My house-buying experience - organiSIM.com

I'm looking for a nice house in a reasonable area, not too far from town & near local amenities, but not too expensive - too much?
I'm not too fussy & am willing to do a bit of work, in fact retro-fitting some of the modifications I would like to make could be difficult - under floor heating for instance. - I also need to sort out a mortgage

Number 11 Glantane Drive:
There's a whole load of things to be done:

Sort out guttering - repair break & mend flow of other gutters
hire scaffolding & set-up
fix "subsidence" in wall - install lintel (sp?) and reconstruct wall
check/replace joist(s) in top front bedroom
research underfloor heating - costs & retro-fitting
get OS 3d home design software - gordie?

modular improvements:

knock-through wall & open up kitchen area?

lessons from #2:

Plan & agree plan for work to minimise amount of dust dirt & disruption. -bad result: living out of a box - in crampt & dirty conditions with few facilities
painting: ensure when getting quotes, to specify the level of quality of finish required - what is acceptable & what is not - make sure everyone is on-message. -bad result: new surfaces, furniture, equipment & belongings get paint damaged either permenantly or requiring subsequent cleaning.
Ensure work is cleaned & prepared sufficiently and space is given to work in. -bad result: finish is compromised either permenantly or requiring subsequent repair.
Any obstacles (furniture/upholstry) are removed or well-covered. -see carpets. furniture, windows... also double-insulate/seal stuff. Have appropriate finish. -bad result: new surfaces, furniture, equipment & belongings get paint damaged either permenantly or requiring subsequent cleaning.
mask well fittings - sockets & switches - loosen from wall. -bad result: fittings get covered in paint & require subsequent repair or cleaning.
remove hooks & tie-backs + handles beforehand. -bad result: fittings get covered in paint & require subsequent repair or cleaning.
Wallpapering - prepare including permenant removal of some fixtures - smoke alarm, curtain hooks...
plastering - just inside the door in pront's ensuite
tiling - make allowances for taps etc - big bathroom
Bath - make allowances for imperfect walls - shower door in big bathroom
ventilation - allow for this in utility room and/or sun-room

Order of service:

Plan work
Prepare areas - remove furniture and (cover?) carpets
structural work inc wiring (networking & aerial cabling), plumbing and fitting of vents
plastering
painting/tiling - getting in behind fixtures & fittings - bath, radiators etc.
wallpaper
installation of fixtures (toilet, bath etc) - conflict with wallpaper/paint?

Damp: by condensation

other

have pseudo-bar area, but discrete &/or disguised. possibility of recessed shelf-unit - hidden cupboard/bar? -design

Useful DIY links:
Filling wall cracks guide including video (from UKTVstyle.co.uk).
How to fix(mount) ceramic tiles (from http://www.toppstiles.co.uk).
How to replace a damaged ceramic tile guide including video(from UKTVstyle.co.uk).
Manufacturer's promotional videos on electrical underfloor heating for tiled floors.
How to hang a bathroom cabinet guide including video(from UKTVstyle.co.uk).
How to unblock a sink guide including video(from UKTVstyle.co.uk).
odpm.gov.uk/explanitory-booklet http://www.gnn.gov.uk/content/detail.asp?NewsAreaID=2&ReleaseID=139632&print=true

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