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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:
Nonmaquillee · 12/04/2021 12:35

First one. Second one doesn't sound great.

BigPaperBag · 12/04/2021 13:03

I wouldn’t want to live on a busy road. I mean how busy?

SittingAround1 · 12/04/2021 16:05

Go for the first one. Especially as you've always wanted a Victorian house.

Original poster
joysexreno · 12/04/2021 16:26

@FuckYouCorona

I recognise this risk and I'm going to make sure I'm kept in the loop on all the major decisions (like building control and the structural engineer need to be involved in supporting the chimney breast). They have promised the finish will be the same as it has now

I really love this house and I want to make it work - so until I have reason not to, I'm going to take them at their word and trust them to do the right thing.

OP posts:
Lampzade · 13/04/2021 12:09

[quote joysexreno]@FuckYouCorona

I recognise this risk and I'm going to make sure I'm kept in the loop on all the major decisions (like building control and the structural engineer need to be involved in supporting the chimney breast). They have promised the finish will be the same as it has now

I really love this house and I want to make it work - so until I have reason not to, I'm going to take them at their word and trust them to do the right thing.[/quote]
I hope that you are right about the buyers.
I think it would have been preferable to get your own person to deal with the issues and then the sellers could have taken the amount off the asking price.

Lampzade · 13/04/2021 12:10

Sellers

Umbivalent · 13/04/2021 18:28

[quote joysexreno]@FuckYouCorona

I recognise this risk and I'm going to make sure I'm kept in the loop on all the major decisions (like building control and the structural engineer need to be involved in supporting the chimney breast). They have promised the finish will be the same as it has now

I really love this house and I want to make it work - so until I have reason not to, I'm going to take them at their word and trust them to do the right thing.[/quote]
None of that will happen "ASAP". It will all take time. And it will be totally out of your control.

Umbivalent · 13/04/2021 18:35

Essentially, I'm now flipping out a bit following the survey - it's identified some structural issues that the current owners either didn't know about or ignored. They seem dumb. I want everything to be structurally sound and I think my surveyor is pretty good

Just catching up with a your previous posts. I really don't think this house is going to work out for you.

You say you want a Victorian house, but then you don't like the survey (all surveys for old houses are a nightmare). You say you can only afford a house that needs DIY, but now you are expecting the current owners to do the work. And then you call them "dumb".

I really don't see this process, of them doing all the work and you telling them how to do it, going well! I bet that house is back on the market next week.

Kitkat151 · 13/04/2021 18:55

@Umbivalent

Essentially, I'm now flipping out a bit following the survey - it's identified some structural issues that the current owners either didn't know about or ignored. They seem dumb. I want everything to be structurally sound and I think my surveyor is pretty good

Just catching up with a your previous posts. I really don't think this house is going to work out for you.

You say you want a Victorian house, but then you don't like the survey (all surveys for old houses are a nightmare). You say you can only afford a house that needs DIY, but now you are expecting the current owners to do the work. And then you call them "dumb".

I really don't see this process, of them doing all the work and you telling them how to do it, going well! I bet that house is back on the market next week.

Yes the house will be back on the market next week, I agree. The present owners won’t jump through hoops for you and why should they
Original poster
joysexreno · 13/04/2021 19:13

@Umbivalent I was being a bit flip when I was feeling anxious (and it's an anonymous forum so I probably used more exaggerated language than is fair). I think they are nice and reasonably intelligent people. I really appreciate them and how reasonable and kind they have been.

OP posts:
Umbivalent · 13/04/2021 19:15

Well let's hope it goes well then. But I think you are being madly optimistic/naive if you think it will be easy or speedy, this getting them to do all the work.

Original poster
joysexreno · 13/04/2021 19:28

@Kitkat151 I think we all want this to go forward. And the same issue will just keep coming up on the surveys of future buyers, plus we are all aiming toward the stamp duty holiday.

Given I don't have to do the work, I'm unlikely to stick my nose in other than to ensure they are using qualified professionals. I'm very willing to be reasonable in recognition of their accommodations.

OP posts:
Original poster
joysexreno · 13/04/2021 20:06

I have to admit that I feel a bit bad about saying anything unkind about them before. Honestly, it was just due to the panic and exhaustion I felt. The idea of undertaking this work terrified me.

OP posts:
Umbivalent · 13/04/2021 20:15

Well I'll be honest then, you shouldn't be buying a doer upper. And almost definitely shouldn't be buying a Victorian house.

Umbivalent · 13/04/2021 20:16

Anyway, as I said, I hope it goes well. But surveyors, workmen and conveyancing solicitors are snowed under at the moment.

Original poster
joysexreno · 13/04/2021 21:04

@Umbivalent the point of it is that it didn't appear to be a doer-upper. And I think it was priced appropriately. I am concerned about their ability to get this done in time, but they are on it and there is no point in backing out now given everyone is acting in good faith. Fingers crossed, basically.

OP posts:
OVienna · 14/04/2021 12:23

I live in the area of the first house and know Debden. I missed both links to the properties.

The second house might be nearer to the tube but the journey time to Debden is much longer. Out that far on the tube is a real slog. Don't make a decision on that basis whatever you do. Also when the Central Line packs up from Woodford you have many more options to get into town via nearby rail links (Chingford train to Liverpool Street and Ilford.)

Wondering which school you're desperate to get into though. Primaries are a challenge. State secondary is Woodbridge unless you're Catholic.

Original poster
joysexreno · 14/04/2021 12:27

The school will be sorted as of 16 April! Just need to be accessible to it

How do you like Woodford?

OP posts:
OVienna · 15/04/2021 11:50

We've lived here over 20 yrs, not originally from the area. Very happy yo be raising our kids here. I will PM you.

Original poster
joysexreno · 16/04/2021 07:05

@OVienna

Thanks!

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