If you were buying a house...

[TeaWithPaddington]

Hello,

Currently going through a divorce and need to sell the family home once the settlement figure is finalised. I'm looking around online at the moment to see what's out there and worried over the cost of living crisis.

I love old houses so my choice would be to get a Victorian house but I am aware they will be more expensive to run. There are, however, some new houses being built that are built to be more energy efficient. I went in a show home last December (at another town; same houses) on a really cold/wet day and the house was toasty warm!!

What should I do considering the cost of living? Go for a new build or go for what I'd like? I love the character in older houses!

I'd go for low running costs. Older houses are also more likely to need extra costly mainetance like a new roof or repointing.

I totally get the feeling an old house gives in terms of character, but you can create a lovely home in a new build. I mean a lot of victorian houses are just the quickly thrown up worker hpuse of their day and they all have the same character!

I’ve been housesitting in various houses over the summer and the new builds or anything from 70s onwards have been unbearably hot. I’m sure they’re more comfortable in cold weather but you can always get an electric blanket etc in an old house and keep warm. Overheated houses in summer are really hard to be in and it’s surely only going to get worse.

Look at everything. Some older properties will have been refurbished with insulation, new windows in mind. What about a smaller cottage type property?

I would personally buy the house I loved, new builds are small, thin walls, overlooked gardens. Not our thing personally much prefer a larger mature garden but that is us.

I was thinking about this yesterday as I was walking through an estate that's being built around the corner.

I've always, always preferred older properties, our current one is 90 years old but if I was buying now I'd definitely be going for warmth.

Think about the heat extremes as well. A friend of mine has an old house with thick walls and it was cool inside even in the recent heatwave. If you look at somewhere with lots of glass, especially where a kitchen has been made out of a side return or with Velux windows, remember these will make the heat worse.

Hi,

I never thought about the heat and, yes, I see what you mean. I hate being overlooked too and know new builds are built with numerous houses over-looking them.

I'd love a cottage as well as a Victorian town house. Both would do me!

I'll definitely look at both but I am swaying more towards character properties.

Remember that showhome will have had the thermostat cranked up! I’m in a Victorian house and yes I’m sure it costs more to heat than a modern one but so much of current rates are on standing charge I’m not sure it’s worth living in a new build just to save money? Plus an older house you’re more likely to either have or be able to have a log burner fitted easily.

We went for the smaller more cost efficient house.