Anyone trying to buy a house when the market is hot will understand the pain of seeing properties snapped up in minutes. In 2013, when Candice and Angus Hart decided to leave London for the Home Counties, no amount of viewings, offers or flexibility around location was getting them anywhere near a new home.
'I don't think anything was on the market for more than five minutes so once we settled on Haslemere in Surrey, we decided to rent,' explains Angus. It was while celebrating their daughter's third birthday that a call came from a local estate agent to say an old gatehouse was coming on to the market but that they needed to get in early. Angus saw it on the Saturday morning and phoned me straight away saying, "You'd better come and look; this is the one." I was there in 20 minutes and he was right - there was never going to be another house for us,' agrees Candice.
Angus thinks an awkward configuration and a lot of stairs might have dampened the competition. It wasn't a house to retire to and, with bedrooms at opposite ends of the property, it wasn't really for families with small babies either,' he says. "There's not a straight wall in the property but it was absolutely bursting with character and the location is lovely. It had finally all come together for us.'
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Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Country Homes & Interiors.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sowing the seeds for a life of abundance
The perpetual rhythm of planting, tending and harvesting brings a feeling of hope and fulfilment to Diana Yates, and it extends beyond her Greenfields garden to all of her life
Cabin fever
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Wooden boat builder, Obioma Oji
Cover-up job
Durable and decorative, cladding is a brilliant way to protect your home's exterior without compromising its aesthetics
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Replace or refurbish your staircase and you'll elevate the appearance of your home at every level. Here are the steps to take...
TRUE BLUE
A firm favourite for decorating, blue is one of the most restful, mindful shades in the colour spectrum. Stylist and interiors expert Sara Bird shares how to use it in your country home
COUNTER INTELLIGENCE
Practical and inspiring ideas for selecting the best kitchen worktop for your space
A GARDEN GLOW-UP
As late summer days begin to shorten, extend your time outdoors with a blend of practical and decorative lighting
TRÈS BELLE
Sharon and Tony Dallas have turned their dilapidated Grade II-listed house in Essex into an enchanting home with a considered colour palette and French treasures galore
HOME AT LAST
Having often walked past their dream property over the years, Rich and Emma Proud finally became its owners and turned it into a comfortable home for three generations of their family
