These points are not the end of the world and I shan’t loose any sleep over them, and I doubt the sale will fall through, but, it’s shame that the vendor of this unusual house in Redland had not heard of the above saying as he would surely…surely? would have replaced the 4, yes four inconsistent concrete tiles with ones that matched the remainder and replaced those 2, yes two cracked tiles, but sealed…repaired? with silicone with similar matching tiles to the main roof. He would surely have replaced the weathering tape around a vent pipe and seen that a better job was made of the installation of a velux, and cleaned the glass in the large sky light. But he didn’t, so he spoiled the roof for about twenty-five quid. Mind you, had he done that, then he would have had to paint the front of the house, because what on earth has been splashed over it and the front door, I don’t know. Even so, for the cost of a roller, 5 litres of Dulux and a couple of hours work would have sorted the problem; never mind, Portugal is obviously more important…they’re a great sailing nation too, I wonder what they do for tar…   more »

What a day... a day in the office...need I say more???   more »

This house that I looked at today was ostensibly built in the 1930's, but actually, I suspect that it and its neighbours may have been built a decade earlier. It was another house occupied by an elderly person and another that needs some updating. It has the original roof and the rafters are 'felted'.. The felt is torn, but as the tiles, for the time being are in 'whole' condition, and the slopes each in good alignment, I see no point in considering recovering the roof, unless my Client wants a 'shiny new' roof, that is. The guttering is a bit 'messy', but it does it's job. Walls are generally plumb, but the render to the rear will probably need hacking off and renewing. The windows have been replaced. Insulation must be improved and the house will then need modernising and redecorating. My Client can then take a well earned breather, happily watching the world go by looking down the Cran Valley and ponder that in the next few years the roof will have to be considered...   more »

In Suffolk there is a small village by the name of Woodbridge. Why is it so called? Because it has...a wooden bridge. This road in Upper Knowle was named after that village, but why is anybody's guess, perhaps the builder or 'developer' came from there – I don't know. What I do know is that seldom do I find a house so well maintained, with good quality fittings and in good decorative order. It was in some respects a 'show home', but that is how the owners like to live and what a very pleasant house I found it to be. Nothing really needs to be done and I regard my Clients as having found a real little gem. They can move in and with time on their hands can do some research...why is the road so called...   more »

I have been to see a mid terraced house in Totterdown today, but sadly most if not all of it's original features have been lost, probably because the area was fairly heavily damaged during enemy action of the last war. For some inexplicable reason, the Luftwaffe decided to bomb the cemetery in their effort which if nothing else must have caused some 'disturbance' to the nearby houses. It had been occupied since 1936 by the same person, who was now retiring to an elderly persons home. She was a bit old and couldn't remember much of what had gone on before, probably just aas well. Apart from a new roof to the main section, the house was in need of quite a lot of renovation, but will eventually make my Client a pleasant home. It is in a quiet situation, backing onto Arnos Cemetery, so no noise from there, and no need to look out for stay aircraft...   more »

Now I know why built in wardrobes were invented. There were none in this nine year old house, tucked away in a lesser known area of Clifton, that I visited to day which no doubt was the reason there were clothes strewn all over the place. The tenant freely admitted she had five daughters (and two sons, twins), which is why the place was such a tip – she was absolutely right – no argument there! They didn’t bother to open windows very much either, so they may find it a bit breezy tonight when they return, because they will find them open, but the rooms will also be fresher! The house has conventional walls of cavity construction, but the floors are of re-enforced concrete, which is a bit unusual. Unfortunately the bricklayer was not up to scratch, but my Clients’ will have to live with that. They won’t be able to live with leaking roofs that will need attention as will a couple of the parapet walls. The house will also need TOTAL re-decoration; I have suggested white, white white – white everywhere! In addition to the five or so bedrooms there is a separate studio and a double garage, but I shall be dreaming of clothes tonight…   more »

Back into civilisation I looked at another pleasant detached house today, tucked away in a peaceful road, yet only a relatively short distance from reasonable local amenities, including the good old Co-Op in Stoke Lane. The house was built in the 1970’s, and apart from occasional redecoration and replacement windows, I don’t suppose much alteration has been carried out since that time. The bathroom and cloakroom probably have the original fitments. The garden is small – ish, but easily maintained; there is a garage and car port and store. It was not in bad condition, so my Client can proceed safely on his way form Clifton, to the peace and quiet of Stoke Bishop…   more »

I had to burst up to Minchinhampton (Gloucestershire) today to look at a pleasant two bedroomed house, only a short walk from the centre of the village. The house was in a private development, like many seem to be up there and had been occupied, I guess for along time probably by an elderly person. It was a little depressing, but after new kitchen and bathroom fitments have been installed, a coat of paint and the lawn cut and garden trimmed it will be a remarkably different place. My wife’s family used to live close by, so it was nice to be able to re-acquaint my self with the area, but boy did it rain! Anyway job done and the rain gave way to sunshine, but, still there was no time for cider with Rosie, or anyone else for that matter…   more »

