Ni_Buyer

I know I will lose money on the house after the renovation but it will be my forever home. I like the street and I fear if I sell I might not get back on the street soon enough. I had considered getting the architect to project manage the build to hopefully help keep costs under control. Though they do charge 10% plus VAT based on the build costs. I have read you can get the contractor to project manage but they jack up the price to allow for project management. I was speaking to a gas installer and they told me they are currently busier than ever and advised me to start as soon as possible. They said people in NI will not be going on as many holidays this year and that will continue for a good few years. This means they have more disposable income to spend on renovations.

What is to stop the estate agent having a few "mates" with cash who they can stick down on the list, which would be totally traceable. and appear legit.

I was stupid and got advice from a separate estate agency. Is fake bidding pretty common amongst estate agents then? I guess its something you would not admit to as an ex estate agent as it is illegal.

I actually ended up paying too much based on a surveyors valuation, bad advice from another estate agent who had a vested interest in me not getting another property. To top it off I believe I was fake bid on my property. Its only after I bought the house I did the percentage calculations of other houses that sold in the street that I realised I overpaid.

That area of Belfast would not suit me, its a car persons street. The Lisburn Road is dead handy because you have everything on your door step, very decent Tescos, two M&S's just to name a few shops. You also have the train station dead handy too. That street is poorly served public transport wise.

I live in a terraced house, the house next door to me is rented. I would like to buy part of the back garden so I can plant screening for my home. The house is registered with a couple and I have their home address. After doing a bit of googling I have his work contact email and her linked in profile.I also have the details of the letting agency they are using. They bought the house in 2011 and it appears to have been rented out since then. I know the current people living in it have lived in it for over 7 years. I assume they purchased the property for rental purposes but more importantly plan to sell it to fund retirement. Would they even be interested in selling part of their garden as surely that would reduce its current resale price considerably. The garden is 40m2 and I would like to purchase at least 30% of their garden. I am very keen to do this and would be willing to offer a large sum of money. What I want to know is if I am bonkers, or does the saying that money talks really hold true? If I do this how do I best approach the subject, do I go through the letting agent first? They had promised to pass on any messages onto the owners. How much would you say 30% of a 40m2 garden is worth, the house is worth around £200k at present. I also have plans to remove the wooden fence and install a brick wall, and I would also mention this to them, I would also have to move their gate to the other side which I would do too. Cheers.