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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have become a bit obsessed with this house?

216 replies

dreamhouse2020 · 09/12/2020 12:06

Like many of us, I like a bit of fantasy house shopping on Rightmove.

I am planning to move but in 3-5 years so not just yet.

I've found a house I really like. Really really like. Thing is, it's not my 'dream' house. It has a nice garden (plot in total is half an acre) but it's not surrounded by masses of land. It's not a beautiful old manor house or cute country cottage. But there's something about it that has drawn me in. I have viewed the Rightmove page 100s of times now. It's not far from my DP so we took a drive out to it and nosed through the windows (it's an estate sale, vacant possession) and that made me love it even more.

I can't buy it yet as we simply couldn't raise the money needed, I have about 25% in cash but I don't earn enough to get a mortgage for the rest on my own, and DP pays himself only just above min wage. Plus it needs money spending on it, and neither of us are in a position to move right now. If it was for sale in 3 years time that would be perfect.

So I know it's not meant to be, but still...I really need to find a distraction (this was a distraction from being sad about lockdown, working from home, feeling isolated etc but has now become an obsession. Every day I check that it's not been sold!). Any suggestions? - other than hoping for a lottery win/ mystery inheritance.

OP posts:
Backtoreality1 · 09/12/2020 12:09

Cruel posting that without a link to the actual property loL!!

ibblebibbledibble · 09/12/2020 12:13

YABU for not posting the link!

CarriesFlower82 · 09/12/2020 12:14

I only clicked on this for the link!!!

Original poster
dreamhouse2020 · 09/12/2020 12:14

I am reluctant to post it in case someone starts feeling the same way as me and makes an offer on it Grin

But ok - here goes. I suspect most people might think it's a bit ugly, but not to me! (this is not my normal style of house at all, it's just won me over)

the house

OP posts:
FitterHappierMoreProductive · 09/12/2020 12:16

I can see why you love it, it’s got super potential!

TakeMe2Insanity · 09/12/2020 12:17

I can see why you like it, it has so much potential BUT the right house will be the one when you are ready!

Atrixie · 09/12/2020 12:17

Apart from the pretty garden, what do you like about it? It's not a pretty house and needs a small fortune spending on it.

ibblebibbledibble · 09/12/2020 12:17

I love it, so much space!

Muckish · 09/12/2020 12:18

The setting is nice, and I think you could make it lovely.

Shoxfordian · 09/12/2020 12:18

The pond is nice
You're in no danger from me buying it op

HeeeeyDuggee · 09/12/2020 12:19

I can see why you love it and it has tons of potential but I’d be put off by the price and how much you’d need to spend to refurbish it!

FitterHappierMoreProductive · 09/12/2020 12:20

You never know what might happen - there was a house round the corner from me that I used to obsess over in the same way, but it was just the wrong time to buy. But it stayed on the market for so long (with the price gradually dropping) that it was still available when I came to move house and was affordable. BUT! By that time, another house popped onto the market that was my total dream house, so we bought that instead! But the only reason we were in a position to get it, was because we’d been getting ourselves ready for sale so we could buy the original house. (Don’t worry, we’d not actually agreed a sale on it, we didn’t let anybody down!)

madcatladyforever · 09/12/2020 12:21

That could be turned into something fabulous. Lovely space and land.
I'm a terrible rightmove fantasist. I look at all the million pound homes but I also look at homes by the sea I'm interested in for retirement.
I have 8 years to go, currently doing up this place then I'm moving to the sea.
Here on Exmoor my money goes a long way.

unreliableursula · 09/12/2020 12:22

It's the wisteria that does it for me 😍. And the pond at the front and the sweeping drive give it the air of a manor house even though it's basically a (large) 1960s box.

(Don't worry, I can't afford it and have no idea where Ellesmere is so I'm not competition as a buyer Grin)

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 09/12/2020 12:25

I love the pond in the front garden. I quite like 70s houses so I don't think it's all that ugly, but they were built when oil was cheap so they cost a fortune to heat. It also depends on the style of construction, if it's block built then it's sturdy enough but a lot of 70s houses used what at the time was innovative construction methods and some of them have turned out to deteriorate quite badly over time so there may be bad issues with damp or mould.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 09/12/2020 12:25

I quite like it. I like the retro wood panels and you could make it really cosy. I'm a bit of a sucker for the slightly ugly 70s houses, as they have so much space and are really practical. If you're looking for negatives, I don't like the massive pond. And a family member bought a place like this in a sought after area with country views, and a few years later, they built a massive estate over the open fields, so I guess you'd have to research whether it's the kind of place with a lot of development.

BigBadVoodooHat · 09/12/2020 12:25

@Atrixie

Apart from the pretty garden, what do you like about it? It's not a pretty house and needs a small fortune spending on it.
Yep, pretty much what I was going to say.

It's a characterless, bog-standard 70s-ish (I'm guessing) house with beautiful surroundings.

It's not absolutely awful, it's just very ... ordinary. There have got to be nicer houses out there for £400k. Confused

listsandbudgets · 09/12/2020 12:25

Its not for me though I can see the attraction of the large garden.

The pine would have to go - I mean I like pine but I feel a bit claustrophobic looking at that kitchen.

Remember empty rooms always look bigger than when they have furniture in which I think makes it a bit harder to envisage how big they really are.

Its certainly got potential but I think it would need a lot of work.

Have you tried to have a viewing? May give you a better idea about whehter your should continue your obsession Grin

Original poster
dreamhouse2020 · 09/12/2020 12:26

It's in better condition than it probably seems from the photos, peering through the windows it was very tidy and clean, the structure is sound and all the exterior soffits, guttering etc are in perfect condition even though it's been empty for about 18 months. I would want a new kitchen, to replace the windows, change the bathroom, probably redo the heating etc but in theory it's liveable right now.

I think the setting is a big part of it, there are fields front and back, but also the plot and position of the house within it (if that makes sense).

I'm almost considering asking the vendors if they would rent it to us, but I think that might be a bit mad! Plus it's too soon really even for us to rent it (as we need to live elsewhere for the next couple of years at least).

OP posts:
DryRoastPeanut · 09/12/2020 12:26

Gorgeous space.
Maybe have a word with a mortgage broker, they can work wonders if you have about £100k already you might be able to make a sensible offer.

Ionosphere everyone is commenting on what it needs spending to bring it up to date but in all honesty, for my dream home I could live with a dated bathroom and tired kitchen.

If you find you can offer £295k and they say no, at least you gave it a shot.

AppleKatie · 09/12/2020 12:26

It is a gorgeous house! I’m astonished by the price but clearly that’s area dependent. If it was commutable to my work I’d buy today- but alas you are safe from me OP.

BigBadVoodooHat · 09/12/2020 12:26

Oh hang on, is this your house and you're trying to sell it? Wink

Ponoka7 · 09/12/2020 12:26

I'm not fussed on the house, it's too boxy looking. It would need ripping out completely to get rid of the naff doors etc. But the surrounding landscape is beautiful and I'm fond of Shrewsbury.

DryRoastPeanut · 09/12/2020 12:27

I know not sure where ionosphere came from, but it’s “I know”

ButtWormHole · 09/12/2020 12:29

What is meant to be won’t pass you by. If it’s meant to be then it will be yours in the future. Maybe it will come up for rent