How Much Our London House REALLY Cost & Answering Your Top Questions!

[@albertsmyth9616]

well, I congratulate you on being extremely brave with answering a range of highly personal questions. Part of me thinks that it’s nobody‘s business but your own, but let me also say how enormously I admire you both and what you have achieved and I wish you both well in your endeavours as you are obviously thoroughly decent and splendid chaps.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much, so lovely of you to say! Whilst I do agree, we both want to be as honest/transparent as possible 🫶🏻

[@shazav9776]

⁠@@ashmazzinaI absolutely love that transparency! And kudos to you both for buying such a beautiful home with cash ! Am inspired!

[@pellier08]

Of course it's nobody's business. But this is social media, where everybody feels the NEED to share every personal part of their life, how they shower, what they eat, what their sexual preference is, etc... Social media!

[@maselm]

“Brave” 😂😂😂

[@peterwall9999]

chad might be the most refreshing person ive ever seen on youtube, no bs just actual answers, no one ever does that and its so interesting

[@ashmazzina]

Whether you like it or not, he will always give an honest answer 😂

[@christophermaulden733]

@@ashmazzina I love it when people think about things first and then give honest answers . This trait seems to be increasingly rare unfortunately .

[@elizabethheatley22]

We Scots are well known not to bullshit or tolerate it. We can be alarmingly forthright, but that’s because we probably like you! Otherwise we would just ignore you.

[@ernestinelander716]

All the comments should be positive. You two have created an amazing and beautiful home. Your taste is impeccable.

[@leonaxlily]

16:17 love love love this , it’s been so long since people have been transparent on KZbin so proud of what you’ve been able to build and buy loving the content !!!!

[@ashmazzina]

So glad you enjoyed it, thank you so much 🫶🏻

[@MezNdukwe]

The most honest interview of this type that I have seen. You have created a beautiful home ignore the naysayers. You both came across as really genuine,

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much, very kind of you!

[@Isabelle-hk1og]

You both are the most pleasant people to watch on KZbin, thank you for being so honest, fun and charming.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much! Very kind of you, thanks for watching 🫶🏻

[@sophiablow3422]

I live in social housing, a carer so exist on benefits. But l never look bitterly at people who have much more than myself. You worked hard for it, well done, and l can't understand why anyone is bitter about others good fortune; it just denotes a poverty of the soul, and a lack mindset. I dont think of myself as poor, thats because l live simply and within my means. I love watching content like this, and the truth is a life of luxury costs alot of money, to maintain it you have to keep on working hard all rhe time, its not as easy as we suspect, but rewarding to these guys. Good on them.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much for sharing, If only more people were like you! 🫶🏻

[@samanthab1923]

@@ashmazzinaPay no mind. A lot of miserable sods out there. It’s obvious how hard you work.

[@Daniel-jo4he]

I don’t think people are bitter. They just question if it adds up. Ash says he works in banking for 6 years. That would have made him 19 when he started. You normally need a 1st degree in finance to even have a chance of entry in to these city companies. So that doesn’t add up. Chad, well I can understand being successful in business and selling it can make you a lot of money, but chief marketing officer for nearly 5 years? Yeah cause you become chief in a company in your 20s when you grew up in working class Scotland? I smell BS. Sorry, there isn’t any such job as chief marketing officer anyway, it’s a made up title for show. 600k in cash? Hu. It’s just common sense, and most of these bloggers on KZbin make a living out of selling a lie and people are sheep and follow it all. Ash spends most of his videos endorsing products and gets paid to do it. There’s your first clue.

[@ashmazzina]

@ Daniel, jealousy is a horrible trait and it doesn’t suit you. Chad’s career and success is well document online, having built several successful tech companies, and is how we were able to buy a house outright. I don’t usually entertain such vile comments, but I made an exception for your stupidity.

[@Daniel-jo4he]

@ it’s not jealously. I couldn’t care less about your lifestyle. I’m quite content thank you. I’m not stupid or a sheep. I can just see through the baloney. I’m Scottish. I know full well what Scottish ‘Chads’ are like. They talk out their arse. I’m only here because your channel came through my KZbin recommendations. Don’t worry, I’ll mark it as ‘not interested’ next time.

