We have a house!
I honestly would have taken the third house that we looked at. It was a nice house, a bit on the small side, but close to the schools and work. But Super Handsome had concerns because it did not really have an extra room for the electric drum kit, for the kids for all their home work and stuff, so I kept looking. I am glad that I did!
The house selling market is very slow here, at least in the size homes that we were looking for, but the rental or as they call it the letting market is hot. I mentioned why in one of my last posts. Just as a refresher, it is because Londoners are moving out to Hertfordshire because of the schools. It is lucky for us that the sellers market is so slow, that is why the home we choose was up for rent. The owners had tried to sell it but after having a buyer fall through in January, they had decided to let it for awhile until the market improves.
We looked at houses in both Essex and Hertfordshire. Our home is located in Essex, in a smallish hamlet (or village) called Takeley. I say smallish, because it has three pubs. The really small hamlets do not have a pub. The pub is called the Lion and the Lamb and it is suppose to be a good place to eat, I was warned that they have large portions though. Shopping is fairly convinent as well with Bishop's Stortford and Great Dunmow being very close.
I looked at the house initially on Wednesday. I met the owners, Jan and Ron. They are absolutely lovely people. The home is named Oak Lodge. When they bought it, it started out as a small, family home. As time went on and after their kids left, they added onto the original home and ran it as a Bed and Breakfast for a number of years. The original home dates well back into the early 1400's, and at our most recent visit, Ron showed us some information that dated it back into the 1400's when it was being letted out!
When I looked at the home, I absolutely LOVED it. I was concerned because really, it was not the most convenient to school or work. There was one other home that I needed to consider first that was central for both Super Handsome and I to commute to. (this you may want to skip) To explain, Super Handsome works on the northwest side of Harlow in a section that is known as the Pinnacles. If you are looking at a map, his work is located near 414 and A1169. The boys' school is located on the northeast side of Harlow, off of B183 in Churchgate. The GPS says that it takes about 18 minutes to get from school to the house. I am not sure what it will say about Super Handsome's work. But I do know that the road is little(meaning narrow) and there is a lot of farming in the area. I think that an 18 minute commute will only happen under ideal conditions, 25 mins is probably more accurate.
At the last minute another home came up. Honestly, I almost did not look at it, it was really only the location that drew me to it. It was a great house, had a little bit of extra room and a playhouse in the back. It would have worked, it would have been a cozy year for us. It was closer to school and work. The downside was that it only had one shower and there really was not a place for the boys to ride their bikes safely. So, I finally decided that we needed to let Oak Lodge.
Here is the link with some pictures: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-28566067.html
We all visited the home on Saturday and the kids LOVED it, as I knew that they would. If you look closely at the outdoor pictures, you can see the hint of a tree fort. Ron built it for his now 12 year old grandson, that will incidentally be our neighbor! Ron and Jan's daughter and her husband and two children live in a "bungalow"(which seems a misnomer to me, looking only at the roof, it looks to be a nice sized home) on the property as well!
While we looked at the house, Ron and Jan gave us the grand tour and included all the information that they knew about the house. One of the little stained glass windows and the oak woodwork and doors were probably taken from Catholic churches when England broke with Rome. We saw the new and old parts of the house and then ended the tour with the fantastic tree fort! The younger two asked if they could just stay there while we left to go and pack their stuff at "The Shack". We laughed, as Ron and Jan still need to pack their things. They are going to live with their son for the year and maybe do some traveling. Jan apparently has a cousin in Ohio that she wants to visit!
I am so excited about the prospect of getting my winter clothes. When we arrived the weather was unseasonably warm (but very pleasant!) which, has been to our benefit. But it is rapidly cooling down and we have been experiencing typical UK weather, it is time to break out the sweatshirts, sweater and boots! The kids are ok, especially since they have their school uniforms. I packed the lightest and I find myself cold very quickly!
I also can't wait to get my debit card! The shoe stores have some fabulous boots that I can't wait to purchase. I have also seen some really nice cashmere sweaters that I would love to have a closer look at as well!
Right now, we are just waiting for the paperwork to go through. We hope to get in soon as our temp housing time is coming to a close. I am hoping for October 25 or sooner. It would be ideal to be settled before the kids start back at school.
