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Main House - New Build
I fell in love with this property immediately. From the road, it really doesn't look much, just a small grey house. But you go through the gate and into a large walled garden with a stable/barn on your left. The house faces the garden and has 2 rooms on the second floor with a large hallway then a cellar underneath. There is a barn to the left attached to the property and further small out buildings to the right. The garden has a few fruit trees and a small vine just outside the front door. There is also a well. Here is a short video clip of the house as and when I bought it. The village is a small farming village but there are two new restaurants and a well stocked shop. Now a third cafe/bar in centre. This property cost me around 6,000 Euros to purchase UPDATE ON RENOVATIONS My original plans were to simply convert the attached barn into a lounge, maybe with a mezzine and put a kitchen in the basement after digging it out a little and place a bathroom where the hallway is and possible. However, I had an architect and structural engineer visit the property and in their opinion it would not be possible to dig out the basement to make by kitchen as this would weaken the foundations and make the house unstable. Also the barn attached to the side needed more or less rebuilding. Eventually after much pushing, I received a set of plans through from the original architect which included keeping the original part of the house but demolishing the barn and extending the property out to the front to make into a 2 bedroomed house with kitchen/dining area and lounge plus bathroom and downstairs. However, after many weeks of then not getting any further response from this architect and when I finally did hear, being basically told I could not have rooms as I wanted them, I decided to look for another architect/designer. I then engaged a Varna based company called DreamHome.bg that based on my ideas, designed a three bedroomed, one storey house. I was advised it will be easier and cheaper to simply knock down the existing structure and start again which was a bit of a shame. Here is 3D picture of what house should look like:
And layout of rooms:
The quote for all this was originally around 64,000 Euros to build house from scratch. This was to include wooden flooring, new septic tank, full insulation, solar panels, 3 fire places attached to heating and hot water system, two fully fitted bathrooms, painted inside and out and basically except actual light fittings and kitchen, ready to move into. Plus all permissions and permits, including visa required to allow me to live there permanently. This will be my home when I move, so worth spending more to make it perfect. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 2006: Contracts have eventually been agreed after much haggling over penalty clauses and first instalment sent. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2006: The original little grey house has now been demolished and work has started digging and laying the foundations. The plot actually slopes gently and is slightly lower than the road. This has meant the house has had to be build up further to avoid any flooding risk and a large terrace has been built to the front of the property and steps down from this into the garden. I met with the architect and went through the hundreds of plans and detailed dimensions to ensure I was happy with everything. Despite not actually agreeing to terrace dimensions or design, foundations for terrace already dug and concrete poured. I asked about dimensions and decided terrace would be better making a little large so I could get a good sized table on it. At no point was I told that additional concreting for foundations or terrace would cost me extra, just that it would be a small amount more for extension to terrace.
On returning to the UK I was told that terrace would likely be around 6000 BGN more including railings and tiles. I had still not had any designs for the terrace. October 2006: Despite being assured the house would be finished by the end of October when I arrived it was little more than a shell with no roof, plumbing was not finished, no electrics and a heck of a lot of work left to do. I was also informed that to finish house would cost me a further 15,000 BGN which I refused to pay. Then further figures were banded about of up to 30,000 BGN to finish house. Eventually it was agreed they would finish under contract for price agreed. I was then rushed to choose tiles, lights, doors etc. November 2006: The wiring has had to be redone as the electrics were put in before the lights and sockets were agreed with me. The plumbing is meant to now be more or less done. The wooden joists have gone on for the roof and I have chosen bathroom tiles, appliances and so on. December 2006: Roof now on, external insulation on, plastering done on outside and looks good. Just internal finishing works to be done now. I have opted to pay more for better doors, tiles, shower cabins etc and expensive wooden floor. These costs were not anticipated but seems quote only included horrid cheap wooden flooring, tiles at around 10 BGN per sqm (impossible to find decent tiles for this), cheap internal doors and so on. Wooden floor I want not going to be ready until around end of January so looking like around February when it should be finished. Still arguing over terrace costs and have involved experts to check construction of house and work out how much I should be paying for terrace. January 2007: I have had to choose alternative tiles as the ones I had chosen and which were ordered weeks ago are suddenly no longer produced, despite being on display still in shop. Have at last found some I am happy with, checked sample of wooden floor (not exactly as I wanted but told could not have it as I choose - for various reasons, none that really make sense????), main fire in house to run radiators, internal plastering more or less done, concrete floor down and terrace just being tiled. Eventually agreed to be pay 7000 BGN for terrace and railings. Not at all happy to have had to do this but just want house finished and sick of arguing over it.
