H'side

After losing out at the auction we scoured the various agent's websites who specialise in renovation/land, and found a couple of vague possibilities. We visited them, more out of desperation than anything else, but with them both being at the top end of the budget and not needing much work we didn't take them any further.

So it was a pleasant suprise when C stumbled across H'side whilst flicking through the property pages of a friend's newspaper. Described as 'needing modernising' and with a good sized garden it looked slightly promising, so worth a visit if not only to rule it out.

Windows local (how did we manage without it or Google Earth?) showed that it's in a great end of village location with a south facing garden. So we arranged a viewing last Saturday, on a drab drizzly and cold afternoon. And yes, it needs modernising and a good clean! But with some work, and possibly an extension (subject to us pacifying the planners) it could be great. Thanks to the south facing garden, all 0.25 of an acre, we could also do some (if not all) of the environmental things we want to do.

With this in mind we made a second visit on Wednesday and made an offer. After a small negotiation we agreed on a price, without any of the auction stress, and it's now off the market!

So out with the new-build and all it's embedded energy, and in with renovation and extension of a 100 year old cottage with plenty of environmentally sustainable measures. It should be great, assuming the next few weeks go smoothly with the survey, solicitors etc...

And no, we don't want to keep the goat.