Help - Offer accepted and I don't know if I love the house....

[Misscf81]

Me and my partner have been looking for a house in a particular area for over 12 months, with very little luck. We have offered on several properties, but because there is high demand and a shortfall of properties - people are often paying 20-30K more than something is on the market for and we just can't complete.

Anyway, we went to see a property last week, on the market shy of 170K, and in order to be in with a chance of having our offer accepted, we offered 178K - which was accepted (yay!).

However, now I am having second thoughts. I think we offered to much, and I am not sure I love it, and feel there is lots of work to be done. I showed a family member who's opinion I value a lot and he ripped it apart.

I just don't know what to do - there are definitely pros, and it is an upcoming area (people are climbing over themselves to live in this area) - but I don't know if I loved it when I first saw it - I think the fact that it is an end-terrace is putting me off.

I guess I am looking for advice? For context, me and my partner are first time buyers and currently rent (which is something I want to get out of ASAP).

Here is the property....www.julianwadden.co.uk/property-details/STP190501/greater-manchester/sk3/torkington-street?page=1&instruction_type=Sale&address_keyword=Edgeley&minprice=&maxprice=&property_type=&showstc=1&showsold=0

[INeedNewShoes]

You don't have to love the house. I chose a sensible house. I had a surveyor out to look at it as soon as my offer was accepted and he agreed it was a sensible buy. I've ended up in a 1975 ex council house rather than the character terraces I was looking at.

I've looked at the photos on the link. I don't see anything bad about the house. The yard is uninspiring and will probably get little sun. Each to their own as to how much that bothers you. Lots of big pot plants and some nice garden furniture will help it.

[ShipwreckSuse]

It looks like a lovely house and you can put your stamp it! The big expensive stuff like the kitchen and bathroom are nice. I didn't love our house either - I do now we've decorated it. The area is also the most important thing - if that's up and coming that's a big bonus.

[Clymene]

You don't have to love it. It's a rung on the property ladder. I didn't love my first place but it was in an up and coming area and it sold quickly (for a lot more than I'd paid) so I could move to another place I didn't love.

I now own a house I adore but I am in my 50s :)

[Clymene]

Sorry, have looked at your link now. What work is there to be done? I mean the bathroom is a bit tired but it looks in good nick overall.

End of terrace is good!

[lemontreebird]

Any chance of graffitti or kids playing ball games against your wall as it's an end terrace?

[handinclove]

I think it's a lovely house. The yard is off putting but I guess in the area you're looking, yards will be very common.

The kitchen looks lovely from the pictures, the bathroom is fine. Anything else is surely cosmetic and can be done as you go along.

What worries you about an end terrace? I'd have thought that would be preferable to a mid with noise from both sides.

You should see what you could (or couldn't) buy for that amount down south!

[CeibaTree]

What's wrong with end of terrace - I thought that would be more desirable than mid-terrace? The house looks fine and will look much nicer once you've changed the old fashioned looking carpets and put your own stamp on it. If the location is good and the house is big enough for your needs then ignore the family member that is making you have doubts. You don't have to live there forever so if it's fine for now, then it's fine for now :)

[FaFoutis]

You don't have to love it, it just has to be in the right place and function for your life. I have never owned a house I 'loved' and I had had a few.
That house looks nice, seems like a good price and I like the yard.

[Mumdiva99]

Looks like a great first time buy. Our last estate agent kept saying that the most important factor in any purchase is the location - if you are happy with the location you can change almost anything inside. (Although it all looks great) - Was your trusted family member at a different stage in the property buying process? Have they forgotten the limitations of a small budget? Also - what don't you like about end of terrace? We had one and it commanded a premium over the mid terrace.....also only neighbours on one side not two....

[Bluntness100]

What work needs to be done? And end terrace is usually better, you only get noise from one side like a semi.

Do you think, and I mean this politely, you've champagne tastes on beer money? Because if you keep procrastinating, and messing sellers around, you'll be in rented for ever and estate agents won't deal with you.

You don't need to love it, in fact people seldom love their first house immediately. You just need to get your finger out and get on the ladder.

