Moving to Cardiff (area) - ideas and suggestions

Moving to Cardiff (area) - ideas and suggestions

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hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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3rd one looks a lot of work to complete!

Interesting to note that the Llanbethery one has agricultural curtilage in the rear garden. From maps I'd say that was the triangular bit. We have the same at our place - previous owners bought a bit of the adjoining field. If you were that way inclined you might be able to negotiate a bit more, but you have to be careful with your usage, it depends how zealous the neighbours and the planning dept are!!

Both second viewings look lovely, however for me the extra 25k for the Granary buys you so much more, Llanbethery is nice, Granary is just awesome. I think the only week point of it though is the kitchen, nowhere near enough character to fit with the building.



Edited by hornetrider on Tuesday 10th February 10:08

Rickyy

6,618 posts

220 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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Llanbethery is a nicer area than Castleton IMO, it's closer to the A48 too. There isn't really any through traffic either, whereas there is a residential caravan park in Castleton, but the road is never really that busy.

The two probably aren't that far apart as the crow flies, but Castleton is closer to amenities in St Athan.

AFAIK, there is no mains gas in Llanbethery, but parts of Castleton do have it, if that matters to you!

The roads to Llanbethery are pretty much always filthy and flood slightly in bad weather.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
Ricky, are you gas safe? We're having boiler thoughts in our new place at the moment.

Rickyy

6,618 posts

220 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
Ricky, are you gas safe? We're having boiler thoughts in our new place at the moment.
Yes HR, Gas Safe and OFTEC. Also LPG, PM if you need some help.

Tyre Tread

Original Poster:

10,535 posts

217 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
Confused isn't the word.

The Granary is so close to St Athan as make no odds. Mrs TT agrees about the kitchen. It really is an MFI special and well past its sell by date. The worry here is that the area drags down the value of the property.

I don't really feel the love for the house in LLanbethery and after a second viewing SWMBO isn't convinced either.

We will have another look at Dan Y Bryn in Flemingstonas SWMBO really likes it and I like Flemingston as a location. The owner seems keen to sell so could be willing to do a deal.

We would need to check the access for the TVR though as hornetrider mentioned earlier it could be awkward. Anyone got a Chim and willing to take a look and try it. Big ask I know. I don't think it will be an issue but SWMBO thinks there may be grounding issues.

RyanTank

2,850 posts

155 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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No problems TT, I thought you might have seen them all as they've been on the sites a while. I was happy to try and help, and daydream about owning one or two of those houses!

Out of the 3 you've posted, if I were in the position, the Granary gets my first vote. It just looks complete compared to the others, we'll except the kitchen, it just doesn't fit the space. I'd probably replace and go for the oversized units and large sink, kind of olden styles. and maybe put an island in the middle with the fancy cookers built in and do away with the small table. There's so much wasted space there. going from the pictures.

Then after the Granary I'd probably take the barn conversion, I'd like a little project like the extension, if you can change the planning permission imagine the garage/workshop you could have wink


I wish you and the Mrs all the best for making decision on either. Happy to have virtually spent your mortgage money thumbup

Maybe post up on the main South Wales section to see if anyone can accommodate the lend/visit with a TVR. I think one member on here is St Athan based with a Chimera? or at least works down the area?

Tyre Tread

Original Poster:

10,535 posts

217 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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Home again - well, its home for now and SWMBO is back in her digs which she really isn't enjoying as there's no lounge, no TV point and she can't get the WiFi to work.

Managed to do the trip from Bonvilston to home in 2.5 hours biggrin

I don't think I can convince SWMBO or myself that the Granary is worth the asking price now all of the estate agents have dissed the area.

Ryan - I thought this was the main South Wales forum?

RyanTank

2,850 posts

155 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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It is, I meant to post a new thread out of this one about 'borrowing' a Chim.
I'm blaming my insomnia on not explaining myself propperly! wink

hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
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Slightly unusual but I like.

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/33641487

Tyre Tread

Original Poster:

10,535 posts

217 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
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I'm already on that one. It was up for £595K a year ago.

Coming down again on Monday for a second viewing in Flemingston but might drop by that one

Big thanks to Steve J for his efforts this afternoon.

Also thanks to Craig.

steve j

3,223 posts

229 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
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Tyre Tread said:
I'm already on that one. It was up for £595K a year ago.

Coming down again on Monday for a second viewing in Flemingston but might drop by that one

Big thanks to Steve J for his efforts this afternoon.

Also thanks to Craig.
Glad to help thumbup

Tyre Tread

Original Poster:

10,535 posts

217 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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Another 350 mile trip for me today. Nothing conclusive.

