Published on Monday 16 April 2012 17:20
BUYING a house in the Western Isles without even seeing the property might be too risky a move for many people, but it’s one that paid off for Ness residents Iain and June McInnes and family.
Admitting that it was ‘the craziest thing we’ve ever done’, the McInnes first set eyes on their new home in 2010 upon return to the UK from their farm-stead in Canada for family business.
“It was very interesting when we first arrived,” laughed June, “But it’s a nice location and a lovely house and it suited us fine as we’re rural living people.”
Since moving into the Eoropie property, Iain and June have redecorated extensively, with new flooring through as well as stripping off five layers of wallpaper from the upstairs bedrooms to reveal the original wooden boards.
“We found that the wallpaper was keeping the damp in and now it’s back to the boards the house breaths as it was supposed to and we’ve had no more problems with damp,” said Iain.
The house is also kept nice and cosy through the brand new central heating system installed throughout, including an outside combi-boiler that Iain revealed uses half the amount of oil the family home previously took to heat.
Loft insulation has helped keep out the cold and a stylish and efficient stove in the living room provides not only warmth, but a place to cook during a power cut!
Iain said: “The house has done us really well. We were told it’s made of blue stone, a local stone, and we’ve had no trouble at all, even in the gales – we’ve not even lost a tile from the roof since we moved here.”
And with six young children the Eoropie property has proved an ideal family home as June said: “It’s been great for the kids, the beach is just five minutes away and there’s an excellent playpark just over the road.
“The people in the community are lovely, really friendly and there’s always something going on, a car-boot sale, a ceilidh or an event at the nearby social club.”
Along with two upstairs bedrooms, the house contains a third bedroom downstairs, bathroom, living room and kitchen, as well as a lovely ‘Garden Room’ with hardwood glazed windows delivering wonderful views. Iain and June also highlight that there’s ‘still room for improvement’ and point to a blocked up door in the kitchen which could be freed to lead into a conservatory, taking full advantage of the back vista which looks out onto the shore.
Selling up in order to return to Canada where the couple’s four eldest children still live Iain, June and family are looking forward to another adventure as June added with a chuckle: “We’re going back to the wilds!”
The house at 16 Eoropie, Ness, is for sale at offers over £95,000. For more information or to book a viewing, contact Ken Macdonald & Co Lawyers and Estate Agents on 01851 704040.
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