The Omaze curse has racked up another victim as one more raffle winner sells his £2million mansion after just six months – and says the ride-on-lawnmower was the highlight of his time there.
Simon Williams, 42, bagged the stunning five-bedroom property in Devon last year in an Omaze Million Pound House Draw.
The father-of-two hosted huge family get-togethers for Christmas and Easter – something he hadn’t been able to do at his previous property.
But he quickly joined the majority of winners who flog their dream homes after less than a year.
Many are forced to abandon their high-end properties as they are faced with the eye-watering costs of running such enormous homes, while others said they would rather use the cash in other ways.
Mr Williams has used the £2million from the sale of his south coast mansion to buy his dream five-bedroom house closer to home in Sussex.
Simon Williams, 42, bagged the stunning five-bedroom property in Devon last year in an Omaze Million Pound House Draw
Reflecting on the lift changing win he joked his favourite part of the home in Devon was the sit on mower. Mr Williams says he sold it to a friend as part of the move ‘but is allowed to see it on weekends’
The father-of-two hosted huge family get-togethers for Christmas and Easter – something he hadn’t been able to do at his previous property
The charming home has been tastefully renovated to preserve the original features of the cottage, such as beams and exposed brickwork, while modern extensions have been designed to complement the historical property
He has also been able to put some cash aside for his children’s future – and bought himself a Tesla.
Reflecting on the lift changing win he joked his favourite part of the home in Devon was the sit on mower.
Mr Williams says he sold it to a friend as part of the move ‘but is allowed to see it on weekends’.
He said ‘I can’t believe it’s been a year since I won! Winning an Omaze house was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, it’s still hard to comprehend it all actually happened to me.
‘I’m a father so obviously the births of my children were the best days of my life, but winning the house came a very close second!
‘I can still remember my rollercoaster of emotions on the day I found out – laughing, crying, staring into the abyss – it was so surreal.
‘Believe it or not, one of my highlights of the house was the ride-on lawnmower that came with it! I’d happily spend hours on that thing!
‘I ended up selling it to a friend at work when we moved, but he does let me see it on weekends.’
Mr Williams won the keys to a beautifully renovated cottage as well as £100,000 in cash.
Selling the home, Mr Williams has been able to put some cash aside for his children’s future – and bought himself a Tesla
Glazed doors open onto a garden stone-paved courtyard where Mr Williams can host friends and family alfresco
A private drive leads to stunning landscaped gardens which have views of the serene surroundings of Dartmoor National Park
The main house has five bedrooms – the master boasts built-in storage, a panelled rear wall, four large windows overlooking the gardens below and a spacious en suite shower room. The other four double bedrooms provide plenty of space for family and friends
Picturesque: The £2million Omaze mansion in Devon pictured at dusk
The house came mortgage free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered.
He had the choice to either live in the incredible house, rent it out for a supplementary income or sell it.
Mr Williams, whose more than £2 million winning entry came from his £25 monthly Omaze subscription, decided to keep the house for six months so he could enjoy the ‘once in a lifetime property’ with his family.
He hosted huge family get-togethers for Christmas and Easter – something he hadn’t been able to do at his previous property.
He enjoyed spending quality time at the ‘breathtaking’ property, but admitted his favourite thing to do there was using the ride-on lawnmower that came with the house.
Mr Williams, an aircraft engineer originally from Kent, previously lived in a 3-bedroom house in Sussex for 15-years. He has two daughters aged 12 and 14.
He joins the ranks of a number of Omaze winners who quickly sold their winnings after realising the luxury homes were not what they wanted
Uttam Parmar, 58, from Leicestershire, put his stunning Cornish mansion up for sale within eight weeks of scooping the jackpot.
Mr Parmar said he and wife Raki, 53, decided to sell the prize property because they couldn’t afford the upkeep.
