Sussex dad sells Omaze house in Devon to buy dream home

Simon Williams bagged the five-bedroom property in Devon and £100,000 cash prize last year in an Omaze Million Pound House Draw.

He hosted huge family get-togethers for Christmas and Easter but after enjoying the house for several months he decided to sell his big prize to buy his dream five-bedroom house in Sussex.

Reflecting on the life changing win he joked his favourite part of the home in Devon was the sit-on mower.

Simon Williams outside his £2.2m house in Devon last year (Image: Andy Olley) ''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,” he said.

“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.”

Simon on his favourite lawn mower (Image: Andy Olley)

The 42-year-old had the choice to either live in the renovated cottage, which came mortgage free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, rent it out for a supplementary income or sell it.

Simon, whose more than £2 million win 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.

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The aircraft engineer, who is originally from Kent, previously lived in a three-bedroom house in Sussex for 15-years. 

Simon outside the Devon house with his daughters (Image: Supplied) He has two daughters aged 12 and 14.

When Omaze contacted Simon to tell him he had scooped a prize last year, he almost did not pick up as he thought it was a nuisance cold caller.

“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,” he said.

''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.

“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.

The house in Devon (Image: Andy Olley)

''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.

“I’ve not gone on any mad spending sprees, so I have plenty left over for a rainy day and my daughters’ futures.

“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.”

As well as making Simon a multi-millionaire, the Omaze Million Pound House Draw, Devon also raised £1,700,000 to support Macmillan Cancer Support, something very important to Simon.

''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 first hand just how important the work they do is,” he said.