Flat Hunting

Well after months of sitting about doing almost nothing due to either illness or sheer laziness this week finally saw us all be busy little bees :o)

The week kicked off on Tuesday when we went to London to view flats, I'd tried to arrange a bunch of appointments on the Friday, which had been both exciting but frustrating. A lot of the agents turned me away outright because I mentioned the dreaded 'DSS' word, however once I stopped mentioning that things all got a lot better, however a large number left me with maybes or 'so and so will call on Tuesday'.

It was the first time we'd even had to be out the house by a certain time which proved interesting and threw us both into a bit of a spin as I danced about with my nebuliser and Luke stood holding Edward's bag asking me what he should put in it. Despite the chaos however we made it to our first appointment on time. It was lovely quiet little street not far from the Edgware Rd. and the flat itself was lovely, however it was on the 1st floor. We didn't rule it out but knew if we saw something on the first floor, even if it wasn't as nice it would win outright just through sheer practicality.

We then had a bit of a gap between appointments and so decided to head over to Baker St. and get some food for us, feed Edward and find somewhere to change him. While we were there I also started opening Edward's savings account but annoyingly the woman was too busy to see us, so I did it over the phone, then the bloke buggered off and I couldn't find anyone to photocopy my passport, which was annoying as it means I'm going to have to go in another time.

I changed Edward in MacDonalds despite Luke and I's significant reservations he may catch chav germs. He screamed the entire time we were in there, clearly he has taste, and then promptly fell asleep the minute I put him back in his buggy so he didn't get fed in the end! (well not till a bit later clearly I didn't starve the poor child)

The second flat was split level over two floors, the bedrooms were downstairs and a bit dingy a fact not helped by the fact all the shutters were closed. The lounge and kitchen upstairs however were pretty nice, as they had really high ceilings and shutters. It wasn't as nice decor wise as the first place, however it won out on space and the fact it was kind of first floor.

After that Luke and I decided to go and get us some lunch at Zizzis as we hadn't eaten there for ages. They have changed the place it's all green and black now, which though trendy doesn't entirely go with the Italian food. While we were waiting for our meal to arrive I woke Edward and fed him, though kind of bashed his poor little head on the edge of his car-seat ooops!!

I realized we were going to be a little late for our next appointment, and phoned the agent who luckily was able to hang around and wait for us. We got a taxi over as we were late, and also because I was starting to get pretty tired having walked most of the way up and down between Baker St. and the Edgware Rd. more than once.

The taxi dropped us outside one of the entrances to a huge apartment block, we hung about looking a little lost debating which way to go to find the agent who was going to meet us outside Natwest. A big black chap, who turned out to be a porter at the block, came up and asked if he could help, we told him we were waiting to meet an agent, and he asked which one, clearly knowing most of the ones that regularly show people the block. He wasn't familiar with our one, but took us round the corner to Natwest and wished us all the best. It was a really nice warm greeting to the place and set Luke and I's hopes high.

Our agent finally appeared and took us round to a different, and much grander entrance that had kind of gardens. We went into a side entrance off that main courtyard into a marble lobby. The lift was only big enough to take Edward and I, so Luke and the agent went up the stairs. The hallway was carpeted and very clean and quiet, he took us to the end to the apartment he was going to be showing us.

Luke and I were both pretty excited as the whole place seemed really nice, and when he opened the door we were both thrilled as we looked into the wood floored hallway lit by nice spotlights. We walked straight past the brand new sparkly kitchen and through the double doors into the massive bright lounge that looks out over the gardened courtyard. The agents phone went off and while he answered that Luke and I showed ourselves round, which actually suited me fine as I find hovering agents kind of irritating. Both the bedrooms were big doubles, rather than a double and a single with a double bed squeezed in which is what you usually find in London. The bathroom is super swanky with a huge deep bath, and one of those showers that has those big wide heads. Oooo it was so exciting!!

As we were stood outside the flat leaving, and the agent was locking up Luke laughed at me and said I had that glint in my eye and he was pretty sure this would be the one. However we agreed it was best to see the last one, as so far each flat we'd seen had been better than the one before.

So back we went over almost to Baker St. again and met the agent outside the flat. He took us into the building which like all the buildings down that street had the feel of being the kind of place where diplomats and very rich business men stay. He took us down into the basement and showed us the flat. I don't know why but I just didn't like it at all, it felt oddly like a hotel, and was tiny and not all that clean, it did have a nice little courtyard though which was very tempting. Overall though we decided it was a 'No' and that we should call the agent about the flat in apartment block.

We walked down to a park we'd seen hoping we could sit in there, but sadly it was a private one and you had to have a key :o( So sat in a very glamorous fashion on a salt bin I called the agent and we made our offer. He said it sounded fine, but that he'd have to speak to the landlord and he'd call us back and that if it was fine we could meet up and do the paperwork.

By this point I was REALLY thirsty so Luke and I headed back to the Edgware Rd. to get a drink and await 'the call'. Luke wossed out of going in any of the Asian cafes and so in the end we sat in Baskin and Robins which was bizzarely warm for an ice-cream shop.

Finally after what seemed like hours of nervously spinning my phone around on the table each of us pointing out to each other what a marvelous place to live the apartment would be the agent finally called back, and after clearly reveling in his dramatic moment told me our offer had been accepted. We arranged to go to his office to pay our deposit and sign the paperwork, and hopped in a taxi.

We weren't sure we were in the right place at first as the address on the business card was this huge swanky glass building with one of those freakishly quiet lobby's with imposing security guards. However we were assured we were in the right place, and had photos taken of us to go on our security badges. It seemed a bit overkill till we noticed that this building also happened to be AOL's HQ.

After a rather embarrassing incident involving a stupidly narrow doorway and Edward's buggy we made it into the agents office's and signed the paperwork and paid our monies. He explained that we were now going to be dealt with by another agent who would do all the contracts and things as he was just an introducing party and that the property wasn't actually marketed by him. In hindsight it was a bit dodgy and I think we were a bit ripped off by him as he charged us £175 just to show us one flat, but you live and learn! And actually the agency we are now with are far more reputable and I'm a lot more comfortable giving them disgustingly large amounts of money. (Even though technically it's my sisters money and the HB that's not the point!)

Exhausted and in no mood to negotiate buses or tubes we got a taxi back to Victoria and came home to bed!

All fingers, toes and eyes crossed the apartment is ours whoooo!!!!!