SAAFE forum
General Category => Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Vichyssoise on 24 July 2014, 02:44:11 pm
-
Ok so, I bit the bullet and feel ok doing this. What's is a pain is the hotel situation, paying for it etc etc. we have been going over all the different possibilities one being a rental flat to use two or three days a week or whenever. What is the likely hood of this being viable. We have our own home so wouldn't be living there. I am not comfortable using our home, family/ friends calling etc. I am a bit scared of this commitment but my husband thinks this could be the answer. Some fors and againsts would be helpful, and reasons why.
-
So excited. We are going to look at a flat today :D. It's the first we are looking at and I know there is a check list of needs. ie parking and accessibility, entrance needs to be private, two bedrooms, shower, and lots of other stuff. I hope it's what we are looking for as it's in a Georgian square over looking a small park area just off the centre of town. Train station round the corner. Oh and a police station about hundred yards away. How's that for security. ;D.
-
Make sure your door and as much as possible of an apartment is invisible to everyone else, especially neighbours. I also found it advantageous to get an apartment where there are several parking areas around so that I could scatter clients around so that even if the guys were seen arriving not all were seen by the same people.
Dont be disappointed if the first flat you see is not suitable for it can take a while to find one that is "just right" for our work.
Good luck.
-
Thanks LL I know it will be long shot if it's the right one. There is lots of pay and display parking all around and the town hall is a neighbour. There is another one we will be looking at in a less salubrious part of a different town, that has Asda opposite but is above a motorbike shop. Can't make my mind up if that is good or bad.
-
Ive seen over 25 flats in 3 months and just 3 were good for me. From 3, 2 private landlords picked someone else and I end up renting the third ( I was lucky indeed with this flat as the landlord is very busy with his own bussines and didnt answer too many enquires).
My point is you have to see as many flats as you can and check if they are good for bussines (off street parking, nice area, not noisy neighbours, private entrance for a house/flat in a 2-4 flats building or a flat in a big building with more than one entrance for example).
Good luck with your flat hunting xx
-
I got very lucky with the first flat I viewed. While I do share a landing with a few other flats, an advantage I have is that I'm at the end of the hall: I can see them come in from the lifts and approach my door. There's no way a second person can be hiding just out of sight waiting to shove their way in and rob me. (Of course, this requires my waiting at the keyhole, watching.)
I also have the advantage of being in the corner of the building and my bedroom is isolated from any neighbours' walls.
I am in a large building so people won't notice who comes and goes. And I won't use the intercom system (as some office workers sometimes smoke outside the door.) I keep them on their mobile phone and talk them through the door code and into the building. I also ask them not to knock, as I'll be waiting to open the door when I see them approach. I open the door with my fingers to my lips as a hint to keep quiet until they're inside the flat.
There have been a couple of occasions where a punter has been seen by a neighbour in the past seven months. It's important to minimise these situations.
-
When I have looked for working flats one of my number one rules is there cannot be children living in the stair.
Not sure if that's just me though?
-
When I have looked for working flats one of my number one rules is there cannot be children living in the stair.
Not sure if that's just me though?
No it's not just you FT. I'm the same. I have a LONG list of must haves for a working apartment.
-
If it's just a work flat, why do you need two bedrooms? I only ask because one bedroom would be cheaper and it's less to heat/clean :).
-
I would love to have a second bedroom where I could stow all my crap - then my living area would be open to clients. As it is, even when I have it tidy, there is still too much personal stuff about to feel comfortable.
-
Is there a cupboard or drawer somewhere you could put a lock on? I know what you mean, but I can't imagine I'd have anything bar my handbag and maybe computer that needed hiding out of the way in a work flat; it's different if you're working from home (and the whizzing round in a panic in case you've left a bit of post out is one of the things I hate).
-
If it's just a work flat, why do you need two bedrooms? I only ask because one bedroom would be cheaper and it's less to heat/clean :).
Yes looking at one bedroom as well. But wanting two so my husband can be on the premises for security, I am still a little nervous and like the idea of him being close to hand. Especially when I will be taking bookings that will possibly come from my web site and not via AW. At the moment I am only seeing clients with positive feed back. I know this is not infallible but it helps a bit. I have had one or two without feed back to see if I can judge character reasonably over the phone. It's all still a very sharp learning curve.
-
I'll avoid headdesking about the AW feedback/safety thing, but your husband can go in the kitchen or the living room if needs be (at a flat I worked from we used to hide in the kitchen when somebody else's punter turned up :)). I know he'd be more comfortable in a proper room but the other things mentioned above about the ways in and out are a lot more important.
