Smart Move

When Sadie and Ross Tutton outgrew their small cottage, they found a spacious property nearby with plenty of potential

After 10 years living in a two-up two-down cottage with a steep staircase and downstairs bathroom, Sadie and Ross Tutton craved a larger home with a garden, where they could start a family. The couple were keen to stay in the North Wales village of Hope and luckily they spotted a three-bedroom detached property less than a mile away that fitted the bill, plus it also satisfied their desire for a challenging project.

‘It was stuck in the Seventies and had a small brown kitchen with an awful little window looking into the garage, but it was structurally sound,’ says Sadie, who grew up in a neighbouring village. The couple quickly listed their cottage with an estate agent and accepted a slightly lower offer in order to buy the new house – but the buyer pulled out. ‘It worked in our favour in the end, as we eventually got the full asking price and bought the new place for quite a bit less than our original offer,’ explains Sadie.