Am I too snobbish if I say I don't like the outside of this maisonette?

[HolyParc]

SW London area, lovely neighbourhood and location is perfect, I just think it's looks really ugly and shabby on the outside, would I be mad to not consider it?

https://www.onthemarket.com/details/14443886/

So much of it depends on seeing it and the feel of it. If you'd feel depressed seeing it every day as you come home then it's not worth it. I get a nice feeling turning into my street.

@faxnoink I agree

It’s depressing looking and I wouldn’t want to come home to it especially in winter.

it's such a personal thing, what your heart feels is 'home'. I love an encaustic tile and a sash window, but the more I look at that block of flats, the more I like it, sorry! It is exactly what it is, that spare design aesthetic. You could always put a trellis up the porch or a big pot of jasmine so your nose distracts your brain as you walk in?

Doesn't look shabby to me, a bit bland yes. But the flat is a good size and well laid out, you have a nice little balcony and it also look like there's decent off street parking. I'd certainly consider it, maintenance costs will be less than a flat in a period building

Maple Road isn't shabby though.A period conversion in the same area would be considerably more, could you afford that or would you give on location ti get a period property?

I think it would be more in the realms of 100- 120k here!! Prices down south are mindblowing. I really feel for people living there.

I do like it op. It does look well maintained

I think it looks fine, I’d never buy a period property. Mid 20th-century are usually big rooms, storage, well insulated and sound proofed. And you never sit and look at your home from the outside.

@alexisccd I have seen some period flats around maple at a similar price or just a tiny bit more actually so was hoping to find one

I'm probably unconsciously biased here, as I grew up in a village full of post-war council housing, most of which now looks Ercol-fabulous next to the new build estates with their tiny, tiny windows and extraordinary starting prices.

What else do you get for 535K in Surbiton?

You don't see the outside once you are inside. Looks like it overlooks a nice area from the lounge window. I like it and would definitely view it if it ticks all your other boxes.

Not at all shabby but looks a bit as if it was built in Russia's pre-Glasnost era. 250k approx. in NW England. (Only 2 bedrooms for half a million? Phew!)

It sometimes isn't faux surprise though. I am genuinely shocked sometimes when I compare the prices where I live. Its honestly like a different world!

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/property/kt6/ is this more your style? Other end of Maple Road. No parking though.

Just remember you spend most of your time inside your house looking out. You don't spend ages standing outside looking at it. So to me the view from the windows is more important than the view of the house.

Plus those boxy unfashionable houses do tend to have good usable space inside, unlike some conversions and some more modern houses.

Looks perfectly ordinary to me, and neither ugly nor shabby. It's obviously not to your personal taste though, and that's all right. The world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same thing.

It's not the most beautiful building but it's not terrible. The interior is great. The short(ish) lease would put me off, and is there any ground rent to pay? Services charges are reasonable.

That 2-bed period house looks great value, compared to the flat, and a lower Council Tax band!

2 bed terraced house for sale in Maple Road, Surbiton KT6, £595,000 - Zoopla

It looks like lovely post-war Span housing to me - really well built, very light and spacious, and with the emphasis on outdoor landscape. I would definitely buy something of this period - indeed, our current home was built in 1970, has huge rooms with big windows and the space flows beautifully. Looks great with period-ish furniture in it.

https://www.themodernhouse.com/journal/what-were-hearing-span-a-history-of-londons-iconic-homes/#:~:text=Co%2Dfounded%20by%20Eric%20Lyons,sense%20of%20community%20among%20residents.

I like it. Definitely not ugly or shabby. You don't like it though and you're the one who'd be living there.

It's a mid century development - very popular for a reason.

There's nothing wrong with the outside. There's no litter, there's a beautiful tree, grass, no cars. I prefer that side to the side on the main road (although you do have a small balcony so that's nice).

Why do people bother with posts like this?? You don't live in Surbiton obviously. OP probably would never dream of living where you are so it's all pointless.

Location, location, location.

I love the Span housing too. I think OP's flat might be a Wates one? As you say lots of light and big square rooms.

Our house is similar, mid-century and built for function not curb appeal. I almost didn’t buy it because the outside was ugly to me. But, I couldn’t find anywhere as nice and good sized on the inside. I now love our house, with its well proportioned big rooms and large windows. I spend most of my time enjoying the inside of my house, and not long stood outside staring at the front of it! So in the end I’m glad I went for it.