We finally take ownership of the main house, tenant vacates
It’s wild to think how a single letter really kicked off a whole new chapter for us. Our tenant, who had been with us for a good seven years in the main house, let us know she was heading to Cape Town for a new job opportunity. While we were definitely sad to see her go – she was a fantastic tenant – there was also this undeniable buzz of excitement. This was our chance! We’d been itching to get stuck into some serious renovations, from the electrical system to the plumbing, which, as you know, are the absolute guts of any home. It felt like the universe was finally giving us the green light to transform the place into something truly special.
With the house soon to be empty, our first priority was to get it properly secured. Once she moved out, it was all hands on deck. My dad, my son, and I made the drive out there, ready to change all the main door locks and ensure every single window was buttoned up tight. It’s funny how quickly your mind goes to security when a place is going to be sitting empty. We knew we needed to figure out a more long-term solution, but for that initial period, getting everything locked down was crucial. The thought of the house being unattended, even for a short while, was a bit unnerving, so we really focused on making it as difficult as possible for anyone to get in.
Thankfully, we had a stroke of luck, or rather, a fantastic friendship already established! Our neighbour across the street, who was actually a former tenant of the house herself under the previous owners, is just an absolute gem. She’s a true local, born and bred in Brandvlei, and she knows everyone and everything in town. Having her on our side was such a relief; it felt like we had an instant, trustworthy guardian for the property. Her local knowledge and connections turned out to be invaluable, and it truly highlighted the importance of having good relationships with your neighbours, especially when you’re not always on-site.
Beyond just securing the physical house, I also made sure to loop in the local police. I headed down to the precinct to let them know the house would be vacant, and they were brilliant about it. They added the address to their patrol register, which gave us a huge sense of peace of mind knowing they’d be keeping an eye on things. Crucially, I also informed them about our wonderful neighbour, letting them know she was the designated key holder and the only person authorized to be on the property and inside the house for check-ups. This clear communication with the authorities, coupled with our neighbour’s willingness to help, meant we could breathe a little easier knowing the house was as safe as it could be while we planned its next big transformation.