Ever bought a house- then realised it just doesn't work for you?

[faraday]

As in, say 'the flow' was awkward, that whimsical small room at the top of the stairs unfurnishable, perhaps the sun beating in the 'wrong' way?

An EA told me a week ago most people 'look at a property twice' before putting in an offer- but I feel I'd practically have to LIVE in in for 6 months before I'd know!

I'm actually making a checklist (because I'm anal like that) of what to check a house has got before I get excited! For instance, a usable hallway ( I hate that 'open the door straight onto the stairs' type thing, or where everyone has to walk muddy-booted INTO the house before the door can be shut and derobing space reclaimed!). It will have things like:

Where will we put the study/study area?
Where's the washing machine space? Does that 'flow' to the garden?
Do the DCs bedrooms face an overlit street?
Will trees obscure views or create privacy?

I then go home and try and imagine a day's worth of activity happening in the house!

The next EA I encounter is going to think I'm a nut!

[brettgirl2]

I think that you will never (unless you are a millionaire) find the perfect house. Any house is about positives and negatives, and people have to compromise and live with it. You make it work for you. If you lived in parts of Africa then you'd have to walk for miles to get water!!!

Find a place that you basically like and just be happy living there

[GooseyLoosey]

Yes.

The first place I bought, I loved it the moment I looked at it. The current place I live it, I knew instantly I could make it a great house. Niether of these ticked all the boxes on my wish/need list, but they just clicked with me.

The house I had in between did tick all the boxes but I hated it from the moment I moved in. It never "felt" right and I was immensely happier when we moved (about 100 yards around the corner).

[brettgirl2]

That's what I think too - you get a feeling about whether or not you like the house. This is miles more important than anything else.