Going Up: Scaffolding & a Very Tall Crane

Still only January and scaffolding has been erected. The builders did not stand idly by while this was happening - they built a retaining wall!

Here is the very tall crane...

Panels are ready to go up on the external walls of the house...

Did I mention that it is still only January? In just three weeks, our plot is beginning to look like a house! Even the internal rooms have wooden beams where the walls will be.

And the scaffolders are erecting platforms to start the second storey... 

Fast or what? Next stage...

January 2020 ... All Systems Go!

A Plot and a Plan

The plot had detailed planning permission, which is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it would save us thousands of poinds in architect fees and, more importantly, about a year of obtaining various permissions. On the other hand, in order to get the build under way as soon as possible, we couldn't build 'the house of our dreams'.

For many years, we toyed with the idea of building a house and have researched the least painful way to proceed. Our skilled and trusted builder from three of our previous projects had now retired, so that wasn't an option. However, we looked thoroughly into using Potton to build the frame and were satisfied that this would be the best route for us.

David at Potton was very good at organising everything for us in the initial stages, providing lists of suppliers for internal/external doors, windows, heating/MVHR system, etc. plus contact details of some Project Managers who had experience of helping Potton clients build their new homes. He even gave us realistic price guides for the complete project.

Once the paperwork was out of the way, we chatted to a couple of recommended Project Managers and appointed Neil of Delta Project Management. In turn, he recommended a company to do the groundwork, and work commenced! Progress was rapid over the next few days - as can be seen in the series of photographs below.

So ... We Bought a Plot of Land!

We spent six months being disappointed with viewing houses for sale. Our favourites needed loads of work which, when added up, resulted in the price far exceeding the market value.

But there was always something 'wrong' with every potential home. Wrong for us, that is - probably fine for someone else. For example: too far to walk to facilities (train station or shop), road noise too loud, garden facing East rather than South or West, neighbour's extension too large and too close, rooms too small or the layout was unworkable, no parking for more than a couple of cars, and so on. We are already living in a lovely place so we don't want to move for anything less.

So we bought a plot of land.

It is very rare to find a plot of the right size in the right location and this was not particularly cheap but we decided that it would suit us very well. We met with the sellers, who will be our immediate neighbours, and we got on very well with them. We met with the building suppliers (Potton Homes) and we have just appointed project managers to see it through. It may take up to a year before we can move in but, at that point, there will be nothing more to do (which is great because we may have spent every last penny by then).

Throughout the building process, the trials, tribulation and triumphs will be documented in this blog. We will include landscaping, internal fixtures and fittings and anything relevant for people thinking of undertaking a similar project. We hope you'll enjoy our journey!

Click to read step one of our New Build adventure.

The House Buying Chain

A chain is only as good as its weakest link.

We've been settled in our new home for almost two years, now, but this post isn't about us. Some friends in a nearby village have also been let down at the last minute, in similar circumstances to our experience.

A few weeks ago they sold (stc) their house to teachers moving into the area, who had accepted an offer from a first time buyer, thus completing a very short chain. With one week to go until exchange of contracts, the first time buyer reduced her purchase offer by several thousand pounds. It was unacceptable and the chain collapsed. Our friends, who should have been moving at the end of this week, have had to put their house back on the market - in August - expecting no response until early September when the summer break is over.

Their plan is to purchase a narrow boat for their semi-retirement - a lifestyle that enables them to live within a smaller income, with some cash in the bank for 'rainy days'. Our frustrated friends had to decide whether to lose the boat or take a bridging loan. The property buying/selling system needs radical reform!

Here's a nice photograph of some canal boats ...

Footnote: There was a happy ending - a lovely couple bought their house and they are happily living life on their boat.

A Year in our New Home

There were other trials and tribulations along the way but I'd like to leave them in the past. Suffice to say that we are coming up to our first anniversary in our new home.

For the first time in our lives, we've bought an apartment. It's on the top floor of a country manor and the living room has a triple aspect plus a high ceiling, so it's full of natural sunlight and the views are fantastic - especially the sunsets!

We like it but there are fifty stairs (no lift) therefore we may need to move again as our legs get older!

The New Home Saga Continues...