[@Catkib]

You both came across so well in this video. You both seemed very genuine. Chad is fab.

[@ashmazzina]

Very kind of you, thank you so much!

[@lidewijvos]

I love this! I know you once said Chad doesn't like to be on camera but he is a natural at it!

[@ashmazzina]

Annoyingly he's good at most things 😂

[@clee2351]

He has a beautiful accent and so well spoken

[@samanthab1923]

Very easy on the eyes 😉

[@rjcarter2904]

You are an adorable couple and enviable. As a lover of classic houses and furnishings, I'm sure I'd love your home.

[@missy4663]

I am so impressed with what you have done with the renovations and improvements to the property. You should be very proud of what you have achieved so far.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much!

[@Robert-b9p]

Love your partner Ash. Chad is so level headed and smart. London is crazy expensive I see. Hi from Virginia US 🇺🇸

[@ashmazzina]

Very kind thank you so much! It really is crazy expensive 👋🏼🇬🇧

[@aelthen874]

You've worked hard AND youve been lucky, and to not acknowledge both as factors in your success makes you appear self-important and naive to the realities that many people face. You are the exception and not the rule, and to act like your success is built solely on hard work completely neglects to acknowledge the myriad fortunes youve experienced

[@kiowalinks16]

The two of you are being so organic with your Q&A video, and being yourself - which is quite rare. Love your content. Greetings all the way from Namibia🇳🇦.

[@kevinm-py1nt]

I didn't really know much about you guys, so that was a nice introduction. You both seem very sincere, and I enjoy your videos.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much! Very kind of you, thanks for watching 🫶🏻

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

To tell the truth, I do feel that your thoughts about tradies are true everywhere, not only London! I live on the other side of the world in Australia and my experience is much the same as yours. The old timers are trustworthy. The tradies who look like high fashion models are best avoided. Thank you for the video, both to you Ash and to the now non-elusive Chad! (He is as handsome as you!)

[@justmeajah]

"The tradies who look like high fashion models are best avoided" ow? i didn;t know this?

[@ashmazzina]

Crazy to think it’s the same everywhere! Thank you for your kind words! 🥰

[@samanthab1923]

You don’t want your tradesmen pulling up in Porsches.

[@MFYouTube683]

@@samanthab1923cause that’s a real thing that happens 😂.

[@samanthab1923]

@@MFKZbin683 I can’t tell you how many landscapers near me are better off than most of their clients.

[@susanmoore679]

This was a really great video to get to know you guys. No BS, no pretense. And just when I thought nothing could top Ash’s accent, along comes Scottish Chad! 😀

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much! His ego couldn’t get any bigger after today 😂🫶🏻

[@kimmann-tg8gx]

It's so refreshing to be part of your platform. I particularly enjoyed your honesty about where you are in your lives. Not knowing what the future holds. And sharing your relationship and lovely home. Respectfully, K

[@ashmazzina]

Love that you feel that way! Thank you so much! 🫶🏻

[@aquarius2]

Thank you Chad for being honest and helpful.

[@GMO-2-FLY]

I love your honesty and transparency. It is so refreshing. Congratulations on your lovely home.

[@MrsHHart]

Hi from the other side of London! I loved this video and it's great to see real transparency when talking about purchasing and renovating a home. You are both great on camera, looking forward to seeing more of you.

[@kricken2003]

It's so nice to see more of Chad in the vlog!

[@jimh4072]

A lot of your experiences with builders are exactly why I taught myself to do most trades (apart from plastering and roofing) even with plumbing and electrical I will attempt anything that is not directly connected to the boiler or the consumer unit. I installed all the radiators, bathroom fixtures, 1st & 2nd fix woodwork, tiling and spotlights etc. I agree about the kitchens, I am putting a B&Q kitchen in my current house as I am not staying here, I am not prepared to spend more than the area dictates as I will never recoup the cost.