[Front view taken from plot next door which I also own] February 2007: Despite fact that house meant to be finished by now, bathrooms still not finished although tiling has started, two fireplaces in (and yet again had to pay more for these despite fact that fireplaces included in contract - apparently not as I wanted them!) and no flooring down and no lights fitted. But outside tap done and that at least is lovely.
Have just been to see about getting kitchen designed and seems I am faced with another problem. The height between floor and windows in kitchen area is only around 75cm, yet standard units at least 90cm and so not enough space under windows to fit units, dishwasher, fridge etc. Still got to figure this problem out. Plus told I had to choose new light fittings as the ones I choose were not right for space, so I did and as I had more time to look around, found much nicer lights, only to then be told that actually original lights had in fact been bought and were fitted! Insisted on new lights being put up instead. And on last visit discovered dog that was kind of living on the plot has had a litter of four puppies! All seem healthy enough although Mum has a bad back leg.
Told house will be finished soon! March 2007: Told wooden floor could not be laid as house too damp and so dehumidifiers brought in to dry it out. Was told that would take a week or so to do this and then a couple of weeks to lay floor. Was assured they would try and sort out kitchen problem. However a couple of weeks later nothing had been done about this. I visited house and spent a good hour looking round and the finishing work was not at all up to scratch - sockets and switches loose and not level, poor plastering in places, poor tiling in bathrooms, vaulted ceiling a total mess, two of external doors have no handles on outside so can only be opened from inside, no light switches outside on terrace as requested, wooden floor started but not level with tiled floor, one fireplace a mess and one fireplace missing, poor paint work, poor roof gabling, terrace railings going rusty and so on..... This was the last straw and so requested my lawyer to terminate the contract and will get house finished by builders I work with here on other renovations. Have asked for various sums back and now need to consider my options for further compensation. On a further visit, I discovered that the French windows can only be unlocked from the outside as are not fitted properly and one door will not even open as wooden floor not level and too thick. I am arranging for experts to visit the property with the Supervisor and prepare a report and to get a quote for finishing the work and will then commence court action to recover this money. April 2007: No response to initial notary appeal except that eventually got keys back and work has stopped by original builders. Arranging for experts to come again and inspect house. May 2007: Experts have been and compiled Protokol of state of house and what has not been done to good standard. Original building company never even bothered to send along representative to meeting with experts despite being invited by phone. Have had friends who live nearby going in each day to open windows and try and dry house out but wooden floor still warped and ripped over several tiles. Second visit by experts to see warped wooden floor and prepare annex to Protokol. Second Notary appeal prepared and sent to original building company with copies of all experts reports and detailing sums I want paid back. New builders have started at house to rectify all problems and finish work. UNBELIEVABLY - I have been served with a court summons from the parents of the guy who owns the original building company, demanding that they be allowed their experts to inspect the house and that they basically then intend to sue me. WHY? Because I misled them with my pretty and nice behaviour at the beginning so they built my house for me without me paying them, and then I have constantly refused to sign a contract or pay what I owe!!!!!! This is despite having a contract with the original building company and paying them far more than I should have done anyway! June 2007: No response to secondary notary appeal so will begin court action against original building company. Have put in defence against case being made against me basically stating that I have no relationship or contract with this building company that is suing me. Work going well with new team of builders. Wooden floor ripped up and all floors in house levelled in preparation for laying of laminate flooring. Wooden central rose piece ordered from local carpenter to cover mess in centre of vaulted ceiling in main bedroom and wooden gabling around roof edge stained darker to try and hide gaps where it has been badly fitted. Court date with regard to case against me set for 12th July. Papers all filed in court for my case against original builders. July 2007: New builders nearly finished, tiling finished inside, all sockets and switches redone so do not swivel round! And realigned so actually in straight line. Laminate floor laid, bathrooms more or less finished, except one boiler not working, well nearly finished, dog pens all completed and have decided to have area outside house, onto street paved to look tidier and prevent it getting all muddy.
