To not view this house

[Elaine222]

Name changed as I've spoken about this a lot in real life so don't want other posts linked.

DH wants to view this property. It is in the area we want and he loves it from the outside. I hate how it is set up, think it's really over priced and can't imagine how we would use the space.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150168083#/?channel=RES_BUY

Currently we are in a smaller property and I think we'd need to spend a lot to "fill" this house. I worry our current sofas etc. wouldn't fit. Looks like the family there now had the same issue. Lots of badly matched furniture round the sides of the rooms has honestly put me off.

There are 4 of us so the bedrooms would be good. The living areas, dining rooms etc. looks like too much dead space. Not a cosy feel at all has made me unable to see what I could do.
He is keen to go and view but I don't think that would help me get a view of what it could be, just more what it is.

Gut feeling is a no. Possible too much money considering I'd want to re do all the windows, the bathroom etc. But interested on opinions and what ideas for making this a home, other people have please.

@Verbena17

My PILs are struggling to sell their house near Stamford- I'm now wondering whether to post it on this thread

Decor not to my taste either, but it has massive potential.

the only negative to me is five bedrooms and only two bathrooms, one of which is an en suite,

I would view it to get a clear sense of perspective on it. The EA photos are always stretched and everything appears bigger than it really is.

The kitchen is quite an usual colour, but if you didn't like it you might be able to change the doors and change it.

Don’t know the area at all but the house and garden have so much potential. I would definitely go to see it esp at that price

You could do a lot with that house/garden if you have children. Space!
Make the 'study' the dining room, make the 'dining room' a family/play room for the children, etc.

Can't speak to prices, though, as don't know the area well.

Regardless of the house, positives or negatives, I think it’s very important to buy a property you both feel just as positive & invested in. It’s a huge mistake to buy a house one person is super keen on only. When things go wrong or money gets tight it opens up space for a blame game. We have bought properties in the past one person favoured a lot more and it’s been a mistake in hindsight. The best properties we’ve bought have always been ones we’ve both looked at each other after a viewing and readily agreed we want to offer on. I’d stick to that if you can.

I always see houses like buying a pair of shoes, it’s got to really fit and feel right. Wrong houses feel like shoes that don’t quite fit but you’re trying to wear them anyway! 😃

That house has bags of potential. Our place was similar, bland and living room with furniture against walls with TV far away. We’re slowly redecorating, lots of upcycling eBay bargains, antique fair art for the walls etc. First job was painting the kitchen cupboards which is the main issue I’d have with that house. I’d also want to change the island (bigger) and flooring, but it’s clear why there is so much space and plastic flooring.

Interior design is my hobby now and it nice to take time and focus on one room at a time. The kids got involved in designing their own rooms too. Aside from bathroom refits and flooring it has been fairly inexpensive, thanks to DIY and secondhand furniture and artwork. There’s no big jobs in that house, perfectly liveable as it is so no rush to redecorate. Our new place is 3x the size of our previous home so I get the worry about filling the space, but it’s a lovely worry to have.

I’d go and see it with an open mind. You might love it or at least see the potential or your DH might decide he doesn’t like it after all. It looks a lovely house with great space but you’ll know whether it has the right feel or not when you see it for yourself

@Elaine222

Why would you need to change the windows?

As someone who lives in the Fens, hell no! It looks like on one of the old flood plains. Basically always try and get something near one of the old churches on the original islands, especially if you are looking long term. The environment agency/government have already said they are not going to invest in the sea defences for us.

Here is a little article about the floods in 1947 and Crowland. You’ll see at the bottom that road looks like it’s a Flood Zone 3 maybe a 2?

You have to look at the space, the situation, the garden etc not the furniture.

I would go and view it.

The furnishing IS sparse because someone living there uses a wheelchair/hoists etc, you can see lots of evidence of that in the pictures.

The photos are taken using a wide angle lens to make things look roomy, which isn't necessary and is making it look much more sparse and 'vast acres of carpet' than it really will be.

Going to see it means your DH gets to see for himself what you mean if your opinion of it being too big and empty is actually accurate, so it won't be the 'what if' property.

I think it looks bloody brilliant... but I am a wheelchair user and its bloody rare to see a property that is suitably adapted.

I agree with you. The living room layout is really poor.

I would absolutely love this house, and have just planned what I would do to inside the house. it’s beautiful OP.

but if your not sure it’s half your decision also.

YANBU. That kitchen! Awful awful awful. If you don’t like it and I can see why. Then don’t go view it. Having said that, the space in having large rooms is something I actually do like. But you’d need to spend a decent amount changing that kitchen, and if you don’t have a lot of furniture then you’d need to buy more. Assume you’ll need 50k ish to sort the house out and buy some more furniture. Possibly more depending on your taste.

I wouldn't view simply because its 7.5 miles from the station.

If it's a family home & you have kids then once they get to teenage years they're want to be out seeing friends. To me public transport is a must. I wouldn't want to be having to go out every Saturday evening at 11pm just to ouch them up from the train station ('I'm betting there isnt a bus around that time and/or a bus stop nearby)

"£650k round here would barely get a 2/3 bed terrace, so my value for money radar is a bit off!"

I live about 8 miles away from there. It's maybe a tad overpriced but there again it really is big, around 320 sq metres including the garage.

Slightly smaller homes are currently around £580k-£600k

For example:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147674609#/?channel=RES_BUY

or

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143197499#/?channel=RES_BUY

I think it has a lot of potential but the pink kitchen cupboards would have to go immediately for me!

I like it. So much potential and space. Really dislike the kitchen but otherwise it's great. I really wouldn't be basing the massive purchase of a house on whether your sofa (or any other furniture for matter) will suit. As for value, I have no idea - in my area a house like that would easily cost £1.2m+ so to me it seems incredible value. That's why it's important to view (not just look online) several properties to get a good sense of where the market lies. And I personally would consider how much it would cost to replace the kitchen when making my offer.

Its got so much potential! As others have said and from previously working in healthcare, its set up that way to risk harm to the residents who live there especially if they require a host for the bed and bath.

Go and view it, because you never know.

I didn't want to view our current house, as it looked awful in the photos. I did, and fell in love with it. We're still here 33 years later!

It's nice and big with such a great sized garden - definitely go and see it.

In terms of what would make this a home: better colours, more furniture and in particular storage. There's so little storage apparent in the house which has either been minimally lived in or cleared out to sell, and photographed to exaggerate the space. If you have musical instruments or are into sports and hobbies or have lots of books it will certainly be easy to make it more lived in and welcoming.

You can buy furniture as you go.

Do you have any friends who are architects or designers that might be willing to view it with you?

I'd advise you get the dimensions of the rooms, then really think hard about all the storage you would need and add that with one of the free online room planners (eg from IKEA) to get a better idea of how you'd live there.