[@ashmazzina]

Very clever to do so! Sounds like you know what you’re doing 👏🏼

[@jimh4072]

@@ashmazzina I learned a lot watching KZbin. Seriously though, there some great teachers here. I took a week off work and spent it in my yard teaching myself to solder copper pipes, one of the best things I ever did. 🤣

[@susbs]

Thank you for letting us get to know more about you both. 💖

[@ashmazzina]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching ☺️

[@yogajaxx8299]

Speaking from experience, if you're going to live outside London spend a lot of time there first to see the reality of life without everything we have in London. If you're going to commute, even just some days, take several train journeys at rush hour to test the service before you move. Those 'fast' trains are not always frequent and the service can be terrible e.g. one runs late then you miss the connection and are stuck on a dark rainy platform for an hour. Don't just look at the timetable! I was priced out of London, went to a small town in lovely countryside, there was almost nothing to do, the coffee shops were limited and not great, lovely independent shops but none that I actually used week to week, and the nearest city was a trek. Great Western Rail is appalling so I went into London far less than I thought I would. It was very isolating. After a year I moved back to the South-East, to a town with lots of amenities. I realise how lucky I was in London to have a choice of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, any kind of food, any kind of shop, cultural activities, easy transport, and everything modern and forward thinking. So basically, think amenities, trains and what your daily life would actually be like. Not just the rolling hills and country cottage!

[@robertdunbar2434]

Thank you, Ash and Chad, for this enjoyable video. I love watching all your home improvement and decorating videos. I enjoyed listening to your Q+A session to learn more about you. I am impressed with you both. You are professional, discreet, and engaging. You are talented and gifted. Having a home in London and one in Italy sounds like a great lifestyle. You have so much to look forward to in the future, especially to be blessed with raising children one day. I look forward to your next project and learning more about you both. All the best from New York City, Robert.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much Robert, so many kind words! Really appreciate you watching and taking the time to reply! 👋🏼🇬🇧

[@gilbertoserrano6784]

Thank you guys for such a nice and open dialogue. I don’t live in the UK, however, I enjoy enormously your videos and their content. I live in a townhouse here in Ohio, USA and I’m also remodeling it. It has been a long process with very rewarding results.

[@ashmazzina]

Our pleasure! Good luck with the remodel! 🫶🏻

[@idaslpdhr]

Thank you guys for being so open and honest, in the end it's nobody's bloody business, but you're very brave to do this, you will no doubt get the green eyed monsters having a dig, love watching your renovations and wish you both all the best for your future plans

[@ashmazzina]

Very kind of you, thank you so much!

[@vader3853]

This was well worth making this video, it sheds a lot of light on what you are doing, background and how you are moving forward.

[@amicusswitchback1533]

just randomly saw this... kudos for being upfront and transparent. Some of your comments and advice have certainly given food for thought.

[@cliffordr961]

Your total honesty is very refreshing. 👍 Rarely have I heard anyone be so honest about their house renovations & their lives. I agree that not every decision will be perfect. I had an addition built during the early days of COVID. I'm 97% satisfied but would change a couple of things if I could go back in time. That's Life! P.S. LOVE the mirror in your bathroom. You got it for a steal. Burgundy and gold is a classic combination for very good reasons. A strong color can support all that Gold. 🏆🏆🏆 Cheers from the USA

[@brianWHITE-zi5qs]

Just found your channel today. Have now looked over a few of your previous vlogs, house is lovely, the work out front is tremendous. For the same house in Tynemouth where I live is about 350 to 400000, 4/5 beds can go upto 600000. It amazes me that you are still able to get a lovely house like yours for about 700000, with London on the doorstep, simply fabulous!!

[@gmart225]

I gotta be honest, having Chad as bf speak volumes of good stuff about Ash.

[@Jbeaufortizard]

Wow, your honesty is very appreciated and so refreshing! Nothing we usually get in KZbin!

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you!

