I received a telephone call from estate agents William H Brown in Norwich yesterday, to ask 'if I was still interested in selling 'Little Bird Cottage'? It took me a few seconds to respond, as I had no idea what they were talking about! I then realised they were referring to our family home (that was) at Holme, which was "4 Aslack Way" and the family that bought it from us, renamed it "Little Bird Cottage". The man who rang me from W H Brown had no idea how much he had upset me – they still had my telephone number linked to the property. How could they get things so wrong?! I was fuming.... he said he would remove my number from their records – they should have done that over two years ago!
We were told by Sowerby's at the time, that a local family was purchasing 4 Aslack Way and that 'their children were so excited about the garden' and they were going to live in it – "it would be their family home" – the family were indeed local I found out. We were pleased it was going to be lived in by a family with children and not turned into a second home.
Anyway, yesterday's phone call immediately flagged up that "Little Bird Cottage" was being sold, so I loaded up Rightmove to have a look. Now, I'm not naive, I knew that if and when it was done up and sold it would go for around £500,000, but the asking price for it completely shocked me! £775,000!!!!!! Over three times what we were able to sell it for! The house is so different with its extension, its almost unrecognisable and yes to anyone who knew the property before, it now looks absolutely stunning, BUT they have stripped the garden entirely, which is dreadful – its simply just lawn and shingle. Apparently there is a 'nature garden', although I can't see where – I'm guessing its a small section at the far end of the garden. The 'nature garden' has probably only been left to give some natural privacy from the other neighbour! It would have saved them money erecting a fence at the end – more profit. The entire garden was a beautiful 'nature garden'. Sadly this has been rebuilt for the second home market. No local person or couple could possibly afford to buy this in their wildest dreams! Second home owners don't want gardens they can't manage when they are not there – all they will have to pay for is for the lawn to be cut every now and again, no weeding required at all!
Sowerby's really do make me laugh with their wording: quote "offering wonderful gardens" where? It was! Now its now grass and shingle, what is wonderful about that?! The 'large French doors opening to the garden....." opening onto a shingle area with an oil tank!!! "The exquisite interiors showcased in the property are wonderfully matched by the outside space....." They have indeed, done an excellent job with the house, but the outside space is blank, depressing and featureless. Oh well, it can be changed, by the next buyer I suppose or will it just have a boat sitting on the lawn! I'd love to watch a 4x4 with boat in tow trying to get out of the blind turning of Aslack Way on a Summer's day – good luck with that! It was bad enough with a small car! You will get out with a boat.... but you will need someone to stop the traffic east and west to actually get out!
The NOA still have the right to access their office in the corner next to "Little Bird Cottage" – prospective buyers will find that out when they view the property. It upset my entire day seeing this up for sale and all due to William H Brown ringing me – I would never have known otherwise. My Premium bond win this month was £25.00, not quite enough to buy! I will be a little surprised if they do get that amount for the property – at the end of the day, its an extended semi-detached property at the end of a muddy lane with blind access on to the busy A149 – the adjacent horse field will be built on one day, so it won't be very private then and you can hear the traffic on the main road from the front of the property. When we sat at the far end of the garden, you couldn't really hear the traffic, but now its been stripped of all trees and shrubs, I bet you can hear the traffic now!
Do any of my millionaire readers have a spare 3/4 million to buy this for me please? Then I can return the garden to its former glory! 😉 😊
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/82742826#/?channel=RES_BUY
"Enjoying a peaceful location off the beaten track, this spacious four
bedroom home is just a short walk from the village centre and the
stunning Holme-next-the-Sea Beach and Holme Dunes Nature Reserve, and is
set within a generous plot offering wonderful gardens and ample parking
space. Having undergone an extension and complete renovation, the
property now offers spacious and beautifully presented accommodation
which is perfectly suited to modern living.
From the moment you
enter the wide and welcoming entrance hall there is a real sense of calm
and space which continues through the entire property, and the quality
of finish is evident in the traditional style radiators, solid oak
windowsills and quality floor coverings throughout. The open plan
kitchen/dining/living room is an incredibly versatile space: perfect for
entertaining but also ideal for modern family life. With large French
doors opening to the garden, this space is further enhanced in the
summer months when the inside and outside become one. In addition, there
is a well proportioned second reception room which makes an excellent
sitting room but also lends itself as a snug or study. The central
hallway opens to an incredibly practical boot room with ample storage
space, and which leads into a utility room with space and plumbing for a
washing machine and tumble dryer. Completing the ground floor
accommodation is a cloakroom with WC and basin
The staircase with
timber balustrades rises to the first floor where the four bedrooms and
family bathroom are arranged around the central landing. The good size
principal bedroom has its own en-suite shower room, finished to a high
standard with beautiful Italian tiling, and excellent quality
sanitaryware and fitted bathroom furniture. There are three further
bedrooms on this floor, as well as a family bathroom which is finished
to the same high standard as the en-suite, again with feature Italian
tiles and with a stunning freestanding bathtub. This property has been
finished to an extremely high standard throughout and can only be fully
appreciated by viewing.
The exquisite interiors showcased in the
property are wonderfully matched by the outside space. Accessed off a
quiet lane, the property is entered through five bar gates onto a large
parking area which can accommodate many vehicles and with space to store
a motorhome or boat. Planning permission has been granted for a double
cart shed style garage. There is a small courtyard to the side of the
property, with the majority of the large garden being positioned to the
rear, and largely being laid to lawn. French doors opening out from the
open plan living space make this the perfect space for entertaining and
alfresco dining. A gate opens to the nature garden which features mature
plants, shrubs and trees, further enhancing the beautiful situation the
property enjoys......."
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