Weekend / Holiday Home?
Discussion
Does anyone run a weekend home?
I live in the city - its pretty grim..
We have been looking at moving house quite a bit recently - currently live in a small semi just on the outskirts of the city.
No garden to speak of, parking a PITA, no decent local pubs or walks etc.
We were looking at moving to a large 4 bed det but prices are pretty crazy round here once you get in the nicer areas.
Something I have been thinking about lately has been buying a nice cottage say 1-2 hrs drive from home.
Does anyone run this set up?
How does it work in reality?
We ran a motorhome for 18 months and really enjoyed it - we managed c.2 weekends a month away with a 7-10 days around xmas.
Would probably be looking at a similar set up at least 2 weekends a month plus probably some extended periods when business is quiet (we close down for c.3 weeks at xmas)
Prices for a decent cottage with a large garden are quite reasonable from the quick look round I have had recently, certainly less than the difference between the value of our current house and the houses which are suitable in our local area.
But my questions is how does it work in the real world - do you manage to get the full use out of your weekend home?
Issues with it being empty Mon - Thur?
My thoughts are that it would be nice and relaxing etc etc.... but I would like to know of any pitfalls I have not thought of?
TIA!
I live in the city - its pretty grim..
We have been looking at moving house quite a bit recently - currently live in a small semi just on the outskirts of the city.
No garden to speak of, parking a PITA, no decent local pubs or walks etc.
We were looking at moving to a large 4 bed det but prices are pretty crazy round here once you get in the nicer areas.
Something I have been thinking about lately has been buying a nice cottage say 1-2 hrs drive from home.
Does anyone run this set up?
How does it work in reality?
We ran a motorhome for 18 months and really enjoyed it - we managed c.2 weekends a month away with a 7-10 days around xmas.
Would probably be looking at a similar set up at least 2 weekends a month plus probably some extended periods when business is quiet (we close down for c.3 weeks at xmas)
Prices for a decent cottage with a large garden are quite reasonable from the quick look round I have had recently, certainly less than the difference between the value of our current house and the houses which are suitable in our local area.
But my questions is how does it work in the real world - do you manage to get the full use out of your weekend home?
Issues with it being empty Mon - Thur?
My thoughts are that it would be nice and relaxing etc etc.... but I would like to know of any pitfalls I have not thought of?
TIA!
People I know who do this make it work on the basis of using it most weekends and leaving for "country home" on a Friday (or Thursday) night, and returning to work on a Monday morning. They then keep a flat in the city which is just big enough to wash, eat and sleep in for 4 nights a week. If you can work from (country) home a few days a week, then even better.
If your current place is that uninspiring I would sell that as well and either rent (temporarily) or buy somewhere smaller but in a better location. Some people even take advantage of cheap travelodge deals during the week to save on renting somewhere.
Obviously, this only works if you don't have kids in local schools.If you do, I would focus on getting them the best place to grow up in, which would mean the 4 bed detached, as they won't appreciate being separated from friends every weekend.
If your current place is that uninspiring I would sell that as well and either rent (temporarily) or buy somewhere smaller but in a better location. Some people even take advantage of cheap travelodge deals during the week to save on renting somewhere.
Obviously, this only works if you don't have kids in local schools.If you do, I would focus on getting them the best place to grow up in, which would mean the 4 bed detached, as they won't appreciate being separated from friends every weekend.
That's kind of what I have been thinking.
Leave work early on Friday and return to the office on Monday directly.
My business is seasonal so there are extended quiet periods in Nov, Dec, Jan so I can probably do 3 day weekends for a good 12 weeks there.
Plus I don't work bank holidays so that's another 4 or 5 3 day weekends. Plus 3 weeks at xmas.
I would probably keep our current place as its only 3 miles from the office and its just the right size for the 2 of us.
I plan to retire in 15 - 20 years so I would sell it then and move into the other place full time.
Leave work early on Friday and return to the office on Monday directly.
My business is seasonal so there are extended quiet periods in Nov, Dec, Jan so I can probably do 3 day weekends for a good 12 weeks there.
Plus I don't work bank holidays so that's another 4 or 5 3 day weekends. Plus 3 weeks at xmas.
I would probably keep our current place as its only 3 miles from the office and its just the right size for the 2 of us.
I plan to retire in 15 - 20 years so I would sell it then and move into the other place full time.
Bluebarge said:
It's worth investing the most in the place you will spend your leisure time and seeing that as "home" and viewing the current place as "the work sleep place".
Agree. This is what we do, though my wife stays in the "home" in Shropshire most of the time and I weekly commute down to a flat in London (in an easy "lock and leave" development: secure parking, on site day-time porter, etc.) Works with my work hours and the fact we've been doing lots of work on the home.Flat in London is very much somewhere to eat and sleep Monday-Thursday.
A friend of mine was doing this, nice house somewhere and small flat in london. Gradually found himself going less and less, and was just paying for maintenance on an empty place. Has just sold it.
A cousin of mine however does the same, has been doing it for years and seems pretty happy carrying on doing it. You're going to have to decide if its a place that you're going to drive to/from giving you a potentially painful drive in, or a place easily reachable by train, giving you potentially less for your money.
I would say though to buy somewhere further outwards from the area you need to be commuting to in london. The last thing you need is to travel into london, then have to get across it even if it is only a couple of times a week.
A cousin of mine however does the same, has been doing it for years and seems pretty happy carrying on doing it. You're going to have to decide if its a place that you're going to drive to/from giving you a potentially painful drive in, or a place easily reachable by train, giving you potentially less for your money.
I would say though to buy somewhere further outwards from the area you need to be commuting to in london. The last thing you need is to travel into london, then have to get across it even if it is only a couple of times a week.
We have one in the family so it gets used by a few of us. It's an hour and a half to drive which is pretty much ideal - not too far that it's a pain in the arse to get to but far enough that you feel like you're actually going away.
What I've found is that you have to have it done up to a high enough standard to actually want to go there. If it's pretty basic you'll get fed up of it and is one reason why we're planning a new kitchen at ours. I know some people like to be detached from the world but if it didn't have Internet and a few other conveniences then I wouldn't go half as much. I don't live in a s
tty city though so don't have as much need to get away, if that makes sense?
I think my biggest point would be to make sure you have a spare double room or two so that you can invite friends over to stay for a night or two. You might also find friends who'll swap a week or weekend at your place for the same at theirs, if you're lucky it'll be somewhere in the sun on the med!
What I've found is that you have to have it done up to a high enough standard to actually want to go there. If it's pretty basic you'll get fed up of it and is one reason why we're planning a new kitchen at ours. I know some people like to be detached from the world but if it didn't have Internet and a few other conveniences then I wouldn't go half as much. I don't live in a s
tty city though so don't have as much need to get away, if that makes sense?I think my biggest point would be to make sure you have a spare double room or two so that you can invite friends over to stay for a night or two. You might also find friends who'll swap a week or weekend at your place for the same at theirs, if you're lucky it'll be somewhere in the sun on the med!
We had one a few years ago. It was idyllic with beautiful country and sea views, it brought great family days away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However on the flip side there was always maintenance to catch up, garden to tend and after about 10 years we found ourselves making excuses not to go and sold it.
It gave us some great memories and made for some lovely 'simple' family days we wouldn't have done in our full time home but don't disregard to pain it can also bring.
Quite thankful that The profit we made on the sale has now given us some superb holidays away!
It gave us some great memories and made for some lovely 'simple' family days we wouldn't have done in our full time home but don't disregard to pain it can also bring.
Quite thankful that The profit we made on the sale has now given us some superb holidays away!
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