Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to buy the horrible house next door

295 replies

thegreenlight · 13/04/2022 08:28

We live in a lovely (but small 3 bed semi with no scope to extend) next door has just come on the market - it’s horrible having been rented out by the guy across the road for years and he did the work himself. Our house has an extension, downstairs bathroom and utility. Next door has none of this but massive scope to extend to the back and side. We have never done a renovation before! Do we offer to buy directly from the owner and pay asking (it has been put on sale this morning through a local agent) what should I do? We LOVE our area but can’t afford a ready renovated house. It would mean a real dip in living standards while we do the work. Any advice? Am I being stupid!?

OP posts:
civetcat · 14/04/2022 18:09

Check if the council's planning dept is likely to allow you to extend. If your planned extension is taller/has a larger footprint than on other houses in the road, they might not let you or ask you to scale back, especially if any extension overlooks or overshadows a neighbour (and that neighbour objects). If there are extensions like your plans already on your road, you're on firmer ground. A lot of councils have a duty planner you can call for initial advice/info

thenovice · 14/04/2022 18:10

DO IT!
Good luck OP.
Flowers Gin

CannibalQueen · 14/04/2022 18:12

If it's sound, go for it. Big investment.

Lullab · 14/04/2022 18:18

Go for it! We did this several times. Felt like camping with the children as we cooked on a camping stove and washed up in the bath! My husband and I did the bulk of the work, but it was worth it. Each time we sold we made a profit and moved on to the next house. You have to be prepared to slum it for a while, but the sense of achievement is huge!

Original poster
thegreenlight · 14/04/2022 18:26

Thankyou all - it sold for way over £300k. The nature of our street I suppose! We will look at our options where we are, I doubt we will move though but we may bring works on our house forward. Thankyou all for the advice and support. I just hope that they’re nice!

OP posts:
ChrisConary · 14/04/2022 18:27

Can you manage the purchase without selling? It would give you a place to live during the worst of the reno, and then a rental property you can keep a close eye on, and income to pay the existing mortgage.

NamelessNancy · 14/04/2022 18:32

Sorry you missed out op. Given where things are with inflation and possible interest rate rises it might be a blessing in disguise though if you'd have ended up with 90% mortgage.

FootieMama · 14/04/2022 18:38

Go for it. You know your neighbours and street what's is a great advantage. You can fix the house slowly to your taste. I'd move fast too before agents bring in viewers. I've done similar but few doors down the road. Was the easiest move ever

toogoodforthisworld · 14/04/2022 18:48

Get yours valued first.
At the moment 295k vs 285k is too small a difference in my eyes. We have just lived through a year of building (was a huge project and we doubled the size of the house) and we 'finished' in January- it has taken all of our savings- it has definitely aged us LOL and my partner stopped work to do the building. We have made (when we sell) approve 120K profit - but factor in his wages for a year. I'm so happy with the end result but it was bloody hard work- and our kids are very low maintenance and older than yours.

Yogalola · 14/04/2022 18:49

Sounds perfect , you can live in your existing whilst renovating next door. I’d be inclined to take a builder round before you put an offer in, just to get idea how much structural work needs to be done. Don’t be afraid to put an offer in lower than the asking price, they can always say no and indicate minimum they are prepared to accept. Try to find out from agents why it’s on the market, that might indicate how quickly owners need the money.

CambsAlways · 14/04/2022 18:49

Well we wouldn’t do it , as we hate the mess and the stress of builders etc workmen coming in! But that’s cos we are oldies! Bad enough just having our kitchen n bathrooms done over the years! And trying to cope 🤣🤣 but if that’s what you fancy doing could work out very well for you op

fussyhousewife · 14/04/2022 18:58

I would be careful how you go about this. Check out building costs etc in your area (unless you are intent of doing most of it yourself). Also the if you were in a better position i.e., nothing to sell you may get a good markdown on the poperty which the owner may want sold quickly. Be very careful check out every aspect and be aware too that you will be living on a building site whilst the works are being carried out. My husband and I have done it and our outlay £76k and we did not do extension. Electrics, heating, plastering, roof repairs, fence repairs, and a new roof on conservatory. We used trades for some but mostly we did it ourselves.

