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Would you buy a house....

43 replies

LovingTheSunshine · 18/07/2009 20:10

...that ticks most of your boxes but is frowned upon b/c it is on a large development? We have viewed a house that could tick most of our requirements (wish the garden was a bit bigger) but I have heard snobbery from friends that it is a large development. I have a few friends who live on the developments & they are very happy & it is a nice place for children & in the catchment area for good schools. It is a bit further away from town than where we are now & is probaly a 25 minutes walk, which I do not think is too bad. Would you consider it? DH & I are confused b/c of the snobbery we have heard!! Thanks

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expatinscotland · 18/07/2009 20:11

I would. Who gives a toss what these so-called friends think? It's you who has to live there. If you like it and it suits your family, then why not?

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nickytwotimes · 18/07/2009 20:13

What is the issue with a 'large development'?

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LovingTheSunshine · 18/07/2009 20:15

I agree with you expatinscotland, the snobbery is so annoying.

nickywotimes - it is a large development & some people think parts of where the 2 bedroom terraces are built are rather cramped. The house we have seen is on the most desirable road up there & is detached.

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nickytwotimes · 18/07/2009 20:17

Well, it sounds fab if it is on a good road and detached.
If they are snobby about such insignificant things, they are probably not worthy of your friendship.

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expatinscotland · 18/07/2009 20:19

A true friend doesn't care where you live so long as it suits you.

What's the problem with terraces, anyhow? It's all some people can afford, and it's drier than a tent.

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PestoMerlotMonster · 18/07/2009 20:20

I would buy any house I liked, as long as I could afford it.

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ilovemydogandmrobama · 18/07/2009 20:20

Right, so damp old houses rock?

Believe me, having renovated several, I would jump at having a brand new damp free house!

There's this snobbery in the UK re: new developments. I don't get it. I really don't.

If you buy this house and you and your family are happy there, then tell your so called friends that you like a house that still has a guarantee on it!

Good luck to you!

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LovingTheSunshine · 18/07/2009 20:23

The house is about 15 years old. I hate the fact that some of my friends think they have the right to judge what we look at & where it is...it is so chuffin' irritating when I hear such comments. I have a stress headache

Big thanks to you all

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herbietea · 18/07/2009 20:23

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expatinscotland · 18/07/2009 20:28

I so hear you, ilove! We're renting a period house just now. It's lovely, but the heating bills aren't, and nor are clothes and things covered in mould.

We're off to view an ex-council maisonette to rent - yeah, we're truly scuzzy, being renters - and hope we get it, because it has lovely double-glazing and a new heating system.

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acebaby · 18/07/2009 21:37

We were in the same situation with our last house. Actually, just about all my damp old house inhabitant / period feature obsessive / too snobbish to get a coffee table let an en suite family came round to the house really quickly. I wouldn't worry about the 'snob value' of a house. Some people will find fault whatever you buy, but those who really care about you will be pleased to see you settled and happy.

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acebaby · 18/07/2009 21:39

ooops that should say let alone an en suite ...

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ByTheSea · 18/07/2009 21:40

I live in a big old damp dilapidated house with a big garden on a semi-main road and would love to have a newer house in a development where the DC could just go out and play and there are lots of other children in the neighbourhood.

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fatzak · 18/07/2009 21:46

I am just beginning to think that we would be better living on more a development than where we are as I'm realising that the DSes are never going to be able to play out with friends. I've alway been a bit of a period/rural type one and although I can't ever imagine really loving a modern house, I think it might now be the best thing for us now.

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ilovemydogandmrobama · 18/07/2009 21:53

Good move Expat! When I moved into DP's bachelor house, first thing I did other than get horrible woodchip off the walls, and get the walls skimmed (loft extension, new kitchen, paint) was to get double glazing and a new combi boiler (carbon monoxide test!) I laugh at people who live at snobby addresses, but whose houses are falling apart. You live inside, not outside FGS

Plus you live in such a beautiful part of the world. You are so lucky. Not exactly inner city....

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expatinscotland · 18/07/2009 21:57

Oh, we're keeping our fingers crossed, ilove! It's a maisonette so probably no garden, but in that area I should be able to walk the girls to nursery/school, which would be a HUGE bonus because that will involve going up a hill, probably pushing DS in buggy and DD2 on a buggy board and I will finally be forced to get into shape and ditch these fecking extra 10kg.

