Would we be mad to buy a home and knock down a perfectly functional extension?

[WaryRaven]

i have found a house I absolutely adore. It is a period home and absolutely stunning…from the front. Unfortunately there is a well built but rather awkward “garden room” extension I just don’t like. It’s the shape I have a problem with. Aesthetically it’s fine. Floors and walls are nice enough. I would just want to get rid of the whole thing. But would I be mad for doing so? Dh thinks I’m nuts but I assure him many people would also consider the garden room an eye sore and maybe build an orangery type thing to the west of the kitchen in a few years down the line. I hate how the original external windows have just had the glass removed so there are just big square holes between the kitchen and garden room.

It really is quite gorgeous from the front. Would I not just be knocking thousands off the value?

It does seem like it’s not the house for us. Some fantastic suggestions which I appreciate. But I think the search is still on for a semi-rural Georgian farmhouse not too far from amenities.

The house has so much going for it. Imagine a Summer’s day in that garden!

Crikey.

It's not like you posted their diary. The house is already on the internet for people to see and the majority of the comments have been positive.

To be fair, the fact it was shared has probably made this comment section a lot more helpful for you. You haven't breached the boundaries of the seller - it's a public web page. You've probably done them a favour with the boost in views.

of course but it’s now being critiqued on a public forum. I wouldn’t be thrilled if the flaws of my house were being pointed out when trying to sell up

I've asked MNHQ to delete for you, in case you don't know that's an option.

I guess so but when has that ever stopped anybody from buying and proceeding to wreck demolish part or whole of a house?! These decisions are often emotional more than financial or practical and often nothing will dislodge that desire once it takes possession of a buyer.

As I see it, it's a lot of house to take on when you don't like a key part of it - kitchen, dining, living area. That's where people spend most of their time and have their everyday life. I'd be inclined to buy a house I do like but I'm not you and it's very much a personal decision.

There have been many homes listed on MN that people have critiqued and discussed. I also remember a Google Maps house where you could go down the street and see other places too.

I think it's a beautiful house and the extension seems to add some breathing room to the downstairs.

I hope you soon find the home of your dreams.

To be honest @WaryRaven I don't think there has been any detriment to the Vendor- there will be additional traffic on the sale site and a good number of people saying how much they love the house- including lots of positive comments about the addition. Arguably you could feel aggrieved that a house you are interested in might now be spotted by another buyer. Have you viewed the house? That's surely the only real way to know how much of an issue the extension is for you, and whether you love the rest of it enough to go ahead anyway.

Thank you. Very kind of you to say

I wouldn’t knock it down , can you change the kitchen ‘window’ to something you’d prefer

But the house is online therefore anyone can view it.

Houses get linked and discussed all the time. On various platforms.

I think you have received a good response here. Lots of opinions and suggestions.

Oh fuck I've left the road name in. I'll report it.

Don’t knock it down before you have the money and a plan for what you want to do next. You might find once you’re living there that it doesn’t bother you so much. I was adamant I wanted to knock down a supporting column when we moved in but I don’t even notice now.

I love that place, I would buy it and live in it for at least 6 months before you make a decision. Looks like as it is the kitchen could be a bit dark, but don't miss the house and in a few months get an architect to come and throw some ideas at it.

Reposting with the road name also blocked out:

I don't think it's too bad, you can easily rejig the layout because I do understand what you mean about the kitchen. The extension has obviously been done to maximise the views, but you can't see any of them from where you're going to probably spend the most time.

That said, if I was going for the rural idyll, I wouldn't want to be just a hedge jump from two touring parks, an "inn" and a fishery, as pp has said.

Identifying names redacted because some people seem to have issue with the online link being posted (personally I don't, and I think feedback is far more valuable once people know the whole picture).

For what it's worth, OP, I was dead against the extension when I just had the floorplan to look at, but having seen the photos on Rightmove, I think it works really well. The extension looks like part of an interestingly-laid-out kitchen and there's plenty of light coming in. It doesn't have that cramped, airless, dark look that many kitchens have which open into an extension.
BTW, I don't think any vendor would mind their Rightmove entry being linked to. The photos and description are already in the public domain and it's free advertising.
Good luck whatever you decide to do about this extremely gorgeous house.

@WaryRaven If you aren’t wedded to Georgian, there’s choice. Personally I thought the garden was bland and lacked imagination. You get a lot for your money in that are of Cheshire though!

its a little bit further afield than we originally planned but you can’t knock Euston - Crewe in 90 minutes. We’ve made the move North and initially gravitated towards Knutsford but found the houses prohibitively expensive.

Nantwich is gorgeous. Really enjoyed winter here so far (renting right now). Coast isn’t too far either.

What about something like these in the ara

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148580822#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148921964#/?channel=RES_BUY

Similar prices, doesn't need a ton of work on it etc

Knock the extension if you don't like it. It might be difficult to restore the exterior to the way it was before the extension was built.

I think I'd add a bifold window and a door into the gaps if that's the only issue with it. Would help with keeping the house warm and travel of smells. It looks beautiful!

That was my first thought- especially when it's a listed building

With a Grade 2 listed house, you are at the whims of the local council Heritage officer(s). Some favour very obvious modern additions, others like the extension to blend in. I reckon they would let you add larger low-profile "velux" and alter the windows and doors (none of that would have been in the original listing of a recent refurb, which the rest of the house looks to be.

I expect you'll be spending a lot of money on the house, so I'd ask whether I could take an interior designer/architect on a viewing to see what could be achieved.

It could look strikingly different.

With the "big gap where the window was", we have similar along our Georgian terrace. We've left ours unglazed, but one of our neighbours has mirror glazed both sides in an original style from and window dressed and added big plants.