I think the parking depends on where you are - if it's a town centre people won't expect to park right outside, but there should be a car park or supermarket or whatever nearby. Close to a station sounds good too - plenty of my clients come by public transport and arrive on foot. Think about security too, especially if you have a separate door and won't be there at night.
-
I know I know about the feed back thing but it makes me feel a little better at the moment, I will wean myself off it though. Unfortunately my husband likes his creature comforts and would expect at least this computer in there. We thought if the lay out was ok a one bedroom and use the lounge as a work room. Yes there are a lot of boxes to tick and I am under no illusion this may take some time. I wanted to ask those of you who have working flats, how do you get round not being there of a night, does that not rouse suspicion from neighbours?
-
Well any that notice at all will more than likely just think you work nights (hotel, factory, hospital), especially if you have a fairly set routing of arriving and leaving. Your husband would have picked you up/dropped you off before and after :).
It's been posted here before on related threads, but it's as well to stay out of your neighbours way anyway - if you can find somewhere that they never even see you, then even better. Seeing a couple coming and going together won't hurt, though.
-
When I had a working apartment, like amy says, I made a point of never talking or interacting with neighbours. The less contact the better. I always moved regularly too ie once every year/18 months to avoid being outed. Only once did I stay longer because it was in a high rise block and when someone entered they could be going to one of 45 different apartments. I never recommend moving somewhere that doesnt have a lot of apartments. Others may disagree but it suited/suits me just fine.
I always had a timer in every room to go off at different times of the day/night. Ensuring that a light was on in every room at some time of the evening and one in the kitchen in the early morning as if I was up making breakfast. Every so often I changed the times so that it wasnt the same all the time.
I dont think its a good idea for security to be in the bedroom either. Nowt wrong with the lounge where any noises he may make can be covered with "oh it is probably the wind/cat, Ive left the window open". It could also cause friction if he hears the noises of your shenanigans unless he is cuckold and it gives him his jollies.
There is nothing wrong with spending the odd night in the apartment to make your story more plausible.
-
Yes we thought him being in the lounge would be better and that would do if the flat didn't mean accessing the bedroom through the lounge. Lots of considerations to be taken account off.
That is something to consider, him hearing the shananagins. We will have to suck it and see. No pun intended. Going to look at some more on Thursday. Thanks all for your input it gives us lots to think about.
-
What requirements do you ladies like for in call places ? ie not hotels.
Is it better to be in a busy area so not to draw attention to yourself and have that bit of security knowing there are people nearby ? Or very quiet areas non residential industrial type areas away from nosey Jeffers.
I can never decide on this so your opinions are very welcome xx
-
There was another thread exactly the same as this of late. I would use the search button and you may get some answers.
-
ok sorry xx
-
from my point of view, here in London, the best to work is:
-a flat in a building of many appartments: more appartments means the movement neighbours see is spread between all appartments. nobody will think the punters come to you.
-NO CCTV. Many people think is not a problem. I was living 8 months in a studio with a camera looking at my door. It is very uncomfortable.
-A flat with ENTRY PHONE. In London many houses don't have this. If it doesn't have an entry phone, don't take it. You don't want to come out to open front door.
-a flat WITHOUT neighbour in front of your door. better a flat every floor.
Control the amount of clients. It is good to do 5 a day, ok, but if you are happy with 2/3 the better. If you have much movement people can be suspicious.
-
The problem is bigger buildings in London tend to have concierge unlike the small ones...whats better?
-
The problem is bigger buildings in London tend to have concierge unlike the small ones...whats better?
I would think a concierge is absolutely unacceptable. Even if all he does is sit there and never challenges anybody walking in, it will scare off clients. Quite a few buildings in my area are unworkable due to a concierge. However, not all of them are.
-
Well I have just done my first week in my new in call place. I have to say I loved it. The freedom of being able to take clients any time compared to being restricted to the days being booked into a hotel. I wasn't glued to the place all week, we still had to nip out to get stuff, curtains etc, we were even in a sofa shop yesterday buying a new suite for home ( the old one is going to the flat) when I got a call so off we went back. All in all the best thing I did. Let's hope the honeymoon continues.
-
Good News. Well done you! ;D
-
Glad to hear it's working out well for you CC, long may it continue.
-
Thank you LL I couldn't have got this far without the help and support from this fantastic site. If I couldn't find an answer to a question I have asked, and the great advice from all here, especially yourself and Amy has been invaluable. Thanks. :)