{"id":311497,"date":"2025-08-02T08:52:41","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T08:52:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/311497\/"},"modified":"2025-08-02T08:52:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T08:52:41","slug":"what-i-own-i-sleuthed-on-rightmove-to-get-a-36000-discount-on-my-bristol-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/311497\/","title":{"rendered":"What I Own: I sleuthed on Rightmove to get a \u00a336,000 discount on my Bristol home"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThis week, we\u2019re in Bristol visiting 36-year-old Orima (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

Welcome back to\u00a0<\/strong>What I Own<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Metro\u2019s property series where we speak to\u00a0homeowners<\/a>\u00a0about\u00a0getting on the ladder.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

When Orima Kamalu<\/a>, 36, and her husband first moved into their Bristol<\/a> three-bed, they started on a high.<\/p>\n

The pair managed to secure their property for \u00a3629,000 \u2013 which was \u00a336,000 less than the asking price.<\/p>\n

How did they do it? Simply by doing some detective work on Rightmove<\/a>, and taking the risk. <\/p>\n

Now, they\u2019ve just marked one year in their new home, which creative Orima has certainly put a colourful stamp on.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what Orima had to say about her property journey\u2026<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tReady to start your homebuying journey?\t\t\t<\/p>\n

You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Award winning service from the UK\u2019s leading mortgage broker<\/p>\n

\u2013 Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week<\/p>\n

\u2013 Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market<\/p>\n

Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won\u2019t charge you a fee for their advice.<\/p>\n

Find out how much you could borrow online<\/a><\/p>\n

Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/p>\n

Tell us about yourself!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS, and my hobbies include DIY, arts and crafts, and watching far too much TV. <\/p>\n

My husband and I were studying, working and renting in London until 2019, when we moved back to Bristol, my hometown, to be closer to my mum.<\/p>\n

We have a three-year-old son and a seven-year-old cocker spaniel.<\/p>\n

Whereabouts is your property? What do you think of the area?<\/p>\n

Our property is in Westbury-On-Trym, just north of Bristol. It\u2019s known for being quite a traditional \u2018village\u2019 and less trendy than other parts of the city, but we love it.<\/p>\n

My favourite thing is how close we are to so many beautiful outdoor spaces, such as Blaise Estate, Baddocks Woods and The Downs. I\u2019m also obsessed with FED, a delightful local caf\u00e9 which recently opened a new branch.<\/p>\n

That said, the local high street has clearly suffered in recent years, with lots of long-standing independent stores closing. We hope that our community will continue to support the retailers we love.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tOrima and her husband moved in last year (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)
\nWhen did you move in?<\/p>\n

June 2024.<\/p>\n

How much does your property cost?<\/p>\n

Our property was listed for \u00a3665,000 and we purchased it for \u00a3629,000.<\/p>\n

How much was your deposit?<\/p>\n

Around \u00a3127,000.<\/p>\n

What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?<\/p>\n

Our mortgage is \u00a32,400 per month. Our bills come to approximately \u00a31,200, including gas, electricity, water, broadband, and council tax.<\/p>\n

How did you save up for your deposit?<\/p>\n

This is our second home, so we used the net proceeds from the sale of our first home as a deposit for this property. We bought our first property in 2021 for \u00a3395,000 with a 10% deposit, which came from savings gradually built over several years. We sold it for \u00a3463,000.<\/p>\n

Being NHS workers during COVID, we were lucky that we were still employed during this time, so we could continue saving. We also benefited from the stamp duty hiatus.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tUFurnish.com Home Awards\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Orima was keen to channel her creativity into her new house, with bold colour choices and chic furnishings. Now, the standout feature is the ceiling in her three-year-old\u2019s bedroom: hand-painted fluffy white clouds on a bright blue sky.<\/p>\n

The quirky choice got her son\u2019s seal of approval, and it even got her norminated for a Best Showstopping Home Feature in the UFurnish.com<\/a>\u00a0Home Awards.<\/p>\n

Celebrating talent across 20 categories, including\u00a0interiors, gardens, furniture innovation and home accessories, the awards highlight the best in the home renovations game.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tOrima had dreams of creating a sky-themed ceiling for her son (Picture: Orima Kamalu)
\nHow long did it take you to save up for your deposit?<\/p>\n

We were probably saving for our initial deposit since we both left university, but in earnest for about two years since moving to Bristol in 2019.<\/p>\n

What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?<\/p>\n

The most complex part of securing a mortgage for uswas figuring out how to \u2018port\u2019 our existing mortgage debt from the first property to the second.<\/p>\n

A ported mortgage is what happens when you buy a new home and you want to take your existing mortgage rate with you.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s usually used when you have a deal that you want to keep, and while you\u2019ll still need to apply for a new mortgage, your current rate will still apply if you\u2019re successful in \u2018porting\u2019 it.<\/p>\n

If you want to borrow more than the value of your previous home, you can apply for additional borrowing. This will mean you\u2019ll end up with two elements to your mortgage, one part being the ported rate and the second being to cover the extra borrowing (usually on a different rate).<\/p>\n

Again, our broker oversaw the whole process with ease and clarity, so we were very fortunate that this went smoothly.<\/p>\n

