mysticmark

1) I heard from a conveyancer that she has done several such pre-contract deposits recently. 2) Your comment isn't backed up here on The Property Ombudsman website: https://www.tpos.co.uk/news-media-and-press-releases/press-releases/item/pre-contract-holding-deposits#:~:text=Accordingly%2C%20if%20an%20agent%20is,or%20retained%20by%20the%20seller.

Hi, What are people's thoughts of asking for a 1/2K early deposit from a potential buyer? How often is this used? What kind of % of sales use this? It reserves the property for the buyer with the agent. If the seller pulls out they get their money back. If the survey makes property unmortgagable or in need of major work (over 10K say), they can get their money back and pull out. If the buyer goes ahead it comes off the agreed price. As a seller receiving an offer, it seems like a big sign of seriousness to buy and the best guarantee against being gazundered. Within last few years it's become more mainstream I've read. Are many agents reluctant? For selfish or for good reasons? What % of sales use this system? Pros n Cons?

Think I'll go with idea of removing laminate flooring - was a v cheap buy a few years ago - and putting the underlay recommended above and a thick carpet. Any suggestions on where to get a thick 5m x 6m thick carpet in a neutral colour at a good price?

THANKS ALL! Happy New Year!

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In living area of our 1st floor flat we have good quality underlay on floorboards and laminate on top of that, laid by pros - not bodged by me - a couple of years ago. Downstairs neighbour who I've come to care for a lot has said the noise coming through is orrible, and we want to sort out any way we can (within reasonable cost limit) - Will a a layer of underlay and carpet on top of laminate likely solve it? - Better to remove laminate and then more underlay n carpet? - Top-notch silencing headphones as present to neighbour? - Your suggestion please? (is this post in right section?)

Thanks a lot for your advice :)

Hi, We have a house we want to sell next to Horniman soonish that'd benefit from a rear single-storey extension, the likes of which some other neighbours have done so would probably go through ok, (though you never know). To maximise the sale price: Is it worth us the time and cost of getting the planning permission approved to a specific design? Or better to just get some visualisations done by someone, or even just prepare our own brochure of lovely photos of probably feasible extensions? Anyone experienced with this? Agents unsurprisingly say: "Don't bother with that - Sell Now!" Any advice and recommendations very gratefully received, Thanks in advance :)

I hope your partner is recovering well. Pls explain re ambulances, thank you and best wishes.

I wasn't a regular; staff once or twice seemed a bit superior maybe, but clearly you two had a problem there. Great curry surprisingly! And some of the cakes were v good, if on pricey side. But always busy; strange to close a busy place.

Went today and sign in window saying new owner and no longer trading. Anyone heard why? And what's next?

Any particular makes / models in the 600 - just over a grand category that have very good touch sensitivity?

Thanks so much for advice Lorraine. Ive had a look at both models you shared. Are there any other particular models in a slightly higher price bracket which are less portable and in one piece with pedals and a solid key cover that you'd recommend? There are so many its daunting. Do you rate the Yamaha Arius range? Or other makes: Roland? Kawai? Korg? ...

Hey, thank you all so much for taking time out to share some great advice. I'll follow all up and see where ut gets me. Just hope I dont do the usual when confronted with too many options and sheleve the plan! There are a lot of makes and it's hard to judge if famous names like Yamaha are truly out in front or largely a big name. Impressed with the feedback from this forum. Merry Musical New Year to all ;p

Hi, with sales on I'm looking to buy a digital (electronic) piano, particularly for children to learn on; anyone have any advice on makes, models and where to buy? Have around ?1k to spend. Thanks

Hi, if anyone has some advice on this I'd be very grateful. We're looking to buy one for kids to learn (eldest 9, youngest 3) and mum to rekindle skills. Everyone Ive spoken to has strongly recommended their own one and not known abut other types :)

If u do push on just recarpeting, make sure boards are fixed properly and that the best -not shop bought - underlay is used.

Proper sondproofing aint cheap, but is certainly demanded in new conversions - I know cos did it recently. In older conversions I have no idea sorry about regs. Start with contacting council, or discuss with neighbours directly. Dont do what some friends did and still do: grin thru far too polite gritted teeth and bear it. Good luck.

