Can I ask your opinion on this house?

[Waer]

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150313073#/?channel=RESBUY

Dh and I have viewed this house. We decided it’s got gorgeous bones but probably a bit too much work needed. I wouldn’t normally mind the work but it is at the VERY top of our budget if not a little over. Just buying the property would leave us flat broke. It would be stunningly beautiful with a bit of work done to it. I’m not sold on the layout either so we aren’t talking just a lick of paint.

Dh and I have had a difficult few years. I just don’t know if it’s worth living with the stress of a house needing work.

An annexe is something that dh and I have on our dream house list as in an ideal world my mum would move in with us (but not for 5 or so years).

i just can’t get it out of my head. Wdyt?

It's a lovely house but no way would I buy it if I were you. You'd be a slave to that house if it leaves you 'flat broke'. Also, it's not like it's a the bottom of the market so stretching yourself just for a roof over your head, you can still afford a perfectly nice house AND a comfortable life without great financial pressure.

First of all, it's over priced. I just bought a house outside London (21 min train to London) for 1,032,000, no work needed, refurbished recently. Ours is slightly smaller than this with about 1/4 acre land. Have you asked estate agent about possible offers?

But is IS a completely normal phrase to use for a house that needs a lot of work but has gorgeous old stone walls for example. Not our fault you've not heard of it, don't expect people to dumb it down for others.

Op I understand your desire for this property there are many lovely aspects. With these types of properties, if you can’t afford the asking price twice over I wouldn’t touch it. Once you factor in an internal remodel, complete redecoration, maybe knocking down or at least insulating the old conservatory, total new kitchen and bathrooms…it will cost 150/200k more. Plus all the fees associated with moving. If your mum would be moving in in 5 years ish I guess you’re at least late 30s, early 40s? Don’t do it op. Buy somewhere more manageable and save your money for fun times!!!

I've been in this position and bought the house. I didn't realise how much needed doing. 7 years on, we are still making improvements/changing stuff.

For the first couple of years I have to admit I hated it. I regretted buying it sooooo much. But now - after a considerable outlay! I love it. It's exactly how we want it. And we don't plan to move (unforseen circumstances permitting) till we downsize in years and years.

But - few differences. We bought 7 years ago and since then our income has gone up. That's helped a lot. We also had the benefit of low interest rates till 18 months ago and nursery fees have ended. It was also not pushing us QUITE so much as it seems like it will push you.

Most importantly, our relationship is solid. It's had to be, as we have had arguments about the house/money. But we went in to it together and never blamed each other in the heat of the moment (even if in my low moments I thought it!)

if you can get it for 850k with 150k left to do the work, definitely go for it! If they expect 1 million for it, walk away

it is at the VERY top of our budget if not a little over. Just buying the property would leave us flat broke.

Nice house but in the circumstances that you describe I probably wouldn't buy it as you may end up living in a house that isn't 100% how you want it now and you'd always be saving every penny to either do some work or plan more work. In addition to that, you'll have the pressure of planning for your mother to move in.

How much? Good grief. I can't get over prices of property in some areas.

Replacing all of the flooring is going to be a huge expense to start off with.

I would pass this by.

It's a totally normal thing to say. It's not lingo at all. Check out this brilliant and famous poem called Good Bones... www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/good-bones

It’s a normal thing to say.

The vast majority of people are aware that “the bones” relates to the structure and build of the house. It’s nothing to do with estate agents property developers, it’s hardly a technical term.

This is a very basic metric. There are all sorts of things that go into property value beyond just square footage and in or out of London.

I live close by in the middle of a long renovation on a 1970s house, the builders round here charge whatever the hell they like cause there’s still a lot of work around. I would walk away, just too many headaches there!

I love it. Definitely good “bones”. But if the stairs in photo 19 are the entrance to the annexe then I’m not sure how feasible that is for an elderly parent.

You need a way to be able to do the work, whether that’s increased income, reduced outgoings, or a cheeky offer.

Unhelpful comment but I LOVE it. It has good bones, gorgeous windows, doors and garden. You can live in it as it is and do work when you can. If you can’t get it out of your head, go with your heart.

Complete money pit. There are supports in there so it's not even livable plus it's listed so you can probably double and costs and timescales you have in mind.

Yep this. These photos are taken on a bright day with all the lights on and it still looks dark! With it being listed you're not going to be able to change the windows either...

It has lots of potential but yeah it's going to need a fortune spending on it so unless you can get it about £200k under the asking price then I wouldn't bother.

I had heard of it thank you, I’ve suffered a few Phil and Kirsty episodes in my time.

as for “dumb it down”… you’re hardly speaking in mathematical calculus or philosophical logic. Sorry, I know you wanted to feel special and ‘in the know’.

I love the outside of it (especially the verandah!) and the garden, but the inside is missing the beatutiful original features I'd expect to see in that sort of property. It's just modern and blank. I only had a quick glance at the photos, but it looks perfectly livable as it is. If it really does need serious rennovation, then I wouldn't even think about buying this property, because of it's Grade II listing.

I find it hilarious that people can look at photos of something a bit old and say “yeah that’s got good bones”.

Come on now… very few of you on here are surveyors. Just stop lying to yourselves

Perfectly normal saying, have you never heard it before or don't you think it applies to the house?

I agree it has good bones OP and the garden is beautiful but that house needs a lot of work! Keep looking, something will turn up.

The garden though ❤️

It looks like an old folks home. Sozza

Honestly I wasn't trying to be aggressive and didn't say "I can't believe you're so stupid and don't know this perfectly normal term". I was just supporting the OP in her use of this term as being a reasonable one to use on a thread which is about a property which may need a lot of renovation.

I apologise if it came across as rude. I do try not to be rude online or in real life.

Likewise my bad for being so forward about this @Wigeon thank you 🙏🏼

Needs a lot of modernization 😢For that money I'd expect not to do anything.