I'm buying a new place in London

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I'm selling the former matrimonial home, and looking to buy a new place. Obviously funds are limited and I want convenience for getting into town (especially somewhere like Goodge St, Warren St, Euston Square or Tottenham Court Rd, for work) and a good deal of space for all the books, records and stuff. I seem to be able to afford large 2-bedroomed flats in some areas. This is the thread where I talk about what I'm doing, and seek advice on the areas, because some are places about which I know little or nothing.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 11 September 2003 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

So this Saturday I have fairly large flats to see in Borough, Bermondsey/Surrey Quays and Penge (it was a RickyT comment about this that prompted me to start this thread).

The Borough one is, I think, in a nasty tower block, just off Gt Dover St. The next one (another tower block) is at the south end of Southwark Park. The Penge one is halfway between Penge West and Anerley stations, and sounds nicer. It also has a colossal living room, 26x25 feet.

So what are these areas like? I like what parts of Borough I've seen, I think. I don't think I've been terribly near the others.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 11 September 2003 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

is the North really that more expensive? i guess so. Penge/Anerly sounds quite nice generally though I've heard about Brockley and other nearby areas.

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 11 September 2003 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

i mean i've heard BAD about Brockley etc.

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 11 September 2003 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

one of my best friends lives in anerley (but she wz born in norbury and basically considers london a kind of ugly northern suburn of croydon)

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 11 September 2003 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

how can London be a suburb of Croydon? ooh savour the paradox!

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 11 September 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

They have Transformers conventions in Croydon, I think.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 11 September 2003 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

If its not too prying, what's your budget? (I fully understand if you don't wish to give me an answer)

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 11 September 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Congrats on beginning your search (many people are afraid to even bother!)

Remember South Woodford and Acton are too far for quickie nightlife runs.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Thursday, 11 September 2003 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Wah? Acton is a mere 20 minutes from central London! And, is one of the finest places in London.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 11 September 2003 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd happily live in Acton, as long as it was near the #94 route (*drools over Turnham Green again*)

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 11 September 2003 17:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Jel, tis only that I found Acton too quiet (Skidders may feel differently, obv)

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Thursday, 11 September 2003 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I think my budget is about £160,000, though give it a few months and stretch things and maybe it's £175,000. I'm hoping to get away with £155,000 or less. (I have no secrets, financial or otherwise.)

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 11 September 2003 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

that's so exciting, I hope you find a good place!

― s1utsky (slutsky), Thursday, 11 September 2003 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

There seem to be a good number of places in my price range that fit my criteria, so I am optimistic - but it is a lot of effort.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 11 September 2003 20:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"Good things come to those who work for it" (Paraphrase)

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Thursday, 11 September 2003 22:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never been to the P-place, so don't discount it on my account. I caught an irrational fear of it from Alix and Starry last year, and its mere mention makes me uncomfortable.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Thursday, 11 September 2003 23:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Anerley is essentially a big, rather characterless, suburb (see also Norwood in its various incarnations).

However, you are only a stone's throw from Crystal Palace, which has a ludicrous number of restaurants, loads of which are very good indeed, and a nice park with (lest we forget) big dinosaurs. Also very handy indeed if you like Thai food.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 12 September 2003 07:24 (twenty-two years ago)

ALthough it could well take you bloody ages to get to work in the morning, I'm not sure... Borough would be far more convenient.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 12 September 2003 07:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a friend that lives in the Surrey Quays area & she really likes it there.
We are currently in the house buying business (as I'm sure you know) & it is sooo stressful, so good luck with it all.

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 12 September 2003 07:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Borough is good from an investment point of view.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 12 September 2003 08:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh and I found a £299 conveyancing service if you are interested

― Ed (dali), Friday, 12 September 2003 08:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, there are lots of cheap ones on the web - if this is a real London firm or a firm of whom you have heard anything positive, however, I would be interested, as random firms off the web are a gamble.

I couldn't care less about investment potential, I'm looking for a home where I'll be happy living. Matt is right about the journey time being far longer, obviously - I don't think I'll look at anywhere so far out unless it is, as this place is, freakishly large.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 12 September 2003 10:33 (twenty-two years ago)

London firm, although the firm I used in Birkenhead were very good.

― Ed (dali), Friday, 12 September 2003 10:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Then I will be interested, Ed. Can you send me details?

I'm in a bit of a bad mood now, despite having been to a good FAP. The Borough place is already sold and I now can't see the Bermondsey one tomorrow, so I'm travelling a long way to see one flat. I'll try making a few more calls tomorrow morning, but I guess it's worth it to see this huge place, except I do have a feeling that the transport situation may not be good enough for me.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 12 September 2003 23:09 (twenty-two years ago)

The place was NOWHERE NEAR the promised size. Despite asking loads of questions for clarification, it bore no resemblance to what I had been told. The whole flat may be 25x26, possibly, but that includes the kitchen, diner, lounge, bathroom and two bedrooms. I was furious to have travelled all the way there for this - the moment I walked in it was clear that it was not the place I'd been told about. Grrr...

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 13 September 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Why must all estate agents be shysters of the highest order.

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 13 September 2003 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

There aren't that many who seem this bad - point is, the effect is to waste my time, which has no benefit for them, and to mean that I won't even bother considering dealing with them any more. I think it's laziness: my suspicion is that they did their usual mad measuring up, and the man I talked to should have said that he couldn't tell me anything more because he'd not seen it, and put me onto whoever had, but instead he just gave me the answers I wanted to hear.

