permitting we will be the proud owners of a London pad, possibly in time for Christmas.
Minimal decorating is required although we have loose plans forming already…
First steps first, secure finance and move in.
Donations accepted…
Inzvestor
Following on from yesterdays blog, .mobi addresses are about to be unleashed. From 14 pounds for 2 years, will they be a hit?
IMHO screen size and ease of use for mobiles would need to improve before the uptake gains momentum.
Many sites are already configured for mobile browsing, I really do not see the need for this identifier.
Inzvestor
Following on from yesterdays blog, .mobi addresses are about to be unleashed. From 14 pounds for 2 years, will they be a hit?
IMHO screen size and ease of use for mobiles would need to improve before the uptake gains momentum.
Many sites are already configured for mobile browsing, I really do not see the need for this identifier.
Inzvestor
Look around you and see how many people are talking on their mobiles wherever they are in the world. From Alaska to Zimbabwe, the world is reliant on mobile technology to carry out the most basic functions and for social harmony.
As I blog this via my MDA I can see no fewer than 13 people talking on their mobiles, playing games, taking pictures etc.
Would the mobile companies shares been a good buy? is there still room for improvement?
As technology improves and our reliance/addiction grows you be the judge.
Inzvestor
I ran a search using the DigitalPoint keyword tracker and found that ver the past week since my blog was offline I slipped many places in the average Google rank.
I’d love to charge my host for loss of earnings but will have to settle with knowing that my blog is intact and backups complete.
Inzvestor
I took a tour through South West London with an estate agent from Foxton’s today, visiting properties in the region of £135k-£155k
There is such a variance in finish and attributes in this price bracket, with everything from a small bachelor pad to a well decorated extra large studio apartment. None of the properties were suitable but it gave me a good idea of what the market is like in this part of town.
The first property I saw was in a Tudor style block, with enclosed courtyard and 25m swimming pool (no water at present due to the hosepipe ban). I’m convinced the garage that came with the flat was as big as the flat itself. There was barely enough room to get around the empty flat, and it was certainly too small for 2 people to live in… next! £139950
Off to Tooting this time where we viewed a super-large studio in a nice development - plenty of room and big enough to live in, but too far away from transport… next! £159950
Last property we saw was on the Sunday Market scheme - not having been viewed by the agent himself but recommended through the valuer. It is a kind of open-home scheme where they try and sell a proprty on the same day it is put on the market.
Described as ‘needing work’ this property required at least £15k worth of essential maintenance to make it liveable. Disappointingly it was another studio, no access to open spaces and a putrid loo (what died in there?)
The flat was in the throes of being done up, and it would appear the developer/owner just downed tools and walked out - it wasn’t even clean, and the bed still had a sheet on it - almost as if the squatters had been in. The agent wasn’t best pleased - but at £155000 it was guaranteed not to sell for asking price or anywhere near it. Good location though…
I gained a map out of my experience, spoke to the agent about the state of the property market, cruised around in a Mini and had a bit of fun.
Tomorrow I am looking at a place in Stanmore, which I hope will be a marked improvement on what is on offer in SW London. For £165k the write-up is impressive. As the vendor lives at the property it will be nice to see what can be squeezed into a 1 bedroom purpose built block these days.
Inzvestor
Yesterday afternoon was spent out in the garden giving it an autumnal weeding and making the ground ready for planting our winter colour.
We’ve spiced up the backyard with some bright green conifers - they are a shade of highlighter yellow/green at present but may darken over the coming months. We’ve planted Cordylines as well as repositioning our Maple and planting out 30 pansies so far.
Next weekend we are off to the Garden centre again for some bark and some more Cordylines and Conifers.
The tomato vine is doing extremely well, providing us with ready to eat fruit on a daily basis. We’ve been eating them in sandwiches, salads and taken them for lunches too., and it’s still flowering. Not a bad investment of £2.99 for the grow your own seed kit.
I’m pleased not all plants made it or we’d be turning a shade of red.
I got a great sense of satisfaction pottering about in the garden today and will be sad to move to a property without a garden - we’re in the process of house hunting at present…
Inzvestor
Due to a technical hitch we were taken offline for a few days whilst our host recovered a severely damaged hard drive.
New drives are in place, and with the aid of daily backups we have lost no data (thankfully).
Lots to fill in over the next few days. Watch this space!
Inzvestor