[@MrHuismeester]

Thanks for this interview and to being so open ! Love the plans for the future and being able to change your live is a great opportunity ! But before making any plans, enjoy this beautiful house where you are living your lives and keep this as your home right now ! Love the video and thanks again for sharing !

[@willowspektor]

The most transparent and helpful home Reno q&a, thank you!!!

[@ashmazzina]

You're so welcome!

[@SpadeFungi]

Well done guys. I find videos with transparency so refreshing. The numbers can always reveal life decisions that can be really helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[@shopgirl1095]

You two are funny! ☺️ I don’t normally like Q&A’S but I really enjoyed this one! Thank you for your honesty with everything.. some great tips & advice! Your home is beautiful x

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much for watching!!

[@HilaryMunnis]

I have just started following you, I am so impressed with how honest Chad is and look forward to catching up with all your renovations!

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you! Welcome ☺️

[@marvinb832]

There are many independent kitchen companies in and around London that source kitchens from Germany and design specifically for your kitchen. My experience has been fairly good with pricing too. Also there is nothing wrong with bringing children up in London, it's diverse and there are good schools too.

[@susanchlad8526]

Thoroughly enjoy this video. Thank you so much with all the information you given. Chad you are such a sensible guy, very clever and honest. Ash love all you work 😊

[@paulettefelix6648]

I grew up in the east end and left there 11 years ago, your home is beautiful. well done you........I was so glad to hear you say it was hardwork and you brought the house cash. well done you.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much!

[@olamisie]

Love the honest no bs Chad 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤ and your house is stunning, well done! Thanks for the video

[@twengatwenga7044]

beautiful couple! couldn't't help but smile across the video ! wishing you both all the best, thank you for being so transparent

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much!!

[@helenbailey8419]

😊😊I totally agree about kitchens and bathrooms and completely understand about the mistakes you made.What impressed me watching your progress is you are thorough and learn from your mistakes.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much 😊

[@queepingupwiththequadirs10]

Thank you so much for your transparency especially on your reno journey and the mistakes section! I’ve learnt so much from this video and reassuring to hear that making mistakes throughout the process is normal.

[@denismichaeljames]

My partner and I moved to East Sussex to a grade 1 listed close to South Downs. Loved the Downs and the Birling Gap cliff walks and Beachey head etc A Lovely property. But we missed London so much. Luckily we were able to return. We have also gone off old properties and now like modern light apartments, they are easy to heat and convenient. We live close 4 minutes to the new Elizabeth Line. To us London has everything and we aim to stay. We now want a camper van in our underground parking bay to enjoy Europe in winters and stay also in Airbnb and campsites or wild spots. Areas around Nice Italy Spain etc.. good luck guys we’ve made tons of DIY mistakes. It’s all fun in the end, just enjoy the memories. We eventually learnt to tile and put in our own kitchen. Tradesmen are great but they can also let you down and have done on many occasions. We’ve got more chilled by learning and doing things more slowly.

[@ashmazzina]

How delightful, thank you so much for sharing!

[@pdk9903]

Love Chad's sense of humour. 😂😂😂😂 you've built a lovely home together! Hi from Finland!

[@ashmazzina]

He can be funny sometimes 😉 👋🏼🇬🇧

[@MsSculptress]

Hello gentlemen thank you for your clear and frank Q and A session. I have decided to subscribe to your channel as both your personalities are soothing and not too influencer lead. I am a Londoner from Tottenham where my family still live. My partner and I decided to move to the Norfolk countryside 10 years ago to raise our son who is now approaching 18 years old. Best move ever. The London I left is not the crazy London that I visit now. People don't seem real. My partner is from Yorkshire and worked in London for 32 years and leaving was his suggestion. We had a 3 bed semi in Enfield and 15 years ago our loft conversion which was a large bathroom and a massive room which we used as an office and cinema room and the conversion all in was 45,000. How times have changed. Your home is lovely and I agree we all would change experiences when moving house etc. We moved to a 7 bedroom listed manor house with 4 acres of land etc. Love it but it is hard work to maintain the grounds without staff which we cannot afford and getting permission for everything is time consuming and we are in a hamlet so we have basically made our home an open house for our son's friends to stay so he has a social life out here. Can I say that the life split between the UK and Italy sounds wonderful and Tuscany and Cotswold sounds perfect. However your not retired and a bolt hold in a lively town like London is worth holding on to and enjoying till your at least in your 40's or start a family. It does offer so much entertainment. I am in my late 50's and still enjoy visiting things in London even though Norwich offers so much Good luck, keep posting and hope to see more of BOTH of you. ps thanks for the Nom recommendation. as a potter their designs are right up my street and good for inspiration .xx

