Executive House vs Eco House, what do you think?

[WithManyTots]

HI,

There are two houses we are a bit interested in. One is a very nice, modern 5 bed "Executive" style house on a small development of 4 or 5 identical houses. Very nice, all top spec. stuff, but basically the same as a million other homes built by Barrets/Persimmon etc all over the country.

In the same village, in a slightly more central position, is a Scandinavian Eco house, all open plan, super insulated, triple glazed etc, and about the same size. It has a brand new architect designed extension ( all glass walls and sharp modern lines) It has wood burning stoves and both solar hot water and electricity. These are "bought and paid for" not rent a roof, so generate an income of about two grand a year for the owner.

I sort of feel the latter should cost a bit more, but I'm not sure if a premium is being asked. What do you think. For reference around here the first house goes for around £600K

Thanks

The Eco one

Eco!

Eco one!

eco

Definitely the eco one. Who wants a house that looks like everyone elses?

Make sure the glass is self cleaning though!

the eco house does sound interesting if all the other things (location, neighbours, planning nasties) are good.

but do ask to see the actual bills - glass is never as thermally efficient as walls. Remember how much work logburners are (although they are lots of fun too) and if you have kids, think about how the open plan will actually work.

sounds worth a good nose around though.

Eco!

The eco one sounds lovely, what do you mean by "I'm not sure if a premium is being asked. What do you think. For reference around here the first house goes for around £600K" - Do you know the cost of the eco house?

I would never buy an executive home, on a road of almost identical houses, if I could find an individual, alternative for similar money.

Eco.

You will save several thousand per year every year through the lower bills etc to spend on interesting things
triple glazing is generally BETTER than bog standard UK building regs walls (the Germans are always shocked by the UKs low insulation standards

TapselteerieO ,

The Eco one is currently asking for about 80K more. I can't work out if that is a good deal, because it will generate that in energy savings and solar payments, or a a bit of a premium to pay that will in reality never pay abck

specialsubject ,

The current occupants (a fimliy of 5) "say" they use about 500lt of oil a year, about 2000 units of electricity and 3 cubic metres of wood. On these figures that does seem quite a saving

I think it is quite a steep premium, but could you ever see yourself converting a house to make it like the eco one - what would the cost and stress of creating a similar home? They are two very different houses, so I don't think that comparing the prices being asked works.

I loved our wood burning stove - it was our main source of heat in the old house we lived in, so it was hard work - I chopped wood for it almost daily. I would still look to have one again - they are easy to light, easy to clean and much less messy than an open fire.

If I could afford it, the eco house would be my choice every time.

EcO one sounds lovely!

I would expect a premium for the eco house above just the fuel savings, as it sounds a much nicer and more interesting property. So long as it has been designed in a practical way as well as an eco way, I'd go with that.

pootlebug : We are sold on it too, It looks like it could generate £50K - £60K in feed in tarrif payments over the next 24 years, and could save a further £10K - £15K in energy bills, so the numbers look close. As you don't seem to be able to get those rates any more, it's not something we could retro-fit to any other house. We really just want to check we are not missing anything.

interesting figures - in that case, even more worth a look! The sellers should tell you the truth if you ask a direct question.

just thinking: 500l of oil = £330 last time I bought it. Bag of wood £90. Electricity about £360 a year (working roughly on what I pay and use). So under £1000 p/a for total fuel. If you get nothing back on the solar it is still good.

if the layout works for you and the location is good, and all the usual etceteras...

Might justify the purchase of the eco house - energy bills to rise to fund green power