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Original poster

Would we be mad to buy a home and knock down a perfectly functional extension?

161 replies

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 03:09

i have found a house I absolutely adore. It is a period home and absolutely stunning…from the front. Unfortunately there is a well built but rather awkward “garden room” extension I just don’t like. It’s the shape I have a problem with. Aesthetically it’s fine. Floors and walls are nice enough. I would just want to get rid of the whole thing. But would I be mad for doing so? Dh thinks I’m nuts but I assure him many people would also consider the garden room an eye sore and maybe build an orangery type thing to the west of the kitchen in a few years down the line. I hate how the original external windows have just had the glass removed so there are just big square holes between the kitchen and garden room.

It really is quite gorgeous from the front. Would I not just be knocking thousands off the value?

Would we be mad to buy a home and knock down a perfectly functional extension?
OP posts:
murphys · 21/01/2025 14:02

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 12:59

of course but it’s now being critiqued on a public forum. I wouldn’t be thrilled if the flaws of my house were being pointed out when trying to sell up

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But the house is online therefore anyone can view it.

Houses get linked and discussed all the time. On various platforms.

I think you have received a good response here. Lots of opinions and suggestions.

hulahooper2 · 21/01/2025 13:57

I wouldn’t knock it down , can you change the kitchen ‘window’ to something you’d prefer

Original poster
WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 13:41

AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 21/01/2025 13:35

There have been many homes listed on MN that people have critiqued and discussed. I also remember a Google Maps house where you could go down the street and see other places too.

I think it's a beautiful house and the extension seems to add some breathing room to the downstairs.

I hope you soon find the home of your dreams.

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Thank you. Very kind of you to say

OP posts:
DroningLovisa · 21/01/2025 13:38

To be honest @WaryRaven I don't think there has been any detriment to the Vendor- there will be additional traffic on the sale site and a good number of people saying how much they love the house- including lots of positive comments about the addition. Arguably you could feel aggrieved that a house you are interested in might now be spotted by another buyer. Have you viewed the house? That's surely the only real way to know how much of an issue the extension is for you, and whether you love the rest of it enough to go ahead anyway.

AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 21/01/2025 13:35

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 12:59

of course but it’s now being critiqued on a public forum. I wouldn’t be thrilled if the flaws of my house were being pointed out when trying to sell up

Show quote history

There have been many homes listed on MN that people have critiqued and discussed. I also remember a Google Maps house where you could go down the street and see other places too.

I think it's a beautiful house and the extension seems to add some breathing room to the downstairs.

I hope you soon find the home of your dreams.

Abitofalark · 21/01/2025 13:15

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 06:45

I guess I am mad.

I just don’t like the idea of having a kitchen with no external windows.

Such a shame. I am a sucker for Georgian farmhouses

I guess so but when has that ever stopped anybody from buying and proceeding to wreck demolish part or whole of a house?! These decisions are often emotional more than financial or practical and often nothing will dislodge that desire once it takes possession of a buyer.

As I see it, it's a lot of house to take on when you don't like a key part of it - kitchen, dining, living area. That's where people spend most of their time and have their everyday life. I'd be inclined to buy a house I do like but I'm not you and it's very much a personal decision.

ListenDontJudge · 21/01/2025 13:09

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 12:59

of course but it’s now being critiqued on a public forum. I wouldn’t be thrilled if the flaws of my house were being pointed out when trying to sell up

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I've asked MNHQ to delete for you, in case you don't know that's an option.

Original poster
WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 12:59

Water41 · 21/01/2025 12:56

Crikey.

It's not like you posted their diary. The house is already on the internet for people to see and the majority of the comments have been positive.

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of course but it’s now being critiqued on a public forum. I wouldn’t be thrilled if the flaws of my house were being pointed out when trying to sell up

OP posts:
HeffalumpsAndWoozlesAreHoneyRobbingTwats · 21/01/2025 12:57

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 12:53

To be honest I was very 🤨 when I saw the link for the house had been shared.

I intentionally cropped the floorplan in an attempt to protect the seller's privacy and avoid identifying the property. I’m not thrilled with the poster who undermined my effort to keep the house anonymous. I genuinely thought it would not be findable via reverse google images due to cropping.

It’s not my house and I feel like I’ve breached the boundaries of the seller tbh.

The fact that the poster also had a pop at the house shows me how good faith that post was made in

To be fair, the fact it was shared has probably made this comment section a lot more helpful for you. You haven't breached the boundaries of the seller - it's a public web page. You've probably done them a favour with the boost in views.

Water41 · 21/01/2025 12:56

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 12:53

To be honest I was very 🤨 when I saw the link for the house had been shared.