CORNWALL: Uttam Parmar, 58, with his wife Raki and son Aaron, celebrating in front of the house
CORNWALL: He and wife Raki, 53, decided to sell the prize property because they couldn’t afford the upkeep
CORNWALL: He was given £50,000 to help him settle into the house with estuary views
CORNWALL: June Smith, 74, pictured by the £4.5million waterside mansion she won
Winner June Smith with her son Rory, granddaughter Lilian, daughter Katharine, granddaughter Nicole Bysouth-Smith, Rory’s fiance Rebecca Swinn and Rebecca’s mother
CORNWALL: Ms Smith, who used to holiday in Cornwall in a caravan, won the mansion
He said: ‘It is a fantastic house in a beautiful Cornish location but the price of it comes with a price to keep it and we can’t afford to. We are selling it and not keeping it as a holiday home.
‘If we could afford to keep it we would. It is beautiful. But we are looking to buy some land or a smaller property instead.’
Retired widower June Smith, 74, also put her stunning home on the market after visiting just once.
The Essex grandmother put the waterside home in Fowey, Cornwall, up for sale in the summer for £4.5million and it is now listed as sold subject to contract.
On the other side of the country, in Kingstown, near Deal in Kent, another cliff-top house was abandoned by its winners shortly after they scooped the £2.5million property.
The breathtaking seaside village property was won by a West Midlands couple – Jade and her unnamed partner – in Autumn last year.
Jade, who also scooped £50,000 in cash, described the win as ‘life-changing’ in interviews at the time.
But within months, the house, which boasts unrivalled views of the English Channel, was back on the market for £2.5million.
On the other side of the country, in Kingstown, near Deal in Kent, another cliff-top house was abandoned by its winners shortly after they scooped the £2.5million property
DEVON: Mr Elmy with his son Sam and his fiancé Emily, Glen Elmy, Debbie Elmy and son Luke
DEVON: He won the house after entering a draw with a £25 ticket
DEVON: He won the Bond-style seafront mansion with an infinity pool – worth £3million
In one case, the winner of a luxurious £3million mansion overlooking a sweeping bay left his new home after just three days over claims the clifftop on which his property had been built was collapsing into the sea below.
The winner, foundry worker Glen Elmy, from Walsall, moved into the James Bond-style idyllic property in October 2021 and marvelled at the views across Combe Martin Bay on the north Devon coast.
But three days later, after learning of the coastal erosion threatening his property, he handed the keys to Stealth House back to Omaze and is understood to have demanded a cash pay-out equal to the property’s £3million price tag.
Mr Elmy has never returned to the five-bed property and it is believed the house lottery company met his demands and paid up.
In London’s Fulham, Marilyn Pratt, 70, won her £2.9million house in April 2021, then sold up eight months later – for £100,000 less – so she could help her two daughters and grandchildren financially.
She decided to remain with husband David in the two-bedroom house they have lived in for 40 years in south-east London.
But Mr Williams remains delighted his win, saying it has secured his and his family’s future.
When Omaze contacted him to tell him he’d scooped a prize last year, he almost didn’t pick up as he thought it was a nuisance cold caller.
LONDON: Marilyn Pratt, 70, (pictured) won her £2.9million house in April 2021
LONDON: She sold up eight months later – for £100,000 less – so she could help her family
Mr Williams’ property also boasts a separate two-bedroom guest house with an open-plan kitchen-dining area, shower room and comfortable living area
Speaking about the house, he said: ‘We spent lots of time enjoying the house before I sold it – and loved every minute we were there, including bringing all the family together to celebrate last Christmas and Easter in style.
‘It felt so good to have all that space and host everyone for the first time, and in such an amazing house as well! We made some very special memories there.’
On selling up he said: ‘I love Devon, and thanks to the money I also got, keeping the house was an option, but I’ve built a life in Sussex, so I decided to sell up and bank the cash.
‘The house sold very quickly and the money from it has been truly transformational for all of us – it’s secured my family’s future. It’s pretty obvious to say that it was easily the best £25 I’ve ever spent!
‘People still come up to me and ask if it was real, did I really win a £2 million house? I just say it definitely is, and I’ve got pictures to prove it!
‘Winning an Omaze house is life-changing, but it hasn’t changed me – I’m still the same person, I think I’m still wearing the same jeans that I did before the win.
