After several fraught months of dealing with the vendor/agent (yes the same person) we ended up owning the house at the end of May. We sold our house in April and agreed to break the chain because our buyers, Dan and Jane, had a cash buyer for theirs and they were keen (read desperate) to get in. Luckily, Phil and Tam invited us to stay with them for a month until we could move into ours. Once we were settled (terms of our tenancy verbally and therefore LEGALLY agreed - it'll take them months of legal action to prove otherwise) I could focus on planning the renovation and extension. Luckily, Tam and Phil said we could stay as long as we liked (saving themselves a few quid on legal proceedings). Seriously, thanks so much guys, we really appreciate it, would like to say we'd do the same for you some time... but we won't.The first task was to clear the house of anything that wasn't actually nailed down and many things that were. The first weekend after the house was officially ours, we (read I) were keen to get in and start work. Carpets needed taking up, furniture needed removing and we took out the kitchen with some help from The Spouse's brother-in-law, Phil (thanks so much, more on your help later) and my sister-in-law Tam (in this case: more moral support than potentially-breaking-a-nail assistance). Thanks to Penny and David for providing the lovely lunch and birthday cake for the Spouse. Yes, so it was my lovely husband's birthday, but you have to remember that we had waited ages to own the house (problems with tenants) and patience not being one of my virtues I was VERY eager to get in. The Spouse was keen to be celebrating his birthday, ah well maybe another year.
I have been planning the renovations for months, and in my head everything was running like clockwork. So not sure how I had The Spouse in a starring role of DIYist extraordinaire. His inital task of removing the kitchen threw up a barrage of 'skills' issues. Luckily Phil was on hand with 100% common sense and a fully stocked tool box. Incidentally all the units and appliances were reused - I gifted them via freecycle.
