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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

What do you think of this house? - talk me out of it!

34 replies

saffronwblue · 09/06/2016 08:17

DH and I are looking around - our current house is about to get surrounded by new apartment blocks and we can get a surprisingly good price for it. We have 2 teenage dc, a dog and 2 cats.
We keep getting drawn to this house - it is in a wonderful location in Melbourne and we love the quirky, unique and historical nature of it, all of which could make it an absolute endless money pit.
I think it needs a new kitchen quite urgently - what are your thoughts?
www.domain.com.au/136-faraday-st-carlton-vic-3053-2012747016

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newlabelwriter · 09/06/2016 08:19

Money pit yes, but very beautiful. Sorry, that probably didn't help!

saffronwblue · 09/06/2016 08:21

Just to add- we love all the space because we both work from home quite a lot. DH is keen to have a billiard table in the cellar!

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Pootles2010 · 09/06/2016 08:24

How much do you have spare to throw at it? It looks well kept. And yes, lovely!

Whats a 'meals' room? Like a breakfast kitchen?

Go have a look!

claraschu · 09/06/2016 08:24

I think it is really lovely. Go for it!

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 09/06/2016 08:27

It's nice - but something with street level windows hard on the road would put me off

Where is the car parking space actually located? Do you have to lug shopping for miles? Can you get round the back of the building from a side entrance? How woukd you elect scaffolding if the roof caved in - is there space on the grounds?

I wouldn't buy a house that had no side entrance and a full boundary round it either (apart from one wall if semi-detached)

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 09/06/2016 08:28

Sorry - didn't have a full boundary.

echt · 09/06/2016 08:42

Don't see how it's a money pit as it's been renovated to the max. I know the area and it's lovely, and so good you've got parking.

Having been in house of that vintage, on that street actually, the rooms will have been wide angled beyond belief. At first I thought the house would be one an acquaintance is selling, but it isn't.

The side boundary issue is not an issue in this part of Melbourne as houses like this don't have it.

It's a lovely area, with the cinema, bookshops and cafes. Fab. Go for it.

SparklySandals · 09/06/2016 08:42

It is lovely but things I'd be thinking about.

Are the bathrooms ok for your family? There looks to be a smaller one and a larger one both upstairs, is that ok for you with 2 teens?

Is there any safe outside space for the animals? It looks quite urban. Do your cats get out? Can you walk the dog nearby?

Is it noisy? Like I said, quite urban looking, close to the street.

Schools for the teens? Does it mean a change.

Do you have the money do to the things you want, and if you do, will it retain/add value? The kitchen looks a bit dated but useable, how urgently does it need a new one. It could be nice to open it up a bit into the meals area to make a huge space, if that were possible.

Piemernator · 09/06/2016 08:45

I would think why would anyone buy a house that has no frontage whatsoever unless all they can afford is a small terrace that is directly on the street. Obviously all housing may be like this in your area, I have no clue.

SquinkiesRule · 09/06/2016 08:45

Having the living room and dining room windows on the street would put me right off. But the interior is really nice.

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 09/06/2016 08:53

I think it looks in pretty good nick...dated but not full of horror

cellar looks low, is is usable for lanky teens or will they have to develop a stoop?
Kitchen...very retro. I agree you need new.
On a personal note I would not like the frontage directly onto the street, not even a garden railing/step at all
Other than that I cannot see any bad.

VulcanWoman · 09/06/2016 08:53

The inside is fantastic, like you say the kitchen needs doing.
The outside still looks like a commercial property though. Windows right on the street not too keen, would like it set back from the road at that price.
Would be nice to see a photo of the garden.

echt · 09/06/2016 08:57

There are two off-leash dog walking areas in Princes Park, though you might have to drive there. Having parking place makes this less of an issue. Off-leash areas are like gold; I know as I've lived near to two since owing a dog and know that people drive some way to get to them.

Less sure about the cats as this is very urban, but it still might suit them.

