Sally and I are getting quite excited now. We're all set for our first working holiday in BG
We are coming to Bulgaria for just under 3 weeks and will be spending about 8 days of that on our renovation.
I don't want it to be too painful for Sally because she knows that I could quite happily start and then not stop for the whole duration. So I've booked various other stops so we can holiday as well as build.
We are starting off in Lovech, for a few days this is our most local "big town"
This way we can visit our plot source some local builders merchants as well as plan out just what we intend to do.
So lots of sketches, discussions and a few gin & tonic's.
Sally has only actually ever seen the house from the outside as she didn't come with me when I bought it.
Our next stop will be at Plovdiv, we can't wait to go here we haven't been here before and this will no doubt be the most relaxing and fascinating part of our stay. I have worked every day since last October so I'm ready for some proper downtime and Plovdiv is the place to be.
We also plan to visit Asuns fortress depending on the weather.
On our way back to Lovech we are having a one night stop in a B&B at Gabrovo before we go back to the build.
Now for the hard work starts, I've packed two large toolboxes to take with us as hold luggage but its a compromise when you are restricted to 20kg's per box.
Fully expecting to get the third degree at the airport when they see whats inside them.
For this first trip we are going to determine just what structual state the buildings are in.
Following this we mainly need to take down some of ceilings in the house, fix some holes in the roof and then look at removing any old wooden outbuildings. Ive just booked this in as a four day block so as not to fully wipe Sally out.
But on the positive side we are then having two days in downtown Sofia before we start our next four day block.
Sofia is a proper vibrant city so plenty to see and do.
Now for our next 4 day build, Sally will want to do some "home cooking" here as we are staying very local in a newly renovated house and its our wedding anniversary.
For our final stop will be spending two nights in Veliko Tarnavo before we finally Return to Liverpool and work, and stress and antisocial teenagers.
On the whole we should have a good trip and I'm sure we will meet lots of interesting people.
This will be our fourth trip to Bulgaria and still we haven't been anywhere near Sunny Beach...
I will of course be taking lots of pics of the build and then putting them in my blog
Regards
Ian
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Tuesday 12 April 2016
The five year plan
Having explained why we have decided to move to Bulgaria the next step is to formulate a plan and a timescale.
Because like most married couples today we both have really busy jobs and children.
Saying that the children are now grown up with only my son living at home for now and in the case of my daughter she now has a family of her own and we have a grandson.
All of our parents are still alive and in their 70's
We are enjoying our new Grandson and still have quite a lot to do here in England before we can leave so going anywhere quickly just isn't really an option.
Compared to England the cost of living in Bulgaria is cheap but you still have to be able to eat & live your life and for us the state pension is still at least 17years away.
So in order to make our move viable we need to have a very good plan in place. I see it like this work hard here now for five years and then retire with a small income to tide us over until our state pensions arrive or do nothing and stay here getting up for work every day till I'm 67.
I personally have always worked hard ever since I was 11 years old and started working on the milk of a weekend at first and then as i got older most days before school. Working felt good and I like to be independent and soon I found myself gardening of a weekend as well as doing the milk and going to school. I have pretty much worked every day since then and now regularly do 50hrs plus a week and renovate of a weekend.
The renovating is a massive part of "the plan" as the properties we own here in Liverpool will provide some of the income for our life in Bulgaria.
The plan we have is a full Five Year plan as it will take us this long to finish the renovations here in Liverpool and manage the rentals, It will also give us enough time to see our children properly settled down.
Just as important this is how long it will take us to remote renovate our property in Bulgaria. (by remote renovate what I mean is I will go there for three weeks every year and get stuck in, one big project a year for the next four years and then we should be habitable by year five)
We have two properties in Bulgaria the first one is in the Lovech region with an elevated outlook positioned at the back of a quiet village with a large piece of land it's in a lovely spot and is ideal for renovation but is now overgrown and both the barn and the house need to be fully rebuilt. This will be done when we live there.
The second property is again in the Lovech region in a small friendly village but on a much smaller plot with a house and a barn in a reasonable condition that can be renovated without having to be knocked down. This is where we will be going to live and it's here that we will start the renovations in a couple of weeks time.
The latest property has both good points and bad points.
The Good points:
Both the house and the barn are on the official deeds as "residential dwellings" so I wont need permission to make the barn habitable ie "change of use " this is a massive plus point.
The road access and location is very good easily accessed by vehicle making deliveries easy.
The views are very good and there is not a lot of through traffic only really the villagers drive past.
The village is quiet and friendly there is also a number of properties that have already been renovated.
Water and electric are supplied and connected but will need upgrading
The Bad Points:
The only bad point is that both the house and the barn are a little on the small side. Each of them will make a very nice quirky 1 Bedroom self contained property, but to obtain 2 Bedrooms would be a squeeze/compromise. The thing is that when you want a barn conversion you want some degree of space. Will probably look at slightly extending the footprint of the barn if this can be done without masses of paperwork
General Property Points in Bulgaria.
Nearly all village houses will need a new roof, rewiring, toilets fitting inside and probably a modern septic tank
The logistics of these tasks are not to be underestimated and will take both lots of time and planning.
