What’s it like to put your house into a prize draw? The Salford family selling £2 tickets for their property
The Reid family have put their Salford home and car in a prize draw ahead of a life-changing trip to Australia - hoping for a quicker sell before they head down under.
Selling a property in the middle of the pandemic comes with inevitable complications.
Unpredictable markets. Guaranteed delays. Head-scratching legislation. Plus the fact that potential buyers might not even be able to step inside for viewings.
Anthony and Gemma Reid know all about it.
After putting their Salford house up for sale and watching two potential buyers walk away, the pair came to the conclusion it probably wasn’t going to happen.
In September, they took down their property listing and put it in a prize draw instead – hoping for a quicker sell ahead of their life-changing move to Australia.
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A property prize draw is exactly what it sounds like. The house is placed online – and tickets are sold to members of the general public for £2 a pop. The holder of the winning ticket wins the house.
The whole competition is hosted online on a website called Raffall.
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The first and most obvious question here: Is ‘Raffalling’ off your home as risky as it sounds?
Many families would be terrified to swap the tried-and-trusted property market for the kind of raffle-style competition you’d find at pubs, school discos and fairs.
But Anthony and Gemma are living proof that property prize draws can work – calling the experience “amazing”.
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“It’s a full-time job and we have to keep on top of things, but now we have some media coverage the tickets are flying out and we hope to hit our sales target,” Gemma told The Manc.
“We would like to thank everyone who has taken part and ask them to keep sharing so we can get someone in their new home!”
The family have thrown in a few incentives along the way to help boost sales – including Anthony getting his chest waxed when tickets purchased tipped over 50,000.
The Reids have even offered some words of advice for the lucky winner.
“Make sure you have some good friends lined up for your celebration party!” Gemma says.
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“The kitchen is great for entertaining and barbecues in summer will be amazing, Sadly, COVID stopped us enjoying the garden this year so someone will have to christen the garden with a party.”
The Reids have so many fond memories of their three-bed home. Relaxing together watching TV in the spacious front room. Drinking morning coffee in the shiny kitchen. Eating tea whilst asking their son Max what he did at school. Stretching out on the sofa during dark winter nights and drawing the curtains to watch a movie. Getting into bed for a peaceful night on a quiet road.
They admit they’re going to miss it. But big things are waiting for them on the other side of the world.
“If we could pick the house up and take it with us, it would be great,” Gemma says.
“But sadly we can’t – and it is time to pass it on to another family to enjoy.”
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The family will be staying with Gemma’s brother for a few weeks in Victoria when they reach Oz; spending some time with them before heading over to Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney to do the tourist sights.
Anthony already has a few irons in the fire in terms of work, whereas Gemma is hoping to open her own shop selling artificial floral displays (she is currently fully-booked here in Blighty for her Christmas decorating services).
The Reids will board their flight in February – and until then, they want to spread the word about their prize draw as far and wide as possible.
“We have had lots of well-wishers and people interested in following our journey and have a few hardcore followers that are always helping and commenting on threads to get people involved,” Gemma says.
“It is really exciting.
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“We intend to fully enjoy the experience and take in new ideas and things along the way and we invite everyone to join the trip and follow our story.”
Fancy being in with a shot of winning a Salford house and car for two quid?
Head over to the Raffall Page for more info. You can take a tour here.
Manchester based quick house buyer Ask Susan says selling your house in this way certainly is a novel idea if you’re looking for a quick sale in an uncertain market place.
Feature
Gaping Gill – the record-breaking waterfall you can only see twice a year
Daisy Jackson
There are a lot of incredible waterfalls in the UK – but did you know that the highest unbroken waterfall in England is right here in the north?
Gaping Gill is a record-breaking spot in the Yorkshire Dales, about an hour and a half from Greater Manchester.
Despite the Fell Beck waterfall being a massive 110-metres tall, it’s actually pretty difficult to see.
Unusually, the waterfall is underground in a huge cave system – and even more unusually, it’s only accessible to the public twice a year.
Those lucky enough to visit are lowered down into the massive chamber on a winch by a local pothole club.
It’s not for the faint-hearted, or much fun for people who are scared of heights, but once your feet are on the solid ground at the bottom of the cave you’ll be in one of the most awe-inspiring settings in the country.
The Gaping Gill cave chamber is 129m long, 31m high, and 25m wide – so large you can fit an entire cathedral inside it.
Its cave system is connected to the famous Ingleborough Cave.
The first person to make it all the way inside was Frenchman Edouard Martel in 1895, who used a rope ladder to climb down and kept in touch with those on the surface using a telephone.
The Craven Pothole Club helps people to visit every August and the Bradford Pothole Club every May.
The rest of the time, all you can see from above ground is the cave’s opening on the slopes of Ingleborough.
Local photographer Tatiana Hepplewhite said after her visit: “Twice a year, England’s highest unbroken waterfall is open to the public.
“The catch? The waterfall, named aptly Gaping Gill, actually falls into the ground.
“Very helpful Bradford and Craven pothole clubs put a winch and take lucky members of the public, such as myself, all 100 meters down. How was it? In one word – awesome!”
The next trip down into the chasm will between the 25 May and 31 May for £20 per person.
The northern village, caves, and medieval street named among the most beautiful places in the UK
Daisy Jackson
The most beautiful places in the UK have been named, with several spots up north elbowing their way onto the list.
From mystical caves in the Lake District to the Mediterranean-style architecture in… Wales… there are so many stunning places to explore on our doorstep.
Time Out’s list of the 15 most beautiful places in the UK, compiled by travel writers, has picked out ‘pinch-me’ destinations across the nation.
Several of the places chosen are within a couple of hours’ drive of Manchester, too, so you really don’t have far to go to seek out the very best of the British isles.
One spot that was well-deserving of a mention is Portmeirion, a popular village in North Wales that’s famous for its colourful architecture.
The village is the brainchild of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and was inspired by the Mediterranean, which is plain to see in the colourful buildings and palm trees jutting out from an otherwise very British scene,
The tourist hotspot completed in 1975 and Time Out says it’s ‘like something out of a dream’.
The guide said: “This unique tourist village has established itself as the most romantic spot in north Wales.
“Of course, it certainly helps if it comes with Italianate architecture, colourful facades and an unforgettable sense of romance. How could you not fall for Portmeirion?”
Another spot in the north of England that has been named one of the most beautiful places in the UK is Rydal Caves, tucked in the heart of the Lake District.
Now us Mancs know that nowhere in the country can compare to the majestic scenes right across the national park, but there is something really special about the dramatic cave system.
Located right between Grasmere and Ambleside, they’re accessible in just a 15 minute walk from the nearest car park.
Rydal Caves in the Lake District made Time Out’s list of the Most Beautiful Places. Credit: Unsplash, Jonny Gios
You can leap across stepping stones all the way to the back of the cave, then look back out at the surrounding woodland through the cave’s huge entrance.
This spot was chosen by Netflix for scenes of the second season of The Witcher – told you it was magical.
Over in Yorkshire (and it’s a surprise to no one to see this on the list), is The Shambles in York.
The well-preserved medieval street features ramshackle buildings, cobbled street, and quaint little shops, and again looks like something straight out of a storybook.
Skipping over its gory past, Time Out said: “There are few easier, more atmospheric ways to transport yourself back hundreds of years (without the iffy smells and sights) than a stroll down Shambles.”