I would be a bit cynical in my area but where my friends live they have taken up the recommendations and have found the tradesmen to be good. However, they also have the advantage of having neighbours that have lived in the same hamlet for 70+ years and the same re-occurring names are also recommended by them.
+1
Our first house was leasehold with a ground rent of £15 per annum. We were able to buyout the freehold by paying 10 X the ground rent. I do not know if that is still available as it was 1976 but very worthwhile doing so if possible and not too expensive. At the time mortgage providers were quite happy to extend a mortgage to cover the cost of freehold buyout.
I've just never got around to doing it as, other than the very low payments, it has zero effect on me.
My concern too, especially with so much tech in the house. I am slowly training SWMBO to at least know how to operate things, and to have some basic understanding of how they work.
Could be worth it when you come to sell. I suspect 'leasehold house' is going to put off a good chunk of buyers, especially since recent shenanigans. Often estate agents are terrible at explaining what the T&C of a leasehold are, and so buyers will assume the worst.
Theo
Many years ago, a gentleman cultivated me as a handyman. I was 12 or 13 at the time, had basic handyman skills. He was ex-military, colonel, and knew how to lead. Asked if I felt capable of a job, encouraged me, told me how he'd go about it, and sometimes we'd go and talk through the job with a salesperson in a store, and I'd give it a shot. I also learned when I was out of my depth, as when the oil in the automobile engine turned to gloop -- water in the sump, turned out to be a broken head gasket.
I was paid very well, I thought, and it was still very much less than any tradesmen! It was the equivalent of a full tank of gasoline in large car.
It was mutually beneficial: I was flush with money. I learned skills I still use today, and he got a lot done, fixed and repaired, mowed, scarified, painted, oil-changed etc. (I recall noting a very slight leak in a straight pipe run, well before it caused any problems. I asked him to drive me to the store, we got a pipe repair clamp, I put it on tight, done. Lasted for years...)
So maybe you can find some willing young person, and train them?
Thomas Prufer
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