Week 95: Que sera sera

18th October 2021 is doomsday as far as I’m concerned! The much dreaded ‘Valuation’ was upon us and everything we had thought or imagined before this point was out the window. The experience itself was valuable to say the least but the visitor himself needs to do some serious soul searching. It is a very difficult time in a person's property profession and foolproof idiots like the one I had the pleasure of meeting don’t help. As you can appreciate a lot of work went into the renovation, I’m talking blood, sweat and tears and an individual can just come from nowhere and scrutinise your entire work and smash your hopes to smithereens. I had mapped out exactly what I intended from this meeting together with a batch of videos, along with emails as supporting evidence. None of which could be discussed because the valuer had already made his mind up within the first few seconds of walking in.

Granted there were a few items missing but the sad fact is that, no matter what I would've said the decision was already made.

Stairs: the valuer wasn’t impressed having to climb up a set of ladders to get to the first floor. We had taken delivery of the staircase the day before but just not fitted as there were some corrections that needed addressing. A day’s work at most, the valuer could see it on site but that didn’t stop him making some (unknown) notes in his scrapbook. 

Boiler: We have paid for a decent Baxi brand, receipt at hand but no scope to explain. All radiators hung just one item to go into the utility room within the next couple of days.

WC: Toilet with tiny basin all in the room but not on the wall. Thanks to a terrible project manager and for the love of God...just so slow to arrange anything. We’re having to deal with it all (consequences too). We have been on his case but it seems everything falls on deafs ears.

Carpets: All paid for, on order but just waiting for builders to fit in a couple of steps in the door ways before we can lay it down. Not a big job but not sure how this went down.

Window’s: Have had major problems with this right from the very start given the property is in a conservation area and needed specialist windows, wooden ideally, but, lo and behold there was a twelve week wait to get these done and even then we’re on a waiting list. This was the worst outstanding task and notorious to organise to the very least as the council took ages giving us the permission. I do admit there were great big holes that didn't look appealing but I did have an invoice in hand to show it's all been taken care of.

I wanted to explain to the valuer that we were first time investors. Renovations are a complex matter and throw in a bad project manager to the mix together with Covid related delays and there you have it a perfect cocktail for disaster. On one hand I had all paid invoices and dates scheduled on the other (he refused to see any of it). In two weeks the house will be completed albeit a wait for the windows. This person is seriously abusing his position and made us feel so uncomfortable with his arrogance and ‘God’ like behaviour. I’m glad I stopped the explanation in the end and took to a quiet space to keep out of his way. Honestly, the whole experience makes me want to Vomit as he has instilled so much fear into me. 

But as the title of this blog suggests, it’s out of my hands;

“…Whatever will be will be…”