Hi everyone,

After 6 years of living in lovely West Wales, I think I've decided to move back to near my family.  It's almost a 4 hour drive for them to get here, and I don't drive, so only get to see them once a month. 
It's been a bit of a nightmare here in the last couple of years what with losing my partner and one thing or another, my frame of mind hasn't been very good, but I think it's time to get away from here.
The hard work starts now!!  We're going to be having a big clean up in the next week, and then get a valuation.  I've no idea how much the place is worth at the moment.  It needs a lot of work, but I think it has huge potential, we bought it very cheap 6 years ago.  It's only a 2 bed cottage, and over 200 years old.  It's got outbuildings and land, which I'll miss very much when I move.  I've loved having the space around me to exercise the dogs, but now I only have one dog, it's all just too much.

So, it'll be a new start and a new adventure, I will be sad to leave here, because we had such great plans for it, but I'm looking forward to having a little house that hopefully only needs decorating!!

Please wish me luck!  I think I may need it!!

Lisa

Best of luck for your future adventures ;)

So where are you moving back to ?

Lucy
xx

Thanks Lucy, I'm hoing to move back to the Solihull area, just don't know yet whether I'll be able to afford it.  There are some cheaper places around there though, so fingers crossed!

Lisa

Oh gosh we are fellow Brumies then :D

:-D  I didn't know that!  Are you still in Brum? 

Are you still in Brum?

No :D :D

I am an EX brummie :D :D

Brought up in Sutton Coldfield

Living in West Oxon now

Lol, I've spoken to loads of EX Brummies....hmm, why did we all move?  Or more to the point, why on earth do I want to go back!! :-D

>I'm hoing to move back to the Solihull area

Convenient for Crufts then. You'll have everyone visiting!  ;) :D

Good luck, Lisa! Moving closer to your family seems like a good idea.
I'm sure a new home is waiting for you to come along and find it :p 
One just as good as the one you're leaving.  To me
my home is where my dogs are and my bed is. And OH, of course.....
Karen

Thank you Karen.  I felt quite tearful writing it all down then, but I know it's the right thing to do, and yes, as long as my GSD girlie is with me, I'm happy!!

JG....as long as they all bring sleeping bags, it's fine :-D

Good luck with your future plans Lisa, I hope it all works out for you xx ((hugs))

Thanks everyone.  I'll let you know how the valuation goes.  At the moment, I don't know what to think, so the valuation will be a starting point (It'll be without obligation, so I am hoping to ask a few questions of the estate agent)  If it's not worth enough to buy a decent little house, I'll probably have a bit of work done here.  I have some savings, not a lot.
I suppose it's not the best time of year to put a house on the market either??

I'm excited, but nervous.  My late partner dealt with everything when we moved here, I don't have much experience of this kind of thing...so I'm just going to tidy everything up and hope for the best.

Thanks again,

Lisa

Good luck with the move Lisa. Now is the time to heal and move forward with your life, it won't be easy, but soooooo worth it.

Remember the best way to sell a home is to de-clutter,  and clean and fresh. I have bought and sold many times over the years, the quickest sale I ever had was the house was on the market for 1 day !!! boy did I give a sigh of relief, did not have to keep the house looking like a "show home" for long LOL !!!!!!

make sure you have more than one estate agent round, and have a clear indication of what you are getting for your money (the % they charge, and if they add on charges for things such as photos etc, and if there is an 'upfront' charge and how long you are contracted to them.) It all adds up and not all are the same. have a look on the internet and see what types of property they sell, and look at the gardens to see if they have been on for a while (an indication is the garden, does it look summer or winter for example, to see if they move things on or if property stays with them for a while) Also, if you have a renovation country property then one that sells mainly town houses may not be the best bet. A good lick of paint and keeping things homely but simple is good, as well as clean and sweet smelling....some potential purchasers do not like animal smells. if there is 'bubbling' plaster, then woodchip and a couple of layers of paint hides a multitude of sins ;) Same with a solicitor, check them all out regarding charges etc, you will find a variation, or go to a purely convayancing solicitor, some will only charge on a final sale, not if there are a few pull outs along the way.

You may feel your home will be difficult to sell, but there are a lot of people wanting renovation projects, so don't worry, just make sure your home will get good country wide advertising because a lot of people like to relocate to Wales. Spring may well be a better time, but at least you will be on the market now so who knows what may happen, just don't feel obliged to sell out for a far lower sum than you need right now. I am told the market is slow right now, so don't be tempted unless the price is right. Is your house listed? it sounds lovely, someone will want it I'm sure, and after all, with outbuildings they can be turned into living accomadation (annex, granny flat, gym) or even holiday lets, and an extention may be granted to make your house bigger.....the possibilities are endless which smart folk know.

Wishing you the very best of luck :)

Thanks for taking the time to write that calmstorm, it's really helpful :-)