Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

What do you think of this house?

30 replies

badchat · 06/06/2013 14:14

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41913101.html

I think this looks great, but tell me what I am missing!

We are currently a family of 4 (DCs 3yo and 1yo) but hoping there will be a DC3 at some point, and I'd like a spare room for family visitors.

Looks nice and light, which is a massive thing for me.

The only things concerning me are - possibly busy road?; looks like little to no storage currently; and I don't like all the shower rooms everywhere - I'm a bath person so would want to turn the 1st floor ensuite and adjacent shower into another bathroom.

Oh, and this is very picky, but looks like a NE facing garden and would much prefer S/SW/W...

I don't know Edinburgh very well - we have been to visit a couple of times now and quite keen to move (out of London) but if you happen to know anything about the area as well that would be v helpful. From google maps looks very promising - shops and cafes down on Bruntsfield place, fairly close to town, secondary schools which I hear are 'good', and Links for green space.

Anyway, just wanted to see what other comments you eagle-eyed MNers would have...

OP posts:
Pancakeflipper · 06/06/2013 14:20

I am thinking parking issues. Hard to tell how busy the road is - you need someone to go there at various times in the day to check it out! Do they have parking permits for that area?

I am thinking storage ( though there may be sheds/playhouse or you can put them in).

Enough room for a playroom. Do you need an office space cos' that might take up a bedroom?

Meddlinkids · 06/06/2013 14:51

Bruntsfield is student central. Lovely but chock ful of 'em! Just along from Morningside, 10 mins by bus into town, fab place to live but very, very studenty.

All parking in Edinburgh is horrific, take that as read!

rattling · 06/06/2013 14:54

I went to school at Boroughmuir so know the area quite well. Brunstfield road is quite busy - but also great bus links. Once you are off that road it gets quite quiet. I assume it has permit parking? A bit too studenty for me - looks like tenement flats across the road?

My family of 4 are just about to upgrade to 90m2, so I would struggle to offer any downsides internally.

My only other opinion is that it looks quite cheap! And the market, particularly in Morningside/Bruntsfield seems to be pretty active at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if it went quickly and for quite a bit above the price here?

Windingdown · 06/06/2013 15:16

What a beautiful house. Parking seems like the immediate issue.

How will you feel about sleeping on another floor from one or more of your DC? I wouldn't like that myself whilst they're all v little.

Also, massive windows everywhere and not a curtain in sight. Could be pricey.

You'll need to put in a shed to store the garden kit you'll need to keep that lovely plot in check.

Looks like a gorgeous family home.

Meddlinkids · 06/06/2013 17:29

Parking is an issue ALL over Edinburgh, seriously, if you are put off by parking it isn't the city for you!

Original poster
badchat · 06/06/2013 20:02

Ooh thank you so much for your thoughts.

I hadnt even considered parking - I can't drive so I never think of these things. DP has car though so would need a space. We are used to permit parking in London and often having to park on the next street so if it's like that then I dont think thats too bad.

I wondered about the separate floor for master/kids bedrooms. We'd stick them both in the bedroom next to us initially - they share at the moment in a small room and its fine. But I dont know if DD would want her own room before she was old enough to be happy to be on a different floor. I shared bedrooms until I was 13 but with sisters - more tricky with girl and boy

I have no idea what I think about it being a studenty area as I've never lived in one (ben in London since I was 18 where no areas are really full of students. Haringey probably the closest to that, but quitw different to here I think! Are there still young familes in the area? I guess if enough other families it wouldn't bother me.too mcuch to be tripping over students alk the time.

Yes I thought it looked cheap compared to what else we've seen at higher prices rattling. Thats why it got me all excited but prob means there's some massive flaw not aparent until you view!

I quite liked the no curtains thing! Opportunity to have a bit of input but no other work to do - most we've looked at would really want to redecorate.

Pls excuse.my iphone typos btw! Typing whilst feeding DS...

OP posts:
Poosnu · 06/06/2013 20:08

Lovely house - I do miss Edinburgh (and still have my student flat not too far from there).

It is a studenty area - Marchmont, Tollcross very close by. Bruntsfield Road is bus, but the bus routes would be great if you don't drive.

Have you looked at the school catchment?

I imagine parking would be the same as London. You purchase a parking permit and park on street (or the next street if no spaces). I used to be able to find a parking space on my street easily.

Poosnu · 06/06/2013 20:09

busy

Mintyy · 06/06/2013 20:11

Not my cup of tea, but then I am not you.

Purplehonesty · 06/06/2013 20:25

Oh it's lovely. The area is Ok, studenty but not scruffy.
The house is gorgeous but yes it does look like there is little storage.
I'd buy it though!
We have one dc downstairs with us and one upstairs but they will share downstairs when dd is sleeping better and then have seperate rooms again once they are older.

pinkje · 06/06/2013 23:19

I used to live nearby in Tollcross. It will get busy with (drunken) students walking home past your front door so if it is not double glazed that's a noise you'll have to contend with (and is it a bus route too?). Streetview will give you a lot of answers.

