I left England to buy a country house in Bulgaria with my children for £21.5k
A HOMEOWNER is in awe of her dream home, bought for a fraction of the price of houses in England.
Donna Hardy paid just over £21,500 for a huge family home in Bulgaria.
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Donna (@donnahardy2181) has amassed more than 40,000 TikTok followers since she started sharing the renovation process of her new home.
She went viral on the social media app when she posted a video of herself answering questions from viewers.
“We paid $26,000 for this house,” she said, pointing to her lavish abode.
“Not only did we get this house, but at the back there’s a little mini house, a huge barn, and we have outbuildings.
“And we also have the garage and an acre of land.”
She said her family is still unpacking and settling into the spacious property, which was “dilapidated” when they first bought it.
Nearly 25,000 viewers liked the video and commenters admitted they were shocked by the award.
“Wow! That’s cheap! In Bristol, England, £26,000 gets you the front gate,” said one.
‘I’m packing now [laughing]. What a bargain, what a beautiful place you have. Enough space for all the animals I would like to take care of,” said another.
“I got my house in Bulgaria in 2018 and as an English man I can honestly tell you that this is the right move. The place and the people are beautiful,” wrote a third.
“Why are houses so expensive in Britain… we are so ripped off here. Your house looks great for €26,000, well done,” added another.
However, other commentators claimed that Donna and her family will miss Britain and cited several downsides to the move.
One person complained about the language barrier, while another said it is difficult to get a well-paying job.
“Bulgaria is cheap to buy, yes, but there isn’t much and it’s bloody freezing in winter!” said one commenter.
“I know a whole family, from grandparents to grandchildren, bought a house in rural Bulgaria, they were back within two months and there was nothing to return to in Britain!” another agreed.
“The grandmother had never been further than Blackpool. It was a shock to them all, they didn’t learn the lingo and hated how rural it was, the residents didn’t help either!”
Moving hacks
1. Tidy up before you pack
Sort your stuff and get rid of everything you no longer need. Donate, sell or recycle items to lighten your burden.
2. Take an inventory
Make a list of all your items. This way you can keep track of everything and ensure that nothing is lost during the move.
3. Use quality packaging materials
Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap and packing tape. This protects your belongings during the move.
4. Label everything
Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. This makes unpacking a lot easier and clearer.
5. Pack a “First Day” box
Add essentials like toiletries, change of clothes, snacks and important documents. This way you avoid having to rummage through boxes on your first day.
6. Take pictures of the electronics installation
Take photos of the wiring before disconnecting your electronics. This makes it easier to reconnect everything in your new place.
7. Use suitcases for heavy items
Pack books and other heavy items in rolling suitcases. This makes them easier to transport and reduces the risk of injury.
8. Color code your boxes
Use different colored stickers or markers for each room. This allows movers to quickly determine where each box should go in your new home.
A third commenter warned of loopholes in the law that mean buyers often do not own the land on which their home is built.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the average price of a house in Britain is £282,000 Government.uk.
Donna revealed that her family bought her house through the company Bulgaria Direct.
She said buying a house in Bulgaria would have been “a lot cheaper” if they had bought privately.
“Since it was our first time buying a house and we weren’t sure what we were doing, we wanted to be safe, so we hired a real estate agent,” she said.
