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Original poster

New build or old doer upper?

43 replies

Wheresmrlion · 19/05/2019 13:41

4 bed shiny new build with small garden
4 bed liveable but very old fashioned do-er upper with massive garden

What would you choose if you had two pre schoolers, a love of diy and gardening but a budget to only do one major thing (eg bathroom) each year?

OP posts:

steppemum · 19/05/2019 15:14

Hmm, well of the ones you posted, that older house doesn't need much money, just a lot of time, and effort (wallpaper striping and paint)

We went for older house in need of total redecoration with a big garden.
I have never regretted it (although we lived with 2 colour stairwell for 5 years as I couldn't reach to finish it)
I LOVE the garden, and I love the space, I would have hated to have other houses really close, and overlooking my garden. Our older house had very large rooms.

BUT - it is a lot of work. Even just redecorating is a lot. It takes most of your free time.
The huge garden is great, but even keeping the lawn down is a regular job that someone has to do, and don't get me started on big flower beds.
I don't mind as it is my hobby, but last summer I was busy every weekend, and I am really paying for it this year.

drinkswineoutofamug · 19/05/2019 15:14

The doer upper. The new build looks so bland and you would probably end up
Spending money making it to your taste. Every room looks the same magnolia.
The doer upper, yes needs some work but it's liveable, so much potential and the rooms look large and airy even with the 1970's decor. Love the huge windows, think of all the junk you could put in the double garage! Big climbing frame for the kids in the garden.

steppemum · 19/05/2019 15:15

so, room size, storage, how much is structural (build an extension) and how much is decoration, and how much time do you actually have?

keepingbees · 19/05/2019 15:24

The doer upper says under offer so the decision might be made for you.

I prefer the doer upper personally but I can see the attraction of a new build. I would be cautious of the quality of any new build though having read so many horror stories. Also check it's freehold not leasehold.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 19/05/2019 15:35

We did doer uppers, three times. If I could have my time over I'd have a new build, no question. Renovations always take longer and cost more than you expect. We have a huge garden too. It takes hours and hours just to maintain.

It's no coincidence the DC have all gone for new or nearly new builds. They don't want to relive their childhood!

Crazycat16 · 19/05/2019 15:38

Doer upper.
I would go for the character older house over a boxy new build every time. I’m sitting in my wreck at the moment. It will be lovely......one day

OneKeyAtATime · 19/05/2019 15:47

I have never liked a new build that I liked. They all seem so small, poor quality and hemmed in. On this basis I would go for the doer upper. We bought a doer upper and I have really enjoyed getting everything done to my taste.

ILoveAnOwl · 19/05/2019 15:50

New build.

We bought a doer upper last year, and we have a 4 year old and a 1 year old. It's a nightmare.

Spend this previous time with your children, and then fix up a house when they're bigger.

They're also money pits. We're constantly skint and it's miserable.

I look at the new builds on the estate near us with such longing...

wonkylegs · 19/05/2019 15:54

New build doesn't necessarily mean hassle free
There has been increasing press on the subject of problems with new builds and in the industry it is well known there are increasing quality issues as big housebuilders focus on profits above all else.
For example
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-46302905

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/money/2018/nov/17/quality-build-homes-charles-church-buyers

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6467195/amp/Hundreds-Britains-new-build-homes-risk-crumbling.html

Felipa · 19/05/2019 15:59

Doer upper.

I dont like the lack of space and privacy around new builds. And the lack of character, they all look the same.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 19/05/2019 16:02

Our new build has increased by about £70,000.

If you choose carefully I.e a good local builder, generally low volume or a higher volume developer with a higher end reputation. There are developers I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole and they are the ones in the news.

flumpybear · 19/05/2019 16:15

The doer upper as it's got so much more space, if you can afford it then bring together the two buildings and make a huge living space, have a nice grown up lounge too and you can always have a nice garden with summer house / jacuzzi / sauna etc if that's your cup of tea

New houses are often quite small and not very appealing, all look similar and feels very boring

MrsDilligaf · 19/05/2019 16:23

Doer upper. I know you said they were theoretical but the doer upper has bags of potential, and generally would have vastly more outside space - including parking! All the new build properties around me have a maximum of two parking spaces, which is very limiting with older children.

Tulipvase · 19/05/2019 16:25

I know not all new builds are the same but I don’t think I’d ever buy one after staying in my in-laws. The doors don’t fit properly and the walls etc are so thin.

I love old houses though so I woudnt buy a new build even if the build quality was better.

ilovebagpuss · 19/05/2019 17:15

Doer upper we bought an ugly but spacious bungalow in an expensive area. Good sized rooms front and back garden. Yes it is frustrating sometimes going to nice completely done houses but we are thinking of the long game. Doing the property up slowly has made us at least 150k in the price increase of the house. Some of that is the area some is our hard work and living with a doer upper.
It was hard but the outcome is worth it. We have had to do everything heating bathroom kitchen diner etc. Now looking at the loft to add a couple bedrooms.

ThatLibraryMiss · 19/05/2019 17:26

The doer upper you posted was built in the 1930s, one of the golden ages of British house building (end of the 19th century was another). Houses were well-built in those days. It'll have larger rooms and higher ceilings than modern houses, which i think is a benefit but which has a downside in higher heating costs. A house that age may need a new roof if it hasn't already had one and flat bay roofs can leak - but then, new builds are notorious for having a lot of snags.

I love 1930s bay-windowed houses and I'd be on one like that like a shot.

midsomermurderess · 19/05/2019 18:33

You don't get much kitchen for the thick end of a £400k new build do you? The older house (I know it's theoretical) is dull. Not sure years of disruption on it would be worth it.

Original poster

Wheresmrlion · 19/05/2019 21:00

Really interesting responses, thank you. Yes, it’s theoretical at the moment but the older houses rarely come up so if one did come on soon then we’d have to know if we wanted it or not!

My heart is saying doer upper and my head is saying new build. We’ve had a new build terrace before that had pretty thin walls but I wondered if a detached would be ok. But it was so lovely to not have to do anything to it!

I do love the dimensions and feel of a period home and the road that the older house is on has lots of lovely plots. We’ve done a lot of work to our current 1950s house, knocking down walls etc and it was pretty hard going whilst pregnant and with a baby, I think it would be even harder with two pre schoolers running around. But it would be fab to chuck them out in that lovely big garden.

Food for thought.

OP posts:

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