As for windows directly on to the street, the only people passing by will be uni students ( have you looked at the halls of residence nearby?) and people rushing to the latest film at Cinema Nova.

whois · 09/06/2016 09:18

Not a huge fan - too many of your windows are straight onto the street so you will have a lack of privacy or have to have blinds/shutters all the time.

saffronwblue · 09/06/2016 09:18

Thank you - your responses are very helpful. Yes, we have talked about the drunken students who may be passing including our nephew .
The windows on the street aspect is something to think about. It is unusual- our current house is much more suburban with a front and back garden.
The garden in this is small so Ddog would be getting lots of walks and I think Princes Park would be our nearest.
It is is hard to explain what a fab part of Melbourne this is - the location is very seductive especially to DH as he went to melbourne Uni and his parents lived very nearby for years.
We inspected it a couple of weeks ago - it is not as renovated as it looks in the photos! Kitchen we could certainly use and live in. Bathrooms are a bit ancient. DS will be at uni next year, not sure where. It is not brilliant for DD's school but it is possible.

OP posts:

VulcanWoman · 09/06/2016 09:24

Do you really enjoy the garden where you are now, or is it a bit of a pain the upkeep and all. Seems a shame living in your lovely climate and having no decent garden.

Fintress · 09/06/2016 09:25

Lovely house but don't like the fact it is set right on a street with only 1 car parking space.

girlywhirly · 09/06/2016 09:37

Speaking as a UK resident, it doesn't bother me about having a front door opening onto the street.

The kitchen looks as though it was handmade a long time ago, but is a bit dated now and the arrangement of the appliances is a bit odd, why would you have a microwave so high up? I think it could be re-designed in a much more practical way. I think you will probably eat there all the time and use the dining room for other things. You may choose to have a sofa bed for additional guests in the dining room.

The house looks in very good decorative order and if you and dh keep getting drawn back to it, can afford it, and the area has all the amenities you want, I'd start the ball rolling.

echt · 09/06/2016 09:47

I'd not thought of suggesting the uni students being pissed up and vomiting, as I've been in the area a fair bit and it always looks OK; my unstated point is that some of the uni blocks are massive. My friend further down Faraday is bit overlooked.

AgathaF · 09/06/2016 10:42

It looks lovely. Would you be able to do much of the work yourselves to keep costs down?

If you buy it and find it doesn't work for you then you can always sell. I don't know anything about the Melbourne property market, but would it fetch a lot more if modernised? If so, consider it an investment, which you'll either love living in and stay, or not love living in and sell once it's had work done.

We usually buy renovation projects, so to me it looks like an exciting challenge.

lapcat · 09/06/2016 11:49

Is there damp below the window in picture 6?

It's interesting to see a bit of character in an Aussie house. I'm in Queensland and traditional Queenslanders seem to be the only character available.

saffronwblue · 09/06/2016 13:02

We are pretty hopeless in terms of doing handy stuff ourselves.
I'm surprised it hasn't sold yet, tbh- it has been on the market for a few weeks and the Melbourne market is mad at the moment.Maybe more people are put off by the windows on the street as a few of you are.
DH and I will try to see it again this weekend to clarify our thoughts.

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parrots · 09/06/2016 15:11

I know the area well, it's fab! Very jealous.

Noise (students, drunks, traffic) could be an issue (especially on the weekends) but you're aware of that. Where in Melb are you living at the moment? Where is your daughter's school?

I agree that the house could need a fair bit of work, although it may just be decorative... the kitchen is pretty vile! But presumably a survey would show up any structural issues.

SwedishEdith · 09/06/2016 15:26

It's lovely. Even quite like the kitchen - could be salvaged in some way.

Anaffaquine123 · 09/06/2016 16:45

Ooh, it is beautiful! It does need a new kitchen and bathrooms but it can certainly be lived in until you are ready to do them. The character features would outweigh any negatives in my eyes. It is gorgeous.

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