Why would anyone choose a newbuild over a character property for its looks?

[treacleturkey]

I realise new builds are a lot better to run (economically) and so benefit the environment, but man, are they plastic and unattractive!!!

Availability of character properties v. new builds.

Location.

Costs.

That do you?!

Because people prefer the look and know that it has what they want, e.g. Garage, en-suite..........

I could go on.

Also what are now "character " properties were once new builds!

Maintenance issues.

And some people actually like modern things. They're not all ugly you know.

thanks (but )

But houses seemed to be made more solidly then........ today when you see newbuilds go up, its like they're just made of cardboard!

Some of us look at Victorian houses and come out in a cold sweat at the idea of gables, tiles, dank red brinks, chimney crevices, rising damp, ghastly stained glass feature windows & those horrid things you get on the ceiling. Bleugh.

Give me a nice newish house with a sensible roof & decent double glazing.

Disclaimer: childhood spent in Victorian heap with roof that leaked every other week.

We chose a new build for easiness. I'd become quite badly disabled with a neurological disorder which really affects my mobility. I needed a downstairs toilet, ground level entry, a shower cubicle (not over bath) and easy to adapt - we chose a house with a garage which can in future as my condition deteriorates as it probably will, be able to be converted into a bedroom with wet room that will take a wheelchair.

It's massively easier than our other house to keep clean, it's warmer (I suffer bad foot pain in the cold) and has enough bedrooms for dc to have one each - we're already entering teenage years!

It wasn't what we'd have chosen if our situation was different, in fact we still own our first house which was built in 1895 in the Outer Hebrides. But this is what it has taken to make our lives as easy as possible given unexpected circumstances.

New builds can be lovely, are cheaper to run and you don't have to buy in an estate, you can build one yourself.

In fact before DH and I bought the 14th century, inpractical yet gorgeous, house we currently live in we were looking at buying land and building a HoffHaus.

Pragmatism.
I've just bought a 1950s semi with three bedrooms, two living rooms, 2 solid fuel wood-burners, livable loft space, conservatory, patio, a large garden that's not over-looked at the back, plus a 12 foot deep lawn at the front, detached garage plus off-road parking for 2 cars... All that in a 'character' property would cost me three times as much.

What an appalling and unnecessary OP!

What are you trying say? That you find new builds so unattractive they make you shudder?

Neither interesting nor helpful.

I have a SIL who chose one because she wanted to rattle on endlessly about how easy it was to maintain compared to our old house, how much value it would put on quickly compared to our old house, how the neighbours were a cut above because naturally there's a certain income threshold on executive estates compared to our old house where any old gimmer might have been living for years
etc etc
SO that was fun.

The gas bills.

I'd have a HufHaus in a second.

Some new builds are very attractive, and some period properties are dark, with low ceilings, small windows, and a rabbit warren layout, or built far too close to a busy road, or have no parking. No one category of house is automatically is perfect, or better than others, it just depends on the individual house.

Depends on the house. Stommel houses are gorgeous compared to a pokey dark 2 up 2 down period house even with all its features in tact.

I live in a new build. Three-storey stone townhouse, slate roof, dry stone walls down the side of the driveway and around the garden. It's beautiful, thanks for asking!

I have several friends that living in fantastic new builds but they cost a lot of £££££££'s.

With a limited budget, I agree with you that I would rather have a Victorian 2 up 2 down than a modern 3 bed house which would probably be a similar price.

We live in a 'character' house dated around 1850, but DSes covert their friends newer houses.

OP we chose a period property over new build for the same reasons, but it's just down to personal preference isn't it?
No need to be like that about it...people who buy new build like them just the same as you like yours.

We moved from big 4 bed new build to not so big 3 bed old house and gas and electric bills have TREBLED!!

I prefer a new build. I like modern exteriors and interiors.

I don't "do" character - fireplaces, draughty windows, uneven walls, darker decor and furniture, cellars and attics, etc. Just not for me.

I don't find many of them them particularly attractive either - obviously I like the look of a nice country cottage type (though wouldn't want to own one) and I like some older homes (type with a solid blue door in the middle, a bit like a regency style town house - but again not sure I'd own one - usually a money pit), but on the whole I prefer modern properties and modern interiors.

I was about to say what the real fellatio said. We are in the middle of moving from old to new(ish). The new house is going to be easier to run, the space is better laid out, and it's easier to make it look nice. It will also be easier to clean and maintain and security is less of a problem too. This was all DH's idea but it is growing on me and I can see the benefits and with the dc about to fly the nest we need less space and it makes sense

We live in a new build on a new estate. It cost a fraction of what a 'character' property would cost for the same size, is covered by the NHBC for 10 years, is covered by our builder for even more stuff for two years, is cheap to run and cosy in the winter. We have loads of space, a decent sized garden, and as everyone else is new as well no cliquey neighbours. Love. It.

We live in a new build and our next house will be a new build too. I like spooky old houses with a history but practically, I also like the clean, modern feel of a new build. The main reason though is that DH and I are crap at DIY and have neither the skill, or with 5 DC, the time to 'do-up' a house. It's nice not having to factor in costs for tradesmen or worry about big maintenance bills.

Don't new builds have warranties? That is very attractive.