I honestly would have taken the third house that we looked at. It was a nice house, a bit on the small side, but close to the schools and work. But Super Handsome had concerns because it did not really have an extra room for the electric drum kit, for the kids for all their home work and stuff, so I kept looking. I am glad that I did!
The house selling market is very slow here, at least in the size homes that we were looking for, but the rental or as they call it the letting market is hot. I mentioned why in one of my last posts. Just as a refresher, it is because Londoners are moving out to Hertfordshire because of the schools. It is lucky for us that the sellers market is so slow, that is why the home we choose was up for rent. The owners had tried to sell it but after having a buyer fall through in January, they had decided to let it for awhile until the market improves.
We looked at houses in both Essex and Hertfordshire. Our home is located in Essex, in a smallish hamlet (or village) called Takeley. I say smallish, because it has three pubs. The really small hamlets do not have a pub. The pub is called the Lion and the Lamb and it is suppose to be a good place to eat, I was warned that they have large portions though. Shopping is fairly convinent as well with Bishop's Stortford and Great Dunmow being very close.
I looked at the house initially on Wednesday. I met the owners, Jan and Ron. They are absolutely lovely people. The home is named Oak Lodge. When they bought it, it started out as a small, family home. As time went on and after their kids left, they added onto the original home and ran it as a Bed and Breakfast for a number of years. The original home dates well back into the early 1400's, and at our most recent visit, Ron showed us some information that dated it back into the 1400's when it was being letted out!
When I looked at the home, I absolutely LOVED it. I was concerned because really, it was not the most convenient to school or work. There was one other home that I needed to consider first that was central for both Super Handsome and I to commute to. (this you may want to skip) To explain, Super Handsome works on the northwest side of Harlow in a section that is known as the Pinnacles. If you are looking at a map, his work is located near 414 and A1169. The boys' school is located on the northeast side of Harlow, off of B183 in Churchgate. The GPS says that it takes about 18 minutes to get from school to the house. I am not sure what it will say about Super Handsome's work. But I do know that the road is little(meaning narrow) and there is a lot of farming in the area. I think that an 18 minute commute will only happen under ideal conditions, 25 mins is probably more accurate.
At the last minute another home came up. Honestly, I almost did not look at it, it was really only the location that drew me to it. It was a great house, had a little bit of extra room and a playhouse in the back. It would have worked, it would have been a cozy year for us. It was closer to school and work. The downside was that it only had one shower and there really was not a place for the boys to ride their bikes safely. So, I finally decided that we needed to let Oak Lodge.
Here is the link with some pictures: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-28566067.html
We all visited the home on Saturday and the kids LOVED it, as I knew that they would. If you look closely at the outdoor pictures, you can see the hint of a tree fort. Ron built it for his now 12 year old grandson, that will incidentally be our neighbor! Ron and Jan's daughter and her husband and two children live in a "bungalow"(which seems a misnomer to me, looking only at the roof, it looks to be a nice sized home) on the property as well!
While we looked at the house, Ron and Jan gave us the grand tour and included all the information that they knew about the house. One of the little stained glass windows and the oak woodwork and doors were probably taken from Catholic churches when England broke with Rome. We saw the new and old parts of the house and then ended the tour with the fantastic tree fort! The younger two asked if they could just stay there while we left to go and pack their stuff at "The Shack". We laughed, as Ron and Jan still need to pack their things. They are going to live with their son for the year and maybe do some traveling. Jan apparently has a cousin in Ohio that she wants to visit!
I am so excited about the prospect of getting my winter clothes. When we arrived the weather was unseasonably warm (but very pleasant!) which, has been to our benefit. But it is rapidly cooling down and we have been experiencing typical UK weather, it is time to break out the sweatshirts, sweater and boots! The kids are ok, especially since they have their school uniforms. I packed the lightest and I find myself cold very quickly!
I also can't wait to get my debit card! The shoe stores have some fabulous boots that I can't wait to purchase. I have also seen some really nice cashmere sweaters that I would love to have a closer look at as well!
Right now, we are just waiting for the paperwork to go through. We hope to get in soon as our temp housing time is coming to a close. I am hoping for October 25 or sooner. It would be ideal to be settled before the kids start back at school.
The "To Let" signs in London always make me look twice. When I first saw them, I thought they were advertising toilets everywhere!
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