Andrew Beards Blog

Hansel and Gretel Could Have Lived Here…

Andrew Beard — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:03:00 +0000

Today I was looking at a very modern property down by The Farm, a collection of oddly designed residences in a fairly quiet location though the main line railway to Gloucester is set above the development and trains pass by quite frequently. They are travelling slowly, so very quickly I got used that fact, and so I hope will my Client. The dwelling was not large and had an interesting sedum roof and I suspect was so well insulated that heating was not incorporated. It does have a solar panel to help with hot water and a wood-burning stove for the very cold winter months. Windows of course are double glazed and were made in Sweden where they know about cold. There is a small garden and although the area is very eco-friendly and green there was no parking space. There seem to be parking spaces most other properties, but not this one, so you will have to either bike it or bump it…

Not Quite Old Enough for Coal…

Andrew Beard — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Today I have been over in east Bristol where for many years coal was mined, but it ceased in the 18th century. The coal was used in the manufacture of brass, copper and glass and in the potteries and in the sugar refineries and in local distilleries. Kingswood was a major player in that direction. The mines generally speaking were many hundreds of feet deep and I think quite unlikely they would have had any material effect on the value of the cottage I inspected on behalf of my Client. There was no evidence of any serious cracking of the main walls to indicate this was the case. The roof was in fairly good condition as were the two valley gutters, one being lined with lead and the other with fibreglass though the end sections of each, I think are suspect as the walls below were damp. The rear wall of the cottage was slightly damp and there was some dampness at ground level but I suspect the house has been damp proofed professionally but how well it was completed I am unsure. The windows have all been replaced and are in good condition. There is a bathroom at ground level and an ensuite cloakroom at first floor level. It's not in bad condition but my Client is intending to make various alterations, which is fine because there is a reasonable base from which to start work. Don't dig too deep for foundations or you might find a seam of coal…

A Real Dose of Measles…

Andrew Beard — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:43:00 +0000

I was over in the largest cul-de-sac in Europe today looking at a relatively modern detached house that had been vacant during the cold spell earlier in the year. No one had bothered to turn off the water or to drain the system. The result was that the cold water storage tank in the roof froze and when it thawed, hundreds of gallons of water, well about a hundred gallons spilled out into the house taking down some of the first floor ceilings and cascading out of the house. The water is now turned off, a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted (talking of Cheltenham, which we’re not!) When I arrived there was a deafening hum of fans and dehumidifiers. They had dried out the house almost entirely but many of the rooms are decimated with condensation, hundreds of little black blobs giving the accommodation dose of measles. My Client has got his work cut out sorting everything out, but at the end of the day, when quarantine is over he should have a pleasant enough home…

Spring is in the Air, But It's Always Cold at Failand…

Andrew Beard — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:10:00 +0000

Well that's what I thought initially but I found the frost had killed off some my tomatoes that I had diligently pricked out over the weekend. Today I have been to see an interesting semi-detached house, a six sided house though of course only five sides were visible, the sixth side was the party wall, all making this a slightly ‘L’ - shaped house built on a corner plot probably for the local authority in the 1930s. It has been occupied for the past 42 or so years by the present owner so it does require certain amount of tender loving care, for which you can read general modernisation and improvement. The house retains its original roof, the tiles and the slater's felt is and although the tiles are starting to give up the ghost, the slater's felt below is in reasonably good condition. Nevertheless my Client must realise that at some stage someone or other is going to have to bite the bullet and recover the roof. It can probably wait until the house is modernised and possibly rewired because at present it is dry. The garage has been converted into a more secure bike store but it and its outhouse each have asbestos cement roofs so those may need recovering in due course. It was a sunny day when I arrived and even sunnier day when I left; shame about my tomatoes though…

