To think 'character' properties aren't all they're cracked up to be?

[LellyGreen]

We live in a Victorian house. Its cold and drafty, we've had various issues with damp and leaks, the ceiling on the landing collapsed three years ago, we got it fixed for it to happen again last year and we had to have the whole roof replaced. There are weird alcoves in the lounge on every wall that has stopped us from being able to hang the TV on the wall like we wanted to. Solid wood floors in every room that haven't been maintained well by previous owners and dons hard hat I've wanted several times to tear up and chuck carpet down because they're in such bad state. The room sizes are very generous, but they're too big and apart from a few more sensibly sized rooms they feel cold and empty. Our hallway is 5mx5.5m!! Who needs a hallway that big? It just looks like a big empty room. Anyway.. it's just been so much hassle. We go to do one small job and it turns out it's actually a huge job, every time. I've always vowed to never buy a new build because "they have no character" but I've done it. I've gone to the dark side. I have bought a new shiny new build and I couldn't give a toss about the character I'm losing and I can't wait to be in a house that is warm, and doesn't feel empty all the time! I get a lot of it is down to developers, I've heard the persimmon horror stories of paper thin walls and box rooms.. but I'm firmly in the new build camp now. Pick a good developer (ideally a small/local one) with a good build quality and generous room dimensions and don't look back!! Character is a pain in the ass and over hyped. You can add character to your beautiful new house that isn't full of hidden problems.

AIBU? If you're avoiding new builds purely because of these reasons everyone goes on about.. I highly recommend viewing one for yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised

Enjoying this post. We've had a money pit Victorian flat, a beautiful Edwardian one and have just bought a Victorian fixer upper house. My husband hated anything new. I was all for an easier, ready to move into new-build option... he said if he wanted an easy life he'd get rid of me and the kids 😂.

I think both types of properties have their advantages. I've lived in both and older properties can be beautiful. The high ceilings and big windows of flats in my city give you lots of options for decorating but they can be chilly and have issues with bugs and rodents. I recall a thread on here about slugs being rife in Victorian terraces.

My current home is a 1970s house, I like it and its very cosy and easy to clean. I'm not so keen on very new builds as they always seem to have very small rooms or be open plan which I don't like.

Smaller homes are easier to keep clean but a smaller amount of mess looks worse in them I find.

I wouldn't rule out a period or character property but I'd have to find one thst was cosy and warm.

What I hated about her post was more the sweeping generalisations made about people , and her superior attitude to folk who don’t have exactly the same taste as her. Why the need to insult other posters

Yeah, I get that, there is a bit of that going on in this thread. I think it’s defensiveness. People take perceived slights so attack in return.

Like I did

It's whatever works for you. Friends had this amazing new build, from small developer. It was beautifully finished, dry with no damp, it was lovely. They moved to a period property which is a money pit. I would have stayed put.

Regarding damp, I moved from Victorian terrace to Edwardian and the Victorian one was much damper. I didn't get a new damp proof course as recommended, I think you are supposed to find the actual cause to fix it and damp proof courses don't do this. The Edwardian one was very draughty and freezing, much better when the draughts were fixed. The high ceilings are great and it feels spacious, however some rooms are massive and some are absolutely tiny and the layout is a bit wonky. Upstairs there is a long hallway between rooms and it is good for kids and privacy for teens. Gas and electric is about £90 a month, I'm not sure how that compares to other houses. Newer ones should be cheaper.

It is full of spiders. September is Spider Month. Does anyone else find this?

Are your period properties more dusty than new builds? Is it due to draughts?

Isnt it strange how EAs can happily flog houses that are old,knackered and need fortunes spending on them in the name of character and potential but yet it would be harder to flog someone an old battered car, old technology such as a black and white telly, or a ZX spectrum ? you wouldnt have it. Its a cultural thing. In many cultures eg japan they cant understand it and would just run over old terraces and build nice new modern energy efficient homes. Of course there are some buildings we should seek to preserve.

I love old properties, used to live in them but can't afford it now I'm older (and I rent these days anyway).

I hate new build, all boxy and far too warm, they are like a furnace in the summer. Old buildings stay nice and cool, when heated up they keep the heat in during the winter and stay cool in the summer.

However, I always have thick carpets eveywhere, it's necessary in an old house. Can't understand the modern craze for bare floors, no wonder you find an old house cold and draughty if you don't have carpets!!

@Arnoldthecat

Isnt it strange how EAs can happily flog houses that are old,knackered and need fortunes spending on them in the name of character and potential but yet it would be harder to flog someone an old battered car, old technology such as a black and white telly, or a ZX spectrum ? you wouldnt have it. Its a cultural thing. In many cultures eg japan they cant understand it and would just run over old terraces and build nice new modern energy efficient homes. Of course there are some buildings we should seek to preserve.

Vintage cars even when battered can sell for an absolute fortune and are not remotely hard to sell. Of course if it’s some old fucked up Cuesta, it’s different, but if it’s a great car like a Bentley it will be the subject of a bidding war. Just like it’s hard to sell someone a falling down terrace in rural wales. It’s about what it is and it’s potential.

Also technology is very different. You can’t compare something that’s basically been made redundant due to technological advances to a vintage car or period property.

I hear you op. My old Victorian house has cost me so much money over the years. Every 'small' repair job turns into a big one because whenever something is stripped back it reveals a new problem. On the positive side, the longer I'm in the house the more equity I'm building. I have plans to buy a new build in a few years' time and I can't wait. I never thought I'd want a new build but I want the experience of living somewhere shiny and new. I think older houses are great if you have money, energy, time and the interest to renovate here and there but when you're a single mother like myself it's just so much hard work. I'm grateful though for being on the property ladder and I've learned so much from living here so I guess I wouldn't change the experience.

The cracked in the OP's title says it all really. The expression 'papering over the cracks' certainly comes to mind here!

I live in a 1920s cottage. I know what you mean about new builds- I always think I’d love to clean my house if it was new because they’re so perfect. However, my house is super cosy and has beautiful fireplaces etc so I wouldn’t swap.
I don’t think all older houses are badly kempt and drafty though so it doesn’t have to be an either or situation

@Grapewrath I agree, not all older houses are draughty. Mine is lovely and warm and I'm thankful for that. I just love the idea though of cleaning a new house. My skirting boards are clean but don't look it. My friend has a new build and it always looks immaculate.