Hello!

 

Thanks for letting me join the group. I am currently renovating a 1960s bungalow with a dormer which was added in the 80s! I have renovated 2 properties previously but this one is going to be home. I was working in hospitality until 2020 then lockdown  gave me a break to reassess what I wanted to do in the future. As it was impossible to find tradespeople at the time I ended up learning to do most work myself with ongoing help of family and friends who are in different trades. I definitely surprised myself as I love it! 

Welcome to the forum, I’m down the road just past the border in Cornwall. 
 

Hello Susie! Thank you so much 😊 nice to hear there is someone local. I’m in Yelland so just outside of Barnstaple 

Hi Lisa, welcome to the forum and well done with the renovating. We self built our last house in East Kent and are now renovating an old bungalow near Holsworthy.

Welcome.

 

I seem to remember passing through Yelland. Can't think why or when now.

Hi I don’t know Yelland but after looking it up I have been through a few times.  I like to stop off at Instow to walk our dog. 
We moved down 8 years ago, Instow was the first beach we bravely let our Greyhound off lead, he ran in circles, which was typical for a Greyhound first time off lead experience. 
Im in Morwenstow and I get what you say about trades people they are very hard to find to get to do jobs.

We hope to start our new build next month.

 

When I lived down there I loved Instow, when the tides out the beach is huge.

Hi @Gone West

 

Thanks for your message. At many points with the renovation I have thought it would have been easier to start again ground up so would be interested to hear how you compare the two. The main house is okay but the dormer add was terrible so took a lot of work to straighten it up and make it workable. Unfortunately the house hadn’t been maintained so lots of repairs along the way but it’s headed in the right direction now 😊 

Hi @SteamyTea if you have been into Barnstaple then you probably have as it’s on the coast road between Bideford and Barnstaple. Really nice location within walking distance of Instow so very lucky to be here 😊

Hi @Susie Instow is beautiful isn’t it? Such a lovely place. I bet your Greyhound loves it 😍 Your also in a beautiful location, especially with Hartland and Bude being so close! Good luck with the build, I bet it’s exciting 😊

Hi @joe90 it is certainly beautiful. A nice selection of pubs with good food and a lovely village shop. Perfect! 🤩 

3 hours ago, Lisa15 said:

At many points with the renovation I have thought it would have been easier to start again ground up so would be interested to hear how you compare the two

Back in the nineties we did a full renovation of a Victorian farm workers cottage, while we were living in it, and in 2010 we started our self build. There are advantages to both, although living in a renovation whilst doing it, is pushing it a bit. Wendy said we would only do another self build if it was a turn key build. Hopefully this is our last renovation.

On 27/08/2024 at 13:10, Gone West said:

Back in the nineties we did a full renovation of a Victorian farm workers cottage, while we were living in it, and in 2010 we started our self build. There are advantages to both, although living in a renovation whilst doing it, is pushing it a bit. Wendy said we would only do another self build if it was a turn key build. Hopefully this is our last renovation.

I renovated a Victorian Maisonette while living in it during the Covid period. I feel your pain, dust, dust and more dust! A turnkey build would be really interesting, I love seeing how creative people are with them 😊