[@tashamason8601]

chad seems so lovely! fun to see behind the scenes

[@sandiecavendish9722]

Thank you both for such a refreshingly honest video. You have a beautiful home and when you do decide on your next move I will be interested to follow your journey.

[@matthewhouston8137]

Great video and really appreciate the transparency and context around a lot of your decisions. Social media can definitely make you feel like you are being “left behind” when it comes to material possessions, but the majority of time people don’t disclose the financial support or fortunate circumstances that get them there. Regarding your thoughts about leaving London - you both remind me so much of me and my partner. After 8 years in London we just got fed up and moved to a quieter country area about 30 mins from Amsterdam. Best decision we ever made. So I’d say go for it - you won’t regret the peace and quiet!

[@ashmazzina]

Couldn’t agree with what you’ve said more! Thank you for sharing, definitely gives us something to think about!

[@OXOtwo]

Great to get to know you both better. I love your house ( I live in a Victorian house). I admire what you have both achieved and look forwards to your video's. God bless you both.

[@GlasshouseandGarden]

So glad I stumbled across your account and loved this Q&A as an intro. I'm also a huge fan of Pooky lights; their designs are stunning and the way the website allows you to chose matching shades is great. Looking forward to catching up with more videos.

[@elizzy8754]

This was such a good Q&A session: honest, informative and funny. Thank you for sharing your house purchase and renovation experience. Looking forward to seeing your future plans develop: Tuscany within driving distance to a beach, or Oxfordshire or the Cotswolds. Difficult choice. Wishing you all the best.

[@Casper-we3dq]

I follow a company on KZbin called London Repointing & Restoration Ltd. They do a lot of pebble dash removal and their works is highly regarded. They’re not the cheapest but their level of work is up there with the best. They’re perfectionist and it shows in the finished product.

[@ir4700]

love the no BS straight talk - very helpful 🙌

[@elainedove9927]

So enjoyable and honest. Very unusual for people to be so open ...thank you for sharing

[@scpmdt]

A bit late in commenting because I have only in the past couple of weeks come across your channel & the first one I watched was when you showed us your purchases from the Cotswold. Since then I was impressed but now even more so. You both are such genuine human beings. Chad for his down to earth honesty & his advice on money & sourcing tradespeople is second to none. I have watched some building channels & channels where a person shows you the wonderful stuff they buy but very few give you the names of the sources of prices. Don’t change & keep being the 2 decent human beings that you both are. I am sure most of your followers are also totally in agreement that you guys are really “salt of the earth.” Not one to advise people on what they should do but think twice about leaving the UK. Holidays are different & you see things through a different perspective, living at that place is a different matter altogether. “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. It’s best to have options & leave doors open. God Bless you both.

[@jojom1871]

Hello from Cambridgeshire 👐 Chads advice about money and picking builders is spot on always get a few quotes, I'm glad you guys had decent builders, it's very difficult sometimes to make a judgement on that and I think you have to trust your gut feeling on the person too. Living in the countryside is awesome, I used to live around London and although it took me a little while to adjust, I wouldn't go back. Really enjoyed this video guys can't wait to see what's next with the house xx

[@chrisk5651]

Congrats on your decisions and hard work and the stress involved.

[@tomholmes1350]

Personally, I believe a Cotswold or Oxfordshire location for your English base suit your desired lifestyle better than another London home. As long as you stay out of the big cities, anyplace in Italy sounds fun.

