£650,000 home is dream raffle prize

Published on 19th April 2007 in News

A couple in Reedness have set up an extraordinary raffle with the most generous of prizes - and better odds than the National Lottery.

Kath and Alf Overy have lived in their beautiful grade two listed home on the banks of the river Ouse for 24 years but now feel that downsizing will give them the opportunity to live life to the full.

So, they are selling raffle tickets for £60 and giving people the chance to win the Old Parsonage, worth £650,000.

The money will help Mr and Mrs Overy with their retirement and contribute to their favourite charity, the International League for the Protection of Horses.

The couple decided to take the unusual step after they put their house on the market last year, and found the process dull and boring.

Rather than waste valuable retirement time going through the conventional methods, Mr and Mrs Overy decided that by raffling off their home they could pay their debts, retire in style and hand over their home to a family who could fill the 17 stunning rooms.

These include a wine cellar, a butler's pantry and sun room, as well as an old coach house and former parochial hall.

Mr Overy said: "We purchased the Old Parsonage as a family home many years ago and have spent all our spare time restoring the house and making the 2.7 acres the ideal place to relax and raise a family.

"At our best we had four horses, three goats, two cats and a dog.

"But now the two of us feel it's our glory years and we're ready to down-size and let another family nest in our loving home.

"We have received a lot of viewings, and all our friends would say: "We would love your house but simply can't afford it."

"That gave me the idea that it wasn't fair that this beautiful home was unavailable to so many, so we decided a raffle was the best way to get around this and make sure we're comfortable and that our charming home goes to a good home!"

The competition can be entered online at www.winthishome.org.uk and includes a spot-the-ball type task, except that entrants have to guess where the shadow of a telephone pole will fall.

A reserve figure of 25,000 entrants has been put on the competition which, if not met, means the winner will receive a cash prize instead of the house.

It will be drawn on July 1 and, as there is a limit on the number of entrants, the odds are one in 25,000 compared to one in 14,000,000 of winning the jackpot in the National Lottery.

Mr Overy said: "Good luck to everyone. I really hope the house goes to someone ready for the joys the house will bring to their family life."