A Father’s Journey from Council House to Luxury Home and Back
Chris Milnes, a 61-year-old salesman from Leeds, has sold his £2.5 million mansion in Poole, Dorset, after significantly reducing its value by almost £1 million. The decision came after the father-of-three found the maintenance of the luxurious home too time-consuming, especially when it came to cleaning.
The property, which spans 4,650 square feet, was won by Mr. Milnes in June of last year through the Omaze Million Pound House Draw. He entered the competition without informing his wife or children, a decision that would soon change their lives.
The family spent their Christmas at the sprawling three-storey home, but eventually decided it wasn’t the right fit for them. Mr. Milnes humorously shared his experience on Facebook, noting that cleaning the house took “a whole day.” This sentiment likely played a role in their decision to sell.
Initially, the couple listed the home for £2.3 million in January, later lowering the price to £2 million in June. By August, the asking price had dropped further to £1.35 million, and the property was eventually sold for £1.6 million. The sale is still pending contract, but the home will be sold fully furnished.
This isn’t an isolated case. The Milnes family joins a growing number of Omaze winners who have quickly sold their multi-million-pound homes, often due to the high maintenance and running costs involved.
Mr. Milnes explained that he planned to sell the property to give his children a better start in life than he had. He hoped to use the proceeds to buy a home in his native West Yorkshire and to visit his son Ollie, 30, in Australia, as well as spend time with his first grandchild.
In January, Mr. Milnes reflected on the experience, saying: “Since winning, we’ve really enjoyed spending time as a family at the house, particularly at Christmas. Dorset is such a lovely part of the country, and the house is a dream home on every level.”
He also mentioned that the money from the win would allow them to stay in the house for years without worrying about costs. However, they preferred to sell and use the funds to buy a home closer to where they currently live.
The luxury property features a spacious open-plan living area, a designer kitchen with banquette seating, and a cinema room. The main suite includes a walk-in dressing room and a spa-style bathroom with a freestanding tub. Outside, the garden boasts a hot tub and an outdoor shower.
Local estate agents estimated the home could fetch up to £6,000 a month in rent, but Mr. Milnes opted to sell rather than become a landlord. The couple also plans to help their daughters Lucy, 29, and Esmé, 24, buy homes of their own.
Revealing his win in June 2024, he said: “Winning this house has changed all our family’s lives forever. Not only will we be able to afford to buy a dream new house for us, but we can also get all our children on the property ladder now. It means so much to be able to give them the start we never had.”
The couple also received a £100,000 cash prize along with their double-garaged home in Wimbourne. The fortune appears to have been used wisely, with Mr. Milnes showcasing a jet-set lifestyle on social media, including trips to Paphos in Cyprus, Porto in Portugal, and Budapest in Hungary.
A Rightmove listing describes the mansion as a “seamless design meets natural beauty” space, featuring five spacious bedrooms and five luxurious bathrooms spread over 4,650 square feet of meticulously designed living space. It combines cutting-edge technology with high-quality craftsmanship, offering a harmonious blend of modern convenience and natural beauty.
Last year, other Omaze winners faced similar decisions. Simon Williams, 43, sold his £2 million Devon home just six months after winning, admitting his favorite part of the experience was the ride-on lawnmower. He used the proceeds to buy a dream five-bedroom house closer to home in Sussex.
Uttam Parmar, 59, offloaded his Cornish coastal mansion weeks after his win, stating he couldn’t afford the upkeep. He said, “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.”
Similarly, 74-year-old widower June Smith put her £4.5 million property in Fowey, Cornwall, on the market after visiting just once.
Omaze is a fundraising platform that gives people the chance to win luxury prizes—such as multi-million-pound homes, cars, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences—while raising money for charities. Its popular Million Pound House Draws have seen winners bag luxurious homes in places like Cornwall, the Cotswolds, Devon, and London, with ticket bundles starting from £10.
