Another viewing tomorrow <<weeps>>

[Becaroooo]

Dh and I are viewing (yet another!) house tomorrow.

Its a 1960's 3 bed detached. Garage. Garden. Overlooks fields.

BUT its needs a new kitchen and new bathroom and needs decorating throughout (and I havent even been round yet!!) and its on at
"guide price £160-170K" and its been on a while.

Think the vendors want £160k at least.

Am fed up. We only have a 10% deposit as we would need money to do it up (new kitchen a must and I reckon a new boiler too)

Dh is keen on this house as its like his parents house a detached, with a garage and off road parking and has a loft - which most of the other houses we have loked at havent.

It is the area of the village that I want to live in too, (could walk to school for example) but I think £155k is the most I would pay - which is still only about 8% less than top guide price.

Someone please give me hope that this could be it!!!

[Amaris]

£155k doesn't seem like too much of a drop from £160k. Do you know how it been on for, as that might give you an idea about what sort of price they want to get, as well as if they have somewhere to go to that they might want a quick sale for?

I have seen about 14 houses now, and haven't found the one for me, but each viewing has brought me closer to knowing what I do and don't want.

Good luck!

[JoJoMummy321]

Good luck Becaroo! Surely if its been on a while they would accept 5k less. Fingers crossed for you.

[Mammonite]

You can live in a house for quite a while before doing it up - if the kitchen/bathroom are functioning you can save up for replacing them.

No amount of money will buy you a view of fields in a house that doesn't already have it.

[Pudden]

don't be put off by crap bathroom or kitchen. You can live with them and you do get used to the sight of them...even my 1980's horror tiles on the bathroom (waterlilies, bullrushes and butterflies)

If it feels right and there is nothing structurally wrong then go for it

[narmada]

If it needs new kitchen and new bathroom, there are things than IME usually go along with this, like maybe needing a rewire or electrical upgrade etc. HAve a look at the consumer unit and if it looks ancient, then you have an indication that it may need doing.

Also, keep an eye out for vinyl textured wallpaper - (and here speaks the voice of recent experience!) it's sometimes been applied to cover up uneven wall surfaces and so if you're not enamoured with the wallcoverings, then you might need a skim of some of the walls. Same applies to artex coverings - usually youj can't get rid of them without a skim, especially if it was done in the 70s when artex commonly contained bits of asbestos and therefore cannot be easily sanded down.

We have just bought a place in need of the work you describe and for us it's definitely been the right decision. Cosmetic things can be put right fairly quickly, it's the structural things that are costly. If you've got a good idea of what needs doing to it, then you can use this to negotiate the price down to a level you're comfortable with.

[plumtart]

if guide is 160-170 and its been on for a while the estate agent should be encouraging them to accept your offer of 150!!!

check online for the price that similar houses in the area have gone for recently and tell the estate agent about these when you put in your (rather low) offer.

[Becaroooo]

Last house similar to this one sold in Dec 2010 for £154k and prices have gone down since then in this area.

Thing is, its no chain which I think means that they will just wait it out

10% less than £170k is £153k (if my maths is hilding up) and that would be my best offer tbh.

[narmada]

Beware deluded sellers, with an inflated sense of a house's value - there are lots of them about.

[MilicentBystander]

And plenty of deluded buyers who think you will take another £30k drop two days after reducing the price by £30K AND after being told house is already under offer at full asking but waiting on final tying up.

They were told. In no uncertain terms .

[Becaroooo]

milli there are some arseholes about, arent there?

[Amaris]

How did the viewing go?

[tiredemma]

We moved into our 'new' house back in Feb. I loved it as soon as I walked in but has discounted it initially (online) as I could see that the decor was beyond horrendous.
The people who lived here before were in their 80's and it hadn't been decorated since at least the late 60's /early 70's- but we could see the potential and knew it would be our forever home.

so here we are now- in a lovely house from the exterior but dubious on the inside- however its in a great area, schools are all great and I just LOVE my home.
We won't be able to afford a new kitchen or bathroom for a long time yet but thats a sacrifice we are making for being in the home that we LOVE.

Good luck- please let us know how you get on!

[minervaitalica]

Location and operall "space" is what you really cannot change. I put in a new kitchen in both flats I bought - it's a week of hell but it's just a week really. Bathrooms are similar. Boiler as well - modern ones tend to be better anyway as they are far more energy efficient than the old ones, and it's only one days's work.

The things that are really difficult/expensive to change in my experience are:

• Wiring... And there are some real wiring disasters out there.
  
• Bay windows can cost a bomb and has to be done well as it can damage the structure of the house if donw poorly
  
• moving radiators. Quite hard to do cheaply
  
• Re-plastering and correcting damp: it takes a long time for the stuff to dry properly so it's a pain to live in the house at the same time.
  
  Surely can think of more...

[Becaroooo]

eww...it was horrid!

Think 1970's village pub and you have it about right (wood panelling, lots of brass, dirty carpets, avocado bathroom suite....)

Oh well, onwards and upwards x

[millimurphy]

oh god - my mum and dad used to have an avocado bath suite - awful. Hope you find somewhere you like soon

[Gonzo33]

Becaroo,

I do feel for you. I have been watching what you have been going through and it must be a nightmare.

Me xx

[MilicentBystander]

Carpets and bathrooms can be replaced. If it is the right size in the right location at the right price, you should really consider it.
I'm not sure where you are Becaroo but with your budget ( or any, really!) you can't have it all so you have to agree on what you will compromise on and what you won't.
My house has 70's bathrooms, hideous carpets etc but the location and size were perfect. Everything else is a moveable feast.

[Becaroooo]

gonzo You are very sweet, thank you....its all been a bit stressful

mili Absolutely, I agree, but the vendor will not move on price - despite all that needs doing and sale prices of other similar houses in the same street. He is going to rent it out I think (or so the EA said) as he will NEVER get his asking price.