Whaaaat! I thought I would get in first because it is coming from and featuring Swindon. Should be interesting (I hope!) and before anyone says anything---- No, it's not me! Watch out for the price of property though! I could be out of a job by tomorrow night.
Nor me Trish! It's my ANGER Management Course tonight so I will be videoing it. Perhaps I should be on the Kickboxing and Karate course? Is that any different to the course I am doing? Crikey, I am off Topic already and the program hasn't even been shown!
I shall be recording it (ideal so I can ff thru the ads). I want to watch that c5 documentary about the undercover supply teacher. Should be cracking viewing coveniently pidgeonholed into an obscure (ish) slot by the powers-that-be.
Was flitting between the kitchen and the TV so didn't really grasp what was going on, other than to observe that Kirsty was sporting her Noddy coat with the enormous dinner plate buttons again. Or is it Big Ears who wears a jacket with those buttons? Can't remember. Anyway, 'distinctive' is the word I'll use.
Melboy's Manor! Where the Girls where looking to work and live is Swindon Old Town which is nice mixture of Edwardian and Victorian Properties in the double fronted classic bay Villa style. Where they were living in Rented is known to the locals as Swindon New Town even though nearly all the properties are 100years or more, mainly Railway Workers type properties. If you must live and work in Swindon then one of the main advantages is that you are only 3 miles from open country and the public transport to the town centre is pretty quick and easy. Parking your Personal Chariot is like any other Town and City it is a Nightmare and expensive. Good employment and anyone who is on the Dole is so because they want to be. The renovated Baptist Church they bought had been on the Market for some Months with a variety of Agents. The first business premises they offered on was in a prime location and would have been a good buy at the money which is probably why the Vendor took it off the market and asked for more money. The Beachside place they bought I thought was overpriced and you can't help feeling sorry for the Locals who would struggle to buy a property at that sort of money because wages and employment in that area are not that good. Plaid Cymry (Sp) said yesterday that if they are granted tax raising powers they are are going to Tax 2nd Homes/Holiday Homes in Wales if you are non resident. OK so will we do the same to the Welsh? Nah! 'cos we are English! Incidently, whilst I am standing on my Soapbox anyone hear that Welsh Guy on Jeremy Vine yesterday?. He came from Powys (sp) and he wanted to know why there were 73 Local Councillors drawing £200 a week yet only 3 Ambulances for the County! He was a very upset Man! Gorra Go Got a Bathroom and Painting to complete.
I was interested in the debate about view vs. character. I thought the house with the seaview, which they lost out on was pretty boring. I think I'd have gone for one of the character properties that was only 200 yards from the sea. It's not like the views were horrible!
What do the rest of you think - view or character?
Originally posted by gekko21: I was interested in the debate about view vs. character. I thought the house with the seaview, which they lost out on was pretty boring. I think I'd have gone for one of the character properties that was only 200 yards from the sea. It's not like the views were horrible!
What do the rest of you think - view or character?
Me too, I thought that cottage in Bude was lovely. The bungalow thingy was pretty ugly.
The house they eventually got was nice (not as nice as the Bude property IMO) and had the views - but only because they significantly upped the budget.
Good to hear a real success story, they (and their dog) seemed very happy.
This programme was again making renting look like it's throwing money away.
Don't they realise many people have no choice but to rent given todays high house prices? Renting is not a waste of money, especially if you pay silly amounts for a house only to see it plummet in value.
Originally posted by gekko21: I was interested in the debate about view vs. character. I thought the house with the seaview, which they lost out on was pretty boring. I think I'd have gone for one of the character properties that was only 200 yards from the sea. It's not like the views were horrible!
What do the rest of you think - view or character?
Me too, I thought that cottage in Bude was lovely. The bungalow thingy was pretty ugly.
The house they eventually got was nice (not as nice as the Bude property IMO) and had the views - but only because they significantly upped the budget.
Good to hear a real success story, they (and their dog) seemed very happy.
I liked the Bude cottage too and as we are looking for a house in Bude (if we ever manage to sell our house) I was very interested in last night's programme. 200 yards from the beach would suit me very well even if I couldn't see it from my window
Originally posted by curly_wurly: This programme was again making renting look like it's throwing money away.