Crankley · 14/04/2022 19:03

Yogalola
Sounds perfect , you can live in your existing whilst renovating next door. I’d be inclined to take a builder round before you put an offer in, just to get idea how much structural work needs to be done. Don’t be afraid to put an offer in lower than the asking price, they can always say no and indicate minimum they are prepared to accept. Try to find out from agents why it’s on the market, that might indicate how quickly owners need the money.

Seriously? You obviously haven't read any of OP's subsequent posts.

mangipops · 14/04/2022 19:03

If you have not put your house up for sale 'next door' may not want to wait until you sell yours. There will likely be heavy renovation works going on next door to you if someone buys it as they will likely have to make changes in this property and possibly will do what you want to do to it, i.e. add extensions etc - so a lot of noise for you.

I would weigh up all the costs involved of renovating the other property, the noise that will be going on if you don't purchase this, the noise and mess you would have to live with if you do and then seeing someone moving into your property that you say is in great order, but again, may be something that someone else will want to change!

wentworthinmate · 14/04/2022 19:05

Do it! Sounds the ideal way to have a better home and increase the value of your equity when work is done. I envy you.

NameWithChange · 14/04/2022 19:07

Get some builders quotes.

Let if all fits - do it! YOLO!

Blossomtoes · 14/04/2022 19:09

Someone else has bought it.

NameWithChange · 14/04/2022 19:12

Ah yes. Just seen that thanks! I did think it would go for a higher price with all that potential. What will be will be OP 🤷🏻‍♀️

Tusue · 14/04/2022 19:12

Hi as someone who really wishes she had stretched herself financially to go for the “ dream house” I say honestly GO FOR IT you might be skint for a while and living in a building site is NO fun but I bet it will be really worth it.
In the 90’s I was a single mum and the dream house was 5K more than I could afford, it might not sound much now but as the only wage was mine and I had been brought up to be risk averse I didn’t jump, that house is now worth 20k more than mine simply because of the area it’s in - I wish I had made that jump.

Bellysmackers · 14/04/2022 19:20

I would just be super mindful that right now materials and builders costs have gone through the roof. Last year we bought a bungalow an a very expensive area, but it needs full renovation including new kitchen/bathroom and walls knocking down to make it open plan. Our builder starts next week and we are going to live here whilst the work is done - not looking forward to this!! Buts hopefully it will all be worth it. If you love the area and can afford the current very expensive costs associated at the moment with a reno then grit your teeth and go for it! I just want you to be fully aware how much prices have gone up for...well everything! 😬😬

Bellysmackers · 14/04/2022 19:24

Ahh just seen that you missed out. As someone else just said, maybe its a blessing in disguise. Now is definitely not the best time price wise for building works. Everything happens for a reason - something better will come along in the future for you! In the meantime you live in an area you ❤️

Learningstill · 14/04/2022 19:30

Do it, you’ll regret it forever if you don’t.

Harrysmummy246 · 14/04/2022 19:33

I've lived in a house while it was being renovated. Before DS.

DON'T

CauliflowerBalti · 14/04/2022 19:41

I see you missed out. Can you not extend further back in your current property? I live in the same style of 30s house as you, I bet. We've just gone back 5 metres and it's made a load of difference. Doesn't solve the tiny box room problem, but...

Building costs have gone through the ROOF, btw. My single story flat roof extension - 25m2 - with utility room conversion and under stairs loo has cost £45k so far, and I only paid about £8,000 for labour (electrician, plumber, roofer, plaster, labourer, digging out footings) as my Dad's a builder so I just paid for the bits he couldn't do. It's also not near finished. If I'd had to pay someone to build it, I wouldn't have been to afford it.

Serialbreeder · 14/04/2022 19:43

Do it, it’ll be worth it when it’s all finished. I’d absolutely love to do that.

Swipe left for the next trending thread