September 13th 2024.
Eliza was the lucky winner of a home worth millions through a raffle ticket that cost her only £25. It was truly an impressive prize draw, offering the potential to walk away with a luxurious house without having to worry about stamp duty, mortgage, or solicitors fees. This amazing opportunity was made possible by the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, which started in 2020 and has been raising money for charities like Marie Curie and the RNLI.
The winners of this draw have been living in some of the most extravagant mansions across the country, ranging from a stunning £3 million semi-detached house in London to a James Bond-inspired property on the picturesque coast of north Devon. However, it seems that most of the winners have chosen to take the cash prize instead of moving into their new homes, as stated in the terms and conditions of the draw. They can either hand back the keys to Omaze and receive a lump sum, or put their new home on the market, which is the choice that almost every winner has made.
According to recent reports, out of the 14 luxury properties that were won by August 2023, only three of them are still being lived in. The rest have been sold, with one being rented out. This trend has continued this year, with Lisa Morgan from Merseyside facing the delightful dilemma of deciding what to do with her £4.5 million house in Cornwall that she won in the draw. Similarly, Rachel Reid and Chris Milnes, who won a £3 million house each in Surrey and Dorset respectively, have also chosen to sell their homes and use the money to change their lives and their children's lives forever.
However, Eliza's story is a bit different. When she found out about her win on her birthday, she and her family were living in London. They never thought that they would be the proud owners of a picturesque farmhouse in Harrogate, Yorkshire, over 200 miles away. "I was on holiday celebrating my birthday when we found out," Eliza recalls. "So many thoughts went through my mind when we received the video call. I couldn't believe it when I saw Jo from the Omaze TV adverts standing outside my door. I thought there must have been a mistake and they called the wrong person. But then it hit me that something really big was happening. All of this happened in just 30 seconds, it was surreal!"
Eliza and her family had the option to either move into their beautifully renovated 17th-century mansion, rent it out, or sell it. But as soon as she stepped through the front door, it stopped being just a house and immediately became their home. "The house was even more amazing than it looked in the pictures," Eliza says. "I fell in love with it instantly, and I knew that we had to keep it."
Keeping the house also meant that Eliza could finally achieve her long-awaited dream. "I have lived in London for almost 40 years, but I have always been a proud Yorkshire lass at heart," she shares. "Some of my family still live here, and we have always dreamed of having a place in Yorkshire. Now that dream has come true! I love returning to my Yorkshire roots, and my accent definitely comes back stronger as soon as I hit the A1. It's wonderful that my children can have a genuine connection to the place where I grew up. It has been an amazing experience."
The move from London to Harrogate meant that Eliza and her husband had to leave their old life behind and start fresh in a new place. However, they have no regrets as they have been living in their Omaze home since August 2023. "I can't believe it has been a year already," Eliza says. "It still feels like yesterday, and it's still sinking in. There are times when I come downstairs in the morning and do a double-take because I can't believe that I am standing in my own kitchen. It's surreal!"
The family loves hosting in their new home, which is located close to the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. "We have had friends come and stay with us, and we have let them use it with their families too," Eliza says. "It's a home that is built for sharing. We had 16 people over for Christmas, and thankfully, the house came with an Aga to help with all the Yorkshire puddings! Our kids have also brought their friends from university here, and the house always looks pristine after they leave. They are always welcome back!"
The couple also plans on using the house to help people affected by blood cancer. The £1,950,000 raised from this draw went to Blood Cancer UK, and Eliza and her husband are determined to make a difference. "It was very special to see how much was raised," Eliza says. "We are planning on having people and families affected by blood cancer to come and stay at our house. They can have the place all to themselves and just get away from it all."
The family is also becoming part of the local community. "Everyone in the area has been so welcoming, and we love all our neighbors," Eliza shares. "We absolutely adore the local pub, The Queen's Head in Kettlesing. The landlords, Louise and Glen, are real legends, and they even gave us a lift home after a long lunch!"
Choosing to keep the house instead of taking the cash prize is a decision that Eliza does not regret. "Winning something so valuable in bricks and mortar is brilliant," she says. "I joke that I would have burned through the money if I had won it in cash! This house is something that we can all enjoy together as a family, and it is a lasting legacy for my children. It will help secure their futures. The win has also allowed me to help my son get on the property ladder, and I am looking forward to retirement even more now. Some people may have thought that Omaze was a scam, but I assure them and anyone else that it is definitely real."
Eliza's husband had a tough time trying to top her amazing birthday gift, but he managed to do so with a weekend getaway to Stockholm. "The ABBA museum almost swung it!" Eliza laughs.
Do you have a story to share? We would love to hear from you! Get in touch by emailing us.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