I'm just booking to see another place - 135k, fairly large living room, two good sized double bedrooms, maybe a mile north of here in Manor Park (one street away from where I lived before this in fact). The appeal, as well as the cheapness, is a big loft. That price would leave me plenty to do a proper conversion, maybe make it the main bedroom or something.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 13 September 2003 14:52 (twenty-two years ago)

good luck

― Ed (dali), Saturday, 13 September 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Saw two places tonight: one in Plaistow/Stratford, a ten minute walk to Plaistow tube, or a short and easy bus ride to Stratford. Nice and big, and with a cellar (but no lighting, so I didn't get to look in there) and a large garden, maybe 50x30 feet. I'm quite tempted.

The other is Manor Park, a ten minute walk from the mainline station there. Smaller, but with a loft - just beams and no stairs, but could be converted. Both of these are way under my price limit, so improvements would be perfectly feasible.

I'm seeing two more tomorrow - one 200 yards from Stockwell station, a good size but in a tower block; another, again decent sized, between Brixton and Streatham Hill. These are very cheap too - all four mentioned are over 25k short of my maximum. I think I'm seeing three more, all around Streatham, on Thursday.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm getting some top people viewing my place. I've had Mr & Mrs Kumar, so if the next series is The Kumars At Number 67, I'll know what's going on. But I am driven to post because I've just had someone book a viewing for Saturday morning, and his name is apparently Nick Banjo. I am expecting a minor mafioso.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 19 September 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

What did you think of the places in Streatham, Martin?

― Alfie (Alfie), Friday, 19 September 2003 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Sarah and I have been looking for places for her, and New Cross really seems to have a lot to recommend it. Have you considered Herne Hill?

― Mark C (Mark C), Friday, 19 September 2003 14:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I ended up seeing two places in Lewisham, not Streatham. Both pretty good, but both 1000 yards from the nearest stations, and both only adequate for size. I'm seeing a big 3- or 4-bedroom place in Tottenham tomorrow (it has something called a storage room which is 18x6 feet - that'll suit bookcases along the long walls, I think) and a big 3-bedroom place in Dalston on Monday. I'm becoming convinced that there are places that suit me well, and I'll find the right place soon.

I'm considering everywhere, Mark - I'm searching on price and seeing what comes up. I don't think I've seen anything that suits me labelled Herne Hill so far.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 20 September 2003 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I've whacked in a good offer on the place in Tottenham. It's even more spacious than I thought, in that all the dimensions actually represent rectangles, the space is very usable and there seem to be several dozen large cupboards. I lost track of the number of doors. The storage area will be a perfect main library, and I'm not sure what I will do with two of the bedrooms.

Then I've just had my second family of Kumars round, and they pretty much told me that this was the place for them and they will buy it tomorrow. We'll see, but it might be that I will be moving fairly soon. (Don't worry, Ned - I can't imagine it will be in the next three weeks.)

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 21 September 2003 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, East Ham, Tottenham, doesn't matter! A place on the floor even will be fine enough!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 21 September 2003 18:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Excellent news. I hope that you get the place.

― Ed (dali), Sunday, 21 September 2003 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I've had an asking price offer on my place today. My first offer on the place I want was turned down, so I've gone straight to the asking price. The estate agents tell me there are no other interested parties, so I expect to get accepted.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 22 September 2003 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

congratulations

― Ed (dali), Monday, 22 September 2003 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Rah for Martin on both fronts!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 22 September 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Awesome Martin! Congrats!

― Chris V. (Chris V), Monday, 22 September 2003 16:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Thank you, but I am worried about counting bridges before I've hatched them - plenty of hurdles and work yet.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 22 September 2003 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

The hurdles and work were much worse than I anticipated, but it is finally happening - I move into my new place on Tuesday. I may not be online much in the next few days, as I have plenty to do, and also my eyes have been VERY bad in the last week or two (I suspect stress may be a factor here), so I'm not getting through as much on ILE when I do have the time.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 29 November 2003 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I am happy to hear about this. The fact it has been solved - not you being away from ILX. :-)

― nathalie (nathalie), Saturday, 29 November 2003 12:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't suppose anyone fancies giving me a hand with some unpacking, do they? I think it's going to exhaust me, but companionship and another pair of hands would help. There's some money plus food and drink (i.e. your choice of local takeaways and some cans) if anyone has free time Tuesday afternoon/evening or Wednesday daytime.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 30 November 2003 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd love to but work etc etc. hope it goes well tho'.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 30 November 2003 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm afraid i have loads of unpacking of my own to do, martin (i moved house yesterday). hope it all goes well for you.

― toby (tsg20), Monday, 1 December 2003 08:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Are there no broke Londoners reading this?

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I would help! But you'd have to fly me in from Boston.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Likewise with Dawlish. And I have no holiday left.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

hey neighbour - we should meet up in a pub to watch Sunday football sometime (i would've watched the Chelsea-Man U match yesterday but it coincided with, er, shopping and the acquisition of network cables) but i'm missing Sky Sports a bit in my new house so...see you at a Nawf Lundun FAP soon eh?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 1 December 2003 16:50 (twenty-one years ago)

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