CASE STUDY HOPE FOR THE BEST
Nicki Hogg’s self-build saw her and her partner go from surprise auction to acquiring a desirable south Devon plot in Hope Cove for their forever home
TEXT & IMAGES EWEN MACDONALD I
t was a chance visit to a fishmongers in Kingsbridge, Devon that brought Hope Cove to the notice of literary agent Nicki Hogg. Her shopping trip ended in more than breakfast when she spotted an advert for a run down post- war bungalow in an estate agent’s window. Soon she found herself and architect husband Ruairidh in the slightly shabby upstairs room of a nearby pub, bidding in an auction for the South Devon property.
Nicki and Ruairidh, originally from Long Ditton
in Surrey, had spent many a happy holiday with their children in the South Hams area of Devon. But after many years staying in holiday homes, the couple were ready to create a forever home.
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www.sbhonline.co.uk
“I was a bit scared,” she admits of her first time buying a home under the hammer. “I have never been to an auction before. I have friends who went to auctions in London and they were so busy, but there were only two houses being sold. There were lots of people there and I thought we would never be able to buy the house. The auctioneer was delightful; he explained how it would work and it was much less stressful than I imagined. The other property sold first so I was able to observe what happens.”
In the end her only competition was a developer – who dropped out of the bidding quickly. “My husband was telling me to sit on my hands so that I didn’t bid too soon.”
LOW POINT
Decisions have to be made quite quickly and from 200 miles away from the build. “Ruairidh travelled up and down the country many times to oversee the project alongside the builder and project manager.” – Nicki
april/may 2020
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