On second viewing of the house in Flemingston you can see the cracks. Literally. every single ceiling has cracks right round the edge and when you start to look beyond the fancy furniture the decoration isn't really that good.

The driveway has has a recent new layer of shale put down and its so deep that it come sup the garage doors a couple of inches and due to the slope there's only one way the shale is going to travel.

The farmer had brought the cows out of the field adjacent quite recently. You couldn't see anything but you could smell it.

The downstairs shower room is unused and I think I see why plus the fittimg of the kitchen was, shall we say, not to the highest standard.

Unless we can get it very cheap I doubt we'd go ahead.

When we arrived the EA said she had spoken to the vendor and he was not looking forward to selling the place and made out it was under duress from his other half. I told her (EA) that if he wants to hang on to it that's fine. Instant back pedalling!

When I rang the EA later and told them we wouldn't make an offer as the Vendor seems to have an emotional attachment and we didn't want to insult him she said he had been thinking about dropping the price so make an offer.

SWMBO may be coming round to the barn conversion if we can get it at the right price. smile

All fun and games eh?

DHE

4,517 posts

191 months

Monday 16th February 2015
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Is renting for 6-12 months an option?

Tyre Tread

Original Poster:

10,535 posts

217 months

Monday 16th February 2015
quotequote all
Yes, its a possibility but the two classics and the dog make it a challenge to find somewhere

Plus I's rather not have to move twice

Tyre Tread

Original Poster:

10,535 posts

217 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
It seems HRT are not keen on dealing with people who want to make offers on properties.

I was in the process of instructing them to make an offer to a Vendor on Monday afternoon while driving back from Cardiff and I was cut off. I thought they'd ring me back.

By yesterday afternoon I haden't hearrd so I called their offices. The young lasy who had been talking to me wasnt in the office and hadn't made notes on the proprety details or on our details registered with them but I was told it might be in her personal diary and she would get back to me.

Having heard nothing by 10.30 this morning I rang again - Young lady is off today - nobody seems to know about the offer I made - irked

Its almost as if they don't want to sell houses. Or maybe want to buy them themselves?

DHE

4,517 posts

191 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Tyre Tread said:
It seems HRT are not keen on dealing with people who want to make offers on properties.

I was in the process of instructing them to make an offer to a Vendor on Monday afternoon while driving back from Cardiff and I was cut off. I thought they'd ring me back.

By yesterday afternoon I haden't hearrd so I called their offices. The young lasy who had been talking to me wasnt in the office and hadn't made notes on the proprety details or on our details registered with them but I was told it might be in her personal diary and she would get back to me.

Having heard nothing by 10.30 this morning I rang again - Young lady is off today - nobody seems to know about the offer I made - irked

Its almost as if they don't want to sell houses. Or maybe want to buy them themselves?
Email the office the details of your offer, stating your position to proceed, who the mortgage is being arranged with etc. They have to, by law, put the offer to the vendor as soon as possible.

I had a very similar experience when moving down here. I had taken the vendors details so contacted him direct in the end. Once the deal was agreed I contacted the estate agent and emailed them all the info, including both of our solicitor details. They called me back after two days to say the offer had been accepted! The agent asked me if I had bought and sold many properties, due to the way I had gone about things. I suggested she read the email again, especially the section where I had declared I was an estate agent. (have to declare that)



Tyre Tread

Original Poster:

10,535 posts

217 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Thanks Huw. I knew that as I work in a similar industry but I was damned if I was going to do the job for them.

In the end I spoke to one of the partners - Offer declined - best & final put in and declined so I won't be buying The Granary then.

Mrs TT has been given details of a few more to look at which she is going to try and fit in over next few days.

Llanbethery, Bonvilston (off the main drag) and LLancarfan are all in the running.

I really like Llancarfan as I am a car fan and it just seems appropriate wink

Rickyy

6,618 posts

220 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
quotequote all
Plus, Llancarfan has a ford! Which is great if you're a child like me, although it is uncross-able in bad weather.

The Fox and Hound is a great pub too.

Tyre Tread

Original Poster:

10,535 posts

217 months

Wednesday 18th February 2015
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The ford is fun. It was icy when we crossed it last weekend and the traction control kept cutting in.

May be not one for the Chim though.

Both houses in Llancarfan are right by the river. One either side.

We went to go into the pub last Monday evening but they weren't due to open for and mins and we didn't want to hang around as we had to be somewhere, It does get good reviews on trip advisor though.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

206 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
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This is surprisingly cheap. Ok its no 500k barn conversion but the price is very good.

I found this property on the Rightmove Android app and wanted you to see it: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/50471357