Hello Hengrove…

Andrew Beard — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:14:00 +0000

Today I have been to see a pleasant 1930s semi-detached property. My Clients have found a house that structurally is in good condition. It is built with walls of cavity construction but there was no evidence of cavity wall tie failure. It has the original roof and the original tiles. The tiles have in part been replaced where they deteriorated and as the rafters are protected by the original slater’s felt there was little evidence of any water penetration, but, the roof really has come to the end of its useful life. My Clients must therefore be prepared to replace the roof at some stage though this is not necessary immediately. Gutters and downpipes are in acceptable condition. The windows have been replaced and they are in acceptable condition even though they are all bashed about a bit and they tend also to be showing their age. Insulation in roof is modest can be improved upon. The house has a clean bathroom suite, but the shower has leaked in the past. The kitchen is narrow but adequately fitted and from this you can be realise the house needs a certain amount of tender loving care to be lavished on it…

St Matthews Church Was Built in Two Years…

Andrew Beard — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:16:00 +0000

In 1833 the foundations of St Matthew's church were laid and the church was built in two years to a design by Thomas Rickman and finished in 1835. It is a standing testament to the man at the time and the builders of the period and indeed to the parishioners of today who keep it well maintained. My Client is purchasing a much newer house that overlooks this church and I suspect though significantly, very vary significantly smaller it still took quite a long time to build, but that's the way of the world. Machines should be quicker, but perhaps nowadays men take longer! Whatever, the house I saw today was largely in good condition and nicely finished. There are one or two slight breaches, for example there are no ventilators to any of the windows which is a shame, particularly as the windows are well made. Of course obscure glass has been fitted to the bathroom window, as per the building regulations, but if the upper pain was replaced with clear, then it would open up and enliven the aspect from the bathroom considerably and privacy from the prying eyes of the parishioners could be avoided by Venetian blinds or net curtains. Glazed one-way panels in the front door would also lighten the hallway. The house has parking which is of benefit but at last the burghers of Cotham and Kingsdown have got their heads together and agreed to residents parking, so parking there is now a doddle; why didn't they think that five years ago? I like this house and as new houses go it has a lot to be going for it…

I like Morgan's Hill…

Andrew Beard — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:22:00 +0000

Today I have been down in the old coal mining village of Nailsea though coalmining ceased here many years ago, as did the glass works, the remains of which are beneath Tesco at the northern edge of the town. Morgan's Hill is a fairly large development of what could almost be described up market houses and bungalows built in the 1980s by a firm known as Comben Homes; from memory I think they were Bristol-based and they also built houses on the dockside. This house was in a reasonably quiet stretch of road and a property that I found largely in good condition and free from defect. It is however starting to show its age particularly in some of the external timber where edges of the fascia board, edges of the barge board and some of the windows have wet rot decay in them, that can only get slowly and progressively worse. Repairs here will be needed in due course. That aside the house was quite pleasantly laid out though I rather felt the architect who gave the house a double garage that was almost larger than the living room and dining room put together missed a trick here. A single garage would probably have been better and a re-gigged ground floor accommodation could have made a big improvement, something perhaps for my Clients to consider…

There's A Lot to Be Said for Stability…

Andrew Beard — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 17:43:00 +0000

This is the second property I have seen for my Client, the first being a large and sort of gracious flat, but one that was at the same time somewhat ungainly and I think that it would have become more so at the end of the day. They have now found a very traditional three bedroomed 1930s built house. It is close to good local amenities, a bus service, local shops, schools and even a library; it is well positioned from that point of view. The principal chimney stack is in good condition; the second is no longer used and in due course can be taken down to below roof level. The roof is covered with the original tiles no doubt on the original battens and certainly on the original slater’s felt. The felt is just, just starting to fail but as the tiles, here Marseille clay tiles, are fully interlocking, well the roof ain't leaking, so it can remain. Main walls show little sign of any settlement or movement and they are reasonably dry. Windows have been replaced but internally insulation within the roof void need beefing up. The house has adequate amenities though I would not be surprised were my Clients interested in refurbishing the kitchen and sanitary ware. Certainly I would ditch the obscured glass in the bathroom window for clear to look out onto the long garden. Wiring and heating each need testing but otherwise there was nothing wrong with this house, and as I said above, there is an awful lot to be said for stability…

