I was lucky to grow up in a wonderful family home. An ‘architect designed’ bungalow surrounded by woodland and overlooking a valley, it was affectionately known as ‘the ranch’ by friends at school. A place of tree houses, bike rides and Boy’s Own adventures.

We moved to the ranch when I was three months old and my parents put it on the market the month I left for university. It was the backdrop to my entire childhood. Now, as a new parent, I can't help but wonder what my son will think of his childhood home.

My wife and I put our house on the market a month before we found out we were expecting. An open house and four offers later, we accepted one just over the asking price, all within three weeks of instructing an agent. We had found our next home, too.

But we missed it.

Despite our lightning fast list-to-offer time – and the fact the house we wanted had been on the market for three months, having fallen through twice – another buyer beat us to it by one day. And their offer never fell through.

Two months later another house took us to the edge but proved out of reach. Six months, a growing bump and countless viewings on, our buying power weakened as prices continued to rise. Being ‘under offer’, we discovered, wasn't enough, as more cash buyers and second-steppers poured into the suburbs from a pre-Brexit London. Our faultlessly patient buyer’s offer looked less convincing, too.

We gave it one last push. A house hit my inbox in an area we liked, though it needed much more work than we wanted and was at the top of our already twice-stretched budget. Now a month from our due date, we arrived at the viewing ready to offer the asking price there and then. Greeted by triple-booked viewings, a ‘final offer’ form was thrust at us, with the words ‘well over asking price’ echoing around the hall. Yet I could instantly imagine family Christmases, summer barbecues and more. It could be our ranch.

The house went under offer for ‘substantially more than £100k over the asking price’. I was devastated. The search was over, and we had lost.

Now, with a newborn in arms, sleepless nights can’t help but make me wonder ‘what if’. I imagine what it would be like to bring him up in each of the houses we lost, picturing him playing in the gardens most of all. I rue our current lack of space and question whether we did everything we could.

But I know we did. It just didn't happen.

I’ll never forget my own childhood home, but for now it’s the homes my son will never know that are fresh in my mind.

GW, London

Further information

What makes a house a home and why does it matter so much? Our new series, 'Moving Stories', inspired by Savills new advertising campaign, explores the complex relationship between home and home-owner with funny, sad and bittersweet reflections on moving out, moving in and moving on.

We invite you to submit your own Moving Stories and we will donate £50 to Dreams Come True for every one we publish on Savills UK Blog. We'll also make a donation for every story submitted for consideration.