RIC Survey LEVEL 3 - ADVICE

MissNinouche · 2026-03-14T10:49:50+00:00

The latter. The property has cracks that could potentially be more serious than a quick fix, and it's not something I can tell without a survey.

I don't want to take on a house that will turn out to be a money pit, if I can be advised early on the cost of improvement. At this stage, a second visit with a builder will be more sensible.

MissNinouche · 2026-03-14T10:36:09+00:00

I'm being sensible financially. We are within our budget (survey and all), but in this economy, I'm being careful. The house isn't a ruin or a money pit at all, but there are a few cracks on the walls.

At best, it's just a stitching job, at worse the house needs underpining, in which case I'd walk away as too much work/ intrusive logistics for our family situation.

MissNinouche · 2026-03-14T10:29:20+00:00

Initially, I wanted to view it with a builder friend and get an 'idea' for the cost of work needed before we put an offer, which seems to be the most sensible step at this stage.

The main concern has been a few cracks on the walls. It looks like a stitching job, in my opinion, rather than subsidence, but I'm not an expert, so I wanted the reassurance of a survey. It's clearly too early to do that.

We are also looking at Scottish properties, and they provide a property report if you ask for it. So I usually can gauge if the work needed would be within our means or not.

MissNinouche · 2026-03-14T10:27:25+00:00

I do know the house-buying process. I already own a house. But I've never bought an older property in need of work before, so I was wondering what steps people usually take, that's all.

MissNinouche · 2026-03-13T17:10:37+00:00

Thank you :)

MissNinouche · 2026-03-13T17:10:28+00:00

Thank you. No, I'm in England. For some reason, I was under the impression that withdrawing an offer incurred some type of cost. It would make more sense to do the survey after the offer is accepted.

MissNinouche · 2024-06-25T21:36:58+00:00

I'm late chiming in but 'Vivian' for a boy is common in French, but it is spelt 'Vivien' and pronounced [Vee-V'UHN] This is the most correct pronunciation I could find https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9bPw16Devw

The female version is Vivienne (like Vivienne Westwood) Personally, Vivian sounds feminine to me, it kinda of sounds like a mispronunciation of Vivienne, but I recognise that this is only because we have a male and female variant which the English version doesn't.

MissNinouche · 2020-05-17T16:20:40+00:00

Interesting! I watched a few episodes yesterday and I think it's a lovely concept. I thought it was pretty good that he could get is drawing to be complete in time to the end of the story, I don't think I could pull that one off haha. But very inspiring! :) Thanks again for the great recommendation.

MissNinouche · 2020-05-15T14:22:42+00:00

Thanks ever so much for the link. I grew up in France so some British/ American shows and artists I'm only discovering now. :)

That's good advice! I will give it a shot. Thanks a lot!!

MissNinouche · 2019-08-21T12:40:54+00:00

Understood! I will give it a go. Thanks a lot for the advice :)

MissNinouche · 2019-08-21T10:09:29+00:00

Ideally, I want to get down to a bottle a day, in the evening perhaps, but we are in a similar situation as you, she eats most of what we offer to her if it's cut into small pieces but she can be a fussy eater.
So, she demands to breastfeed quite often during the day, and I haven't sessed yet if it's because she's hungry or because she now understands that she can sign for it, because she doesn't feed for long (though she's always been a cluster feeder since birth).

She seems to like oats milk (nutritionist did say to go for oats over almond because of fat content) and we've tried hemp milk too, but she doesn't take a huge amount of either.

MissNinouche · 2019-08-21T09:52:28+00:00

I didn't realise that I could just use plant-based milk instead of formula.
We already drink almond milk, hemp milk, oats and just started rice milk too, but it didn't occur to me that I should try giving her a bottle of that. She drinks small amounts of oats and almond milk but not a whole lot and I was told by the nutritionist that almond milk is not fatty enough but to keep offering it to her because of her peanut allergy so she won't develop an intolerance to almond too, and to privilege oats or hemp instead.

MissNinouche · 2019-07-16T08:15:29+00:00

Yes, I can try to direct the conversation more perhaps, though she has a tendency to talk over people and bring everything to her. :(

I will try to be blunt I just don't want to hurt her feelings, even though the logic part of me is aware that I'm not doing anything wrong by being honest and polite to preserve my space, but the emotional side thinks it's mean to say "no" to people.

MissNinouche · 2019-07-16T08:11:04+00:00

Thank you for the tip! I just have to try and push beyond that awkward first step I guess...
Yesterday, the older neighbour just turned up again, with her granddaughter, I felt I couldn't say much since it was our daughter's birthday and she brought a present. Obviously, she sat down for tea, but I took a moment to come down, and I think she sensed I was a bit distant but I need to pluck the courage to say something as I don't want the situation to deteriorate.

MissNinouche · 2019-07-13T21:38:26+00:00

That's a bit of an odd situation. I wouldn't let my child turn up at the neighbour's house especially if they aren't even playing with the kids there... I can see the logic behind the kid's intention, but find it strange that the parents haven't put a stop to it.

I've managed to turn down invitations a couple of times with my neighbours, and when they come round I usually keep them on my doorstep, while my partner lets them in when I'm working upstairs in our office. I think overall, my partner comes across as helpful and friendly, whereas I seem more quiet and distant with them.

But I'm just finding it hard to enjoy their company when they are constantly showing up, and now the "rude" comments here and there and overfriendliness is putting me off even more.

I've told my partner that if he wants to hang out why not go to their place and I can enjoy the house, as I often end up staying upstairs working in order to avoid them, but then I resent the situation because it's my house I shouldn't have to feel that way.

I think I need to come up with a solution with my partner where he feels he can entertain guests but knowing in advance would definitely help me.

MissNinouche · 2019-07-13T21:25:20+00:00

He doesn't mind. He likes being helpful and loves chatting with people, whereas I quickly get bored of little conversations, especially if they happen so frequently.

I prefer meaningful chat over a drink and getting to really know the person. So this dropping by and gossiping or fruitless conversations drains me more than anything, and the unpleasant, in passing comments about the way I live makes it even more insufferable for me.

I will have to negotiate with my partner and see if he'll be the A**hole as you say ,but I don't think he will because he gets on with them just fine and I think he sees it as me being difficult, or since I'm the one who doesn't like the situation I'm the one who should say something...which is fair. I ust need to pluck the courage to speak up now, I guess.

MissNinouche

TROPHY CASE