I’ve bought a bungalow

[Joggingalongasbestican]

I’m so excited! DH died last year and I really need to move, so I put a deposit down on a new build bungalow yesterday. I just needed to tell someone.

Round here our small cul de sac of 8 bungalows is on the way out. As they have large gardens they are being bought by builders who pull them down and build 2 storey monstrosities. These new houses would be fine in a new build area but we are in a conservation area and architect designed. Almost all had been lived in from the day they were built. One two I suspect will be on the market soon.

A bittersweet moment for sure.

Sorry to hear of your loss but congratulations on your impending move. A new chapter in your life and I’m sure your late husband will be looking over you.

We sold our home back in January 2025 that we had lived in for 33 years to buy a bungalow and it’s by far the best decision we made - we’ve literally just finished the renovations on it a few weeks ago and it’s good to finally be able to settle without living on a building site!

Welcome to the world of bungalows - owned ours for 21 years, love it. Easy to maintain!

I’ve just bought a bungalow too, it’s not new and shiny but very exciting.

The next chapter for me is to start choosing from my options. There’s a range of kitchens and appliances to choose from, floor coverings, bathroom tiles etc. I’m excited but a bit daunted.

I missed out on that - someone dropped out the purchase and I stepped in, so all the kitchens/tiles/upgrades were already decided on. Thankfully someone had gone with things that I would likely have...and certainly not things I objected to.

Ohhhhhhh...... the options list!😃
On our NB (house) we stopped at £25k!

Luckily they kept piling extras onto us at no cost (not really required or an incentive as we had already reserved by then) so we were free to spend elsewhere. We reserved 12-months before completion so plenty of time for our options to be included.

Think about things that would be most disruptive after you have moved in.
Kitchen & bathroom upgrades are a given but consider additional lights, sockets, ethernet & TV points, illuminated bathroom cabinets etc.
Yes, these are (probably) cheaper to have done later but the disruption they can cause can be really annoying.

It is daunting choosing things by yourself. And it's easy to buy things you love but never use (like a roll top bath and under cabinet lights in my case). I'm very cautious but I'd be excited in your shoes! You can choose whatever you like!

I'm doing up my kitchen and I'm having pan storage under the oven and an integral bin and dishwasher!

Congratulations, that’s so exciting. And well done for starting to declutter. When the time comes, I highly recommend having the movers do the packing, if you can afford it. It makes things so much easier.

My dream would be a new build bungalow just for me . I am sorry for your loss but it sounds like you are using this as an opportunity to start afresh . It is a new phase of life now . Best of luck with it .

Congratulations!
My first property I purchased was Bungalow.
I am in my 20s and already missed the days when I used to live in Bungalow.
I have to say it was bit cold but, you will def enjoy it.

Do get an independent snagging company in, so many new builds have errors.

@Joggingalongasbestican congratulaions on your bungalow and hope you’ll have some happy times there. We built our bungalow early 80’s and still live here although it looks a bit different due to extending - we’re now rattling around in it but won’t downsize as it’s so practical. Enjoy choosing all your fixtures and fittings and furnishings. Happy times ahead!

Does anyone know if they let you in beforehand to measure for blinds and curtains? I hate the idea of moving in without at least something up at my bedroom window.

Depending on the developer, many will allow you to visit throughout the build to check on progress.
You should then be given a pre-view a few weeks before completion, it will be essentially finished so you can have a snagging inspection carried out (your choice) and measure up.
If you haven't managed to get curtains/blinds in time, as a last resort (for privacy) rub Windolene cream on them to turn them opaque, in the morning just polish it away and reapply at night.

Bellway did for me and let in some carpet fitters to measure up.
I had three other visits to see progress and a final one to explain how everything worked.
I had to stay in a hotel one night so that next day the carpet fitters could do their thing - I managed to get everything in the garage and kept my hire van an extra day as storage (i self moved with my sons helping). As soon as carpets were down I moved in furniture and boxes, and we fitted some blinds to bedroom, bathroom and lounge that day.