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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not view this house

226 replies

Elaine222 · 25/08/2024 10:55

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.

OP posts:
samarrange · 25/08/2024 13:35

You can go and see it, or you can put those two hours and £15 of petrol money to another use. Personally if my DP really wanted to see a house I'd go, if only to have better "don't-buy" arguments to counter their "buy" reasons.

In any case, you'll know when you find the right place. Neither of you will be able to sleep that night.

stayathomer · 25/08/2024 13:39

My gut reaction is you’d spend your whole time sweeping and mopping but that might just be me!! We’ve a big kitchen and I miss all the houses we lived in where we just did a quick run about!!!

Viviennemary · 25/08/2024 13:49

It's absolutely soulless. Those big empty rooms. Im sure there will be nicer houses at that price. Dont blame you for not wanting to view.

Rosscameasdoody · 25/08/2024 13:50

It’s big, but if there are four of you that’s a good thing. The important things look as though they’ve been done, nice bathrooms, spacious kitchen (although the colour is hideous, but each to their own I suppose). I can see what you mean about filling the spaces, but the current owners don’t seem to have much imagination - there’s lots of space for built in furniture if your budget stretches to it.

The one thing I would mention is that judging by the photos of one of the bathrooms and bedroom, there is hoist equipment built in to the ceiling so it looks as though someone disabled has lived there, or does currently. If you did decide to go for it, it’s important to make sure that they take this out and make good afterwards, because it costs a lot of money to do it - speaking from experience here.

OrwellianTimes · 25/08/2024 13:50

KimberleyClark · 25/08/2024 11:28

The fridge freezer looks very odd indeed, like it’s leaning against the wall,and who needs 4 ovens?

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Well yes, the photographer has used a wide angle lens and done a pretty poor job.

4 ovens can’t really be blamed on the photographer though. One is probably a microwave.

IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 25/08/2024 13:56

KimberleyClark · 25/08/2024 11:28

The fridge freezer looks very odd indeed, like it’s leaning against the wall,and who needs 4 ovens?

Edited
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Oh the things I could do with four ovens...

In our old house I had space for a small range. An oven, a half size oven and five burners. Wasn't enough when I was really on it with batch cooking, baking etc.

I love cooking.

housethatbuiltme · 25/08/2024 13:57

I would personally LOVE to live in a house where 'too much space' is the 'problem'.

I mean if you don't need or want space thats fine, leave it to someone who does need it but personally its a 'problem' I dream of having lol.

PlasticineKing · 25/08/2024 14:00

I think it looks really bland, and not stylish at all, but if you have the ability to do that then I’d go for it. The people currently living there haven’t done it justice I feel.

Also I’d need to get the kitchen wrapped or painted 🤪

SpanielPaws · 25/08/2024 14:01

I would view, but on initial impressions I couldn't live with that kitchen or the flooring in it and that would have to go immediately! And some of the carpets look like they need replacing - and with big rooms like that, that's a fair budget you're going to need. The house just looks too big for the furniture in it and needs "softening" with room colours and window dressings.

We moved from a 2 bed tiny flat with 3 DC into our 4 bed house and our downstairs looked really empty for several years as we didn't have the budget for furniture. I look back at photos and think "how on earth did we live like that".

loobylou10 · 25/08/2024 14:02

The photos are hideously distorted - making every room look miles bigger than they are. Looking at it would cost nothing, what have you got to lose.

Coffeeisnecessary · 25/08/2024 14:02

We kept saying no to viewing the current house we have, it didn't look great on the listing but it felt like home when we looked round. Go and look, it looks like a lot could be done to make it more homely.

godmum56 · 25/08/2024 14:05

Muthaofcats · 25/08/2024 12:42

Horrible on inside - would need totally redecorating so depends if you have the budget to rip everything out and re do it ?

what happened to moving in and living with what you have until you can afford change? I am not a fan of the colour of the kitchen but it looks clean and perfectly usable, maybe a repaint of the doors? I'd want the ceiling tracking out or a reduction to get that done but again the bathrooms are perfectly clean and usable. What would you immediately need to rip out?