Renting now, at the top of this huge property bubble, is smart money. In many cases the rent is far far less than the mortgage interest on a comparable property would be. The renter can put away the money saved towards a deposit to buy once prices have dropped. I am certainly glad to be out of the house market and would hate to be selling now when buyers have the upper hand and can mess sellers around. As for buying now, why do it and face the risk of your new home falling in value?!!!
I have to agree re: the Bude cottage, I thought it was lovely and 200 yards from the sea?! hello?!! blimey! if you can smell it! you're close enough surely!?
A gorgeous view is certianly something to aspire to and I can understand the search for it, but really, I think you spend more time looking in towards a room that stood at the window looking out, so character has to win for me...and that bungalow?! What were they thinking? It was totally uninspiring IMO. Perhaps they were being far too sensible and sticking to their guns re: thier requirements, so the programme it up a bit?!
Originally posted by ReenyMc: I thought they got really lucky with that church. what a suitably cool base for a design agency.
I was also surprised Mel at how cheap the prices were for a sizeable terrace. I know you have mentioned this before on here. Were they in ok areas?
Yup! In a reasonably good, trouble "Mug Free" area! Swindon is a big place now with the Northern Expansion and Western Expansion and you only really saw the central parts of the Town on the program. I have renovated a few of those Terraces over the years and they are reasonably well built. Average price is around £120k for a Town Terrace in good condition but you may still find an unmodernised one for £90 to £95k. Mel.
Originally posted by elsbells: I have to agree re: the Bude cottage, I thought it was lovely and 200 yards from the sea?! hello?!! blimey! if you can smell it! you're close enough surely!?
A gorgeous view is certianly something to aspire to and I can understand the search for it, but really, I think you spend more time looking in towards a room that stood at the window looking out, so character has to win for me...and that bungalow?! What were they thinking? It was totally uninspiring IMO. Perhaps they were being far too sensible and sticking to their guns re: thier requirements, so the programme it up a bit?!
Agree with that, but to be honest I could live without the character if it means I'm within (very short) walking distance of the sea. Hopefully I'll be there soon , just need to get present house sold
Originally posted by gekko21: I was interested in the debate about view vs. character. I thought the house with the seaview, which they lost out on was pretty boring. I think I'd have gone for one of the character properties that was only 200 yards from the sea. It's not like the views were horrible!
What do the rest of you think - view or character?
Personally I'd go for view - never having been fond of old properties, and as for character, you can add it yourself if you choose carefully. I can think of nothing nicer than a sea view, especially in the winter when the waves are rough. Character would definitely come a poor second, IMHO.
Also, I know I'm in a minority of one here, but I actually LIKED the dinner plate buttons!!
I wonder if it would have been more worthwhile if the girls had bought a smaller property in Devon and a large house with office space in Hondaland. Sorry Mel, I meant Swindon.
quote:
Originally posted by MELBOY: The Beachside place they bought I thought was overpriced and you can't help feeling sorry for the Locals who would struggle to buy a property at that sort of money because wages and employment in that area are not that good. Plaid Cymry (Sp) said yesterday that if they are granted tax raising powers they are are going to Tax 2nd Homes/Holiday Homes in Wales if you are non resident. OK so will we do the same to the Welsh? Nah! 'cos we are English!
Whereas to the best of my knowledge I didn't think the property was overpriced (considering the size of the house and its proximity to the seas) I do agree with you Mel about the issue of pricing the locals out of the area. And I hope that Plaid Cumru go ahead with their tax raising plans on 2nd home owners. Not because I'm jealous that I can't afford 2 homes but because of the impact that a partially empty house will have on the local community.
Am I the only one who liked that big expensive bungalow/chalet property? I quite the style of 60's and 70's properties. Mind you I weren't too keen on initial ideas to increse the size of the upstairs windows!
I agree with ReenyMc about the church - that was a pretty cool base and a bith "goth" inside!
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, just need to get present house sold 
I wonder if it would have been more worthwhile if the girls had bought a smaller property in Devon and a large house with office space in Hondaland. Sorry Mel, I meant Swindon. 
