We were suddenly told last week that an apartment was up for rent on a quiet road in the village, so we went along to have a look, more to eliminate it from the list than anything as we thought it would be way over our budget. This one had all the signs of being unaffordable: recently refurbished with a newly tiled toilet and bathroom, a brand new heating system installed two years ago and extra insulation added to the roof at the same time. We usually take this as a bad sign: when a laondlord invest heavily in a building they usually expect a high return. I was so convinced that this wasn’t going to happen, that I almost didn’t bother to ask the price, but eventually we did, to get it over with.
It turned out to be within budget.
It’s an attic flat, which of course means a lot of steps to climb, but in Germany comes under a different set of rules to a normal apartments, mainly that when the roof is lower than a certain height, the rent goes down. We’re not as tall as the average German so the low roof will be less of an issue, and to be away from the main road will be a more than adequate pay-off in any case. Besides, the height means we can see over the houses opposite to the trees and the hills in the distance. I’d be willing to move for that alone.
Not only that, but the heating costs would be lower than we currently pay, and the new heating system means we’ll have a much lower environmental impact. Not exactly zero, but a lot better than the environmental disaster we have now. And there’s a safe place for us to store our bikes with a step-free entrance, which can’t be taken for granted in this part of Germany. And it even has a two balconies, which is more than enough for me to launch into fantasies about a small garden railway, but as there looks to be more shelf space for the Körschtalahn I’ll not push that just yet…
We took the boys to see the place and they were all thoroughly excited about it, so we’ve been rushing about getting things signed, writing to the current landlord and giving three months notice and generally trying to get organised which is why the blog went quiet for a week, but yesterday we were told we can move in on the first of June.
Gorgeous wife is already packing.
I will write more railway related content when I have time. I promise.
Sounds lovely! Good look with the move and feel free to share photos of the view.
Congrats Andy (and family) Always a nerve racking experience, that I am shortly to go through myself, but good you got something that your happy with and in budget!
So how much space have you got for Körschtalbahn?
I have been looking at and into the container wagon, and am going to try in 5.5mm first, but my real goal is TTm.
Anyway looking forward to more updates.
t.
Good luck with the move! Looking forward to seeing plans for a new layout soon then …
Sounds like a prime place for a layout to be housed!
Good luck with the move, hope all goes well.
Sounds like something’s coming together!
Excellent! All the best with the move, I don’t like moving. I’d like to see some photos of the view too. I’d love to have a view that had hills in.
Many thanks for all the comments and kind words… When we next visit I’ll post the view, weather permitting. It’s not massively dramatic, but at least it is open. I’ll put our present view up for comparison…
I’m working on recoprical comments, but it depends on me having 5 minutes to spare, and remembering at the right moment…