Cyclingmummy1 · 25/08/2024 14:08

It's big and it's bland. It's got a lot of potential.

Ringerphone · 25/08/2024 14:12

The whole area looks bland and depressing. Identikit suburbia

Qanat53 · 25/08/2024 14:14

It’s your home once you are in it. Looks spacious.

Rosscameasdoody · 25/08/2024 14:15

godmum56 · 25/08/2024 14:05

what happened to moving in and living with what you have until you can afford change? I am not a fan of the colour of the kitchen but it looks clean and perfectly usable, maybe a repaint of the doors? I'd want the ceiling tracking out or a reduction to get that done but again the bathrooms are perfectly clean and usable. What would you immediately need to rip out?

Show quote history

The ceiling tracking caught my attention too. We pulled out of a house sale a few years ago that had similar tracking in the bathroom and main bedroom. The vendor initially agreed to have it removed and make good, but then backtracked on it. When we priced it, it would have cost a small fortune, by the time it had actually been taken out, the electrics dealt with and the ceilings and walls made good.

MsInterpret · 25/08/2024 14:16

It may be the massive wide-lens making it look more spacious than it is? Worth seeing if DH likes and it may surprise you.

Sweetandsaltycaroline · 25/08/2024 14:16

Littletreefrog · 25/08/2024 11:07

I would go just so your DH can put it out of his mind. My DH was fixated on a house I thought would have a lot of issues due to age but he loved it so we went to view. Seeing it in the flesh meant DH could see what I meant re upkeep costs etc and so we took it off the list but if we had never gone I think DH would always have thought 'what if'.

We had a similar thing that DH thought a house looked really good value and really wanted to look at it. I knew I definitely didn't want to live there but I went so that I could say I'd seen it, and list my reasons, having been there. He actually found it much less appealing once he was there.

AMRP · 25/08/2024 14:17

I think you should compromise and view it. What’s the harm in viewing? Your husband may resent you if you never get to see it, and if you do view, you and/or him may feel differently about it. Estate agent pictures make rooms look way bigger than they are sometimes, so you may be surprised

Cural · 25/08/2024 14:23

The trouble with too much space is the cleaning and the energy bills.

Andthereitis · 25/08/2024 14:25

Go and see it.
It looks huge in EA photos but that's what they intend to do!

Socksey · 25/08/2024 14:25

It looks amazing...
So much you can do with it and remember you don't need to use the space in the same way as the current occupants.... you're not moving in with them...

Greytulips · 25/08/2024 14:28

I think the problem area is the long living room.

I would move the door so the furniture fitted round the fire place and have a corner TV cabinet angled towards the sofas - then you’d have space for a table.

Bit the light in that room would be lovely.

The kitchen a bit bland - needs some homely touches.

OrangeAndFizz · 25/08/2024 14:29

I'd love this house. There is plenty of space. Your children would appreciate it too.

LakieLady · 25/08/2024 14:39

NormaLouiseBates · 25/08/2024 11:04

I reckon it could be amazing, so much potential. I really dislike the kitchen though, the colour is awful imo

I really like it, although the purple cabinetry made me wince, and when I saw where the fridge is in relation to the sink, my first thought was that you'd have to walk miles every time you made a cuppa (I drink about 20 cups of tea a day, so it adds up).

My other reservation was that an en suite and one other bathroom isn't a lot for a 5-bed house. (SIL's last house had 5 beds, 2 en suites, a bathroom and separate shower room).

I looked at the measurements and it's not as big as the pics would have you believe. The living room is quite a bit smaller than the one at my SIL's house, and they had 2 sofas, a sideboard, a tv unit thing and 2 armchairs in it, which was more than enough to stop it feeling cavernous.

I wouldn't baulk at the expense of filling the space. You can get some great stuff second hand, and do it gradually as you go along.

If it's really overpriced though, I wouldn't consider it unless there's a chance of the owners agreeing to a big reduction.