Mind you Boroughmuir High School is a good secondary and you'd be close to some lovely green spaces.

Retties are a decent enough estate agency.

SingingSands · 06/06/2013 23:30

Oh it's lovely! Looks like there might be a big shed or garage at the bottom of the garden? As for internal storage, I can see some on the floorplans, most houses that size will have a "press" somewhere. Looks like a lot of original storage has been removed, but you could easily get built in storage installed. I love the light, it seems like a great family home. Parking will be by permit. There will be lots going on in that area, it would be a great family home.

I'm a bit jealous!

BackforGood · 06/06/2013 23:36

Am I the only one to think "Aagh - so much white painted wall + small children's finger prints = not such a good combination" ? or do I just have particularly messy dc ?

flow4 · 07/06/2013 06:45

It won't be quite as big as it looks in those photos: they've used a distorting lens... For instance, look how small the radiator is in comparison with the bedside light in photo 9!

Other than that, it looks lovely :)

Bunbaker · 07/06/2013 06:52

I love it. I think it is a beautiful house. The fact that there is no off road parking would be a deal breaker for me though.

Why are there no curtains or blinds at any of the windows?

Someone upthread said it was cheap Shock. Nearly £700k is an awful lot of money to me.

OwlMother · 07/06/2013 07:46

One thing to bear in mind is that although the market is not what it was, this is an offers over price. It may go for considerably more. The agent they are using has a reputation for being one of the most aggressive around.

If you were really interested it would be worth getting your solicitor to ask what ballpark they're anticipating, how many notes of interest, etc.

The area is very studenty, yes- but so is most of Edinburgh as centrally placed as this is. Bruntsfield/morningside/marchmont are full of young families and as such I imagine this could be popular. Schools are very good locally. I'd live there!

RedHelenB · 07/06/2013 09:06

Wonders why they have such a small table in dining room!!??

wonkylegs · 07/06/2013 09:21

It's a development and has been dressed which is why it has no curtains. Next door which is a matching pair (see extension) looks like it's still having work done (building dust on front door)
It's lovely but probably has no family stuff, as its staged so it's less likely to look so polished with real people.
It's a nice development but like ours the developer has turned a lot of the traditional storage into 'usable' space. Great but we all have stuff to store (suitcases,toys, christmas decs etc) and it will eat into that lovely space.

Erlack · 07/06/2013 09:33

Looks like a lovely house. I don't know that area of Edinburgh very well so I can't usefully comment on the location. What I would say is that it may be the price is being pitched a bit low to attract interest and then create a bidding war. How long has it been on the market?

Also, I wouldn't say that particular EA is good. They did the classic "there is suddenly another buyer" for a house I was buying some years back- when the property had been on the market for ages. We did offer more but we felt a bit like we were being taken for a ride the way it played out. I was then messed about a bit more recently by the same EA with another potential purchase. I wouldn't let it put you off if you really like the house but just be aware and make sure your solicitor is good.

There are some really lovely houses to be had in that price bracket- are you set on living in that area?

Erlack · 07/06/2013 09:35

Also, sorry if you know this- but check out the ESPC- that's the main portal for property in Edinburgh, not Rightmove.

primallass · 10/06/2013 19:31

Round there is a bit too busy and studenty for me, but them I an a country bumpkin and we have moved back across the Forth.

Loads to do though roundabout though.

primallass · 10/06/2013 19:31

FFS spelling fail

then I *am

do roundabout though

Musicaltheatremum · 11/06/2013 17:16

I think it may be a bit of a "rat run" through to Gilmore place and dundee street. I know the street parallel (view forth) is a rat run as I use it although the parking each side means you can't go too fast and it may have speed bumps. The reason it seems slightly cheaper is location. Bruntsfield not morningside but a superb location for buses and schools and it will be residents permit parking too.
Loads of good restaurants. Kings theatre down the road.

EuroShaggleton · 11/06/2013 17:23

I love the house, but would never buy a place without off street parking, but as you are used to that it might not bother you. On the link it is "under offer" so that might be your biggest issue!

teacherwith2kids · 11/06/2013 17:37

Lovely street. Lots of school kids - Boroughmuir v close and Gillespie's not far, and a school building used to house schools whose own buildings are being refurbished is / was just off this road. Not a busy road, but steep and very, very little parking. Not studenty particularly - more family houses / flats down that way - but I can't quite work out where that particular house is in relation to the 'hostel / set of bedsits' which is along that side. There's also a set of flats which is permanently being rebuilt due to the sandstone crumbling away! Buses go across the top of the street or along the bottom towards the canal, but not up and down the street itself.