OMG!

OMG what a weekend! We have gone in a few short weeks from debating whether to put our house onto the market, to putting it on and wondering whether we'd get interest, to having viewings where everyone seemed interested, to having an offer for the full asking price on less than 2 weeks! We accepted the offer on Friday from a couple looking to move closer to their family for various reasons. they loved it and made it clear they would make an offer before they left the house so it was a good omen. 

Of course this meant that we needed to make a decision on what to do next. The people buying ours would prefer a short exchange and long completion so we have time, and it would fit with school, but of course no-one in this family has that sort of patience! 

Glenn and I booked to see 4 houses on Saturday, leaving the girls at home to look after themselves, but more importantly the dogs - Abi sending me regular updates to prove everything was ok!  Having had a long chat on the way down we ditched one of the viewings, leaving us a C16 listed farmhouse with a thatch roof (everything we have ever been told not to buy but Glenn loved it on paper), a rectory, also in Trull, where the massive house was unfortunately compromised by the fact that the owners had built in the garden so cut it in half and a mystery barn conversion with no details online. 

The first thing to say is that estate agents should not be allowed to use fish eye lenses on their cameras as they are so deceiving. The long wode drive on the thatched property was a car width and no more, and the thatch was in more dire need of repair than the details would have you believe, At £1.1m it felt like a push and you would need to wear a helmet indoors to saving cracking your head every time you moved from one room to another. Glenn was still keen but I came out almost in tears because I was so unmoved by it - it was a no from me. After a cup of tea with Kerrie and Ryan (more news but kids said I can't share yet!), we went to the Old Rectory. This was a much lighter, brighter house, and (once past the fact that it was immensely tired) with a shed load of money you could make it into a lovely home, but it was a lot of work and needed the price to be about £200k less than it was on for. Another no. 

Feeling disheartened we treated ourselves (not, we had limited time), we set off for the mystery house. This was a barn conversion on the edge of a little village called Stoke St Mary, about 3 miles outside of Taunton. We drove up to it not knowing what to expect as it isn't yet finished and the details online are scant. As we got nearer the rain stopped, the sun came out and glinted off the roof of a building set against the treeline of Stoke Hill and looking out over a truly beautiful vista. We were immediately smitten and, despite the shortcomings - its smaller currently than our house and has only one (huge) living space, we can see so much potential. After a discussion with the builder and a good look around, we knew it was for us.... so we bought it! It was a bit of a gut instinct but one I think we will be very happy with. 

Tomorrow we are off for breakfast and drop dogs at Mum and Dads, before going back to have a better look with the girls in tow, lunch at Amanda's back to Stocklinch for a walk and cup of tea then home for a very quiet Christmas given Newbury is in Tier 4 now and the government has decreed that Christmas 2020 should be confined to 1 day and immediate family. Let's hope 2021 brings better times for us all.

Our view for 2021