Finding Ugly House (and leaving Lovely Flat)

We had been keeping an eye on Rightmove for quite some time to see what was out there (in our very limited area of the town we already live in) when I saw a three bedroom house at a too-good-to-miss price. After viewing, we hurriedly put our flat on the market in the distant hope that we might get the house. We didn't, and shortly after went on holiday. While on holiday, Brexit happened, so on our return we found the housing market a little stalled - not much coming on the market and even fewer people coming to view our flat. After several months had passed and having changed estate agent we were still in the same situation, but then we booked a viewing of Ugly House. I'd been put off going to see it from the pictures on Rightmove, but as there wasn't much else around, thought we'd just go and see it (from then on, referring to it as 'Ugly House').

At the viewing our opinions changed - we could see past the not-so-attractive exterior, dated interior and tiny garden and instead saw how spacious it was (far more so than anything else we had seen) and what we could do with it. Some pictures are below of how it was (from the Rightmove listing):

Then it was just a case of waiting for an offer on our flat and hoping Ugly House didn't go in the meantime! After reductions on both the house and our flat, we got an offer, immediately offered on Ugly House and proceeded with 6 weeks to and fro with solicitors, exchanging just before Christmas. That left the Christmas break as packing up time, which took a lot more time than we expected! It was sad to be packing up our first home - a lovely spacious new build two bedroom flat with it's own front door, built in the pastel-coloured exterior style of the Victorian terraced houses on the same road. Ugly House is a big change since we had the luxury of a brand new kitchen/bathroom and no DIY required in the flat, but we were excited for the challenge 😊.

Moving day came early January, and the packing up of the van/unloading at the other end again took a lot longer than expected! Who knew how much stuff can fit in a two bedroom flat! We were very lucky to have the help of both sets of parents which meant we did it all ourselves without needing to hire a moving company. We only moved a two minute drive away which also helped! By the time we got all our belongings in, and settled down for fish and chips in front of the TV, the house was was already feeling like home.

Up next will be our plans for changing the house.