Following my dream
Discussion
Should I or shouldn't I.
Found a large georgian mansion which I quite fancy. Pricey but affordable and with a cottage we could rent out. Ready made for a B&B type business and settle into a more relaxed lifestyle. (yes I know b&b's are hardly relaxing, but it would be to me)
Found a large farm, very cheap but potential to convert into house and several cottages. Loads of work to do, but again, cheap price and I'm in the building trade, wife used to be a builders merchant so even she knows what shes doing. Once the work is done, self catered cottages to rent out and an even more relaxed lifestyle.
Going to look at both but problem is....they're in Scotland.
Don't know if I can leave the North East. I love it here and my family is here. We have the best regional forum and I off-road with people I have known for years.
Can I leave? Should I leave?
Found a large georgian mansion which I quite fancy. Pricey but affordable and with a cottage we could rent out. Ready made for a B&B type business and settle into a more relaxed lifestyle. (yes I know b&b's are hardly relaxing, but it would be to me)
Found a large farm, very cheap but potential to convert into house and several cottages. Loads of work to do, but again, cheap price and I'm in the building trade, wife used to be a builders merchant so even she knows what shes doing. Once the work is done, self catered cottages to rent out and an even more relaxed lifestyle.
Going to look at both but problem is....they're in Scotland.
Don't know if I can leave the North East. I love it here and my family is here. We have the best regional forum and I off-road with people I have known for years.
Can I leave? Should I leave?
This is my dream too. I just need someone to push me into it. Trouble is the fools I work for pay me too much so I don't want to resign. If ever they decide to let me go I'll be doing exactly what you are considering. Scotland is a lovely place. Roads are shite but otherwise the place is fine. I'd move there without hesitation if the finances were right.
That said I'd miss you. Perhaps we could stay in your B&B!!!
That said I'd miss you. Perhaps we could stay in your B&B!!!
Hi Byff,
It really depends on what you want to do.
Option 1 leave the building industry and setup B&B and or Self catering Cottages. Plus have a nice house.
Option 2 stick with what you have got and plod along for a year or 2 and look at it again.
My choice would be for option 1. but as obvious i would check local tourism, history of area to see if there are any unique marketing opertunities to go with you cottages. Ring a few of the other local B&B and ask them for some high season dates and low season dates havea chat and try to get them to tell you how busy they are over these weeks during a normal season.
Also if you can offer to run someones B&B for a weekend or week to see if you can do it there are a few places they advertise for holiday cover.
Also do the money in and money outr calcs in a spread sheet and change a few of numbers on guests for a best case situation (fully booked) through to worst case (Hardly any bookings) abd see if you can survive.
As you have kids look into the local schools etc and see if they will need dropping off and picked up everyday.
At the end of this you are still wanting to go through with it Do it and make the best of it you can.
Hope it helps
Steve
It really depends on what you want to do.
Option 1 leave the building industry and setup B&B and or Self catering Cottages. Plus have a nice house.
Option 2 stick with what you have got and plod along for a year or 2 and look at it again.
My choice would be for option 1. but as obvious i would check local tourism, history of area to see if there are any unique marketing opertunities to go with you cottages. Ring a few of the other local B&B and ask them for some high season dates and low season dates havea chat and try to get them to tell you how busy they are over these weeks during a normal season.
Also if you can offer to run someones B&B for a weekend or week to see if you can do it there are a few places they advertise for holiday cover.
Also do the money in and money outr calcs in a spread sheet and change a few of numbers on guests for a best case situation (fully booked) through to worst case (Hardly any bookings) abd see if you can survive.
As you have kids look into the local schools etc and see if they will need dropping off and picked up everyday.
At the end of this you are still wanting to go through with it Do it and make the best of it you can.
Hope it helps
Steve
Where abouts in Scotland were you thinking of moving to?
I also would like a move to Scotland, especially the West Coast, and if the chance of work up there arose I no doubt would tkae it.
I agree with the comments above though, that you have to think about the worst case scenario (no bookings) and see if you are able to survive.
I also would like a move to Scotland, especially the West Coast, and if the chance of work up there arose I no doubt would tkae it.
I agree with the comments above though, that you have to think about the worst case scenario (no bookings) and see if you are able to survive.
I'm going for the farm. I've decided lifes to short to wonder what might be, so the house is going on the market on Tuesday (bloody bank holidays) and I'm going to try to buy the farm in bonnie Scotland.
Soon, if all goes acording to plan, we'll be living in 2.0 acres with the possibilty of purchasing a further 4.0 acres for a possible caravan park in the future. I'll have several cottages to create and a big plan of opening a leisure complex with swimmingpool.
Keep your fingers crossed folks. F
k me I'm scared to death.
Soon, if all goes acording to plan, we'll be living in 2.0 acres with the possibilty of purchasing a further 4.0 acres for a possible caravan park in the future. I'll have several cottages to create and a big plan of opening a leisure complex with swimmingpool.
Keep your fingers crossed folks. F
k me I'm scared to death.Mi16bloke said:
Where abouts in Scotland were you thinking of moving to?
Little place next to New Cumnock in Ayrshire. Good shooting and golfing nearby so will be inviting all the Ph'ers up for the weekend. Will I have the cottages ready by then?????
Is four acres enough to put a drag strip? Or my own circuit - ooooh, getting carried away.
Of course it all depends on finding a buyer for my house - anyone fancy a nice detached house in Cleadon Village?
Well, I'm not leaving just yet.
Scottish legal system re. buying houses is a bit different to the English system and we've got no chance of getting an offer in on time. A closing date has been set which would make getting a survey done practically impossible in that time.
However, yesterday we went for a drive round Scotland and have found two more potential properties, an old water mill (which is more industrial then it sounds) and another farm but only 1.5 acres.
The mill already has one cottage for rent with possibility for another one but baring in mind this is Easter week - why is it not rented out now? We will need to speak to the owners.
The farm is a bit isolated which has my wife concerned for day-to-day living, but the location is beautiful.
Its a safe bet that we'll be still North Easterners for a while yet.
Scottish legal system re. buying houses is a bit different to the English system and we've got no chance of getting an offer in on time. A closing date has been set which would make getting a survey done practically impossible in that time.
However, yesterday we went for a drive round Scotland and have found two more potential properties, an old water mill (which is more industrial then it sounds) and another farm but only 1.5 acres.
The mill already has one cottage for rent with possibility for another one but baring in mind this is Easter week - why is it not rented out now? We will need to speak to the owners.
The farm is a bit isolated which has my wife concerned for day-to-day living, but the location is beautiful.
Its a safe bet that we'll be still North Easterners for a while yet.
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