[@wiesebjorn2872]

Thank you very much for the great video. I love your content! You are a great couple and I wish you all the best and a wonderful time in your house. Best regards from Zurich

[@ivanwoodhouse1958]

As a senior who's been there, done that and worn oh so many T shirts I enjoyed the video. Jusr a couple fo suggestions about kitchen, try looking at used itchens nect time, they are usually of the higher qualuty and then get your reallt good carpenter to fit it making the off extra unit as required. Secondly, before buying any furniture or sofas have a look at the online auctions, all UK auctions are hosted by The Saleroom

[@charliemann4256]

Love this for you two! you are both so well balanced and matched. as a gay teenager, I am manifesting this future life for myself x

[@dawnbellaby1294]

Wish you well, hope you get there xxx

[@1234-v9t]

Thanks chaps, filled in a lot of gaps. Well done chad, good scottish straight-talking.

[@ashmazzina]

Always 😂

[@ga9552]

What a gorgeous couple 😊. Chad is so nice and very good looking too ;)

[@ashmazzina]

🫶🏼

[@gregart6645]

From Montreal Canada. A joy and very refreshing to feel the beautiful and respectful interaction between both of you. The positive energy and life's adventure is what makes us stay young and alive and one can tell you have that as well. Cheers and if your ever in Montreal would love to meet you both.

[@daleduerden1185]

So lovely to hear from you both,

[@kricken2003]

I do like your period portraits. Once you've gotten the distinguished Vicar framed he's going to look fabulous over the mantel.

[@audreymcleod4076]

I live in a nice village in central Scotland, the prices down south actually horrify me , here you can get a brand new 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom detached house for around £300,000, older houses arent that much more, I have got to agree with you about builders, I hate getting them in, more times that not, Im disappointed with their work. I love your honesty . A relative called in wren kitchens for a quote , he was in her home 8 hours and refused to leave until she signed on the dotted line, she had to phone her husband to come home from work to throw him out , she still cannot get over it.

[@ashmazzina]

I would live in Scotland in a heartbeat, Chad is opposed to the weather 😂 what a horrific experience, so many people have such awful experiences!

[@audreymcleod4076]

The weather this year in Scotland has been exceptionally bad, I have sat in my garden 4 times this year, it’s has rained nearly non stop since last October!

[@John-i4d5f]

New to your channel so binge watching! The house you viewed seems soulless! I know the idea of clearing everything and putting new floors and everything white seems like a good idea.

[@Nrtlon]

Thanks for sharing. Some food for thought. Remember watching a video on front of your house, the detail to your curb appeal. Maintaining details of how the house was built and presenting them at their best. Overall good job!

[@ashmazzina]

Thanks for watching!

[@cajsheen2594]

Nice to see you both! Very pleased to hear about your kitchen experiences. Thankyou! ❤ XXX

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you, hope it was helpful!

[@jmd10026]

Love the addition of Chad! More Chad!

[@Dianaemanuel]

You two are adorable! Good luck with future projects and adventures 😊

[@ashmazzina]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@helenbailey8419]

😊😊Your attitude to trades people is wise,common sense.I have a house book which contains every job,date and price and who did them.Its amazing how you can forget what and when jobs were done.

[@ashmazzina]

Great idea, if only we were that organised 😂

[@helenbailey8419]

​@@ashmazzina😂😂😂😂

[@tomholmes1350]

What an incredibly informative video! I agree that multiple quotes from tradesmen is a must!

[@dbd626]

Thank you for an interesting,educational and charming Q&A. Lately been watching chateau, and a convent renovation both are tedious. Your home is relatable and realistic. I am wondering if you have seen the young French doctor who is redoing his chateau? He is charming , relatable and has excellent taste. I think you both would appreciate what he has done so far. Admire both of you.

