the daydream fund challenge thread

alfie_1

rozeepozee wrote: »

I'm sure it will. OH lived in Sydney for 6 years & I was there for 2 so we've had plenty experience of them. The purchase of Kookaburra seemed written in the stars if you believe that kind of stuff - which I don't

oooooooooo now that is interesting and no i dont believe in that stuff either...;);)

Davesnave

Davesnave wrote: »

I was there exactly 3 years ago.

Proof! :A

rozeepozee

The Thanks button has disappeared again, so Thanks, Dave. Sadly the £200k mentioned on the lit for the property was the start of the guide price, not what it sold for

In fact the bidding was very active. In a packed hotel room, it was one of the last lots and there were at least four others bidding. I waited for everyone to drop out and the auctioneer was about to drop the gavel before I placed my first bid. We were at £275k by this stage... I was kinda hoping £275 was this guy's cut off (they had been bidding in £1000 increments for a while) but it wasn't & when I came in as "new blood" and bid £276, there was much excitement. A collective "oooh!" filled the room when he went back to bidding in £5000 increments to try to knock me out. I didn't want to pay £5000 more than he wanted it for so I continued to bid in £1000 increments me:£276, him:£280, public "ooooh!", me £281, him £285... and so it went on, but he started consulting his wife at £300k, so I knew we'd secured it then, although unfortunately not at a "bargain" price.

Still, we've got money in the budget to do it up and we will end up with a home designed & suited to our needs. So the next step is finding a suitable architect & builder. The pressure is on slightly as we have to be out of our rental home by end May and we'd like to gut the place & add dormers; it hasn't been touched since the 1960s!

rozeepozee

That view is very familiar, Dave. The village seemed unremarkable at first glance, but it has hidden delights, especially the castle & the Wildlife Centre that OH walks to daily with the girls & is often part of my morning run. We're regularly as thrilled as small children by the wildlife: families of otters, Red Kite -v- Rooks Face Off, kingfisher etc. Our son is already in the school there and the locals are great, it's a thriving village, a nice mix of youngs & olds in the community, lots of amenities & events & we really love it. So it's all good )

rozeepozee

In case you're all wondering, it is 2.30am and I'm too hyped to sleep!

Davesnave

rozeepozee wrote: »

I knew we'd secured it then, although unfortunately not at a "bargain" price.

Still, we've got money in the budget to do it up and we will end up with a home designed & suited to our needs.

Ah, that does make much more sense, though I'd rather you'd had it really cheap.

The thing that sets your place apart, other than the location, is that upper floor and the integral garage, which mean it's half way to a much bigger house without increasing the footprint or the usual expenditure on beefing it up. So maybe not a complete steal, but a blooming good basis for an adaptable & spacious family home.

Going up a floor, as we were considering here, costs roughly 50-60% more than tacking bits on, and then the footings must be adequate. We'd have to take the whole roof off too.

Bearing that in mind, but especially the recent antics of Mr Dog, it looks unlikely that we shall go down the big spend road. If we're going to have his racket regularly from October to April (summer's not much of a problem) then I doubt if we'll be here in 5 years time.

Being required to put big bucks on the table is always the best way to establish how one really feels about the way the game is going. Looks like it's going well for you! All the very best to you and your new home. :beer:

alfie_1

im so pleased for you rozee and co. i can fully understand the excitement....:D

i had a spell of texts being sent to me on thursday with a pic of my house many years ago ! apparently the local bank had a display on behalf of our local st barbs museum of old pictures of local old estates. and my house being a gatelodge to the "manor" was amongst them AND it was originally THATCHED !!!
iv been to the museum to find out if they have any more pics and if i can get copies [they are looking into it,contacting the owner of pics for me]... would love to hang them/it in my hall as a history record....im a tad excited..:D

alfie_1

iv got this image that poor LIR is buried under her dodgy kitchen wall and cant quite reach her computer !! only kidding but im a tad concerned so come on LIR let us know youre ok ???? xxxxxx

Itismehonest

& also choille. The wind & rain looks to be quite nasty up her way.

Rummer

Rozeepozee Fantastic news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!