Can you share details on your mortgage (rate\/term)?<\/p>\n

We have a two-part mortgage with HSBC.<\/p>\n

Part 1: (ported mortgage) 3.29% fixed until 2027, 30-year term.<\/p>\n

Part 2: (new\/additional mortgage) 4.38% fixed until 2029, 30-year term.<\/p>\n

How did you find this property? What made you choose it?<\/p>\n

We crunched some numbers with our mortgage advisor to determine what we could actually afford, and this kicked off our house search.<\/p>\n

I saw this property come on the market in September 2023 and immediately fell in love with it, even though it was quite out of our budget. I loved the location, the size and the potential to be refurbished without much need for anything structural.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I did a bit of research on the property itself and found the buying history on Rightmove, which showed what the current owners had bought it for, versus the price it was actually listed for at the time. <\/p>\n

They offered below asking, so we took a chance and did the same. It was actually the same amount below asking that the current owners had bought for, which I think was part of the reason they didn\u2019t dismiss it. We were also the only potential buyers, which helped.\u00a0We were so lucky it was accepted.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the inspiration for your interior decor style?<\/p>\n

Before we moved in, I had used a home visualiser app, which virtually redecorates the entire house, so I had a clear vision of how I wanted it to look in time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I get a lot of inspiration from Instagram home accounts. I\u2019m drawn to homes which combine traditional features (like panelling and coving) with bold but earthy colours, prints and statement pieces like funky lighting. Sort of like a \u2018muted maximalism\u2019.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tOrima loves homes with traditional features (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)
\nWhat\u2019s your favourite room and why?<\/p>\n

My favourite room is probably the kitchen, as even though I detest cooking, it\u2019s the transformation I\u2019m most proud of. The kitchen was very different before, with white gloss units, turquoise walls, and a black floor and counter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It took quite a bit of figuring out and learning new skills but now I love the Victorian dresser and the drinks cabinet we sourced from Facebook marketplace, and I\u2019m proud of our DIY tiling.<\/p>\n

What are your biggest property non-negotiables when looking?<\/p>\n

We were keen to ensure that anywhere we bought had a reasonably-sized garden (a must with a dog), off-street parking and a downstairs toilet.<\/p>\n

In future, I\u2019ll be adding the following to the list: utility room and a garage (we lost one in the move, and it\u2019s such a wrench storage-wise).<\/p>\n

Do you feel like you have enough space?<\/p>\n

Yes and no. We do have more than enough space however, we\u2019ve just started making enquiries about expanding the property with a small extension at the back, which we would use as an office and gym space. It would free up an extra bedroom in case we have a second child.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tOrima says buying was an \u2018exercise in patience\u2019 (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)
\nDo you have plans to change the property?<\/p>\n

The DIY renovations are endless and constantly ongoing. We had solar panels installed recently, which has been a really great addition in terms of bills and sustainability in general.<\/p>\n

We will likely do some landscaping of the front of the property and the rear garden to make them more enjoyable outdoor spaces.<\/p>\n

Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?<\/p>\n

Fortunately (touch wood) nothing major so far. The odd thing is plumbing and heating, but we\u2019ve been lucky not to need any big issues addressed.<\/p>\n

What do you want people to know about buying a home?<\/p>\n

We count ourselves as extremely privileged to have been able to take this step, and I think fellow homeowners would do well to remember that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also been a big exercise in patience, as for a quite straightforward purchases, it took a surprisingly long time to get to completion.<\/p>\n

What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term?<\/p>\n

We think we\u2019ll probably stay here for at least 10 years or so, as the location suits our little family very well. <\/p>\n

In the longer term, I think our desire for more space and privacy may take us further out of Bristol, but we shall see.<\/p>\n

Shall we take a look around?<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tWelcome home! (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tOrima moved back to Bristol in 2019 (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThe area is known for its \u2018village-like\u2019 feel (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThey used to live down the road before (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\t\u2026and previously lived and rented in London (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThey immediately fell in love with their home (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\t\u2026though it was considerably out of their budget (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThey ended up putting in an offer below asking (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\t\u2026which the previous owners sympathised with (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThey had a clear vision for their interiors (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\t\u2026as Orima used as home visualiser beforehand (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tShe loves bold, earthy colours and prints (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\t\u2026which she calls \u2018muted maximalism\u2019 (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThe pair got savvy with their furniture too (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThey bought their favourite piece on Facebook (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThey\u2019ve been considering building an extension (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\t\u2026they also considered building into the attic (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tHere\u2019s the star of the show: her son\u2019s room (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tShe was nominated for an award for the ceiling (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tIn her free time, she loves doing DIY and arts and crafts (Picture: Orima Kamalu)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tSpot the plane in the background (Picture: Orima Kamalu)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tWe\u2019re big fans of the mini keyboard (Picture: Orima Kamalu)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\t\u2026and the octopus toy in the corner (Picture: Orima Kamalu)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThey plan to stay there for the next 10 years (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tAs they feel the location suits their family (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Orima
\n\t\tThey saved hard for their deposit over two years (Picture: Gareth Iwan Jones Photographer)<\/p>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n


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