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Original poster

Panic: buy cheap house in unfashionable area?

220 replies

joysexreno · 10/04/2021 22:43

I need to buy asap and I'm having a bit of a crisis. Some of this relates to my self-perception and/or self-image.

To buy in the area where I would like to be (near London suburbs, leafy, urban), I need to compromise and get a place that requires DIY. It would be Victorian . The house is very charming and there is a large, idyllic garden that requires lots of money spent on it. All the cars on the narrow road are banged up due to the parking situation. I probably have to do £20k worth of stressful works before moving in.

Alternatively, I could buy very close to a tube line that easily takes me everywhere I need to go. Great house, totally done up, big driveway. It's on a terribly busy road and the area is extremely unfashionable. My house payment would be £250 less per month and I wouldn't really have to spend any money upon moving in.

HELP! wwyd???

OP posts:
Kitkat151 · 11/04/2021 00:07

Definitely not the second one

Original poster
joysexreno · 11/04/2021 00:08

@Freddiefox yes, precisely

OP posts:
Original poster
joysexreno · 11/04/2021 00:10

@Thewithesarehere DD will be getting her offer letter on Friday and will go to that school

@babbaloushka house one is more accessible and more naturally part of the area as where her school friends will be

OP posts:
blankittyblank · 11/04/2021 00:10

Can I also just add - you're rushing to buy to get everything through in time for the stamp duty holiday, isn't that ending in June? In which case you need to factor in that you may not make it, even if your offer gets accepted tomorrow. It usually takes minimum of 3 months to purchase a house, and it's all taking longer at the moment.
Maybe it's best not to rush and wait it out... houses will probably get cheaper anyway once the stamp duty holiday ends.

Freddiefox · 11/04/2021 00:10

[quote joysexreno]@Freddiefox yes, precisely[/quote]
Can you ask for a reduction in price to reflect that? Also why do you need a re wire? Is that something that came up in the survery? How sold is the wiring? My survery said I needed a re wire.
Both electrician who I had round said it was fine. Wasn’t up to current standard bit was perfectly safe.

Megan2018 · 11/04/2021 00:11

Buy number 1, number 2 is horrid and that road is dreadful.

Hoolihan · 11/04/2021 00:12

ALL surveys say you need to rewire!

Erkrie · 11/04/2021 00:12

Get the first one. It's sounds like its the one you want and it wouldn't be a bad decision. You don't need to do it up right away. Just do the minimum until you're in a better position.

GreyhoundG1rl · 11/04/2021 00:14

The second area apparently is notorious for just not being nice. It's filled with 1950s and 60s housing and the high street is ugly. There is a feeling of deprivation in the area.
I don't understand why it's a consideration at all, in that case? Why have you narrowed it down to those two?

ThatOtherPoster · 11/04/2021 00:14

Chavvy' is petty offensive OP

I was the one who used the word chavvy first. It’s not the OP’s fault.

Chavvy is not a class judgement - it’s a type of person judgement. I’m on my council estate which is 80% still council owned, and there’s only one chav here, and everyone hates her. Everyone else is great.

GreyhoundG1rl · 11/04/2021 00:14

@Hoolihan

ALL surveys say you need to rewire!
Haha, yes!
Original poster
joysexreno · 11/04/2021 00:14

@Freddiefox I will definitely ask for a price reduction.

It's not clear that a rewire is definitely needed for safety reasons, but the system is very, very old and it feels like a ticking time bomb to me. The obvious time to do it is before moving in because this is a long term house.

I think my strategy is probably to explain to the sellers my perspective on this - I love the house but the electrics are very old and my surveyor expressed concern. even if it's not an imminent safety issue, it's something that needs to be addressed before long and now is the time given how terrible rewiring is and the need to fix the chimney breast.

This is all a true reflection of my position, so I kind of think I should just lay it all out there

OP posts:
Saltyslug · 11/04/2021 00:15

Rewire, redecorate, replastering are all doable jobs for a skilled workman and are not a major house project.

I’d opt for the first house. You’ll be able to make it your own style wise.

SirVixofVixHall · 11/04/2021 00:16

The first one. If you love the first you will never love the second as they are very different in terms of space and style.

Original poster
joysexreno · 11/04/2021 00:16

This place definitely needs rewiring. The sellers admitted it had issues when they bought! I think they just didn't want to bother to upgrade the electrics when they did other work

OP posts:
Freddiefox · 11/04/2021 00:17

Back to the chimney,
Is there a stack hidden in the loft area? Because the stack is still outside on the roof,
So that would need supporting on the top floor as well as the lower floor.

It loft conversion looks fairly new, so they should have building certificates.
Do they?

SylviaPlath1984 · 11/04/2021 00:18

The first property says sold STC, have you missed the boat on it?

babbaloushka · 11/04/2021 00:19

I think I'd go for one if it was more in her school's area. Will be easier to be involved in the local community and visit friends etc. My DD struggled massively living furthest out from the primary, as they all used to go to the rec after school and she never could as I worked. We moved, and it was completely different, she thrived.

Original poster
joysexreno · 11/04/2021 00:21

@Freddiefox I truly hope they have the certificates. The sellers seem like very nice people and they are using a nontraditional agent, so I may just ask them directly.

The surveyor couldn't access other parts of the stacks, so it's unclear.

To be honest, I would be minded to just remove the breast from the first floor as well. There is no charming fireplace to use, but there is floorspace to gain, especially if the work needs doing anyway.

OP posts:
puppychaos · 11/04/2021 00:24

I wouldn't go for either, honestly.

anomletteandaglassofwine · 11/04/2021 00:25

If you've always dreamed of living in a Victorian house then you have to go for house one, you'll never be happy in the other house.

We've renovated several houses and what you need to do to house 1 is pretty straightforward especially if you're not living there at the time.

I would always stretch my budget for the better location.

ElephantsNest · 11/04/2021 00:26

The first one looks nicer I have to say.

Netaporter · 11/04/2021 00:27

@joysexreno

Definitely house 1. A gallows bracket is a couple of hundred to sort. Most councils won’t allow you to remove chimney stacks without planning permission so if you remove the upstairs chimney breast you’ll need to secure the stack. 2. Get an electrician round to do a survey for you - then you’ll know what needs doing. Definitely check you have building regs sign off.

SylviaPlath1984 · 11/04/2021 00:27

The first one says sold, is that an error? No point wondering which one if ones off the market!

Freddiefox · 11/04/2021 00:28

I did think that initially, but you would still need to support the chimney on the roof, otherwise it can just fall through. Tbh, there’s no way they have building cert of the chimneys aren’t supported.

I love the house, but part of the charm is its clean and fairly modern, and looks like you could just move in. But if you are having to re wire, re plaster and re decorate, plus knock out/support a chimney it will cost a fortune.

There must be something else.

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