What puts you off buying a house?

[notwhyicamehere]

Other than structural things or location- which can't be changed, what are the seemingly little things that would put you off buying a house?
For me, seeing tumble dryer or vacuum in a random room screams not enough space/ storage. As well as loads of bathroom clutter.

AIBU to dismiss houses based on things like this?

Looking to sell soon so looking to avoid those mistakes!

sotiredofthislonelylife
"Why would COVID make them less common?"
because less people are able to replace them themselves and getting in workmen in has been both difficult/expensive....also because there has been a general shortage.
I would never have fitted stuff again, choice is so much more limited

Do you know it costs about £50 to add a socket?

Thinking about what put me off when I was house hunting. Terraces with no front garden, didn't have to be big, just enough to move you back from the road a bit. Kitchen diners, I wanted a kitchen, dining room and living room, partly because I used the dining room as an office. Weird layouts that would be difficult to fix. Such as the access to the attic being through the back bed.
Damp.

Certain layouts: my DM took me with her to look at some new builds. Each of the four bedrooms had en suites (no family bathroom) and downstairs the guest loo was through the utility room, meaning if a visitor wanted to use a loo they would have to go through a messy utility room full of laundry etc (my DM doesn’t want her pants on display to a visitor grin ) or through someone’s bedroom.

En-suites. I was looking at the new builds near me and some of them are 4 bed with 3 en-suites, a family bathroom and a downstairs toilet. The bedrooms are small (probably because they have packed in so many toilets). Great if you have a massive house with big rooms but not for a bog standard new build.

‘Bog’ standard. I see what you did there.

Agree about the ensuites too. Spoils so many otherwise great houses

@scarecrow22

Not having enough/any books. I really could not live there. To say nothing of the practical problem of there presumably not being enough book shelving!

The mind boggles.

Plug ins, or anything else with a strong over powering scent. It makes me wonder what smell are the home owners are actually trying to cover up - damp, cigarettes, drains etc.

@BreakingtheIce @fashionablefennel @PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat

I was being a little flippant, especially about the bookshelves. Though the person selling me the house not having a love of books wold put me off a bit. I can rationalise this as silly, it's just a gut/emotional reaction to a house!

Making sure the house is in a good catchment area for Deliveroo and Ubereats with a good range of takeaways.

To me, 'what puts you off' is a phrase that means 'what makes you feel less keen'.
Exactly. I can be put off lots of things but still go for it in the end. "Put off buying" doesn't meant "definitely wouldn't buy", just makes a particular property less of a front-runner at a first pass.

Still don't understand how a divan bed could possibly put anyone off mind you.

@StillCoughingandLaughing

‘Bog’ standard. I see what you did there.

🤣

I love a house with wooden beams but find it such a shame when they are painted white.

Not put off by too much as I like a project. Possibly off-grid factors, such as no gas supply or mains plumbing.

I like to be able to visualise where the Christmas tree will go!

Mouldy bathrooms or window frames can be a red flag.

@DappledThings

Still don't understand how a divan bed could possibly put anyone off mind you.

I don't get it either. No underbed monsters🤷🏻

OH won’t buy a house without a B&Q within driving distance, and decent broadband.

The main thing for me is anything that indicates a lack of storage.

Diamond leaded windows (or leaded windows full stop).

Bungalows full stop.

Porches or extensions that are in completely different brick to the main building and look “tacked on”.

Window frames that don’t match the rest of the street - e.g. brown when everyone else has white.

I've always hated front doors that go straight into the living rooms.

I once bought a house from someone who had 4 dogs and had to take out all the carpets on the ground floor as in the winter the doggy smell would return quite strong. Upstairs carpets had to go as well.

The state of the neighbours houses. Neighbours can make or break you.

Oh I forgot, combined kitchen / living rooms. I love to cook in a variety of ways, so I couldn't stand the soft furnishings reeking of food smells or feeling greasy. That would be an instant no.

Diamond leaded windows (or leaded windows full stop

Growing up in the 90s I thought these were the height of sophistication so still have a soft spot for them

Paved over garden, astro turf, absence of trees, overly sterile.

Neighbours, of any kind!

[quote scarecrow22]**@BreakingtheIce* @fashionablefennel* @PlumpAndDeliciousFatcat

I was being a little flippant, especially about the bookshelves. Though the person selling me the house not having a love of books wold put me off a bit. I can rationalise this as silly, it's just a gut/emotional reaction to a house![/quote]
We are book lovers in our house but our books are now on devices. The only books on the bookcase now are academic ones and they only fill a couple of shelves. Don't judge a book by it's cover...

This is hilarious! I know we’re talking houses not flats but I’ve just bought a London flat that has:

• no window in the bathroom
• small combined kitchen/living area
• UPVC windows
• a divan bed (that I bought) that’s up against a wall
• laminate and Lino flooring
• a shared entry/driveway
• Japanese knotweed in the garden and trees
• a bus stop outside
• on a busy road
• I’ve added “unusual” decor

and I love it! I viewed a house in my hometown with a freestanding bath in the bedroom and almost bought it simply because of that. A freestanding bath is one of my ultimate life dreams and I’ll be installing one in my windowless bathroom as soon as I can afford a refit!

Why divan beds? Is it the sort of person who would buy one? Its not like they're leaving it for you? Im intrigued!

Ha ha! Ive just asked them! Waiting to see their reply!