Clifton with a Difference…

Andrew Beard — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:13:00 +0000

There are a number of people who don't like where I've been today, a modern house in the heart of Clifton. I suppose they think it's a bit ‘infra dig’ to be in a conservation area, probably living in a listed building and to have a 1980s house in the middle of it all. Those people probably paid many, many thousands of pounds for their tiny little flat with no parking, congested streets, no garden, noise, pollution the list goes on. My Client has a garage, has a parking space, has a good-sized south facing garden, has an open aspect, has a well fitted house, in a quiet location. No, it's not listed, it doesn't have the cachet of a listed building, neither does it have the expensive maintenance associated with such a property and it didn't cost millions. I like what my Client has bought, so no more looking...

Georgian or Victorian…

Andrew Beard — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Today I was asked to look at a maisonette in Redland. It was part of a listed terrace of houses, the bulk of which were built in 1840, on the cusp of the Victorian era but the house I was today was probably built prior to that, I suspect in 1820 or thereabouts as it was provided with what are known as tripartite windows, in order to beat or evade Window Tax of the period. It was a reasonably well maintained property, but at some stage the entire roof has been renewed, including rafters and purlins, and somehow I doubt any listed building consent was obtained, as the tiles are probably younger than 1977 when the house was listed. I expect the roof was upgraded after listed building consent was obtained for the conversion in 1994 but whether or not that consent included rebuilding the roof I don't know. Time will tell…

This and That…

Andrew Beard — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:42:00 +0000

This morning I had a slightly unusual job inasmuch as I had to value a house that has been deemed defective by the government under the 1986 Housing Act. My Client had purchased it under a right to buy, but did not take up the government's offer of repairing the house under a 90% grant; shame really. The Local Authority now want to purchase it back again so I have to argue the toss about value of a house which is deemed defective and of course is un-mortgageable. Fortunately I had agreed a valuation under similar circumstances, and on a similar style house, three years ago. It means that I can use the Land Registry house price indices to, hopefully, gear up the valuation to something higher than the local authority are hoping to pay. It will be an interesting, ongoing case. Later on I was looking at four houses all let out to students and, rightly, my Client was interested in having them fully insured so asked me to value them for that purpose. Another day, another dollar…

Lufa’s Settlement, down by Castle Carey…

Andrew Beard — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:13:00 +0000

Today I've been down in Lufa’s settlement, an area mentioned in the Domesday book when, at the time there was a mill on the River Brue. Whether or not this is the site of the current Lovington Mill, built around 1800 I'm unsure. What I can say is the cottage that I inspected was built circa 1650 so it's then occupants might have seen the original mill; they may even have gone to the mill to get grist with, or was that someone from Aberystwyth? The current occupants I have to say are pleasant enough people, but nevertheless heathens! They arbitrary removed an original newel post and probably tossed it on the fire when they took out the original circular staircase; they probably burned that too. And they then removed, in its entirety the other inglenook fireplace, because it got in the way. Fortunately they have done little other damage and have kept it fairly well maintained. The River Brue forms part of the boundary so no doubt they will have apiarian rights to fish in their half. It is a reasonably quiet situation about an hours drive from Bristol, so if I was living there, I might never do any work…

Back to School Today…

Andrew Beard — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:31:00 +0000

Today I was looking at a fairly young property on the southern slopes of Cliftonwood, overlooking the floating Harbour and, as the estate agents details state, some of Bristol's iconic past. The house was of very modern construction being a steel framed property clad externally with a weather boarding followed by a mineral render to protect it. There was insulation within the frame and internally the walls are finished with plasterboard. Internal partitions are of mild steel struts to which plasterboard is fixed as is the chipboard floor though here of course securely to steel joists. Hopefully everything will be galvanised, otherwise over a period time, a very long period of time, some rusting may occur. The house was built on ground at the back of which is a cliff face into which numerous ground anchors were installed to keep the ground aboveand the houses built on it quite stable. The house was certainly warm and I suspect it is well insulated. To an extent it was a little bit overlooked by some of the older properies and I rather felt that living in it might be a little bit like living in a fishbowl, because everyone could see in, which is probably why there are Venetian blinds everywhere. I suspect with a little bit of ingenuity in order to create some privacy this could become an even more enchanting home…