[@VBoo459]

Thank you for transparency and great tips! As someone who is British (British-Nigerian to be exact if you will, born and bred in the U.K.) who married an Italian man and lives half in Italy. Italy is gorgeous but it is incredibly Bureaucratic, lacking majorly in efficiency in every single way. And people ONLINE are people showing you the best parts. It’s beautiful as a HOLIDAY. But full time DONT DO IT. There’s a reason why many Italians LEAVE Italy. The food and weather and sunshine simply is not enough. I’m sorry to say, my husband is fully Italian born and raised and he moved to the U.K. as many of my Italian friends because yeah…..

[@greenphoenix687]

Loved this Q&A... thank you for being so transparent on the reno and I have gratefully noted down some worthy tips from you. Its lovely to get to know you a bit better and just saying... I don't find Chad elusive at all... very open and honest, both of you. Also, as someone who loves Italy in all the ways, Ive been thinking of moving there myself. Im hoping you do move there... would be fun to witness :)

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much! We’ll definitely share when we start looking, hopefully in the next year or two!

[@sallywinston1204]

Just wanted to share that not all young builders take the piss. I'm outside of London but am midway through a massive house renovation. We picked the young guys who came in as the best price but were also more responsive, professional and clearly wanted our job as it takes their company up a level. There's been a few bumps but they've been great at resolving things and we're going to have a beautiful house for significantly less than the old guys wanted to charge us. Sometimes it's good to give the younger ones a chance :)

[@cathylehwald4547]

Great video! We feel like we know you now! Love you guys. So much good things to come for you both and the “sky is the limit”. ❤️🇨🇦

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much!! 👋🏼🇬🇧

[@pineconesacorns3118]

Love this post! Love your honesty and candor and your house!

[@ashmazzina]

Thanks so much!

[@Englishroserebecca]

Really enjoyed your video. Very informative and honest. Easy to listen to. You make a lovely couple.

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much!

[@Metro6am]

We're a couple of years ahead of you guys. Bought a rundown house in an "up and coming" London area before lockdown, it went up 30% now we're moving to Ibiza and getting a small flat in London. I think it's a good idea to keep a base in the city personally! I think you'll enjoy it more if you can pop back whenever you want without worrying about hotel costs. We'll be leaving ours with an Airbnb host so it covers its costs.

[@Livewithlovehj]

Yes! I have done home renovation two times, the designing and DIY-ing aren't hard really. The hardest part is knowing that however hard you try, you will make some mistakes and you would have to live in it with regret for at least 5 years 🤣however, that is still better then hiring a designer firm and realising that there would still be mistakes but you are paying extra for it.

[@CipriAvila]

There’s never not mistakes. You both did an amazing job, the house looks incredible and the transparency of the cost and journey is going to help many people. It’s usually our parents or someone older who can help guide us because they’ve made the mistakes already. But KZbin needs people who have actually have made it happen no matter the age. Also, as someone who has a few houses it can be an absolute pain in the ass….especially if it is a house vs a flat. Last thing, us queers are amazing. Love your journey and thanks for sharing and making the world a better place by just being visible and sharing you life.❤

[@RichardGreen-tc5vw]

Gentlemen...Answer the questions without over explaining! Great Show!!!

[@lululand1653]

I just stumbled across your vlog as I was strolling down my algorithm and I am so happy to meet you both. I have subscribed and am excited to be part of your tribe. I have lived and travelled all over the world yet Italy is truly my most beloved country and to have a home in Tuscany is still my dream. I shall now delve into your past vlogs.

[@ashmazzina]

Welcome! and thank you so much for watching! Tuscany is a dream, can’t wait to live there ☺️

[@alexleo82]

I’ve just found your channel and I’m already a fan 🙌🏼you’re both great people and your partner is awesome, honest and straightforward so refreshing in this world where we can’t say anything because someone will feel offended by it hope it makes sense ☺️lots of love from Bournemouth xxx

[@ashmazzina]

Thank you so much, really kind of you to say! Makes perfect sense, you can always count on Chad for no bs 😂 have a great weekend! ❤️

[@Lirral-u5o]

could not agree more about wren kitchens. My lovely old kitchen was custom built in the early 90s and lasted till we decided to get an extension. The new extension has a Wren kitchen and 6 years later it looks knackered. Constant barrage of calls from them pressuring to buy now for such and such discount.

