The Roof & Only the wealthy can live simply
I have now seen the post fire survey on the cottage, which suggests something in the region of 40K to do the cottage up. There are however a couple of things Lock Boy noticed. Firstly and perhaps most importantly there is no mention in the document of replacement of the roof! Although most of the roof is OK, the fire damaged kitchen roof, even to my untrained eye, needs replacing - what do you think?
There is no mention of how the materials will get onto site, so one can only assume they think their lorries will get to the door, and it looks as though they expect water, electricity and black water to be provided for them.
Now, this survey can't be taken as the 'real' one, and as the friendly Scott says, one ought to double the estimated figure of repair to get a more realistic sum. This means I would potentially be paying something in the region of 170K (as long as the suggested price at auction is what it goes for) without even replacing the roof and with the materials arriving by inverted combustion. Considering Somerton Deep Lock Cottage went for about 210K, I don't think 170K is reasonable. For a start Somerton Deep has electricity and a generator, sewerage AND land. It also has a mooring for a small boat in order to get to the nearest village, AND it has water.
The other disadvantage of the cottage of dreams is it is grade II. This means I am liable if I don't manage to make the project work. As I am not filthy stinking rich, I suspect it is well out of my means, not least because it could bleed me dry before I have even started. I find it ironic that to live a simple lifestyle one has to be rich.
There is no mention of how the materials will get onto site, so one can only assume they think their lorries will get to the door, and it looks as though they expect water, electricity and black water to be provided for them.
Now, this survey can't be taken as the 'real' one, and as the friendly Scott says, one ought to double the estimated figure of repair to get a more realistic sum. This means I would potentially be paying something in the region of 170K (as long as the suggested price at auction is what it goes for) without even replacing the roof and with the materials arriving by inverted combustion. Considering Somerton Deep Lock Cottage went for about 210K, I don't think 170K is reasonable. For a start Somerton Deep has electricity and a generator, sewerage AND land. It also has a mooring for a small boat in order to get to the nearest village, AND it has water.
The other disadvantage of the cottage of dreams is it is grade II. This means I am liable if I don't manage to make the project work. As I am not filthy stinking rich, I suspect it is well out of my means, not least because it could bleed me dry before I have even started. I find it ironic that to live a simple lifestyle one has to be rich.
posted by MortimerBones at
1:26 PM
6 Comments:
Am I mistaken, but aren't you already living 'simply'?
I can understand the attraction, the cottage does need rescuing but, perhaps by someoney that it would not drown in debt. That 'project' is a sponge for mucho money!
Nb Caxton
Welcome to the world, Mort!!
Being a property owner is not all beer and skittles, but you pays your money and................then pays some more and then you find all sorts of people demand some more. (Council tax, water & drainage, electricity, telephone and internet, maybe even a riparian tax.) This is England after all, and that is assuming you can find some one to lend you the mortgage money in the first place.
Sorry, but the cynicism is free and comes to you by virtue of experience.
Simple living at a reasonable price ? Try crofting or emigrate to the Falkland Islands. (Can recommend the latter but NB Bones would not make the trans Atlantic crossing.)
Without wishing to be impertinent, why does the cottage need road access for big materials? Can't they come in by boat?
I do live simply, but I was thinking of a sustainable, ecofriendly, often percieved as simply, livestyle on land.
James - the point is the quote doesn't involve any mention of getting materials there, even by boat it would require moorings, costs etc or something surely!? I think this is perhaps why people say take the quote and double it!
The biggest problem of all is obtaining fresh water, if there is a possibility of digging a well then you're laughing. All the other commodities can be provided by modern technology these days. With listed buildings you have to restore them to their original appearance using similar materials. Not only will you need ordinary planning permission but also LPP which could take twice as long! As James said you can always sling the building materials on the roof of Bones, but if there is no land on which to sink a cesspit, you could be stuffed?
There is a well. It is on the other side of the lock. We spent ages looking around it when we passed through the other day. Compost loo. Who needs black water drainage. By sticking camera up and taking pictures Rob managed to get an idea of 'upstairs'. Two rooms either side one at least with fire place. Large landing area that could be converted into bathroom. Water from roof for bathing. I too would love to have a go at converting it. Access for materials courtesy of friendly farmer with tractor and storage in his field? Also caravan in field. You would have to do work yourself on site and not pay others to come and go. Basically I am not diy expert enough to have a go but for someone who is it could work. Nice raspberries I picked some for our breakfast. Yum yum.
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