Why do I, well, not really like new houses, and yet...

[Pruni]

...I kind of hanker after living in one. Sigh.

I am so tired of crusty, shoogly windows that rattle in the breeze, and no insulation, and electrics that are only borderline safe, and anyway only one power point in a room because when the house was built people had nothing to plug in, and tongue and groove with god knows what behind it, and damp, and slaters everywhere, and cracks in the ceiling, and doors that swing the wrong way, and crappy old radiators...

I want double-glazing! Proper heating! Walls that aren't crumbly! Can you tell I'm keen to move?

Can you tell me what's nice about new houses...so I have some ammo to hit DH with when he turns his nose up?

Well,we are old house kind of people (redid a Georgian one a few years ago-shutters,fanlights,the works)but due to dh being abroad loads,reluctantly decided to look at new ones and found the one we have now.

It is gorgeous.I have to eat my words.
Fuck all housework,light airy,and on its own,far form anyone else.
Am a convert.

Ha ha NDP! But yours is different - it's not a 'box' and it's not on one of those estates (sorry everyone who lives on one but they aren't for me - each to their own!) and it looks individually designed and has old stone incorporated into it etc. It's a new house but looks solid like an old one.

Agree re maintenance - ours is going to be a right money pit

Ours is a money pit in waiting too but I just loved it so will have to be patient

am I being dim, but how is the house-work so different? I can see how maintenance is much better in a new house, but if I have to hoover/dust, how come it's going to be so much easier in a newer house? At least in my Victorian you can't see the dirt that easily!

off the subject slightly but have you contacted these companies about insulation / darft proofinh etc?? if you are receiving certain benefits(wtc etc) they do it free..hang on ill find the name who done ours a do a link...

\link{http://www.eaga.co.uk/Grants/warm_front.htm\try these, they may be able to help a little} good luck

Would love to help but everytime I have a "hmm, maybe" feel about new houses it disappears as soon as I venture onto an estate of them. Joyless is the word.

ikwym - sounds prissy, I know but I come over all claustrophobic and want to be let out as soon as possible!

i do like new hosues because of the 'newness' basically and you pick all your bits, but it seeems these days the living space is tiny cos they've given you an un needed hall or w/c down stairs, the house prices are still going up so they should increase the house sizes..we;ve had two new houses and i cant wait to get into my 'new' 60 year old bay windowed gorg home

oh a 60 yr old house with a bay doesn't count as "new" in my book! In estate agent's speak, I'm sure it's positively period! Sounds lovely anyway.

i mean new as in not this one

sorry, was being a bit thick...

its the stress honey

I love my Victorian house.They can be cosy,have non rattley windows,smooth plasterjust painted walls,loads of power points and loads of insulation.You just have to spend the money on them.
Over the last few years we have gutted the front(both floors),then gutted the back.This meant we could have all the mod cons,without having to give up the character or space.
We have saved an absolute fortune on gas and electric as we replaced things with more energy efficientproducts and put in modern insulation,new windows etc.,but we've done it all in keeping with the character of the house.
We still haven't quite finished we've just got two rooms and a hallway to decorate and we'll be there but it has been worth it.
We're not big DIY fans either we've just got people in to do things,as and when we've had the money.We can just about manage the painting ourselves.