Being arthritic is expensive.

dreamdaisy

Today I received the quote for clearing my mother's house. We met the chappie on Saturday morning, his demeanour was just right, matter-of-fact but respectful, plus he arrived wearing a suit and tie. Ma would have approved.

I have been told by a number of rellies that I should garner at least three quotes and then decide. Oh bless, how right they are. :roll: I live 120 miles away and am not in particularly good health at the moment (whatever that consitutes) and I dare not presume that the self-same rellies would be willing to turn up (on my behalf) and chat to prospective 'clients'.

The cost for clearing is as near-as-dammit ten times the cost that he is paying to have his mum's done: ( £450) : his people were meant to collect the key today, so I stayed in as ordered. Yup, they didn't arrive. Now apparently it might be tomorrow morning - MIGHT BE? Of course it will.

I am feeling unreasonably peeved. Thanks to his brother's delaying tactics they are now more than nine months on since their mum died. Thanks to my being sans siblings I am a mere (come Wednesday) three months in. Am I going too fast? I dunno, I have nothing to measure against but I am aware of my limits and thems are limited. Hey-ho. DD

mig

Blxxdy heck DD that is expensive. (((()))) Mig

Boomer13

Wouldn't it be nice to have someone clean our houses.....
Something to dream about. That's very expensive, DD. More stress than you need at the moment.

((()))Anna

Megrose489

Hope that things get settled today, DD. These things are always difficult to deal with when you don't live close by.

Take care.

Meg

salamander

I thought people paid YOU to clear the house. I had no idea it was so expensive.

I hope it goes smoothly. I imagine it is an emotionally hard thing to do.

dreamdaisy

Thank you, I dunno what came over me last night, just stressed and tired I guess.

There was a knock on the door at 9.45pm, I toddle down in my nightie yelling for husband who eventually turned up after the business was done and dusted (he was lost in work on the top floor). Yup, it was the chap for his Mum's key - now that is a very loose interpretation of late afternoon/ early evening which was the eta Mr DD told me.

I was expecting a quote somewhere around three thousand but, once he'd seen the amount of 'shifting' required I guess that increased the workload. He estimates it will take four - five days.

Yup, we pay the clearance costs, whatever can be sent to auction will be so that might help recoup about £50. (If you don't want your rellies to be faced with these types of costs start going minimalist now.) I don't mind the bill, what grated was the well-meant 'lectures' I have listened to over the past couple of weeks about what needs to be done and how I should be doing it. Some things are far easier said than done, the healthy point of view is totally foreign to me as mine is to them. I rather envy them theirs.

I have just spoken to my Aunt, it's her birthday today (and our wedding anniversary). 'Are you feeling better yet?' she asked followed by 'When are those drugs going to do something for you?' I said that they are and that this is as good as it gets. 'Find another doctor.' was the instruction. Oh bless.

villier

Gosh I didn't realise house clearing was so expensive, anyway you stop stressing it will sort its self out. Happy Anniversary, you have a lovely relaxing pampering day to yourself.....................Marie xx

bubbadog

These house clearing companies can ask what they like! That's why my OH and his brother and his wife cleared Dad's house and I did the hardest job! Pointing what went in what box! And anything we didn't want to keep i.e cookers or settee's depending what state they where in other family members brought them off us or heart foundation came and collected them. That's the good thing about the heart foundation they take furniture as well as bric-a-brac.
I'm shocked at how much they charged you DD!
Family hey!!
You try and relax and have a happy anniversary! How many years?

elnafinn

Dear DD

I totally understand and sympathise how it is when you live a long way away from your mums home. I may as well be on my own as my brother has done what he is going to do and said that he does not want to come over to the house anymore and we should get house clearance people in. Well needless to say I did not particularly want this and gave people what they wanted and so on. So it is time to have it cleared as unfortunately I cannot keep going over there if someone wants the fridge, freezer, microwave, table chairs settee etc. We do have the house on the market and are lucky to have got a buyer within 2 days. Long may that continue to go smoothly.

