Renovating and moving during the pandemic: Marco and Sandra are doing it
Marco (49) and his wife Sandra (46) purchased an old villa on a plot of land measuring more than a hectare in Voorschoten. After an extensive renovation, they will be moving into their dream home this summer with their five children. Marco shares their experience in this blog.
"With our blended family (four girls and one boy, aged between twelve and twenty), we currently live in a spacious terraced house. However, we have always wanted to buy a plot of land and build our own home. When we came across this villa, it seemed too good to be true.
The 220-square-metre villa has a large central hall with a left and right wing. The surrounding land is part of a historic nature reserve and spans 10,500 square metres. Where else would you find something like this in the Randstad?"*
Once in a lifetime
We had structural experts assess the run-down villa. Their conclusion was that the house needed to be completely stripped and renovated. Despite all the challenges, we thought: this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We simply had to go for it!
The renovation has been ongoing since January. Fortunately, we have not been significantly affected by the pandemic. Since we are not yet living there and the villa is spacious, everyone has been able to work safely while maintaining sufficient distance. The only delay has been the delivery of the kitchen, which is coming from Germany. We hope to move into the villa by the end of June.
Selling a house during the pandemic
When selling our current home, we have certainly felt the impact of the pandemic. Since the outbreak in the Netherlands, we have not had any viewings. I believe people are being more cautious at the moment. Additionally, because the house falls into a higher price bracket, it is more challenging to sell.
Fortunately, I am managing to stay quite relaxed about it, although the double mortgage payments are certainly frustrating. The most difficult part is feeling as though we are living in two different worlds until our old house is sold. It brings a lot of hassle. Hopefully, we will find a buyer soon!
Still, I try not to stress too much. Most of all, our entire family is looking forward to the moment when we can finally move into our beautiful villa!"
