The Temporary Residence

Stone benchtops $8000, Timber floors $6000, Wood fire $5000

12 months in a caravan ….. PRICELESS

Yes you read right, while we wait for our dream home to be built we currently reside in a caravan on my parent’s driveway.

Think we’re crazy? Well to a degree you are probably right. It’s not for the faint hearted and there has definitely been many a tear in the months to date.

But the bigger picture.......

When we fell in love with our 3 acre block and sold our house we were faced with the decision of where are we going to live. Like most people our age we are a professional couple who both work full-time. Our options were limited we either rent, which over approximately a year and half during the build process would cost around $30,000 or we put ourselves out there and look at other options.

Believe you me when my fiance came home with the caravan idea, I lost it laughing, saying ‘Michael I’m not trailer trash’. But he explained it like any numbers man would. If we went down the track of buying a caravan, it would cost us this much, and caravan’s hold their value, so once the house is built we can sell it and we’d only be paying a quarter of what we would in rent. Plus all that money we’ve saved we would be able to put towards finishing off the home with those final touches.

Somehow he convinced me and the decision was made.

Now explaining the caravan plan to my parents is a whole different story.

So where are we now, well it’s been approximately six months since we moved into the caravan and so far we haven’t killed each other. Living with your partner is one thing but living in an area the size of a master bedroom with them is a whole different story. What personal space?

We both grew up in tough times, with parents who taught us if we worked hard for something and made sacrifices we would reap the rewards at the end. We are holding them to these words as we wait patiently for our development and building license.