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Original poster

Would this put you off buying? Straw poll

40 replies

oolaroola · 11/09/2013 16:47

so we are about to put in an offer on a lovely property. It's 2 bed detached ina very rural location. 2 acres, a small barn and river frontage on some of the land. BUT it's not connected to the mains electric grid. It does have a generator, some solar pv and LPG gas for heating. I'm thinking this is a major reason why it hasn't yet sold. that and the fact that it was initially overpriced. but what I am thinking is how off putting it could also be when we come to sell. We would want update the system to add more solar and to make the system automatic - at present you have to manually change between the solar and the generator. The quote to connect is 25k so...
Anyone have any opinions on whether they would find this very off putting? Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
oolaroola · 12/09/2013 20:37

That's very interesting Liara. Can I ask how many solar panels you have?

At the moment our first two offers have been flatly refused so are considering what our best and final is going to be.... I hate this house buying business.

OP posts:
Liara · 12/09/2013 21:14

Erm...dh's department, I'm afraid. It's 16 panels, but I don't know how much power each produces.

We are in Southern France, though, so much sunnier than you can expect in the UK.

holidaybug · 12/09/2013 21:15

yes, it would put me off without a shadow of a doubt - don't do it.

OnePlanOnHouzz · 12/09/2013 22:27

It's a tough one - I live rurally - no mains sewerage - no gas - would I have still bought if there were no electricity too ?!? Yes I think so - but I would probably only cope for a year without electricity ?! I think I would have set aside funds or started a savings contingency for when the genny packs up ?!
Good luck to you, which ever way you decide !! :-)

Rhubarbgarden · 13/09/2013 07:19

Sounds gorgeous. Wouldn't put me off, but I would definitely be budgeting to connect to the grid.

Lemonandrose · 13/09/2013 08:42

It would put me off. A deal breaker.

Im also already living in the country if that makes a difference.

50shadesofmeh · 13/09/2013 08:48

I'd just put in an offer reflecting the money I needed to rewire and connect to grid. Sounds gorgeous though.

NoComet · 13/09/2013 08:54

We have a generator since our power used to go off everytime the wind blew.

Now it seems only to go off in thunderstorms and not for as long.

NoComet · 13/09/2013 08:58

It's upkeep on all these things that is the problem, generators, batteries, septic tanks and oil tanks all age and need repairing and replacing.

Mutters darkly about £2500 for a new oil tank. Remembers mess in DF garden caused by replacing septic tank (she didn't like the bill either).

Merrylegs · 13/09/2013 09:04

Hmm. We are rural...No mains water, sewage or gas. I think if we weren't connected to electricity it would be a step too far tbh. It would definitely be hard to resell. Also, how is the access road? If it is potholey and rough that is another big barrier to reselling. We've just had ours resurfaced at a cost of 5 grand.

icravecheese · 13/09/2013 13:53

It probably wouldnt put me off (lived in countryside as a child, seemed to have frequent power cuts!).

However....I would try not to get too caught up in thinking about the re-sell or whether it'd put future buyers off.... an earlier comment on this thread about the supposedly good advice they were given when buying a car "don't think about whether its good for you, think about whether it'll be good for the next person" is, in my opinion, just complete nonsense!

We are SO hett up in this country about resale value (eg Beeny / Kirsty & phil banging on about adding value / not adding value to a house) - if you totally love the house and are willing to buy it off grid, then chances are somebody in the future will be willing to do the same. Yes, it might take longer to sell on, but if you're prepared to live off-grid, then its highly likely somebody else will too.

I'm sick of hearing of people who won't build an extension / won't convert loft because it "won't add value" - if you love your house and want to make it work for you / your family, then surely these things 'add value' to your life, albeit not a monetary one on resale?!!

Sorry, rant over Blush. I would say, go for it if you really love it!

Original poster
oolaroola · 13/09/2013 14:12

Yes good advice too Icravecheese.

Unfortunately our best and final offer has also been rejected. It was 15k less than the asking price and 5k higher than the only other bid on the table who were also in a chain. We are first time buyers.

Not sure what to make of that really. Maybe they don't really want to sell.
I know the house has been on for at least 5 months and has drastically come down in price - the 1st valuation seemed totally crazy to us, but I guess it's hard to take if you were hoping for something in that region.

So we move on and keep looking, but am very gutted as it was/ is lovely.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 13/09/2013 14:34

Sounds like the vendor doesn't want to sell, having rejected so many offers, and that they want more than the place is worth. Move on, definitely.

Original poster
oolaroola · 13/09/2013 17:48

Yes expat I think you're right.
Will keep our powder dry for the next one...

It's a blummin shame though. But hanging out for less than 4% off the asking price in a fairly deprived rural location makes me think they'll be waiting a while yet to sell....

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 13/09/2013 17:49

'But hanging out for less than 4% off the asking price in a fairly deprived rural location makes me think they'll be waiting a while yet to sell....'

I live in just such a location and yes, there are a LOT of properties that have been on the market a long, long time.

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