And it'll be easier to meet up with their friends to play, go to the ferry, the newagent, etc.

Bit too isolated in this village as it's all retirees and no young children.

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crokky · 18/07/2009 21:58

I live on a development that is 12 years old. Not sure if you would consider it "large" - it has around 350 houses of varying sizes from 1 bed bungalow to 4 bed detached.

Someone (a snob) did say to me "I wouldn't live on an estate" when we moved in here, but I am really happy here. I like houses which are practical and everything works as it should do (well not everything, we have our fair share of broken/quirky stuff awaiting fixing, but nothing too bad). Only complaint is the mushrooms in our garden (madwoman thread that I just started - but I don't suppose that is the fault of the housebuilder!).

Anyway only thing I have to say about these estates is that some of them do have problems. There is another one a few miles from me where the houses take 18m+ to sell - they have various problems - very strange layouts, poor quality workmanship etc - and they have a bit of a reputation locally.

So be a little cautious but it sound very nice.

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expatinscotland · 18/07/2009 22:00

Yeah, this house is in a snobby address, it hasn't even got a number. But it needs some serious work as it has major problems with damp, the windows need double-glazed (and the landlord has an estimate of £14,000 for that job alone!), the heaters updated, the decorating needs a total overhaul, the kitchen needs gutted, the bathroom suites replaced, the plastering re-done, etc.

I mean, we're talking a good £50,000 here. At least.

It's a money pit and freezing cold.

Gimme modern and warm and a decent amount of friggin' bathrooms man this is 2009 not Victoriana any day.

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saramoon · 19/07/2009 08:39

Agree expat, we rent in a lovely part of the country and near great schools. Lovely old house but in serious need of some 'doing up'. It is cheaper to rent than the average house around here because there is no central heating and not much double glazing. Both the bathroom and kitchen could do with some serious work too. When we went to look around places to buy here we couldn#t believe how shabby they all were inside. This is such an affluent area. When we eventually buy we will certainly not be ashamed about looking for a new place - or ex council

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HerHonesty · 19/07/2009 09:16

i hate large development, soulles legolands in my humble opinion BUT thats why i dont live on one, if you like it, and it ticks your boxes then go for it. what i or anyone else thinks doesnt matter!!!

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HerHonesty · 19/07/2009 09:18

sorry, soulless

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HerHonesty · 19/07/2009 09:19

oh and meant to say, i wouldnt judge anyone for living on one either. its the person that counts not the house. get some new friends (harsh sorry...)

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expatinscotland · 19/07/2009 09:26

No more freezing cold, damp (= smelly), falling apart place (a lot of the windows are stuck together and can't be opened).

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LovingTheSunshine · 19/07/2009 09:32

I hear negative comments about all kinds of houses - we were considering a townhouse at one point & I was told that all the stairs would drive me mad. We have looked at houses in surrounding villages & I have been told by another friend they are a lot further away than you think. Huh? No, it is a 10 minute drive ffs & I know we can not walk if we want to come to the centre of town but that is the compromise we would make. One of my friends lives in a £750,000 house on a lovely road, is bang next door to excellent primary/secondary schools & is only a 10 minute walk into town. I think she expects me to get all of this on my lower budget, whereas I know full well we will not achieve that in my area. I would not dream of interfering with a friend's house search as I think it is a very personal thing. Ugh, I do not need this stress on top of the noraml stress of house hunting. I am going to ignore them all & do what we want as we need to chose a house that works for us. Thanks for letting me vent.

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Karam · 19/07/2009 10:17

There's a very large development near where I am, that a lot of people are snobby about - they make stupid comments like 'its got no soul, no atmosphere' etc... but these are really dumb comments. I don't live there, but I know it has got a very thriving community. It is full of young families, the children go out to play in the street (full of cul de sacs), the houses are individual - not victorian clones. Personally, I'd buy a house there over and above the Rows of Victorian clone houses in the Old part of town, where the people only know their immediate neighbours and not the people up the street because they are long, impersonal streets, where there is no community and no atmosphere. Sorry, give me the modern estate any day.

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