All and Sundry Have Lived Here or so It Seems…

Andrew Beard — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:03:00 +0000

The Vendor of this rather large house in Westbury on Trym has details of many of the previous owners who lived at this property which he has slowly renovated over the past four years. Being built originally in the 17th century it is a Grade II Listed Building where fortunately there aren't too many breaches of good conservation policy, but,enough to be going on with. Originally, it was a farmhouse that slowly got gentrified and of course internally has now been 21st ‘century-ised’, as one would expect. It is a fairly well laid out property standing in a good-sized plot and I suspect that at one time it farmed all land in this area of Bristol, but that was before the 1930s. Someone has done quite a lot of research as to the previous occupants which is why it seems that all and sundry have lived here including one Jacob Sturge, no doubt a landowner and good all-time egg as he was a founder The Bristol Chartered Surveyors, JP Sturge…

Finished the Roof… Just in Time…

Andrew Beard — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:18:00 +0000

I am pleased to say that I finished looking at the roof of the building I was examining yesterday, yesterday. Why? Because today it was raining. I was able to complete the remainder of my report in relative comfort and so hopefully my Client will get his report during the early part of next week, hopefully just-in-time…

Read All about It…

Andrew Beard — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:51:00 +0000

Today I had a bit of an urgent job to start because I'm looking at a large commercial premises in the Clifton area, so large that it is going to take me two days and no doubt countless photographs. Fortunately the building was probably residential in the early part of its life before it became semi-commercialised, but that suits me down to the ground. My Client wishes to make some alterations so I will have to take into account some of the internal accommodation for which is not actually responsible, just in case a small crack appears here or there. Tomorrow I hope to finish the report and then get it out to both parties ASAP, where they can read all about it…

Well You Would Wouldn't You???

Andrew Beard — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:53:00 +0000

Today I have been over in St. Anne's, where rumour has it that a pilgrims path led to the holy waters of St Anne's Well where a chapel was built in the 1100s. I wasn't near the path or the well or the chapel, all of which I suspect disappeared many years ago. I was instead looking at a pleasant detached house built in the 1930s in a cul-de-sac in St Anne's. Mr and Mrs Vendor had kept it fairly well maintained and it was largely in good condition, I was pleased to be able to report to my Client. Interestingly, Mr and Mrs Vendor kept chickens, it's the sort of thing crofters do in this part of the world, and as part of the deal, they are included in the sale; as a result my client is cock-a-hoop…

Keynsham, that spelt K..E..Y..N..S..H..A..M…

Andrew Beard — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:01:00 +0000

Horace Batchelor will be known by some of a certain age if only because he lived at Keynsham, spelt K..E.., when he advertised his famous 'infra-draw' method on Radio Luxembourg. This is not what you may be thinking but a way of making large amounts of money through football pools. I don't know how well he did or, how well his punters fared, but he used to live in a very large house on the A4, and if I remember correctly it had a green tiled roof! Today however I was unable to see much of the roof of the house I was inspecting because it was three stories high and it was flat though I am advised that it was covered with a ‘metallised roofing felt’; something of which I've never heard. The roof slopes were covered with reconstituted slate and the house was built with concrete bricks. It was all a bit strange really but, nevertheless it was all in acceptable condition though it is a house that requires a certain amount of updating, that's spelt m..o..d..e..r..n..i..s..a..t..i..o..n…