‘We have treated ourselves to a few nice holidays and I got a new car. I needed to get one anyway but could afford an upgrade after the sale, so I got a Tesla – makes the commute to work that little bit more comfortable.
Mr Williams remains delighted his win, saying it has secured his and his family’s future
Mr Williams’s stunning five-bed cottage is set amid enchanting woodland that borders Dartmoor National Park and features landscaped gardens
The mansion has modern appliances and an ‘exquisitely’ designed kitchen and dining area
The entrance gate for the Omaze Mansion, Hennock, Bovey Tracey, Devon won by Mr Williams
‘I’ve not gone on any mad spending sprees, so I have plenty leftover for a rainy day and my daughters’ future.
‘I am still working and everyone treats me exactly the same – although I think I make more teas now than before I won.
‘Thanks to the win I can think about retiring a bit sooner, but I’m in no rush to take up golf just yet!
On his new house in Sussex: ‘I bought a lovely 5-bedroom house in Sussex with a beautiful garden, very close to where I used to live – so I still see all my friends and family – I can just have a lot more people over for a Sunday lunch now!
‘My new place has trees just like in the garden at the Devon house – that played a deciding factor in choosing it.
‘I used to holiday in Devon as a child so it was always close to my heart. We’ll still be going to Devon for family holidays, we absolutely love it there.’
On entering the draw: ‘I entered the draw because I absolutely loved the house – but also because Macmillan is such an incredible charity.
‘I lost my father to cancer when I was in my early 20s, and they supported my father and us back then, so I know firsthand just how important the work they do is.
The property in Devon has spacious and luxurious bathrooms with modern fittings
‘I’m so happy that the partnership with Omaze raised so much money for them to continue helping families just like they helped mine.
‘I still enter Omaze draws as I love supporting different charities every month. If I won a second time I’d probably feel too guilty, so I would have to give it back!
‘I never in a million years expected to win – but I did – so my advice to anyone thinking about entering is to go for it!’
As well as making Mr Williams a multi-millionaire, the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Devon also raised an incredible £1,700,000 to support Macmillan in just six weeks.
The money raised helps Macmillan Cancer Support to continue to do whatever it takes to ensure people living with cancer get the right support for them, every step of the way.
Gemma Peters, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support said: ‘We were beyond thrilled that £1,700,000 was raised by Omaze. This extraordinary amount of money means we can provide support, through diagnosis and beyond, to so many more people living with cancer and their loved ones, just like the support Simon and his family received.’
James Oakes from Omaze, said: ‘We’re delighted that Simon and his family decided to enjoy his stunning house in Devon for a few months, before selling up and banking the cash to become a multi-millionaire.
‘Omaze is a win-win for both charities and entrants. By offering incredible prizes, like the beautiful house in Devon, we give people the chance to win amazing houses, while also introducing charities to audiences they wouldn’t usually be able to reach. We’re incredibly proud that the Omaze community has already raised over £60 million for good causes across the UK.’
The Omaze Million Pound House Draw raised £1.7million for Macmillan Cancer Support – the charity that supported his late father
The latest draw guarantees that one lucky person will win another house in Devon, worth over £2 million, as well as £250,000 in cash.
The winner of the third Omaze Million Pound House Draw in Devon will get the keys to a contemporary, four-bedroom house near the picturesque coastal town of Exmouth, complete with spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding scenery and coastline, a guest annexe as well as a heated swimming pool.
As well as making its Grand Prize Winner a multi-millionaire, Omaze has guaranteed a minimum donation of £1 million for charity partner, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). The draw is backed by comedian and CALM Patron Romesh Ranganathan.
Draw entries for the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Devon, are available now at omaze.co.uk. The Draw closes on Sunday 27th October for online entries and Tuesday 29th October 2024 for postal entries.
Entrants can also choose to subscribe to Omaze to be automatically entered into every Grand Prize and Early Bird Prize Draw each month. Omaze subscribers receive four times the number of entries compared to non-subscribers and can cancel their subscription at any time.