I was asked to value a number of flats in Clifton today; houses owned by my Client that had all these flats let out as investment properties. They were all, by and large in fairly good condition and all seemingly meeting the current Fire Regulations. Good, it’s always good and pleasant to find landlords who look after their properties, so few don’t. I decided to walk to them as they were all within relatively easy walking distance of each other and I thought I would give my parking g fairy a rest today! I was being ‘ecologically’ sound and for my troubles got an ecologically sound drenching!!!   more »

I had to wait for a few days before I was able to get to the top floor of this substantial semi-detached house in Redland today, as the occupier was on holiday in Italy. He liked it so much that he brought his girl friend home with him… and she was waiting for me…to let me in and very nice she is… Anyway back to business, I was able to get up and onto the roof through a narrow skylight in the top floor flat, which is why I was waiting, and was then able to report as fully as possible on the state of the lower flat in particular that my Client is hoping to buy, and the building in general, each of which were as fine as I could reasonably hope them to be. Now where could I learn Italian, in Redland…   more »

I have been back to central Bristol today to look at a mid terraced pavement edged private dwelling house, all rather run down and in need of TLC. I had to value it, but that’s OK, as I looked at another house in the same road a few months ago and I know of a house close by that has also sold, so I’ve good ‘comparables’ to hand…   more »

I have just seen a very pleasant ‘retirement’ flat – no not for my self – for a Client, who has found a very pleasant one bedroomed property in a three storey purpose built block. It is on the third floor, but a lift is provided, although I have advised that the stairs should be used to keep fit and healthy. (I, of course used the lift!) It was sound and, well built and in good condition, which I like to see. It is set in attractive grounds that front on to Mad House lane, sorry, Manor Road. It was, however, at one time called Mad House Lane because many years ago a certain Dr Joseph Mason established a private asylum there in the eighteenth century, no doubt what has eventually become the Blackberry ‘Health’ Centre – times haven’t changed much, only the name and ‘political correctness’, but I think Manor Road sounds much better…   more »

Many moons ago there was a research laboratory at Long Ashton, and if memory serves me correctly it was known as (as one might expect) The Long Ashton Cider Research Institute and it was at the far end of the village. Unfortunately some builder or other got hold of the land, because it was no longer profitable to do research into cider apples and the orchards were grubbed up and houses built over them, but… I have just been to see a bungalow in a road called Orchard, in the same village, no doubt named after the original cider orchards that used to surround this small development. The Local Authority for whom the dwellings were built called this cul de sac by a sensible name, and not some fandangled made up horrible name as they often do! My Clients have found a pleasant property largely in good condition and with an open aspect. I expect that they will undertake some ‘re-modelling’ and maybe make a few changes, but there is nothing to stop them proceeding with their purchase. When they have finished, they can sit out and look over the tennis courts and bowls club and wonder how many trees there were once there, many moons ago…`   more »

It is somewhat ironic that the banks have foreclosed on the developer of this former Grade II Listed Hotel that has been skilfully and sympathetically divided into six houses, particularly as they were the instigators of this recession; their unabashed greed has lead to all of this misery. Never mind, they have kindly stepped in and forced the sale – wasn’t that good of them? It’s proved they know little of banking; I wonder how much they know much about developing property, but they’ve got to do something. Anyway all of that to one side, my Clients have found a very pleasant house a short distance, six straight-ish miles from the nearest large town, almost in the peace and quiet of the countryside. Almost – the London train hurtles past fairly regularly and although it’s in a cutting, it can be heard. The country lane is also used as a bit of a race track, and well, like the train they too hurtle past, which may be a little annoying. The developer has done a good job on it’s conversion and it’s extremely well fitted out, but they left out a couple of bricks in a hidden gable wall at roof level, and because this is the countryside, in came the bats…   more »

Dealing with the above at what was fairly short notice, when I have my diary planned made me a little bit late for my principal job for today, an inspection of a 1930’s mid terraced house in Hengrove. It had been occupied by an elderly person who had clearly lived in the dwelling for a very long time, but, structurally it was sound. It was what I describe as a ‘wysiwyg’ (pronounced wizziwig) house – What You See Is What You Get – A typically built house of the period, as noted structurally sound, but in need of modernisation and improvement. The almost ‘gas geyser’ hot water heater will have to be replaced with a condensing combination boiler etc etc, but all in all not a bad house – well done Client   more »

