Are we over-reacting - would you buy this house?

[lazybloke]

It is latency that is the big issue with satellite internet, particularly for gamers, but also some other applications.

Thankfully much less so with starlink than the older geostationary systems, as the satellites are only about 300 miles up rather than 22,000 miles.

 

[Tenkaykev]

The two things are not mutually exclusive. I have it on good authority that many people read books and watch TV shows or movies as well as getting out of the house.

Speaking from my own experience, I was a shy youth who found it very difficult to understand why my peers did things, or behaved in the way they behaved. They were often like aliens to me. They could understand social nuances that I could not. They could run up to a ball and kick it and it would go the way they wanted it to go. When I tried that I would miss it, or it would go somewhere else and I would be made to feel useless and small. My escape was books. I was a voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy. These worlds I could imagine and understand. I loved the idea of going into space, or going on a quest. My TV viewing was similar - I loved the shows that were magical or technological - Knight Rider, Battlestar Galactica - and where the good guys usually won.

Eventually my dad bought me a BBC B and I learned about programming and started playing games like Elite where you could explore 8 different galaxies engaging in trade and combat. At the same time, I also started to learn that quite often other people were afraid of things that didn't bother me at all. I could speak in front of people and I enjoyed taking on a character and performing it. I became involved in Amdram, went to University and studied music and drama, then a post-grad in classical acting. I loved the idea of being on stage because I could be someone who wasn't me. I also had friends who were into live role playing - again a chance to be someone or something else. To change character and explore new worlds in a different way.

People tend to be very negative toward video games, and to be sure, there are both positives and negatives. This is actually one of the themes that Grand Theft Auto explores a lot. It's a horrible violent world in many ways and a couple of scenes (particularly the controversial torture scene) are very difficult indeed to participate in, but it's also extremely clever and often laugh out loud funny - whether it's taking swipes at conservative America or rednecks, or just waking up as Trevor and wondering why he is now wearing ladies underwear and surrounded by some very dead looking people (Trevor's character is a sociopathic psychopath who can fly planes).

Personally I prefer Red Dead and the Last of Us to GTA. Both of them are not about killing people. They are about survival, hope and learning to make the most of your environment. They engage your emotions just like any good movie or good book will do. That doesn't mean that I don't enjoy my family, holidays, going on bike rides, driving single seater race cars or any of the other things I do. Oh - and I still read a lot of books.

That was a fascinating, informative and uplifting comment - thank you

 

[Gunk]

Personally I prefer Red Dead and the Last of Us to GTA

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about

 

[rogerzilla]

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about

They're like Space Invaders but a bit more up to date.

 

[Gunk]

They're like Space Invaders but a bit more up to date.

Oh, I see

 

[Tenkaykev]

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about

I do, and I'm 75 🤣
Love solving the puzzles and progressing through the levels in Monument Valley with my seven year old granddaughter 😎

 

[icowden]

Love solving the puzzles and progressing through the levels in Monument Valley with my seven year old granddaughter 😎

Monument Valley is a work of art. Absolutely fabulous game.

 

[rogerzilla]

Back on topic, they accepted our full price offer for the house with poor broadband but:

1. They lied about the EPC, which is F, not D. Combined with Band F council tax, running costs are huge.
2. The village road, although small, is NSL and the neighbour has an unofficial "30" sign on their wheelie bin. This suggests fast cars and we have four cats.
3. There is a flooding issue on every road into the village.
4. Works were done on the barn for which planning permission was refused.

So we're back to choice no.2, which is EPC E, only Band D for council tax,has proper fast broadband, and is utterly safe for cats, as it's up a track off the end of a no through road. Just trying to agree a price.

 

[bikingdad90]

EPC ratings are not very reliable as they are based on estimated energy usage.

You can quite easily move up a band by doing things like changing to LED bulbs.

 

[rogerzilla]

EPC ratings are not very reliable as they are based on estimated energy usage.

You can quite easily move up a band by doing things like changing to LED bulbs.

Yes, and they're carried out by people with minimal training who make too many assumptions.

But there are no easy wins on the Band F house. LPG heating is more expensive than anything except storage heaters*, it has solid stone walls, and it already has LEDs and double glazing. You'd need to spend a fortune on solar panels to try to offset the bills.

*or most heat pumps, judging from real world stories.

 

[CXRAndy]

Back on topic, they accepted our full price offer for the house with poor broadband but:

1. They lied about the EPC, which is F, not D. Combined with Band F council tax, running costs are huge.
2. The village road, although small, is NSL and the neighbour has an unofficial "30" sign on their wheelie bin. This suggests fast cars and we have four cats.
3. There is a flooding issue on every road into the village.
4. Works were done on the barn for which planning permission was refused.

So we're back to choice no.2, which is EPC E, only Band D for council tax,has proper fast broadband, and is utterly safe for cats, as it's up a track off the end of a no through road. Just trying to agree a price.

First house sounds totally unsuitable in location. Always location first. Broadband and energy can dealt with. I always check flood maps for potential issues

 

[Legs]

My wife is dealing with helping her father sell a house he owns in Hull. These are the rather archaic covenants on it!

 

[Alex321]

My wife is dealing with helping her father sell a house he owns in Hull. These are the rather archaic covenants on it!

View attachment 753662

Unless the buyer wants to turn the place into a business, that shouldn't be a problem

 

[Psamathe]

House buying is a complex balance of price vs what you are buying.

When I moved from France back to UK and purchased house here house hunting was interesting eg I could have purchased a lot more house and land for same money if I'd been prepared to buy in a flood risk zone (which is why I don't like insurance "spreading riak" where houses in flood risk zones are recent purchases or developments - you "pays your money, makes your choice". There were some really good places I could have purchased, loads of house & land but a bit close to the Norfolk coast for me (and costal erosion is not something that's going to disappear in a year or two). Again choices.

When out riding and I see some new developments being beuilt often by "prestige builders" and the tiny roof joists highlights profit over longevity.

Ian

 

[Poacher]

My wife is dealing with helping her father sell a house he owns in Hull. These are the rather archaic covenants on it!

View attachment 753662

Unless the buyer wants to turn the place into a business, that shouldn't be a problem

Not allowed to dig to make a pond though, because of the "make any excavations" clause.