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Original poster

what's wrong with this house?

75 replies

hoorayforharoldlloyd · 22/07/2020 19:53

Decided to take the plunge and move north so we can buy a house and live by the sea.

Having a look today and saw a house that isn't perfect but is a 3 bed semi, near coast, by park and nature reserve, big garden. No bath and conservatory is ugly but we would have a tiny mortgage so would free us up to make all sorts of different life/career/training choices.

We've one toddler and won't have anymore so small 3 bed is fine, it's a tree lined street and near the metro.

But it seems to be about £15k under what I'd guess they'd be asking - anybody with more house buying knowledge know why - likely just not great area? Smaller than looks in pictures?

I don't know the area well, we were visiting different coastal areas and both fell in love with Whitley Bay/Cullercoats. We could go up to house worth around £260k if it was a better fit for us.

All thoughts appreciated!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-95145782.html

OP posts:
longtimecomin · 22/07/2020 20:48

I agree with others, i know Whitley bay, this is near the ice rink. It's not as attractive as other parts of Whitley but still good. Not far from the centre too. No reason not to go for it.

Purplewithred · 22/07/2020 20:48

I cant get past the fact it's a 3-bed house for less than a retirement studio costs round here...

Whathewhatnow · 22/07/2020 20:50

Additionally, conservatory looks like it needs a proper roof... is it UPVC? Finally, check out whether it has the appropriate building regs. That conservatory is open to the main house so it needs to be up to standard if built recently.

Disfordarkchocolate · 22/07/2020 20:51

Is it an ex council house? That keeps the price down.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2020 20:53

Personally, I would keep looking and try to find a detached house.

purplemunkey · 22/07/2020 21:01

They've got a 'no parking' sign on the front so I'd guess PPs saying it's the school and parents parking are probably right. Also, from the looks of street view the kerb is not dropped. Even more likely people will park across it.

frumpety · 22/07/2020 21:03

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71674842.html

Seaburn is nice too.

Original poster
hoorayforharoldlloyd · 22/07/2020 21:05

This is like house detective work! Ok, so it's a combination of being as not as nice area of Whitley and the school - quite possibly mainly the school. And yes, no parking sign outside the house suggests they've been having no fun with it. Useful things to think about it even if we don't go for this house - especially building regs on the conservatory.

OP posts:
GeordieRacer · 22/07/2020 21:08

As others have said, it's the 'wrong' side of Whitley Bay. It's fine, it's not a bad area, just not the posher bit, which runs from Spanish City northwards.

Lockdownseperation · 22/07/2020 21:09

You won’t find a detached house for 240k in that area.

What about

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-89615036.html

Also next to a school with limited parking but right in the heart of Whitley bay

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68161317.html

Round the back of a school and parking isn’t an issue. Every where in Whitley bay is next to a school. I think this house is a good deal

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-94738205.html#_map-view

F1rstT1meMummy · 22/07/2020 21:11

I reckon the tree might cause issues.
It's absolutely massive and depending on which way your garden faces could put it in shade most of the day!

GreyGardens88 · 22/07/2020 21:13

Zero kirb appeal, needs completely re-decorating

BlueLagoona · 22/07/2020 21:16

The conservatory being open to the living room will be a huge issue.

We have a conservatory and it’s used most of the year round - with appropriate heating/windows open and fans to regulate the temperature.

However in the coldest winter months we’re out of there by 7pm with the door shut and draft excluder in place as it turns into an ice box.

I can’t think of much that would be worse than having a conservatory wide open to your main living space with no way to separate it off!

Original poster
hoorayforharoldlloyd · 22/07/2020 21:23

@BlueLagoona - conservatory does look a bit mad - at first I just thought ugly, but the lack of doors is weird.

OP posts:
Pocketofsmiles · 22/07/2020 21:36

I was having a look at houses for sale in Whitley bay and for some reason this house in earsdon popped up which is a lovely village and I think it’s really nice inside for the price, you could check on the map to how far it is from Whitley (may be useless if u don’t drive or want a proper garden)
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71617149.html

Original poster
hoorayforharoldlloyd · 22/07/2020 21:38

@pocketofsmiles - thanks, it is nice but we definitely want a garden (I'm bit more pro yard for bigger rooms but that's a no go for partner!)

OP posts:
FlamingoAndJohn · 22/07/2020 21:42

I question that conservatory. It doesn’t look like a proper roof.

thriftyhen · 22/07/2020 22:18

Looks like ex-council, so that will keep the price lower. Also, being opposite a school would put some people off. I don't know the area at all, but if you have a bigger budget, why not go for something nicer? A quick look at Rightmove brought up some lovely looking houses, albeit nearer the top of your budget.

Fedupofballs · 22/07/2020 22:25

I used to live the other end of Seatonville road, the road around fox hunters and the ice rink is really busy with traffic through to the coast and town centre. Take a look at some parts of North Shields (spring gardens area perhaps?) Still walkable to the coast, but you’ve also got the fish quay. Not as many nice little shops as Whitley Bay, but I prefer it. We’re a bit further out now (wallsend) where you get a lot more for your money, but everything is so close in northtyneside and the metro is generally pretty good. We prefer it as we wanted more space and can just about cycle to the coast!

Soph88888 · 22/07/2020 22:48

Looks like an Ex council
Also pebble dash is expensive to get off

EL8888 · 22/07/2020 22:54

@GreyGardens88 yeah it’s the lack of kerbside appeal. I’m in the middle of buying a house with poor kerb side appeal, lm seeing it as an opportunity to get a bargain. We can then improve its appearance

Gosforth is lovely

Namaste6 · 22/07/2020 23:07

It's lovely inside OP - and the garden is decent too. The main elements (Kitchen and bathroom) have been taken care of so any extra investment could be made to improve the front kerb appeal? You're getting a lot for your money and yes, I've heard that the locals are genuinely lovely, friendly and welcoming. Good luck!

longtimecomin · 23/07/2020 03:36

If you can go to £260k what about this www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84311768.html

Justgivemewine · 23/07/2020 03:47

Apart from some dodgy decor I’d say nothing but...

When we were house hunting we saw some ‘lovely on paper’ houses for what looked like bargain prices. We spent a lot of time driving round looking at the area the houses were in before deciding whether to view. Many beautiful on paper bargain houses turned out to be in dodgy/
less desirable areas.

Drive around if you can and get a feel for the area.

sergeilavrov · 23/07/2020 04:32

Not a nice area of Whitley Bay, lots of nice Victorian properties available.

Would you consider south of the river in South Shields? It’s got a town centre, beaches, parks and the metro. The Westoe area is lovely (like this or this or this). The Ocean Road/Seafield Terrace properties are affordable and going to increase in value rapidly given the regeneration. There were lots of insulation grands given out too, so those properties are less costly than they used to be to maintain.