You may remember the final couple of paragraphs of our previous post about finding a new home to buy? Well, it's been a frantic few weeks but here's the catch-up!

With ten weeks until the agreed moving date, we hadn't found anywhere to live - then we did - and were set to exchange last Friday... then Monday... then, on Tuesday, we were told by the estate agent that the person at the bottom of the chain had pulled out. At this point, we discovered what an unusual chain it was! Apart from the first time buyer at the bottom of the chain, every other link along the chain was buying a cheaper property than they were selling.

It highlights some flaws in the system: one person can, on a whim, have a change of mind on the designated exchange date which triggers the collapse of the whole chain. In this case, there were varying degrees of consequences.

1. The vendors who lost their buyer at the foot of the chain were moving their family from South London to North Hertfordshire and are due to start new jobs next week, having arranged child care and schools. We understand that, in the interest of expediency and their sanity, they have decided to rent out their London home and use the proceeds to rent more cheaply in Herts.
2. The people they were buying from have re-listed their house with the estate agent. These are the people to whom we have sold (stc) our house and we have been asked to sit tight for a couple of weeks to see how things progress. Being school holidays, though, many potential buyers may still be away for the rest of August.
3. We're cool for a couple of weeks and so are the people at the top of the chain, who we agreed to buy from.

However, all of us have accumulated £hundreds in solicitors fees, searches, surveys, etc. which are not reclaimable. No wonder selling, buying and moving home is high on the list of stressful situations!

So... more to come!

Another Time Lapse ... and adieu to our lovely home.

SELLING & BUYING. We didn't even mean to stay here for almost ten years but it's been difficult to find something affordable that is as good! Here goes with a long story that is still unfinished...

Our home was completed about eight years ago and we still love the house and garden; we also love the nature reserve (walkable) and the old town centre (walkable). "So why move?" I hear you ask. We always promised ourselves that we would return to the open countryside - we only moved into town to be within walking distance of the school for seven years - but we have spent three years looking for a new home.

Finally, we found something. It was another project (although we keep saying 'never again') that we could just about afford to buy and make livable, in a fantastic location where we had often dreamed of living but where property rarely comes up for sale and most houses are way above our price range.

Property #1

We offered the full asking price and were one of three offers put forward: a cash purchase from a developer, £35k less than the asking price, and one other offer, slightly below ours. We needed to be in a position to proceed and were given a week to sell our house - this was a Thursday in early May. It actually took us eight days to receive an offer on our house (these were the first people to view and they offered the next morning); the next couple to view our house also made an offer and, with a completed, short chain, wanted a quick move.

We called the vendor's agent with the good news but were told that the vendors of the property we wanted had accepted an offer from a cash buyer the previous day. Gutted, we decided that as we had finally started the moving process, we should continue...

Property #2

A house we had previously seen for sale three months earlier had dropped in price and was now of interest to us. It was in a nice location and had a lovely garden but the property, whilst livable, needed some work. We were told that the price had been reduced because the owners had now found somewhere to buy and wanted a quick sale.

We offered just under the asking price and had to wait for a response because the owners were away on a cruise. In the meantime, another would-be purchaser viewed the house and made a similar offer so both parties were asked to submit a 'best and final' offer. The owners were still on holiday but, after a few days, we were told that, again, the offers were similar and we were asked if we would be prepared to offer more. Apparently, we both did. The owners were still on holiday but promised to inform us of their decision on their return to the UK..

We are now into June and the owners finally arrive back on Thursday evening. At 5.20pm on Friday, we were advised that the owners are no longer buying the property they wanted and do not wish to rent a property. They asked whether either of the potential purchasers would be willing to have their offer accepted with a delay while they looked around.

No! Enough is enough! We felt that we had been 'played' by the vendors who procrastinated while they enjoyed their relaxing holiday yet we had agreed along our chain to target a moving date of mid-to-late August. Having wasted almost a month awaiting various responses, we currently have only ten weeks to find somewhere to move to. We were told that the other offer has been accepted and we wish the purchasers lots of luck in their dealings with the procrastinators.

Property #3

This will need to be covered in the next blog post as we are in limbo at the moment. We hope to get back to you soon with a happy ending, third time lucky and all that! Meanwhile, some photos of our completed project, our 'Sold (stc)' house, are featured above for you to see.