Court date moved to 26th July as they were told to pay 300 BGN into court and get experts report. So went to court on 26th July and not much happened. They had got an experts report, but said little except a list of what they had supposedly done. No proof of anything. They wanted their experts to be allowed access to the house and to report on other issues. Judge allowed this but ordered them to pay a further 500 BGN and will be brought back to court in October. Court date against original builders - 20th September. August 2007: Kitchen fitted and appliances delivered and just need plumbing in. Had to of course have kitchen people return to finish job off properly but still looks nice. Garage doors fitted. More problems still appearing that were caused by original builders such as that when I have cleaned all PVC windows, I have found they are badly scratched and pock marked from where external plaster spray has hit them. Will have to live with this but very annoying. Pipes under shower trays leaking so whenever you turn on shower, water leaks out from under shower tray and wets bathroom floor. Not worth removing all showers though to fix. Court case moved to Varna at DreamHome's application. No court date at the moment. September 2007: Eventually moved in. Shower in main bathroom leaked terribly and totally flooded floor and started to seep out into corridor which has laminate laid. Decided could not live with this so got shower taken out and pipes inspected. Surprise surprise, originally the down pipe put in was totally warped and had massive hole in it. This was replaced. Shower now better but still leaks a little but cannot fix this. Boiler in ensuite had to be fixed twice as first thermostat broken before even used and then another part broke. This shower also leaks but not as badly. Bathrooms and kitchen sink often smell from septic tank as drainage on pipes not steep enough and proper u-bends not put in, Again now not fixable. French doors still do not shut properly and there are large gaps between seals so in winter cold air will come in. October 2007: Got court date for Varna in November. Brother managed to fix leaking showers with lots of silicone. But can do nothing about awful smell from bathrooms and kitchen sink.
Had second hearing with 'parents' and they got their farcical evidence accepted and now goes to next level, if they choose to take it that far. 'Mother' came up to me before court hearing and tried to scare me into dropping case, saying I would never get ACT 15 without them, would go on for years etc but that if I dropped case against her son of DreamHome, they would stop action against me. November 2007: Had first court hearing against DreamHome. No representative of company could be bothered to turn up, only their lawyer (also lawyer for his parents in that case) and he had the audacity to say the contract I had with DreamHome is invalid as signatures on it forgeries. He disputed contacts of contract and that there as any relationship between me and DreamHome. I have now posted full story on MyBulgaria forum here. Next court date January 2008. December 2007: I requested a meeting with DreamHome to try and settle the matter. A further notary appeal was sent and ignored and who should turn up for the meeting but Mummy and daddy Tochevski. They continued to tell me I owed them money for my house build but they would settle for the 6000E due as the last payment under the contract with DreamHome, the contract that did not exist!!! Parents of the owner of DreamHome decided not to pursue their pointless case against me and claim the 6000 Euros they wanted under a contract with another party, a contract which according to the other party, does not even exist - completely barmy! Chimney has been lengthened so fire will hopefully no longer smoke but garage doors and gate once again do not open or shut properly. Shower cabins started leaking again and still living with awful smell from septic tank much of the time. January 2008: I have been served with yet another court summons, this time on me personally from DreamHome's lawyer and for slander, because back in summer 2007 I had made an official complaint against him to the lawyers council here in Stara Zagora has he had phoned m several times to try and bully me into dropping the court case and telling me I was stupid to pursue it and would cost me a fortune and they would ensure it went on for years. Indeed he has told my lawyer the same. So now he is suing me for slander – I hurt his feelings!!! Case set for March 24th in Sliven as Stara Zagora court would not deal with matter as involved a lawyer from Stara Zagora. Court date for Varna postponed as my lawyer could not attend and none of experts had received their summons. I have asked the police to investigate the Tochevski's as to why they received such a lot of money from me into their personal bank accounts here in Stara Zagora if they are denying building my house or there being any contract and also asking whether they have declared this money to the tax authorities. With all the ice and snow and also because terrace not plastered properly in first place, the plaster all cracked and fell off so looks a complete mess.
