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JACKIE
McGUINNESS
GOES HOME

MARCH 2025


On 30 March, 2025, Jackie writes:

Well, I have had a busy weekend.
I drove up with Mike to Barrhead on Friday night/Saturday morning;
an eight-hour drive. We had arranged to view the Park
and a couple of homes and have a chat about a purchase.


6:30 a.m. Saturday, crossing into Scotland . . .

JACKIE

If Tom had been with me, we would have had to park
so he could get out and touch the ground to say he's back in God's country.


I chose the worst weekend: Howling gale, freezing cold, teeming rain
which became rain of biblical proportions. I had to ask myself,
"Why did I want to go home to Scotland?"
I don't know; something in my Scottish blood is calling me home.
I always say, 'If you view a house in really bad weather and like it,
then you will love it on a good day.'

JACKIE

JACKIE


The plots will be the
last group of ten on
the outside edge of the park,
with uninterrupted views
over the hills and fields.
I never saw or smelled
any farm animals.
[I was t]old there are deer
on the hillsides
and we will see them
from our patio.
It wasn't as pretty
as some of the highland sites,
but I could see the potential
from the plans for the site.


This pic is what a lady who moved
there in January sent me.
It was taken last night.
So this is almost
the view I will have.
Gleniffer Park is what
I believe we look onto
from our plots.


I didn't like the entry road,
and would love to see them deliver our home up the hill
with [its] bends and passing places,
Mike said it will be fine; they come in two halves.
Yes, but 50 feet on a trailer and the cab up front?

JACKIE

I saw inside three homes; two had a WOW factor.
I said the two were really nice, but it would be like
being in a show house and I'd be frightened to use anything.

JACKIE

I only saw the outside of the third home because it was
one of the favourites I'd chosen from the brochure
and they had no show homes on site,
but the factory would probably have one.
The factory is about 30 or 40 miles up the road.

JACKIE

The manager was aware that I'd really wanted a 50'x20' home,
but had told Mike last week that the plots were only 45'x20',
but with slightly bigger gardens. I felt that 5'x20'
is a big area not to have inside the home.

JACKIE

After a few discussions about other homes, he got a phone call,
I assume from the park owner. Because the two plots we had chosen
would have a slightly bigger garden than the other eight plots,
they could accommodate 50'x20' homes.

JACKIE

We said we were happy to put down a refundable deposit
to hold the plot (six months) while we made up our minds
and discussed finances etc. He said he would put forms in the post
so we could have a good chat to make sure we were happy,
then we could send him the signed deposit paperwork and arrange a payment.

JACKIE

He would contact OMAR PARKS & LEISURE HOMES to introduce us;
they would contact us to arrange to spend a day at the factory
choosing the colour schemes and any tweaks to the rooms.
We could visit as many times as we wanted to be sure
we were happy and knew what our homes would look like.

JACKIE

We both chose the REGENCY [pics above]
because it looked like a wee cottage/bungalow.
The 50'x20' came in at just under 205k,
but because we are buying two, he said he would call it 400k,
which I thought was a very good deal.

JACKIE


I've asked lots of questions and looked at all the reviews.
I've spoken to three other residents who all said I'd love it there.
They had lived there for 10, six and two years and were very happy
and never regretted the move. I didn't see many [people]
because the weather was so appalling. One man
who'd been there ten years said his wife needed convincing at first,
but once they moved she was very happy and didn't regret it.

It all seems too good to be true and I'm searching for the catch.
I tried to find a Scottish solicitor to check over the contracts, etc. for me,
but they all said because it won't be registered on the land registry,
they don't deal with it. Just like buying a car or holiday home,
but I wouldn't spend £200k on a holiday home.


Driving away from the Park's gates . . .

JACKIE


JACKIE


We stopped in Barrhead for lunch before driving home,
and stopped at a butcher's shop that made their own
square sausage and black pudding. The black pudding was very nice.
If I needed a final thing to convince me to move, that could be it.

Now I'm sitting down looking at costs and
what I need to sell or give to charity. The homes come fully furnished,
even down to bedding and linen, so I could pack my clothes,
computer and personal items and move in,
but after years of living I have things I'm fond of
and must take with me.


THE



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