Fireworks and Sugar…

Andrew Beard — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:57:00 +0000

Celestine is a mineral that was used mainly by the Germans for refining sugar. However, the strontium compounds it contained were also used for fireworks, because it gave a rather pleasant blue flame. It was mined in Germany, naturally, North America and Madagascar as these were the primary areas. It was also mined rather closer to home at Yate, because it had a high concentration of the mineral in the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks of the area. It was generally found by opencast mining, often by farm labourers wanting additional funds. The rector of Yate started mining on the church lands in the 19th century, until the church found out! Today I have been in Yate but I was not looking for Celestine, I was looking at a bungalow where a certain amount of cracking in various walls soon became apparent after I had run into the kitchen, because the floor leading to it was on a slope. I think here that my Client will be making a claim on their insurance policy to have the walls and possibly the floors arrested and strengthened so that no further movement occurs. It is difficult to know exactly why the movement occurred; there is as far as I am aware, no made up land but certainly further investigations will have to be made. Drains will need to be tested because there may well be a problem here. The good news is of course that when they dig and expose the drains they may find some Celestine…

Now, Where Was I Today???

Andrew Beard — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:55:00 +0000

I was asked not to say where I have been today, so I will not! I will be pleased to advise everybody however that I was not skiving as some may think if the blog was not completed!!!

Even the Gulag Can Become Attractive…

Andrew Beard — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:52:00 +0000

When this development was built in the early 1980s of the blocks of flats which shielded the houses behind and on the waterfront looked a bit like prisons, Russian prisons at that. They have however, over the past 30 years, well just under actually, become less offensive to the eye or perhaps one's eyes have become more used to seeing them. They seem to have mellowed. They are not harsh brash brick built buildings that they were when originally built. Trees have grown and they all look quite pleasant. Many are occupied by retired professional people so they keep an eye on the Management Company and ensure they do what they should be doing. Nevertheless, over the last 30 or so years natural weathering has taken its toll and there are some areas that will require repair, but this can be completed when the building is next scaffolded. The property I saw, a pleasant two-bedroom flat had been nicely modernised and was largely in good condition. The bedrooms face the A 4, so could be noisy and earplugs may be the order of the day…

No Monkey Business Here…

Andrew Beard — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:22:00 +0000

A long time ago the monks of St Augustine’s Abbey probably owned most of the land in South Bristol but following dissolution of the monasteries the land was taken over by one, John Smyth a merchant from Small Street in the City, in the 16th century. In the 19th century one of his relations, John Henry Greville Smyth rebuilt Ashton Court Mansion and I suspect some of the roads in South Bristol were named after him. I was in one such road today, in a fairly large mid-terraced house that was in need of a certain amount of tender loving care. Structurally it was not in poor condition and although I found war glass in three of the windows, my records show that the nearest bomb dropped well over a street away (I have plans of all the exploded , and UXB's, in Bristol from WWII) but I suppose it might have blown out the windows. Whether or not the rear extension was ever in part rebuilt I do not know. I do know there is a large crack in it but I suspect this is very historic. Yes, my Client could move straight in and do very little, because the heating was working, everything was working but I suspect he's going to plan on spending a bit of money on renovating and improving it, and who could blame him? In the end my Client will have a very pleasant house…

A Welcoming Sight in Henleaze…

Andrew Beard — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0000

I have never been to Downing Street, so I don't know how good is the painted door to No. 10, but I suspect its steel and not timber. Today I saw a substantial semi-detached house in a pleasant tree-lined avenue and was greeted by a delightfully well painted front door, where the brass latch, the brass letterbox and the brass house number were all highly polished. You sort of know from that point onwards that the house is going to be well maintained, and so it was. It had been in the same ownership for well over 30 years, so it was all a little bit dated and there was some evidence of dampness in the upper accommodation but, most of this is historic, because the chimney stacks and roofs and gutters were all in good condition. The stone on the front elevation had been cleaned and internally there was little evidence of any serious dampness at ground level. External timber has been well maintained and was almost as well decorated as the front door though Pete, the painter didn't ease all of the windows when he had finished. Insulation in roof void needs beefing up and the house may require some attention to the wiring. The boiler is old but it's working. I expect my Clients will wish to replace the kitchen and bathroom and maybe carry out some re-planning but that's fine; they have a pleasant house from which to start work, so good for them…

