When to downsize - that was the question after Colin died. I would have loved to stay at Clay Cottage but it just had too many problems waiting to happen and the never ending driving everywhere got more and more annoying once I was on my own.
Plus there's the fact that one person just doesn't need an acre of land to care for and a big council tax bill every April.
So when I found that there were so few houses for sale due to the year of covid and those that were for sale were fetching a good price and selling quickly I put the house on the market and it's sale was agreed so soon that I had to find something else without delay.
I'd previously joked with the family that I would buy one of the new builds in Bacton, because they were planned for a field conveniently in between the shop and the doctors with a pub just over the road and the village hall 200 yards away. But no one knew when they would be started. I looked at new builds in the village where son and family live but the decent sized houses were expensive and the whole estate seemed very squashed together plus the houses I liked had huge trees at the back.
So I gave up looking for new and decided I didn't really need a house with 4 bedrooms, and after looking at half a dozen houses, I found this bungalow in one of the villages I was happy to move to.
When I moved here someone in blogland wanted a floor-plan of the bungalow and I've finally got around to drawing a rough sketch. It's not exactly to scale (the kitchen and living room are not as wide as they look on the plan and the two back bedrooms are a bit narrower) but just an idea of sizes and where the rooms are.
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| Explaining why I'm moving the en-suite to the front of the bungalow as a toilet that you can't use when the electric goes off is just silly |
Selling then was a good move because since then the 80 houses on the estate between shop and doctors in Bacton have been started and they are not building any bungalows and the 2 bedroom homes are selling for the same price as this bungalow was a year ago!
There's another small estate in Bacton also being built just around the corner from the first one and there a 3 bedroom bungalow is selling for £100,000 more than I paid for this place and it isn't so big.
Look how small the Living/Dining room is.
I'm glad I didn't wait for them to start building in Bacton and picked a good time to sell so that it worked out well in the end.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
I did the opposite to you and left a bungalow for a semi detached house. The bungalow had been the family home with lots of additions, it looked like an ocean liner when lit up at night! Also a huge garden, we had ducks, hens and grew all out veg, too much for one old lady to manage. Now in 2 bed semi in village near family, small garden but enough for me to grow a small amount of veg and it’s a lovely village, very friendly and caring. Yes, get rid of the macerator, my friend has one that reversed so you can imagine the carnage, she was covered in it. Good luck with builders. Sarah Browne.
ReplyDeleteWe left our 5 acre self sufficient smallholding where we had been for 23 years when Colin became ill in 2016 - it was sad to leave. After living in places that have few neighbours and quiet I decided that anywhere I went would have to be detached and need 3 beds for the family to stay. It's certainly easier having a smaller garden.
DeleteIsn't it a good feeling when things work out for the best? I am happy for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased I moved when I did rather than wait . No more moving!
DeleteSo pleased for you Sue. I'm so happy with our bungalow too. I think it is helpful to downsize when you're still young enough and fit enough to make the decisions for yourself. It must be much harder if you get into your 80s and become unwell and the family take over. We don't have room for an en suite - but unless there are visitors, it doesn't matter.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely the right time to move.
DeleteYour downsizing experience worked out well. It sounds like our plan a year ago, although ours turned out quite differently to how we imagined! Bigger house, more expensive although in the ideal location. Perhaps one out of three still works.
ReplyDeleteBut your new place is beautiful and you could always downsize!
Deleteplease forgive me for saying this, but why would someone want a floorplan of your home, i hope i haven't offended anyone, but i wouldn't have posted it,
ReplyDeleteCurious or nosy - who knows. I don't see drawing a floor plan as a problem. Would love to know why you think I shouldn't have posted it
Deleteto do with break ins, it was something i read online . i'm probably just overthinking everything.
DeleteI'm just starting the process, mind you, it's like pushing water uphill as Steve does not want to leave the boat!
ReplyDeleteHope he gets used to idea, even if he does blame you- it needed doing for your future
DeleteI'm glad you made the right choice. We absolutely love it hear, but this house has a couple of drawbacks - I knew I would struggle with the "!wild" bits of the land BUT Land is Money, and the Heath Robinson water system from a spring over a mile away is something else!
