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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:
HaveringWavering · 15/04/2022 08:34

These days agents won’t put forward offers from people not in a position to proceed. So unless you can get an offer on your house before next door goes under offer you’ll probably miss the boat. They might not even let you view it.

Sorrelatchristmas · 15/04/2022 08:38

I think go for it. Get a slow cooker and a microwave to keep food costs down. Costs are always going to increase, whether it’s now or 2 years time.

Ddot · 15/04/2022 09:17

If you see the seller, let him know you were very interested. If the sale falls through you can have another go at it.

Ineke · 15/04/2022 09:22

I think if you go ahead it would be easier and much quicker to stay in your old house while the renovations were done, you would need a bridging loan probably but it is much easier to work on an empty house and also much quicker, and you are in hand to keep an eye without getting in the way.

2302Mumofone · 15/04/2022 09:32

It sounds a great idea! I mean yes it will be really stressful but if you love where you live but don’t have enough space this sounds like a good plan. When we moved we saw a lovely house that the onsets had renovated the downstairs on but there wasn’t loads of room upstairs. They were buying a plot of land up the road to build their own house. They loved the village and didn’t want to leave. I absolutely understand when you have put down roots in a place and the children are in school that you’d just want to not move far from all that. Good luck! X

Clymene · 15/04/2022 09:34

THE HOUSE HAS BEEN SOLD.

FFS is it really too much effort to read all the OP's post?

Itsaslothslife · 15/04/2022 10:04

@Clymene

THE HOUSE HAS BEEN SOLD.

FFS is it really too much effort to read all the OP's post?

Eh, it's a long thread and people have probably skipped pages.

Maybe OP can update their first post to say it's over, or get the thread closed somehow

WomanStanleyWoman · 15/04/2022 10:45

Eh, it's a long thread and people have probably skipped pages. Maybe OP can update their first post to say it's over, or get the thread closed somehow

Or people could use the ‘See all’ button…

Mumof3confused · 15/04/2022 11:21

Building work is extremely expensive right now so you might find that you won’t be able to afford to pay the stamp duty + do the work right now. I don’t see why a knackered house should sell for the same as one that already has a small extension just because it has the potential.

RitaFires · 15/04/2022 11:49

Sorry you missed out OP, some people get carried away by a doer upper on a nice site and will pay close to the same price for a finished house in the same area.

The picture of your own house looks lovely to me, personally I would find it difficult to look over at my previous comfy home while living in a loud and expensive building site. Prices are crazy for doing any work at the moment so it makes sense to stay put if you like the house you're in now.

Mummyto2rugrats · 15/04/2022 18:51

Definitely do it if the sums work out right. Just be careful of ceiling price possibilities and not breaching that with the work you do. Be warned getting a decent builder is hard of best of times but not the good ones are so busy that wait times can be ridiculous. And understand cost of materials currently keeps rising due to what is happening in the world
But the kids will manage it is stressful but will be worth it if you can get the desired room doing both a side and rear extension

AlisonDonut · 15/04/2022 19:00

@Mummyto2rugrats

Definitely do it if the sums work out right. Just be careful of ceiling price possibilities and not breaching that with the work you do. Be warned getting a decent builder is hard of best of times but not the good ones are so busy that wait times can be ridiculous. And understand cost of materials currently keeps rising due to what is happening in the world But the kids will manage it is stressful but will be worth it if you can get the desired room doing both a side and rear extension
What a grand idea. If only the house hadn't already sold.
Ddot · 15/04/2022 19:45

If it's to be it's to be. Hang on in there. It just may come back on the market if the sale falls through

me109f · 16/04/2022 03:08

In general. a good idea. Renovating a property conveniently next door has many advantages in getting the work done and providing security for building materials stored outside. A house really needs a garage and parking. This really makes the place sellable. If you get car access to the rear you could erect a very large double garage with storage and workshop space. (Timber ones are very affordable.)
As with any house purchase, getting the price right and doing your sums is essential. Negotiate directly with the owner. As a next-door neighbour no estate agent can expect you to go through them so agents fees should not be necessary.
Incidentally, a tatty semi next to me came up for sale at auction 2 years ago. The guide price was attractive so I thought I would have a bid. I did not get it as it sold for 40% more than the guide price! In view of the work needed, it was no bargain at that price.

Nothing7 · 16/04/2022 08:00

Just a thought - could you not do a 2 story extension off the back of your garden? Your garden looks huge if the neighbours is anything to go by

Itsaslothslife · 16/04/2022 10:27

@WomanStanleyWoman

Eh, it's a long thread and people have probably skipped pages. Maybe OP can update their first post to say it's over, or get the thread closed somehow

Or people could use the ‘See all’ button…

Didn't know that existed! Thank you
SafelySoftly · 16/04/2022 10:29

Gosh!! As everyone told the OP, this would be impossible and it would sell before she could get her house sold and bought by someone in a much stronger financial position. AND IT DID!

bemusedmoose · 18/04/2022 11:48

if it's been diy by the bloke over the road be prepared for some serious hell!

My property has had exactly the same - diy from the dad and electrics by supposed certified electrician son. Well so far i have had the porch set on fire over christmas from dodgy wiring (vast expense on emergency electrician who said house should be condemned but as it was christmas and i had kids he would make it safe and give me time to get it sorted, last week i opened up the outdoor plug socket to plug mower in and rusty water was pouring out the pin holes all over the patio!! (thank god i had the brains to keep it off at the fuse box unless i wanted to use it!), the patio light blew up and yesterday the bathroom had a leak and i have had to literally crow bar off the entire bathroom to get the the sink u bend as they had boxed in everything and the bath panel was over the boxing in for the sink and so was the toilet boxing in so the lot had to come off, which then revealed they had just boxed in over the 60s boxing in, tiled badly over the 60s tiles and laid lino on lino on floor boards so the nails are coming through.... which lead to the discovery the floor boards arent boards but randomly placed chunks and cut outs wedged together holding the cast iron bath up! Now i have more problems than just the damn leak to fix! and the bathroom still has to go back together some how. So be warned - it's not going to be easy! Time, money, stress, more money, loads more time, having to keep the kids out of everything... stress. If you have a set of good reliable trades people that wont rip you off or let you down it can be done well, but the reality is you are more likely to regret it ( and that comes from someone who also would really want to do what you would like to!)

Original poster
thegreenlight · 18/04/2022 12:03

We have decided to stay in our house and investigate options to extend the tiny amount out the side to make a bigger bathroom, no room and stairs for a mansard loft extension which should solve the problem of the low pitch (maybe - I have been researching) we will also build at the bottom of the garden to create a teen hang out space with its own toilet and shower room. It’s not the same as doing next door but we would have a 4 bed with a larger box room and bathroom and I’d get an en-suite! I’m being positive and trying ti see it as an opportunity (and we don’t have to purchase a more expensive house to do it!) Thankyou all so much for your advice!

OP posts:
Grrrrdarling · 18/04/2022 13:04

Personally if you can buy & combine that would be awesome. If finances are tight already then buying & renovating is probably not going to be doable. You really need to consider this carefully as you don’t know what state the house structure is in, whether it has been a rental or not.
Either way I imagine you will have to sacrifice some luxuries to complete the project so don’t do this unless you are prepared to do that.
You need to really weigh up the pros & cons of buying & renovating the house next door. Yes it looks good in your mind but on paper it may be undoable.

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