Worcester - a Grade II Listed Building…

Andrew Beard — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:37:00 +0000

Today I had the good fortune to look at a mid-terraced private dwelling house in one of this City's better residential areas. Parking of course was a real problem, because although the City Fathers in their wisdom have issued residential parking permits, the residents don't get temporary permits for visitors. Never mind, my parking fairy looked after me as usual, so as usual a big thank you to her, for finding me a space obliquely opposite the house where I could stay for three hours; I did and for more! The house itself was built in about 1830 and was in reasonable condition but I was disappointed with some of the weathering at roof level though as yet water is not penetrating the house from these points. Water has penetrated in other areas but all of this can be rectified relatively easily, though of course there will be a cost implication. The house looks sound and solid but in the roof space there is a fairly wide crack between the two adjoining houses and although I couldn't get my hand into it, I could see into the opposite void. It is evident in the roof void, but it ain't particularly noticeable elsewhere which is good news. However, there is some movement above the front living room door about which might Client will, of course be aware. Many of the windows are paint jammed and these will need easing and one or two will require repair. The basement has seemingly been fully tanked and was generally dry. This is a pleasant house in a quiet location but it does require some money to be spent on it but, thankfully not a fortune…

Go Directly to Jail - Do Not Pass Go - Do Not Collect £200…

Andrew Beard — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:57:00 +0000

As you might have guessed today I was up in Horfield, but I didn't see any Vine Street, Marlborough Street, or Bow Street, the Angel Islington, Bond Street or Mayfair were all sadly lacking! I was however close to the city ‘nick’, because the garden of the house I inspected backs right up to its walls. There are quite high walls as well, as one would perhaps expect and are built of brick rather like the proverbial you know what. I'm please report that this house was also structurally sound and largely in good condition. It does require a fairly significant amount of money to be spent on its remodelling and dragging into the 21st century, but the chimney stacks roofs and most the gutters were in reasonable condition. The windows have already been in part replaced, in part they can remain and in part they may have to be changed although my Client may wish to replace them all on a uniform basis. They should certainly consider cleaning the stone elevation which would then come up looking like new. They will have to deal with the interior, no doubt full rewiring, extending the heating, but the bathroom wasn't in poor condition. The kitchen is limited but I suspect my Clients have ideas for this. I like this road because parking here is not too difficult and is close to reasonably good shopping of Gloucester Road, which I'm told is one of the better shopping streets if not in the country, then certainly in Bristol…

Back down in Somerset Where the Cider Apples Grow…

Andrew Beard — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:11:00 +0000

I'm really not surprised that the Wurrzells came from Somerset and that ‘Wassailing’ still continues to this day in some of the Somerset orchards. Exactly what the philanthropist and all-time good egg, Mrs Hannah More would have thought about all of this I have no idea, but no doubt she pondered upon this and that as she wandered through the gardens of Barley Wood. Dr Chalmers, whose name is associated with whatever belongs to the advancement of truth, and the practical good of his country ; Dr. Paterson, the Northern Bible Missionary, who had just returned from Russia, and Dr. Henderson, who had very recently accomplished a tour through the North of Europe were three of its distinguished visitors in 1817. However, in consequence of the disgraceful conduct of her servants which was accidentally discovered by a visitor,(one has to wonder what he was doing of course), Mrs. More considered it advisable to leave her much loved haunt of Barley Wood, and take up her abode in Clifton, though I'm not sure where). Anyway all of that happened in 1825 or thereabouts, but the house I saw today was significantly younger and probably built in the late Victorian/early Edwardian period. It is a very substantial property extended some 30 or so years ago by the present owner and one which I found largely in good condition and free from major defect. It is a well built property having a boarded and tiled roof under stone walls which are ofsubstantial construction. It has plenty of outbuildings and for the sporting enthusiasts all right amenities are very close to hand…