ReplyDeleteRemember Elizabeth West's Hovel and the dry year when it took all day to fill a bucket from their spring! Hope you never ever have that problem
DeleteThank you for the bad news about Macerators - we were considering trying to get a downstairs loo/shower installed but a Macerator would be necessary. Plumber didn't want the job anyway, and now I am totally deterred!
ReplyDeleteThe silly thing is that had they have put the ensuite at the front they wouldn't have needed the macerator. Oh well it will be done now - sometime before winter I hope
DeleteI bought a lovely two-bed bungalow when my ex and I split, and spent eight happy years there on my own. I only moved when I re-married because my husband has so much stuff! I would happily go back to somewhere similar if I need to.
ReplyDeleteI hope I never have to move again
DeleteYou couldn't have timed it better, and have enjoyed your posts about settling in to your new place, and how content you seem.
ReplyDeleteThank you - it suits me fine
DeleteJust under 3 yrs ago we moved to a lovely new build semi just outside town with shops within easy reach only to have a horrible neighbour who made our lives a misery. Last September, after a nightmare search for a new home, we found this shared ownership bungalow in a quiet rural area. We couldn't find one we could afford to buy outright so went for it anyway. Everything is so expensive here but peace of mind was a priority for us. It only has 2 bedrooms and one bathroom, unfortunately, but that can't be helped. The problem will be when we are unable to lift our legs over the side of the bath to use the shower! 😱 Oh for an en suite...
ReplyDeleteSo pleased for you that you have settled nicely. Your bungalow sounds ideal.
It was so sad about your hellish neighbour . Wonder whats happening there now? I'm glad you have something more peaceful
DeleteI'm glad that your new bungalow isn't a disappointment after the upheavel you had moving from pillar to post at the start. At our time of life it makes sense to bear in mind what our capabilities are.
ReplyDeleteOnce I got in here I soon forgot my 9 weeks in holiday lets!
DeleteDear Sue it's lovely to see you settled, I care and worry about people even though we are almost at opposite ends of the world. It is interesting to see the different house plans and hear your ideas as we are pretty much the same age and as my husbands health varies we too contemplate moving to a smaller more manageable place, closer to family.I'm enjoying the 'Tour de France' but end up going to bed before the end and have to catch up next morning. Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for worrying! I've moved house so many times that it wasn't too much of a problem
DeleteTiming is everything and you certainly timed selling one home and buying another perfectly. You have a lovely home and with the upcoming renovation it will serve you even better.
ReplyDeleteIt was the right time and it went well in the end
DeleteI love reading about your bungalow and your plans for it and enjoyed reading about your previous place.
ReplyDeleteWe are in a fairly big place at the moment and the day will certainly come when we have to downsize. We've moved around a lot but when the time comes to leave this place it will be a wrench, it's so peaceful and the garden is an absolute delight.
Alison in Wales
I do sometimes miss the peace and quiet but don't miss the worries and the driving everywhere
DeleteI will have to downsize sometime in the future but I can manage right now because my eldest son lives with me. He helps out so much and I like being in the old family house when my children and grandchildren come to visit.
ReplyDeleteYour place looks like it is the perfect size and I like that it is on one floor. I hope to find something like that one day. Sharing your big move has been so helpful to me. Thank you, Sue!
We had hoped to stay at the smallholding where our grandchildren would have seen the animals etc but it was not to be
DeleteDownsizing and retirement is always on my mind!! I have the magic age of 60 in my head (4 years from now) but the issue is that smaller houses in my area are rare and still cost a lot. So I'd need to factor in the costs of moving with the costs of staying put and would it all be worth it. Your timing was spot on!
ReplyDeleteYou are so young! plenty of time to think about what to do!
DeleteLooks like it was a good move on your part Sue.
ReplyDeleteWell, you had the instinct to sell and buy when you did, and you seem very comfortable.
ReplyDeleteCathy
You got a very good deal buy going with your instinct.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
At least the new houses had a seperate kitchen. Most new builds have the kitchen and the living room in one. They would tell you it is the fashion, but what it actually is, is a con as they don't have to give you as much house! Can't imagine only having one room with all the mess and the noise and the kitchen smells all in the one room. The next "fashion" will be to add your bedroom in too and just build you a larger than average bedsit!
ReplyDeleteYou made the right decisions at just the right time didn't you. It's nice when things work out for the best isn't it.
ReplyDelete