To buy this House

[TherapyRocks]

Head vs. heart issue.

I’ve fallen in love with this house but it’s on the small side for me & two teenagers.

It’s at the bottom of my price range so the alternative is a big, four bedroom new build type with all modern bells & whistles.

I’m worried that this house will suit me down to the ground but will be too cramped / too much of a compromise for two growing kids.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132915815#/?channel=RES_BUY

The measurements are in the text. Would be helpful on the plan though, I agree.

I totally agree with this. I wouldn’t touch it op. The house will likely be incredibly difficult to sell in the future as the emphasis on climate change increases. Eg Ten years ago EPCs were just some stupid bit of paperwork landlords had to pay to get to inform tenants, who really didn’t get it or give a stuff. Now people are discussing them on a thread as serious documents.

I know some people trying to sell a quirky house right now and even though some houses are being snapped up where I live, they’ll be making a loss. People are really twitchy about fuel prices and being able to extend, which isn’t necessarily a given with this place. The garden is tiny and is the chapel listed? Probably not as there are modern windows. But something to consider.

There could be absolutely zero insulation in the roof and even if there is, the cavity between the upstairs ceiling and roof is tiny. Dh and I lived in a house with the bedroom in the eaves and no insulation. It’s bloody cold. If it is frosty or snows, you’ll be heating the roof tiles. Additionally this chapel has no cavity walls so all round it will be expensive to heat.

Then there’s the stain glassed windows, beautiful as they are, they look claustrophobic and just as importantly, single glazed.

All in all, it would make a lovely holiday home but not one for 365 days if the year.

It's amazing! So much more character than a soulless new build. I'd have thought the size is workable too. I get your concerns re space, but the feel of a home is such a big part of what makes a happy household, and this looks to have a really nice home-y feel to it. I think I'd go for it if it were me.

I love it, think I will view this ASAP and if it is as good in real life, then I am in there with an offer. Cheers for posting this link!

How did that make you feel?
If it went under offer this afternoon, how disappointed would you be?
If you love it, go for it….

Good Luck!

It's lovely but only one loo/bathroom would rule it out for me not the space.

See, i Love it BUT its just too small for me even though i only have 2 young chidren ( 4 &5 ) But i would just find all the slopey ceilings and wierdly shaped rooms too much for me

It's very small for you and 2 teens. Weird shaped rooms and a nightmare to heat. I wouldn't buy it.

I agree that while the stained glass windows are initially appealing, there are so many of them that I'd feel shut in by them - although perhaps they usefully mask views of neighbouring brick walls!

My worries would be the field at the back (round here in the south of England I've seen exactly that view destroyed by acres of new housing next to long-established homes), plus any road noise from the road at the front (especially if the windows aren't double-glazed).

But it is a lovely house. It'll be interesting to know what your DC think of it.

Ignore my comments, I see there is a second loo. I'd be very tempted but then I'm not one of the people on MN who it's cruel to your children if you don't like in a mansion.

Possibly then you also know the OP owner... 😉

Its gorgeous, but please don't factor the view into your decision here. Never let a view influence you, because it could be a new build estate in 5 years time.

Omg it's gorgeous!! And the teens will be leaving in a few years anyway!! ;)

Not sure why you think it's small. In terms of floor space it must easily rival any new build you're looking at, except with a new build you'd probably get an en-suite as well.

My main worry would be the cost of heating the property. You'll be grateful for that wood burner come winter time! A new build will be much better insulated and more heat efficient.

Possible cons: no garage and relative lack of off-road parking. It fronts onto a B road so could potentially be noisy.

Location-wise. If you have teenagers who don't yet drive and who like to get out and about, it's a bit "middle of nowhere" and lacks public transport. There's only a very irregular bus service to Chester which I bet takes ages. Alternatively if your teens have their own car(s) then parking comes into play again; I guess you'd just have to park on the road.

It's lovely , amazing and quirky . It also has character , a new build won't .

I think it's lovely. If it's at the bottom end of your budget, could you explore with planning whether there is scope to put dormers on the bedrooms to counter the sloping ceiling issues? I bet an architect could come up with something really great to make the most of that house.

Its lovely but one thing to consider is who owns the land out the back?
You don't want to buy it and 1 year later someone builds a sewage plant.

I would never buy a house with that much free land at the back

I think it will bring you a huge amount of happiness.

Imagine waking up and seeing the view, enjoying the light through the stained glass windows at different times of the day, a whole lot of experiences that are priceless.

We took the plunge and bought a period property a few years ago and I've never regretted it for an instant. Coming home to a house you love is like winning the lottery every day.

I can't see the dimensions of the rooms?

BUY IT IMMEDIATELY!!! It’s fabulous!! Sod the kids,they’ll leave eventually! Buy it before I do!

I love it.

I would never ever buy a new build-I know some people's taste is for new-but to me they are fairly soulless and often have lots of snag list problems and thin walls etc. I love period houses though-

My DS and his girlfriend just bought a flat up North and it is a beautiful Edwardian period flat-all of her workmates were shocked they didn't want new!

I think it is a beautiful house and will be a great home!

It’s lovely! I don’t understand those who say it is too small - the rooms are all great sizes! I would never buy a new build, both in terms of personal taste as well as the worry that new builds can often have lots of issues arising from poor build quality (before anyone jumps on me I know that this is not always the case and I know many people living in them who have had no problems at all).

It's gorgeous.

The thing that comes to mind is that someone I know also lives in a house that backs onto a meadow. This meadow is very slightly higher than the garden of the house so every time there's heavy rain, the lawn gets boggy. When there's prolonged heavy rain the whole garden is unusable. Maybe ask the neighbours if they have any issues.

People say to negotiate with the children...do people really do that when buying a house?

It’s not this or a new build though. I much prefer period houses. But I don’t like cold, pokey, period houses with low ceilings, tatty kitchens, odd shaped tiny rooms with windows you can’t either open or insulate.

This. Honestly I swear some people live in a totally different world to me