At last I have been able to get on to the roof of this converted hotel that Jobsworth did not want me on the other day! All was fine; it was very windy, but both he (I had to be accompanied of course, so he could see how I fell off the roof, if I fell off the roof, but as I am writing this…) and I were perfectly OK. It was funny to see the plasters’ working off three plastic milk bottle crates piled one on top of each other off the scaffolding over the stairwell, which I naturally pointed out to him, and then used my own ladders off the said scaffolding to get to the roof and complete my work! Hey Ho! Good old Jobsworth…   more »

This is the second rectory, or in this case former rectory that I have seen in the Chew valley in the past few months and as one of my other Clients deals solely with the church I shall probably be asked to take the cloth before I carry out surveys on any more former diocesan property! Today I was looking at a rectory built in 1860, by a certain reverend gentleman – a gentleman with TEN daughters who built this property that, I guess, eventually reverted to the Bath & Wells Diocesan property board. I suspect that at a later date they thought it rather ‘vulgar’, maybe a tad too ostentatious for a humble village vicar, so they sold off part of the garden and then divided up the rectory into what it is today, two substantial semi-detached houses and put the vicar in a house of more mundane proportions! The present vendor has kept it probably in far better condition than were it still a church property and I found it largely sound and in good condition. It has a very large coloured glass staircase window with religious connotations over what is a magnificent staircase. The house is spacious, and fairly well laid out. It has a pleasant garden and a swimming pool, and is only a stone’s throw from the village shop. The trouble is that if I took the cloth, I would only do so if I could wear a purple shirt, or is that vestments…   more »

I couldn't get into or onto the roof of the house that I was supposed to inspect today, because the owner of the top floor flat had either not returned or had not read his e-mails, so I had to find something else to do. So, I went back to Nailsea, where I had been the other week when I looked at a bungalow that my Client, rightly in my view, decided not to purchase after my report – a good decision. I looked at another bungalow today that my Client had found, but this time it was fine, except for the roof. but even so I know, that all things being equal my Client will proceed. The roof had sagged, but there again, so had the other roofs in the raod. When I got into the roof space I found that it was of very traditional construction, built with cut rafters and purlins here supported with double struts bolted into a triangular truss rafter, two, that were just proud of the general roof line, so giving it a 'sagged' appearance. The roof here is probably far stronger than most of the flimsy rafter systems used today. What's more, it was as a whole in good condition and there ain't no settlement or cracking, so my Client can get cracking – on with the purchase...   more »

I spent the extended week-end endeavouring to renovate my fish pond which involved taking up large areas of concrete and re-housing about 120 gold fish, so I was pleased to be back at work today and to look at a pleasant late Georgian property in which my Client hopes to buy the hall floor flat. The building as a whole was reasonably well maintained, particularly as there are at least two absentee landlords. He has found a one bedroomed flat, larger on the bedroom size than the kitchen/living room/dining area size, but that is how this flat has been laid out to it's most advantageous arrangement. It has quite unusual vertically hung shutters, that I don't see every day and there are some who have them and don't even know they exist!

Then I went to Sneyd Park to look at a purpose built flat for valuation purposes. Fortunately I had seen another flat in the same development a few months back, so that was not too much trouble! Next I saw a top floor flat where water had penetrated to the extent that part of the ceiling had fallen down. I was asked to advise on the insurance implications, which in my view were not good. Why had it taken so long even to make the claim, when the damage occurred in February? Further, had the flat roof been maintained, then the leak would not have occurred – all in all, not a good omen...   more »

Mr Beezer, who later joined forces with Tarmac Homes, built this development in Henleaze. (They later became part of Wimpey – We Import More Paddy’s Every Year). The houses do not change hands very often because they are very popular and having seen this I now see why! The property here was well maintained and up together rather like the house my Client is selling. There are no essential repairs. It has good quality double glazing and an enviable remote controlled roller shutter door to it’s garage. It does have a couple of drawbacks – there is no ground floor cloakroom that would be difficult to introduce and the road is a little bit busy. That aside, I hope my Client will be very happy in Henleaze…   more »

I was asked to look at a converted hotel, or to be precise what is now called a 'duplex' – American slang for a maisonette – in this former hotel. It was being sold 'off-plan', a bit unusual these days, so the conversion work was - work in progress. I was met by Jobsworth, the site agent, who insisted that I wear a high visibility jacket, even though I was nowhere near a motorway and a hard hat, which I gladly accepted (as having once had a scaffold plank fall on me, but I lived to tell the tale as I was wearing such a hard hat). I was accompanied around as if I had never been on a building site before, though why I am still unsure. I wanted to look at the roof, it was an inverted ridge roof, 'V' – shaped in section and so I said that I would go out of the skylight. I had ladders with me and I would place them on the three adjoining scaffold planks. NO – you couldn't possibly do that! “We will be bringing a 'cherry-picker' to gain access to the roof for the final inspection” What on earth do these people think that surveyors do when in a house on their own, have a cherry-picker in tow? I tried to persuade the site manager, but it was more than his jobs worth...   more »