FOREST COTTAGE

The buyer

The buyer is a divorced man of 50+, with a stressful job in the UK, which nevertheless gives him enough time off to contemplate a second home, with the view of possible retirement there later; something his grown-up children, and future grandchildren, might also enjoy.. He does not want to sell his UK house, and does not have a need for anything too large: what he cares about is a hilly countryside with forests, a large garden, and near-absolute peace, quiet and solitude. But - as he doesn't cook, and likes his beer - he wants it to be within a walking proximity of a pub!
The budget is modest, up to 1,500 000 czk (approx £35,000). He wouldn't mind if the house required some doing up, but he doesn't want a ruin - needs something he can move into, and improve as he goes along.

The search

There is plenty of hilly, wooded countryside around here - but finding something relatively secluded yet with a pub nearby meant there wasn't going to be a large portfolio of choices. Possibly nothing at all? Sure enough there wasn't anything on the market that would remotely fit. Secluded cottages? Yes a few really lovely ones. But near a pub? Not secluded enough. We racked our brains, drove around in the hope of finding some hidden gem we still hadn't discovered, we kept looking on every single local estate agent's site ... nothing. Until one evening idly checking the internet a new entry caught our eye - and these are the occassions when it pays to know your area very well. Immediately, without needing to go and look, we knew the house advertised: this was it! And it was at a bargain pricewell below the buyer's budget ceiling. We rang the buyer and the agent the very next morning. Luckily our call was the first - as the agent had to field many calls after us. But we got the house - just what the delighted buyer wanted.

The result

The house is about 10 kms from Cesky Krumlov town, at 800m altitude, with amazing views over mountains. An ex-foresters lodge with a large garden, it is backing onto acres of forest, but sits only about 400 yards away from a tiny cluster of houses. And there is a pub, proud in the middle of it. A road winds right by it, but this is not a busy road as it serves mainly the forestry commission and, in the Summer, touring cyclists and walkers who keep the pub going. However, having the road is important as there needs to be access in the Winter, when other secluded places would be completely cut off by snow.
With its three bedrooms and plenty of living space downstairs the house is big enough for the buyer's visiting family and friends, but not too large to make any maintenance a burden. And there is a barn which, with some improving, could serve as workshop/garage and further accommodation in its loft. The buyer is already planning to dig a pond in his garden - but it is early days yet, after all 2007 was his first Summer here. Still, let's hope his enthusiasm is rewarded, and the pub comes up trumps for him too. To read how he's getting on, check out his posts (labelled forest house) at http://krumlovbrit.blogspot.com