February 2008: Well as usual court hearing in Varna a complete farce. The judge rejected 20,000 levs of our appeal because of some technicality she had never bothered to point out (which we have appealed against), she rejected much of the evidence we wanted to submit but accepted DreamHome’s request for a financial look into my company and expert to check whether signature on a separate protocol was that of Borislav Tochevski, even though obvious it was not but they do not want the signature on the contract checking! Next court date is on 20th March in Varna and presumably this time our experts and witnesses will get to go. I have got the builders back in to repair the terrace with kamak (decorative stones) and also put in some paths and build a fenced off area for my vegetable garden and a BBQ area. Costing a fortune for fairly simple, basic work and going very slowly but should be worth it in the end. But getting rather sick of living in a building site! Also eventually managed to get garage gates repaired after much hassling to original door company and them being taken away, brought back worse than when they went and so on....
March 2008: Work progressing very slowly on the garden and BBQ area. Fencing for veggie patch now done and just needs painting. Although Molly has already managed to find a gap between the fence and wall to wiggle through. BBQ area coming along and eventually managed to come up with a design for a combined BBQ and traditional lamb oven.
At the court hearing on the 20th March, I won the appeal to have the 20,000 levs for poor workmanship reinstated into the main case but as we were not informed that the appeal would be heard that day, we did not have all our witnesses for the main case. However, my lawyer did question Mr and Mrs Tochevski and father Tochevski eventually admitted, after trying to say they had built my house without any contract, that he had signed much of the paperwork with DreamHome mentioned on it, but he had only noticed the mention of a different firm and coincidentally, his son's firm, later on. April 2008: BBQ are finished and my vegetable patch is progressing. Work started on grape vine support down one wall.
Summer 2008: Grass seed sown and some grass come up and a lot of weeds. All work now more or less finished and I will just plod on with garden. Railings re-sprayed as they had already started to go rusty. December 2008: Doors hopefully now fixed and adjusted so there are not huge gaps and should not need loads of foam stuffing in them this winter to try and stop drafts and keep heat in. January 2009: Scottish couple moved into my house in order to care for dogs and cats and do a few odd jobs while I was in France for the ski season. Unfortunately they decided to try and blackmail me for money, failed to account for money spent and refused to leave my house when asked to. Eventually after police intervention, they left taking one of my dogs and my cat with them, leaving huge bills and spreading various rumours around about me. They have since attempted various other tactics to cause me trouble. February/March 2009: The Scottish couple failed to notify me in January that they had received a notification for me about legal fees for the court case against the builders. This meant that bailiffs turned up in order to take my belongings to cover the bill and an additional 1500 levs for bailiff costs. The bailiff was eventually paid and this matter is hopefully now closed. April 2009: Case in Sliven court for Slander still ongoing as far as I know. Have now been 2 or 3 'final' hearings. Next hearing in June. June 2009: Seems that actually final hearing was way back in March and my completely useless lawyer never bothered to inform me that surprise surprise I had lost so once again bailiffs laid claim to my property and belongings and I had to rush to pay 7,700 levs in damages and costs and now have a criminal conviction in Bulgaria! Discovered some minor damage to my house caused by Scottish couple - holes in walls where they have put up pictures of a shelf, very dirty, large bash in one door way where they have moved furniture around probably and damage to dog pens and my apple tree had been chopped down. Now in process of sorting out garden. August 2009: Been building small rockeries in garden and flower beds. Garden more or less as I want it. |
Dog
pens
Well
