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Property/DIY

Would this put you off buying? Straw poll

40 replies

oolaroola · 11/09/2013 16:47

so we are about to put in an offer on a lovely property. It's 2 bed detached ina very rural location. 2 acres, a small barn and river frontage on some of the land. BUT it's not connected to the mains electric grid. It does have a generator, some solar pv and LPG gas for heating. I'm thinking this is a major reason why it hasn't yet sold. that and the fact that it was initially overpriced. but what I am thinking is how off putting it could also be when we come to sell. We would want update the system to add more solar and to make the system automatic - at present you have to manually change between the solar and the generator. The quote to connect is 25k so...
Anyone have any opinions on whether they would find this very off putting? Thanks.

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oolaroola · 11/09/2013 16:50

That should say 25k to connect to the mains grid...

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BinarySolo · 11/09/2013 16:53

I quite like the idea of living off grid. A friend of mine bought a house which has solid fuel heating and a septic tank. It was fairly cheap, but I think that was more to do with it needing a fair bit of work doing to it.

MobileKeysPurse · 11/09/2013 17:14

I would be put off by potential floods living so close to a river.

DreadLock · 11/09/2013 17:16

Depends on the price of the house. If I really really loved everything else about it I would pay the extra to connect to the mains grid. Particularly if you come to sell. And then the price of the house could go up and it would be more desirable. So you would get your money back on selling.

oolaroola · 11/09/2013 17:24

Thanks for your thoughts so far.
A small part of the land does flood occasionally but I can see that the house won't ever as its raised up. It's an old mill cottage so they don't tend to be built where they can flood. I was worried about this too myself when I first saw the details.

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PigletJohn · 11/09/2013 17:26

next time the generator breaks down you will wish you had paid the £25k. I presume it is a big diesel in an outbuilding, and that you don't have to trudge across the yard in the snow to start it. What about the noise and the smell, and the price of diesel?

Consider it to be part of the cost of buying the house. The house will doubtless need rewiring as well, might be £5k for substantial detached house.

DreadLock · 11/09/2013 17:31

can you link so we can be nosey?! It sounds lovely.

oolaroola · 11/09/2013 19:46

It's been taken off by the agents so I can't link, sorry.
Hmm, rewire. I had thought of that but not taken the cost in to consideration at this stage. I guess that might come up in the survey? My main issues are running costs before we modernise and upgrade the system. And I reckon you can always be sure that the generator will break on the coldest, darkest night of the year!

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oolaroola · 11/09/2013 19:48

It's been taken off by the agents so I can't link, sorry.
Hmm, rewire. I had thought of that but not taken the cost in to consideration at this stage. I guess that might come up in the survey? My main issues are running costs before we modernise and upgrade the system. And I reckon you can always be sure that the generator will break on the coldest, darkest night of the year!

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StuckOnARollercoaster · 11/09/2013 19:57

When I bought my first house and car I was given really good advice - don't look at whether it's good for you but is it good for the next person you will want to eventually sell it to.
For that reason even though I would quite happily live 'off the grid' I would only consider it if the price was incredibly cheap and know that to sell it in the future I may have to fork out to 'connect'.

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful · 11/09/2013 19:57

It could be lovely. I think you've had some good advice - factor in £25k to hook up to main grid and 5k rewiring.

If you still think its worth it then go for it.

There's a slightly mad part of me wondering if you should live off grid with solar panels, a water wheel and wood burner fires.

LaurieFairyCake · 11/09/2013 19:58

Of course!

You will be the only one to survive the zombie apocalypse!

ouryve · 11/09/2013 20:02

As well as factoring the cost of connecting to the grid, I'd make sure the generator is still there and remains in good working order. Electric supplies can be a bit flaky, out in the sticks, in bad weather.

JazzAnnNonMouse · 11/09/2013 20:04

If it was much much cheaper and electricity was still guaranteed I'd go for it

expatinscotland · 11/09/2013 20:06

It would put me off. Sorry.

mummaemma · 11/09/2013 20:23

yes definately would put me off.

oolaroola · 11/09/2013 21:15

Ha ha yes the zombie apocalypse, had already factored that in!
so it seems there definitely is a bad feeling generally about no mains, so will want to factor this in to the negotiating. Still love the property so think we're gonna go for it with all this in mind. Thankyou all for you views- that was very useful.

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Liara · 11/09/2013 21:18

Wouldn't put me off but then I am off grid, so it obviously already hasn't!

mummaemma · 11/09/2013 21:26

yeah go for it. good luck

oolaroola · 11/09/2013 22:03

Ah well Liara, any tips? Do you have solar or other?

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Jan49 · 11/09/2013 22:32

Yes, it would put me off the house completely.

birdofthenorth · 11/09/2013 22:48

It would put me off too, sorry. And I grew up in a rural area and grow my own veg.

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PolterGoose · 12/09/2013 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Turnipinatutu · 12/09/2013 20:15

Wouldn't put me off either. I'd love it!

Liara · 12/09/2013 20:28

Have solar. Rarely use the generator in summer, tbh. In winter do use it some. Have a gas powered generator, so quieter and cleaner.

The big issue are the batteries. Make sure that the batteries are up to scratch, they go badly wrong if not treated with care.

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