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Property/DIY

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

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Original poster

Decisions, decisions

19 replies

Crusoe · 06/07/2014 07:58

Please let me have your thoughts
We have sold our house and viewed 5 yesterday.
House 1 - spacious, nice road but very very close to a dodgy area that really didn't feel nice at all. Top of our budget but needed a bit of work.

House 2 - within budget, area ok but bad drive to school. House needs some redecoration, useless 3rd bedroom that you couldn't even get a single bed in. Had difficulty picturing us there.

House 3 - nicely within budget, better area, much better drive to school, needs total redecoration, needs new kitchen but we would have the money to do it. Big draw back is the lovely garden backs onto the motorway. Noise not a problem inside but a constant low drone in the garden.

House 4 - odd layout, needs new kitchen, just didn't feel us!

House 5 - a dump but could be lovely - needs total gutting and is top of our budget with no money to do the work. Good location .

Oh what to do, there is so little on the market, they are selling so fast. Any thoughts - my head is spinning...

OP posts:

Eastwickwitch · 06/07/2014 08:30

I'd discount all but no 1 or 5 Is 5 liveable in until you'd saved to do the work? Have you been back at a different time of day to 1, you could have just had a bad experience?

SellingIn2014 · 06/07/2014 08:38

crusoe I feel for you, I didn't realise how hard it would be to find a good house until I started this process.

House 1 - sounds like a no go due to area which is something you can't change

House 2 - no, due to drive unless it has positive factors to compensate which it doesn't

House 3 - is probably only so affordable because of the motorway therefore it could be good buy if it doesn't bother you too much and if you plan to stay a long time, will it be a problem when you come to sell on (has the house been on the market long?)

House 4 - there doesn't seem to be a tangible reason to reject this, maybe spend some time studying the floorplan, compare the square footage with the others and see if you could make it work for you. How about a second viewing?

House 5 - at current price is a no go, you could make an offer at a level that would allow you to do the necessary works

Flossiechops · 06/07/2014 08:55

I would only go for house 5. I would discount all of the others as the dodgy area, motorway, bad drive to school - these can never be changed. If you can't get house 5 within budget then I would seriously consider renting until you don't find the right house.

Original poster

Crusoe · 06/07/2014 09:13

Thanks for your thoughts. Thinking about house 5 - it just needs so much, redecorating, re carpeting, re wiring, double glazing, new kitchen, new bathroom, garden landscaped. We can't afford it and it's real grot, I wouldn't want to live there for even 1 night let alone years before we got it nice.

If it wasn't for the road noise I would almost certainly go for number 3. Acoustic screening might help.

The other houses just don't seem us...

OP posts:

GlassesDontSuitMe · 06/07/2014 14:08

We have lived very close to a motorway and live not very far from one now. Eventually the noise can just become background BUT there are a couple of things that you need to be very wary of.

Firstly when it's raining the noise is significantly increased. You might not be outside in the garden when it's raining but you might have your bedroom windows open on a warm/wet night.

Secondly wind direction affects the noise. Check which direction the prevailing wind is in relation to the house. Currently I don't notice motorway noise (about a mile away) but if it's raining or the wind is blowing towards the house it is much more noticeable.

Acoustic screening can work to a degree but won't kill all the noise. My advice would be to go back when it's wet and see what you think then.

burnishedsilver · 06/07/2014 16:58

House no 6?

Original poster

Crusoe · 06/07/2014 17:02

House no 6 - if only! There is just nothing we can afford that doesn't have major drawbacks.

OP posts:

HenI5 · 06/07/2014 17:03

I'd have to wait and see what else comes up for sale, it doesn't sound like you'll be happy with any of those choices. It's a hell of a lot of money and commitment, so there needs to be at least some practicalities and feel good factors.

ExCinnamon · 06/07/2014 17:04

House 5.

You can do it up over time, change everything about it, you'll never change the location.

Go back and picture it in 5 years time, with a new bathroom, kitchen, garden.

I personally would never buy near a motorway.

Original poster

Crusoe · 06/07/2014 20:18

House 5 is out. Just won't have the money to do it up - the mortgage payments will be too big and I just didn't feel it was the house for us anyway.
4 left in the running and the clock is ticking for us.

OP posts:

Eastwickwitch · 06/07/2014 20:25

Do you absolutely have to chose one of the list, is it urgent? If so go back to all 4 & start prioritising what's important for you as a family. Few people can tick every box so compromise. Could you change the layout of house 4?

Original poster

Crusoe · 06/07/2014 20:47

Yes time is running out. Dh relocating for work and our house is under offer with buyers waiting for us to find somewhere .
Going back Tues or Weds to house 3 this week it's my favourite I think despite the traffic

OP posts:

WhatsGoingOnEh · 06/07/2014 23:05

Don't panic-buy! You can always rent in the new town.

Sadboysadmum · 06/07/2014 23:11

We moved and rented def worth it house we love came up after 3 months

RuddyDuck · 07/07/2014 08:18

How old are your dc? If you've still got several years of primary ahead, then I would only buy within walking distance of the school. Is there another school nearer to any if these houses so you wouldn't have to drive?

I agree that renting might be a good idea. It doesn't sound as though any of these houses are the right ones for you.

Purplewithred · 07/07/2014 08:30

Rent. Done it twice. Has the double benefit of allowing you to wait for the right house and being a very popular buyer as no chain behind you. Also there is something strangely soothing in renting - it's like a lovely little holiday.

InternetFOREVER · 07/07/2014 08:36

I'd go for 3, traffic noise (esp. if its a fairly constant drone) soon becomes background noise, and personally for me a reasonable area, nice house and good drive to school are all more important than a quiet garden.

unrealhousewife · 07/07/2014 08:38

I would rent, also consider things like moving school longer term, and borrowing money for works, this will get harder soon and of course interest rates are going up soon.

You can get a lot of decorating done for 20k and a new kitchen can cost 2k at IKEA if you keep the same layout and get a joiner to fit it.

Original poster

Crusoe · 07/07/2014 09:07

Thanks for all your input. Ds has additional needs, moving schools is not an option. He doesn't do transitions well at all so while I can see loads of benefits in renting it has major downsides for ds.
So many factors to consider...

OP posts:

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