We have been lucky already and managed to find a house in our village to stay in for four days while we are over in May this year which has just been renovated. The owners Mum and Dad live directly opposite and she has told me that her Dad will be happy to help and also knows other workers nearby.
We are also staying in the next village along the following week for four nights, we already know the people who own this as we have stayed with them before, and they are all architects so this should help
The labour is cheap in Bulgaria but you get what you pay for so with this in mind I'm happy to let people help but I will be overseeing the renovation and using "best English building practices"
Some people might take the route of finding a friendly builder and simply handing over the reigns but because I have a lot of experience in building I will make all the decisions.
I will also be looking to search out some of the proper traditional tradesmen typically a stonemason to sort out the dry stone walls and a old fashioned carpenter for some of the finer detailed work.
I will contract out the fitting of the septic tank to a proper firm as they need to be "signed off" and regulated.
So in my mind the only way to do it is to split down the main jobs into single projects and then plan, think and Plan some more.
Networking with the neighbours is a must after all they have local knowledge and when you need to find a man with a digger or a good timber yard they will be invaluable.
Because like most married couples today we both have really busy jobs and children.
Saying that the children are now grown up with only my son living at home for now and in the case of my daughter she now has a family of her own and we have a grandson.
All of our parents are still alive and in their 70's
We are enjoying our new Grandson and still have quite a lot to do here in England before we can leave so going anywhere quickly just isn't really an option.
Compared to England the cost of living in Bulgaria is cheap but you still have to be able to eat & live your life and for us the state pension is still at least 17years away.
So in order to make our move viable we need to have a very good plan in place. I see it like this work hard here now for five years and then retire with a small income to tide us over until our state pensions arrive or do nothing and stay here getting up for work every day till I'm 67.
I personally have always worked hard ever since I was 11 years old and started working on the milk of a weekend at first and then as i got older most days before school. Working felt good and I like to be independent and soon I found myself gardening of a weekend as well as doing the milk and going to school. I have pretty much worked every day since then and now regularly do 50hrs plus a week and renovate of a weekend.
The renovating is a massive part of "the plan" as the properties we own here in Liverpool will provide some of the income for our life in Bulgaria.
The plan we have is a full Five Year plan as it will take us this long to finish the renovations here in Liverpool and manage the rentals, It will also give us enough time to see our children properly settled down.
Just as important this is how long it will take us to remote renovate our property in Bulgaria. (by remote renovate what I mean is I will go there for three weeks every year and get stuck in, one big project a year for the next four years and then we should be habitable by year five)
We have two properties in Bulgaria the first one is in the Lovech region with an elevated outlook positioned at the back of a quiet village with a large piece of land it's in a lovely spot and is ideal for renovation but is now overgrown and both the barn and the house need to be fully rebuilt. This will be done when we live there.
The second property is again in the Lovech region in a small friendly village but on a much smaller plot with a house and a barn in a reasonable condition that can be renovated without having to be knocked down. This is where we will be going to live and it's here that we will start the renovations in a couple of weeks time.
The latest property has both good points and bad points.
The Good points:
Both the house and the barn are on the official deeds as "residential dwellings" so I wont need permission to make the barn habitable ie "change of use " this is a massive plus point.
The road access and location is very good easily accessed by vehicle making deliveries easy.
The views are very good and there is not a lot of through traffic only really the villagers drive past.
The village is quiet and friendly there is also a number of properties that have already been renovated.
Water and electric are supplied and connected but will need upgrading
The Bad Points:
The only bad point is that both the house and the barn are a little on the small side. Each of them will make a very nice quirky 1 Bedroom self contained property, but to obtain 2 Bedrooms would be a squeeze/compromise. The thing is that when you want a barn conversion you want some degree of space. Will probably look at slightly extending the footprint of the barn if this can be done without masses of paperwork
General Property Points in Bulgaria.
Nearly all village houses will need a new roof, rewiring, toilets fitting inside and probably a modern septic tank
The logistics of these tasks are not to be underestimated and will take both lots of time and planning.
We have been lucky already and managed to find a house in our village to stay in for four days while we are over in May this year which has just been renovated. The owners Mum and Dad live directly opposite and she has told me that her Dad will be happy to help and also knows other workers nearby.
We are also staying in the next village along the following week for four nights, we already know the people who own this as we have stayed with them before, and they are all architects so this should help
The labour is cheap in Bulgaria but you get what you pay for so with this in mind I'm happy to let people help but I will be overseeing the renovation and using "best English building practices"
Some people might take the route of finding a friendly builder and simply handing over the reigns but because I have a lot of experience in building I will make all the decisions.
I will also be looking to search out some of the proper traditional tradesmen typically a stonemason to sort out the dry stone walls and a old fashioned carpenter for some of the finer detailed work.
I will contract out the fitting of the septic tank to a proper firm as they need to be "signed off" and regulated.
So in my mind the only way to do it is to split down the main jobs into single projects and then plan, think and Plan some more.
Networking with the neighbours is a must after all they have local knowledge and when you need to find a man with a digger or a good timber yard they will be invaluable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)