I Could Have Been in Liverpool Today…

Andrew Beard — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Liverpool FC play on/at Anfield Park and also in Liverpool there is another park, 200 acres of land known as Sefton Park, a very popular tourist area that is regularly visited. Today I was not in Liverpool but I was in a road that is also regularly visited judging by the amount of cars parked on either side of it, so making travel along it a precarious business. The house I was asked to see is a mid-terraced property that has clearly been occupied for many, many years, I suspect by very elderly people who have moved on. (Where they have moved onto I'm afraid I don't know!) They have however left the house empty but it is a house that is going to require everything doing to it internally. Externally it requires some attention but not a new roof and the gutters to the rear can remain as can windows to the front. Money can be saved on the roof and spent on restoring the front elevation and it will then l become one of the smartest houses in Liverpool sorry, Bristol. Internally, like I say everything needs to be done, but that in one respect is of great benefit because my Clients can restore it to how they want and not how someone else would like them to live, if you see what I mean. They must be careful not to capitalise on it, but there is no real reason not to proceed…

A one bedroomed flat in St Pauls…

Andrew Beard — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Otherwise known as St Werburgh's, when you are selling. Today I looked at another small one-bedroom flat in a four-storey semi-detached house that was originally converted by Bristol Housing Association who morphed into People for Places, but I suspect is still the same old housing association. Here however I believe squatters got into the property so instead of renovating it they sold it to Dave, that's that's not his correct name, the developer who then renovated the property. He didn't do a bad job, but the access to the roof was sealed for ever because whilst scaffolding was surrounding the house someone tried to get into the skylight. Now of course to clear the parapet gutter a tower scaffold will be needed. Steve, the stainer did appalling job of staining the floor, and what an awful colour he chose; at the very least the skirting boards will require re-decorating. That aside, the flat wasn't in poor condition, it was light and bright and I liked it and again, all things being considered, I see no reason why my client should not safely proceed…

Back to Blogging Again…

Andrew Beard — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:04:00 +0000

I have been advised by a couple of agents that they missed my blog, of keeping everyone up-to-date with what I'm doing. The truth of the matter is that the first two weeks of the year I was away, because it's always a very quiet time of year for me and when I got back I had a bit of work to do which is good. However I am going to endeavour to get these blogs back up and running.

Today I went to see a small one-bedroom flat in Totterdown where I was told there was no access into the roof space, so there would be no access onto the roof. I had already envisaged the roof being concealed behind a parapet wall and that is what I found. However, as I was looking at the ground floor flat which had a single-storey extension I was able to place my ladders on its roof and clamber up to look at the inverted ridge roof over the main building. Fortunately there were no serious defects here, but of course there is no way that anyone can clear the parapet gutter very easily. The flat itself is in a fairly quiet road and was reasonably priced and in reasonably good condition and therefore I see no reason why my Client should not safely proceed…

Reinspection And Revaluation…

Andrew Beard — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:33:00 +0000

Although it was getting warmer, about 5°C, almost T-shirt weather, I was today mostly in my office with short jaunts outside to revisit some properties I had seen about a year ago, in order to make an annual revaluation for tax purposes. Strangely I had another request for a similar valuation for the taxman, so that my Client can claim tax relief on mortgage for that part property which is currently let; that seems fair enough. I also received a request for a mortgage valuation of an investment property that another of my Clients is hoping to purchase. Whenever I carry out a mortgage valuation I insist on a proper report for my Client, so that they know exactly what they are purchasing and more particularly so I know exactly what I'm valuing. I do not want my Client to purchase a property with a defective roof just because I haven't had time to look at it properly by whizzing in and whizzing out for a mortgage valuation; someone else can do that, but it ain't going to be me…