In an effort to play catch up here is our story in brief so far….

5 Years ago we were looking for a plot but had no luck through estate agents, newspapers etc, I do not think back then the likes of build store’s plot search were about.

We had come to the conclusion that if a plot was any good or reasonably priced then it would not even get into the window of an Estate Agent. We decided to drive around our chosen area in Kent and look for any signs of a potential plot, we did this most Sundays for weeks much the Kids dismay!

Funnily enough we found it right under our noses not 2 minutes from our home, it was just what we were looking for, a very run down old cottage that had plenty of land with all but one of the surrounding houses having already been developed.

We decided my wife should knock on the door, which she did several times over the next few weeks until finally she spoke to the very elderly owner who said that although it was not for sale at that time she would take our number and call us if she ever did want to move on.

We thought that was the end of that and continued our search, but to our suprise she called about six months later, she was considering selling as she was going into a home. We agreed a price with her solicitor and marketed our own house for a quick sale, only for the old lady to die before completion. The house was put into probate and to our horror the family wanted £80,000 on top of the agreed amount or it would go to auction.

We reluctantly paid them their asking price and 2 years after the first knock on the door we exchanged, the sellers allowed us access to the house prior to completion so we could make the house habitable as the old lady had not lived in any of the upstairs rooms for 25+ years.

As the old house was structurally sound we spent a few thousand pounds on a “referb” replacing carpets, kitchen and bathroom, giving the whole place a lick of paint as we would only be in here a “short while”! Famous last words…..

That was nearly 3 years ago, we have nearly cleared the over grown seven acres the house sit’s in. We have also built an Oak framed triple garage and a further Oak framed play room which we are currently in the middle of finishing; I will post some pictures shortly!

I’m listening to: CORINNE BAILEY RAE – ‘PUT YOUR RECORDS ON’

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