[@thomasbee5218]

VERY likeable couple - honestly brave pleasant ambitious accomplished - Ash for sure the young one looking for tiny bit of approval/guidance seems to be complimenting each other very well - great to see👍👍👍👍

[@ashmazzina]

Love this 🫶🏻

[@belleboucles3646]

Love this video, even though it was rec 7 years ago, your advice is still valid. Glad I came across your channel.

[@ashmazzina]

It was recorded yesterday? 👀😂 thank you!

[@belleboucles3646]

I simply don’t know why I thought I should add years to the recording😂

[@ads998]

The cost of trades question was really revealing. It seems like a universal reality. Here in Australia, there's a chronic shortage of tradesmen, and prices are high. The other issue I've come across is the "pink tax". They see two gay men in a half nice Edwardian house and quote accordingly. We've developed a habit of leaving dishes in the sink and clothes and towels hanging off chairs when tradesman are coming out to quote. We also make sure only one of us is here, dressed poorly, and we hide the nice car in the garage 😂

[@lululand1653]

It's crazy but true, also in shopping for vintage pieces, the difference in how you dress can sometimes even halve the cost of a piece. Like Chad I get really irked when I realise I've been ripped off.

[@ashmazzina]

This is hilarious 😂

[@ikkelimburg3552]

I agree! In my country you’re lucky if you even get one tradesman to come take a look let alone five. If you’re a single female you get taken for a fool who doesn’t know a thing. Sometimes I ask my neighbor to do the talking for me (not that he knows anything about building) just to get a more realistic estimate of the costs. I’m lucky that my house isn’t big so they can fit my works in between two big jobs. I resorted to taking classes in the basics like gardening, painting, basic electric and the like. I even considered to change my dating approach 😂. Luckily my teenager does want to help and he just learned how to saw and install skirting boards.

[@elizzy8754]

​@@ikkelimburg3552Tell me about it. In my small town (not UK) I could never ever find five tradespeople for quotes❗On the other hand, word of mouth usually finds you a good person. Yes, it's good if you know a bit about what the job entails.

[@Transfromjapan]

Both of you are so cute together ❤

[@ashmazzina]

🫶🏻

[@Keepthepeacesharethelove]

KZbin recommanded your channel to me and l have to say it did a very good job for once. I will go watching all your uploads.

[@ashmazzina]

That’s amazing, thank you so much 🫶🏻

[@jspotdot]

Guys, I stumbled upon your page and have now subscribed. This was very refreshing and I look forward to catching up on old episodes.

[@ashmazzina]

So glad you enjoyed, thank you!

[@jspotdot]

@ if you guys ever visit California hit me up, I own a few vacation rentals near San Diego and happy to comp for you guys.

[@londoncloche]

Your video just came up, and I loved it! It was so open and honest. Thank you for sharing your experience. We're facing a similar dilemma about whether to sell our flat in London and buy one in northern Italy, or to renovate and sell it, then buy a small home in Italy and keep a flat in London to split our time between both. I'm South Korean, and my husband is Italian. We met and lived in London but moved to Korea for IVF. We love the countryside in Italy but are also so fond of London. To complicate things further, we also love living in Seoul, so we're now planning to divide our time between Italy, London, and Seoul. I'll keep supporting your journey to find your next home, and please keep sharing the beautiful and inspiring story of you both! Ciao!

[@Livewithlovehj]

I'm a half Korean and also torn between Korea and London! Seoul definitely has its loveliness like all the lovely food, shopping and things to do, but life in the UK is so much more relaxing and close to the nature. Also don't get me started with the beauty standard in Korea/ Asia in general :P I love my London life but am always jealous of people who get to live full time in Korea. Just curious, how do you plan to divide time between Italy, London and Seoul with a family in future?

[@ThomasBoyd-x3x]

Awesome thanks. Brilliant discussion. Congratulations.