Making an offer

After a lot of deliberation and quite a bit of number crunching to estimate the renovation costs, we decided to make an offer. However, we included several important conditions. One of them was a technical inspection of the façade. In addition, we required that the old classroom and the barn could officially be converted into living space, which would require a special permit.

After some negotiations, our initial offer was accepted. An exciting step, but one in which we were still deliberately cautious.

We arranged for someone to carry out the technical inspection. He didn’t just assess the façade, which fortunately turned out to be stable, but also examined all the roofs.

And that’s when the setback came.

Not just one roof needed replacing… but all of them.

Disappointed, we submitted a new, lower offer. It felt justified, given the additional costs this would involve. However, this offer was not accepted. In fact, there wasn’t even a counteroffer.

Everything went quiet.

As the days passed, uncertainty started to creep in. Had we offered too little? Had we lost the house?

Then, at the beginning of January, we suddenly heard back. We were given another chance. This time, we made a revised, and perhaps more realistic, offer.

And this time, it worked.

Our offer was accepted.

Things quickly gained momentum. The next big step followed: selling our own home. Within two weeks, it was sold,

under one important condition: that we obtain the residential permit in France and that the purchase there goes through.

Everything is starting to feel real now. Exciting, uncertain… but above all, incredibly special.