Hi, we moved to F Hill / ED 2 yrs ago but have kept daughter now 9 in school in C Palace where she has so many friends and its a great school; but she had alread been there 3-4 yrs when we moved. Not the best drive every day but it becomes a routine, and she's happy.

Thank you bith Gina and Gooders, excellent stuff! I'll be ordering some asap; she's a big girl for her 3y3m so I better hurry if I go with le petit bateau, which I like v much, but 3 little ducks seem fun too and I can get a bigger size; I'll have a chat with them and see. Since 2 fantastic helpers, how about I deliver some cake to each of your addresses? If you pm me your addresses I should be able to do delivery tmro day (doorstep ok?) while looking after the madam in question with wife at work :) Mark

My 3-yo girl said she'd love some yellow dungarees and ive been sciuring the internet - zero. Apart from waterproofs and heavily branded ones. Anyone who can recommend a shop or send me a link for some simple yellow denim dungarees for her gets some cake / wine delivered to them - genuine offer.

Thx for all advice - we've 99% decided on Piplings in peckham rye. We liked the small groups work, enthusiastic friendly staff and general air of a well run place; and the house, garden and location are a knockout.

Hi, not cheap, in fact #*##*# pricey, but Piplings East Dulwich - Peckham Rye in reality - has spaces. The house and garden are lovely, and surrounded by the park, where kids are taken for walks. More importantly, when we visited in April / May we were impressed by the small-group work with young enthusiastic staff. We're probably switching our littlun to there for 3 days a week; she'll be working down a mine the other 4 days to pay for it ;)

Hi Unfortunately the state nursery our 3yr 3m old daughter has just started at (in F Hill, would rather not name) is well below our expectations in terms of it being 95% free play (aimless wandering, quite risky physically too) and 5% uninspiring focus time, and apparently low-motivated, tired staff, among other things. Basically seems like a big playcare, but with no fun songs at all! Though Im sure time and some new friends would definitely improve things, those and more points are so basic and unacceptable to us and we are sure they wont change. We feel v silly now not to have gone with some of our instincts from visits rather than ofsted data, assurances from staff and our own money-saving - that altogether made us believe any doubts were probably misplaced. So now, having relaxed about nursery since early summer we are suddenly desperate to find sthg. We are now thinking a private nursery 3 days a week; even just 3 days is a huge ouch financially but bullet-biting time it seems. Concerned also that having agreed back in May that state funds for 15 hours would go to current place it might be hard to rearrange - havent mentioned anything yet. We would really appreciate any suggestions after this big disappointment. We are based next to Horniman gardens, moved here 18 months ago, and are able to drive a bit if necessary - as far as Goose Green ish say. A) Can you recommend somewhere truly excellent with enthusiastic fun friendly staff and a lovely safe environment? B) Do you happen to know somewhere that is at least very good that has places for 3 days? C) Do you know rules about changing nursery having signed an agreememt? Would we be in danger of losing our 15 hrs/week funding or not? We visited Mother Goose, First Steps and Piplings before - all apparently v good - but there are so many and of course everyone smiles and puts on a fab show for visitors and we really cant screw up again! All advice hugely appreciated Thank you

Thing is, 'unlikely' isn't really enough of a reassurance when dealing with a risk of precious child / toddler being scarred or worse by untrained / badly trained dog. On dog fights in London, one of many articles: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/mps-warn-of-londons-illegal-dog-fighting-epidemic-8496685.html On horrific dog attacks just try googling "dog attack" .uk 2013 ; I just did. Of the 80,000 results from 2013 of course there are many repeats of the same stories, probably around half or possibly even more ?, but clearly those that say 'there is nothing to worry about' are not basing their opinions on fact on this subject, or perhaps mean that they can defend 'themselves'. My intention was purely pragmatic in seeking a practical emergency recourse and thanks for those practical answers (though not fully satisfied in their worth, thanks a lot anyway); honestly wasn't to interfere with people's ignorant bliss or to stir up chatter by drawing judgements, but that's all part of the fun of the internet. We're looking for a dog ourselves, a sprollie hopefully.