We got the keys to our dream home back in the summer of 2019. Our home was actually the 14th house that we went to view in a long string of failed attempts at buying a house. It was not an easy path for us to become homeowners, but it was worth it in the end. When it came to the house that we bought, everything just seemed to fall into place. It was smooth sailing from the very moment that we put in an offer and that told us that it was meant to be. However, there is certainly another side of the tale. Since getting our keys there have been major bumps in the road and challenges. In this blog post I am going to share with you some of the things that have happened to our house. Some are small, others are pretty large!
Adding character throughout.
Our house may be deemed a new build, but it is still around 15 years old. At this time, houses were put up quickly and they don’t have many distinguishing features. My dream home that I hope to one day purchase is an old stone-built cottage. With that, I want lots of original features. Such as, fireplaces, nooks for reading, beams, stained glass, etc. However, I didn’t want to just make do until we one day move house. So, I set about adding character to the space. I added coving, panelling, dado rails, fireplaces, etc. It was backbreaking work, but worth it in the end and now the space looks amazing.
Had a neighbour crash through the front of my house.
When talking about things that have happened to our house, I need to mention this. In February of 2021, I got a phone call from my next-door neighbour. He said, “Danielle, you need to get home. The knobheaded across the road has crashed his car into the front of your house”. I didn’t believe him at first. Until I got home and saw a Citroen Picasso wedged in the front of my house. Apparently, he had forgot to put the handbrake on his car and it rolled across the street and built up enough speed to knock the front of my house down. Months after, during a court battle to recoup the costs, I found out that he did something similar to the previous owners. However, their car was on the drive at the time, and he totalled their car. It was a horrible time and cost us thousands.
Created my dream dressing room.
Since being a little girl, I have always wanted a dressing room. To be honest, I did think that I might grow out of it, but that wasn’t the case. When we got this house, with so many bedrooms, it felt like it was meant to be. Low and behold, I now have a dressing room fit for a Queen. There is nothing quite like having a space which is all mine. I have all of my lovely things on display, they are safe, and I can get ready in luxury. Don’t get me wrong, this may not be forever. But I am certainly loving the space now.
Changed all of the flooring.
Our house is a new-build design which is around 15 years old. The previous owners to us had been in the house since it was first built. When we got the keys, the flooring throughout had been there since it was originally built. Because of this, it all looked rather tired. The carpets were rather cheap and had not been taken care off. Some tiles were smashed, and the wooden floor had seen better days. In early 2022, we made the decision to get new flooring throughout the entire house. It took weeks, but it really transformed the house. Not to mention it cost an arm and a leg.
Had our ensuite crash through the ceiling.
In the winter of 2021, we realised that we had a leak from our ensuite. The ensuite in question is located on the third story of our house. On the second story we began to see wet patches on the ceiling directly underneath. We had a plumber come to look at the space and he recommended that we get a new bathroom suite fitted into the ensuite as it was around 15 years old. To cut a long story short, we hired somebody to strip the bathroom back, fix the leak and fit the new bathroom. However, he didn’t repair the leak and once we started using our new bathroom, the leak continued (unbeknown to us). Several months later, the shower cubicle and all the times ended up crashing through the second story ceiling. An absolute nightmare. This may be the worse thing that has happened to our house.
Decorated and furnished the entire house.
When we got the keys to our house, we didn’t have anything. We had both previously lived with our parents and because of that, we have no furniture or ‘stuff’. We had to save every single penny in order to fill this entire 5-bedroom house. It took a long time and far too much money. Plus, the inside was decorated bright yellow throughout, in every single room. I almost broke my back painting this entire house, but I am so proud. That is the final thing that has happened to our house, it has been fully decorated and furnished over the past couple of years.
I hope that you guys enjoyed this post. As I mentioned, it really hasn’t been smooth sailing. To be honest, I don’t think that being a homeowner ever really is smooth sailing. However, we love our little home and despite all of the things that have happened to our house, we absolutely adore it. It is worth all the uphill battles and struggles. I look forward to working on the house more and hopefully by the middle of next year, it will be somewhat close to finished. As always, I would love to hear from you. Make sure to leave me a comment below. Let me know if you have had any trials and tribulations of your own. Do you think it is worth owning, or do you plan on sticking with renting?
