Having bought my ‘Chocolate Box’ Home in October, by the end of 2021 I looked back with some frustration mixed in with a healthy dose of annoyance.
From all the surveys I had undertaken this beautiful 1840’s cottage needed some TLC and sympathetic improvement but that was it. Once completion had happened I was soon to discover just what a house of horrors it really was.
My builder and I discovered that the cottage was hiding a myriad of enormous problems seemingly caused by cowboy trades people the previous owner had hired. Behind the plaster and roof we found damp, condemned wiring, rotted timbers, unsafe joinery and structural defects. It was truly horrific and I am very surprised that the whole thing had not gone up in a puff of smoke or imploded in on itself beforehand.
These were things that no property survey could have picked up prior to purchase yet that didn’t change the fact that there they were, weren’t going to resolve themselves, would need addressing and I was the proud owner!
I have effectively had to take the place back to its bare walls, lift the roof off and start again. As we prised, lifted and dismantled all that was wrong the house became a shell of the property I had originally seen. My hope of moving in sometime in January dwindled away from sight and is in ‘who knows’ territory. More painfully the budget I had originally put aside for home improvements quickly started to tick upwards and way beyond anything I had planned which has necessitated some serious gulping on my part.
The weather in Wales has not been playing ball with our efforts either. A few gales decided to show us that the roof did indeed need replacing and the garden gazebo has gone for a complete burton!
Brexit has had an effect on my efforts too
Another major problem has been obtaining the supplies that we need. Wood, piping, electrical wiring, you name it, has shot up in price and lead times to actually receiving items has extended, mainly due to Brexit messing up supply lines. It’s meant I am now project managing more trades people than you can shake a stick at and I’m having to cajole, plead, scavenge and even bully where necessary to keep the thing on track.
However, adopting my ‘well I can’t change the situation’ attitude I’m approaching things with vigour and optimism. Despite the costs spiralling to dizzying heights I am comforting myself that at least the house will be safe and exactly as I want it by the time we finish – I’m also taking the opportunity to install the most energy efficient things I can. I think my good-natured, c’est la vie approach is rubbing off on my builder and trades people too, as, since the New Year everyone has re-doubled their efforts and are busying themselves on site like a veritable hive of bees.
Keep everything crossed for me. There’s still a long way to go however I may be in by Easter and you can imagine how sweet that final move date is going to feel.
My recently re-launched website is up and running.
Have a look and see what you think.
www.pamwarren.co.uk