[muddypuddles12]

The house itself is nothing exciting currently, but is a v.blank canvas for you to make of it whatever you like. The garden isn't great - if you're planning on having kids in that house maybe you could add grass and make it a little more homely in there.
In terms of a FTB i think it's fab, lots of space and plenty of room to experiment and find your own interior design. If it's your first house, it may not be your forever house so you don't need to love it enough to stay there forever.
Also don't be concerned about the end of terrace, I'd MUCH rather have an end of terrace than a terrace - only one set of neighbours to have to listen to running up and down the stairs!!!

[Bluntness100]

And who was the family member who ripped it apart? Honestly h sounds a bit of tosser. What exactly does he think you're going to get for your money and why didn't he help you in terms of looking at it and discussing decor, furniture, cleaning up the yard, climbers, putting in pots etc?

[LolaSkoda]

What does your relative think the property needs? Looks like you could pretty much just move your stuff in and enjoy building up some equity!

[HoHoHolly]

It looks great to me, in decent nick in general. First houses are about being practical. Love affairs with property are a luxury that can wait a few years, or just do without. It's fine to use your head, not your heart, honest, and this looks like a good solid choice to me. I wonder if your trusted relative is totally out of touch about the first rung of the ladder.

[MrsAgassi]

Could your family member be jealous by any chance?

[fazakerleyjackie]

It looks fine to me. Can't see anything that screams loads of work.
Your survey should throw up any big issues hopefully.
Your relative sounds an arse.

[milliefiori]

You don't love it becaus eit's been done up to be totally neutral. But it is in really good condition. It just needs your love. Think about wall colours, art work, lighting. What you'll do with the wall garden to make it perfect for eating out in summer. What you'll do with the cellar space - den? Study? Laundry and store so the main house stays super tidy?

It's a really pretty and versatile house. You'll make it gorgeous.

[milliefiori]

Sorry I meant, you don;t feel the love for it yet because it;s so neutral but when you add decor that you love to it, then you'll quickly fall for it.

[christmaskit]

I hated our first house but, like you, we bought in a buoyant area.
We made a good profit as people were clamouring to move to the area at the time.
We did the same again, (twice) and are now mortgage free and moving to our dream home. Taken 18 years though.
Feeling like you do is normal. Buying a house is a huge deal.

[christmaskit]

Also, we are not far from you and that's not a bad price to pay.
I actually like the house.

[Bluntness100]

I'm really struggling to see the lots of work needed, sure if you don't like magnolia you can give it a lick of paint, easy enough done and doesn't cost much, but everything looks in good nick and the rooms a good size, it's also an end of terrace which is usually the ones with a premium price.

The back yard is easily fixed as currently looks quite bland. Get some lovely climbers in pots, things like clematis or honey suckle and screw up some trellises, let them go nuts and cover the garden walls, making it smell wonderful and with lots of flowers, then add some pots, big palm plants are cheap as chips from some growers on Amazon, I got a five foot one for twenty quid, power wash the patio stones, and create yourself a lovely little secluded haven, with some furniture, big parasol and a bbq.

Seriously not seeing the issue.

[user1471449295]

The link is not working for me.
However, you’ve been looking for a specific area for 12 months with no luck. That implies the area is very important. It’s your first step on the ladder. You don’t have to love it. If you aren’t careful it sounds like you may be priced out of this area very soon.

[alislim]

I think it looks great.
I know the area and you're right- people are falling over themselves. Good, up and coming area and prices are only going to go up.its not awful- like someone said kitchen and bathroom looks nice. A bit of paint.
New front door and windows. Make the garden a bit more green. You'll love it.
Surely better to be at the end rather than having to climb through loads of back yards with bins etc? X

[Bluntness100]

www.julianwadden.co.uk/property-details/STP190501/greater-manchester/sk3/torkington-street?page=1&instruction_type=Sale&address_keyword=Edgeley&minprice=&maxprice=&property_type=&showstc=1&showsold=0

[Bluntness100]

The front door and windows look fine to me..