For them to have quoted so much it must be a big house or lots to take away.

If you have the property on the market DD, why not get a couple of house clearance quotes and when these people wish to go round tell them to call into the estate agent's office (let them know too!) and collect the keys to have a look round. That way no one else would need to be there.

Love
Elna x

dreamdaisy

I decided that I wanted the house empty before it goes on the market. I have a feeling that whoever buys it will demolish it and start again because that is happening all over my mum's estate; it was built in the 60s and is very spacious, in that each plot is a good size and the houses (all detached) have a good fifteen feet between them. There are four bedrooms and a minute bathroom. The only thing that will be left in it will be the grand piano, it will look rather splendid in situ without all the furniture around it! That is being disposed of separately and I have some plans for it.

Mum's furniture is good quality but old and out of fashion. Some bits and pieces have gone but I don't have the energy to go chasing around charities etc, the house clearing people will dispose of the stuff as best they can. We moved in in October '61 and she was not disposed towards throwing things away. Husband found two bottles of Roederer champagne in the garage, dating from 1947 and 1949. :shock:

Elna, it's not an easy time is it? Husband and his brother came close to falling out on more than one occasion - maybe having siblings is not all it's cracked up to be. I am sure all will proceed smoothly for you and I hope will soon feel at peace with it.

I've been out shopping to get the ingredients for a goulash, one of his favourite dinners. We are sixteen years old today, our wedding day was exactly like this weather-wise, far too hot! We marrried in the Register Office and, on trying to say my words I couldn't get them out for crying. Dopey mare. I was soooo happy. And still am. DD

elnafinn

Hi DD

My brother had seen, read or something that people prefer to see furniture or at least some furniture in the rooms so that they know what the rooms are used for. Actually I found this quite hilarious - cannot people think that out for themselves? I supposed a house looks better with furniture in whether it is old fashioned or not, unless you know it will be demolished and then it does not really matter one way of the other either

We have not fallen out because that would not help matters. We do not generally live in each others pockets, never have and there is quite a distance between us so perhaps we see each other once twice a year with the occasional phone call/email. Because of the circumstances of late and on occasions during the last years of mums life when she was ill, we have of course seen and been in contact much more.

Hey ho! ENJOY your day, sounds like you are planning to do so. Continue to stay happy and look after each other. I expect it will all sort itself out sooner or later for us both. It will pass - as I think we both use this phrase.

Love
Elna x

dachshund

Hello DD
DD you and Mr DD have a lovely meal you've been through a lot this year.
I have a organ I asked the bhf if they would like it they said it was too
heavy so ask the council if they could take it away. I haven't dne that.
take care.
joan xx

mig

DD & Mr DD,Congratulations on your wedding anniversary ,we both hope you have a great evening together.Have you got a bottle of something suitable ? (((()))) (((()))) Mig

dibdab

Congratulations to you both, hope you have a lovely evening.

Trust your grated thumb is healing too.

Deb x

mig

Morning DD, Hope you both had a good evening.Try and rest up today you've had a busy few days,you probably won't if there's stuff to do.Mig

salamander

I like nothing better than empty rooms when viewing a house. You can see the structure, size and light much better. Much of my childhood was spent viewing houses - my parents moved a lot - and I really think I should have been either an architect or an estate agent! I might be better off if I' done either of those things!

Hope it goes well DD.

dreamdaisy

I'm with you on that, Salamander. To my mind someone else's tastes interfere when you are trying to imagine your own belongings in situ. Ma's house has had nothing done to it since it was built, apart from a new central heating system which was installed in the late 70s. The agent is going to use one of the photos my Pa took during its construction; this will be its first time on the market. Gulp. The old order changeth. DD

salamander

Clutter is the worst. You just want to exit rapidly. Lots of people like a property they can update and 'add value' to. As you can see, I've been watching too much property porn on the tv!