I intentionally cropped the floorplan in an attempt to protect the seller's privacy and avoid identifying the property. I’m not thrilled with the poster who undermined my effort to keep the house anonymous. I genuinely thought it would not be findable via reverse google images due to cropping.

It’s not my house and I feel like I’ve breached the boundaries of the seller tbh.

The fact that the poster also had a pop at the house shows me how good faith that post was made in

Crikey.

It's not like you posted their diary. The house is already on the internet for people to see and the majority of the comments have been positive.

Original poster
WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 12:56

It does seem like it’s not the house for us. Some fantastic suggestions which I appreciate. But I think the search is still on for a semi-rural Georgian farmhouse not too far from amenities.

The house has so much going for it. Imagine a Summer’s day in that garden!

OP posts:
Water41 · 21/01/2025 12:53

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:43

You can't have been on MN long. Properties on RightMove are very regularly linked and critiqued. I'm 100% sure it's not the only forum where that happens. If you don't want your property criticised, don't publish its details and photos online.

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There's a whole sub Reddit for Rightmove!

Original poster
WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 12:53

To be honest I was very 🤨 when I saw the link for the house had been shared.

I intentionally cropped the floorplan in an attempt to protect the seller's privacy and avoid identifying the property. I’m not thrilled with the poster who undermined my effort to keep the house anonymous. I genuinely thought it would not be findable via reverse google images due to cropping.

It’s not my house and I feel like I’ve breached the boundaries of the seller tbh.

The fact that the poster also had a pop at the house shows me how good faith that post was made in

OP posts:
SomethingElseAgain · 21/01/2025 12:43

Icanttakethisanymore · 21/01/2025 08:25

It’s listed so I guess knocking walls out is probably off the table.

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Quite possibly though not necessarily! If it's just the fact the kitchen doesn't have an outside window then it's worth thinking outside the box re moving the kitchen, perhaps.

zaxxon · 21/01/2025 10:43

Plus, the carbon cost of demolishing that whole thing and rebuilding would be massive

AlwaysLookOnTheSnarkSide · 21/01/2025 09:47

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:34

Looks like there is, above the sink. That could be extended, perhaps.

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Looking at the link I think there’s a boot room extension on that side so the window above the sink is internal too.

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:46

OP, I think you would be nuts to demolish that. Better to get an architect or designer in to see what could be done to make it more in keeping with the rest of the house, and sort out the issues with the kitchen. I think I might just extend the kitchen into the extension, if you can get planning permission for that.

Obelism · 21/01/2025 09:44

Once you’ve bought it you can do whenever you like with it

You can't. It’s Grade II listed.

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:43

JoanCollinsDiva · 21/01/2025 09:01

But wouldn't you gather from that that she clearly didn't want the details posting?

Not very fair to the actual owners of the house who are having their property critiqued on MN without their permission.

It's a bit scary that reverse image thingy!

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You can't have been on MN long. Properties on RightMove are very regularly linked and critiqued. I'm 100% sure it's not the only forum where that happens. If you don't want your property criticised, don't publish its details and photos online.

Ilovemyshed · 21/01/2025 09:41

MoveToParis · 21/01/2025 06:42

I think it just needs a rejig.

have you thought about fully opening the space where the big chair to the left of the Aga is, and then closing/ putting a glazed door where the existing large opening is.

That would be difficult as the kitchen sink is there and so therefore will be all the drainage which likely then runs under the floor of the garden room and out.

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:40

PigInAHouse · 21/01/2025 08:58

You can just do a reverse image search on the floor plan and the listing will come up. I had found the property too, but I wouldn’t post it on the thread as it’s an invasion of privacy.

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I don't see why. It's not the OP's house. The details are already publicly available, and she chose to publish the floor plan.

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:34

AlwaysLookOnTheSnarkSide · 21/01/2025 09:32

Wouldn’t it be really dark then? Don’t think there’s a window in the kitchen to the outside.

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Looks like there is, above the sink. That could be extended, perhaps.

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:32

Bubblesgun · 21/01/2025 09:28

@WaryRaven

Architect here

best thing to do

  • get internal windows installed: crittal style (but cheaper) that can open.
  • demolish the extension when you re ready to re-build.

but if i m honest, the shape makes sense to me. Just fix tour issue with the original windows.

if you can post real pictures, it would be easier to comment than just on floorplan. But based on that, i dint mind it and it makes sense to me.

The actual house is posted online above with pictures.

AlwaysLookOnTheSnarkSide · 21/01/2025 09:32

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:31

Surely you could just brick up and plaster the holes in the wall that you don't like?

Wouldn’t it be really dark then? Don’t think there’s a window in the kitchen to the outside.

Phthia · 21/01/2025 09:31

Surely you could just brick up and plaster the holes in the wall that you don't like?