I think I'm better off buying a newer house?

[Cats234]

FTB. Edwardian house has come back as needing roof repairs, some plastering, repair to chimneys, possible evidence of damp that needs more looking into. I don't have much spare money or time or family support.
Now thinking I'd be better off buying a newer house, such as something 1950s ish onwards?
I know I'm not unique but my aim is as little building/structural work as possible due to the reasons above. Thoughts and experiences welcome.

Have you got any photos of what people actually consider ugly? Curious.

I do know mine was originally built in the 1970's but extended shortly after. When we bought (recently) it had already been modernised etc but I think that was done by the previous owners who had lived here for 2 decades.

https://puttingthelovein.wordpress.com/tag/ugly-house-to-lovely-house/

Mine's the same shape as this, like this 'before ugly' in the first photo except that there's some panelling in the white bit at the top , where there's empty space beneath the windows in the photo.

I've recently bought a new house (4 years old) and was between this and a Victorian terrace. Mine is also terrace but end.

Since I moved in the relief that there's been no problems in the current weather etc has made me glad I went new.

If you can go for high energy new house. Mine is rated A and the kids asked if we could put the underfloor heating on the other morning as we hadn't yet so I did. Was on three hours and that was two days ago and still currently boiling 😂 great for energy costs!

You could try looking for a new build in an old area for character. My house is amongst Victorian houses and it's therefore had to be built to fit into the street so I have the benefits of new build but some character of old, double height ceilings/sash windows.

Good luck!

I had a builder once tell me that “You call tell all the houses in the 1950s were built when all the men were dead”

make of that what you will

Well I don't agree about new houses having problems with dampness etc. Simply not true.
My house is a 1950's ex council semi. I have owned it for 8 years.
I've had a fair bit done to it but really the only essential was rewiring.
If I were in your shoes I would buy brand new or a few years old. Then just try to keep up to pace with maintenance.
I have a son in an Edwardian terrace in London. It has so far been a money pit. Asbestos removal etc. It is not yet 2 years they have owned it and still a lot of cash will need to be thrown at it.
A house is what you make it - your home.

Excuse me? I was born in 1957 and what you have just said sounds like nonsense.

I live in a house built in 1820 and it has masses of character and no major works needed.

Much prefer an older house tbh

Our first house was a council house built in 1947. It was built like an absolute tank and SO well designed. I grew up in an Edwardian pile and it was always cold and bits fell off it. We also found an extra room 20 years after we moved in.

This is literally my reoccurring dream finding a room in my house ever since I was little! Where was it?!

What you need is a house that has recently been renovated but you will have to pay for this so you may need to lower your expectations on size of house you can afford, or look in a cheaper area.

We have an early 90's 3 bed semi ...

The only issue I have is that it's a 2 bedroom + box room!
We have built an extension and turned the garage into living space. So it's now 3 bed + box room, 2 bathroom, 2 reception rooms, ...
With that we had to update the plumbing and boiler.

As far as upkeep goes, it's been good.
Added bonus to new build is also a decent sized garden and bigger driveway (it fits 4 cars!) Plus front garden complete with flowers & a tree.

The downstairs bathroom had a drying room which we thought was just a large closet type room, but the back wall was a door through to a room sandwiched between the end of that bit of house and the outside loo and boiler house. It wasn’t immediately obvious from the outside,and the drying room didn’t have any lights in it so no one could see the back wall!

I cannot wait to sell my house
1850's. Tons of period features, stained glass, high ceilings etc

But an absolute money pit and I'm bloody sick of workmen.

Just spent 20k on new roof and a roof repair and went to a bedroom this morning to fine water dripping through the ceiling. Luckily I have a good roofer. Random patches of damp I have spent £££ on and still not got to the bottom of.

I've always planned to do one big thing a year - like a new boiler last year, a new bathroom the year before, the year before that chimneys re-rendered/pointed etc so I've not skimped on maintaining it

It's a nightmare

DH keeps looking at period homes for when we move 🙄

1950s houses probably come with those issues too. Probably damp. I can’t remember exactly when houses were built with damp proof courses but pretty sure it was after 1950s. If you want a house without these old house problems then I’d probably look for 1990s onwards

@kopitiamgal I wish mine was red brick! Mine is Scottish Grey Pebbledash with a hint o brickwork. SO not bonny from the outside, but I do love it inside.