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Property/DIY

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Original poster

About to Buy a house in selsdon South croydon, advice please

29 replies

Emily2222 · 14/03/2015 09:43

Hello
I am about to put in an offer for a three bedroom semi in benhurst close in South croydon. It's a relatively small house but what attracts us is the very big double garage and South facing gardens. Other than that it might be a bit over priced at 390k. I'm new to the area and have heard good and bad things about Croydon. Any advice please?

OP posts:

meadowquark · 14/03/2015 11:36

Hello. I am on the other side of Croydon. I am not sure if commute and good schools matter to you, but this house seems to be far from both.. Another house nearby in Sundale avenue asks for 350k, also semi with a long (albeit narrow). South Croydon is pleasant but this house is quite far from the buzz. At least what you can do is put a much lower offer

meadowquark · 14/03/2015 11:42

On the second thought, all neighbouring houses are marketed as Selsdon. So you would be buying in Selsdon, which isn't as nice as South Croydon.

Bunbaker · 14/03/2015 11:53

Parts of Selsdon are much nicer than parts of South Croydon and vice versa. I have family in both and like both.

I guess it comes down to schools and what commute options you have.

ElectraCute · 14/03/2015 12:10

It does sound as if it's a bit overpriced, tbh. There's nothing 'wrong' with Selsdon per se but the not-fabulous local schools and relative lack of transport options means it's not necessarily going to be at the top of some people's lists. But it's handy for shops (Aldi, Sainsbury's) and you have some nice green spaces like Selsdon Woods etc close by.

Do you have kids/need to commute etc?

Original poster

Emily2222 · 14/03/2015 12:18

No we don't have kids yet at present but good good catchment would be preferable I guess for the near future or when it comes to resell. I did a search on nationalrail and its under 30mins to Central London? The crime rates are high by the look on zoopla?

OP posts:

Bunbaker · 14/03/2015 12:22

"and relative lack of transport options"

Ha ha ha. Compared to where I live I think public transport is good. 30 minutes to central London is optimistic. I assume you would drive to Sanderstead station and get a train. Where would you park?

I used to live in South Croydon and it took me over an hour to get to work in central London - the walk to the station, train, then tube.

ElectraCute · 14/03/2015 12:40

You'd be in the catchment for Greenvale, just about - however if you don't have kids yet this could all change by the time you do!

Agree with Bunbaker, where you're looking is definitely not 30mins to central London. Double that and add a bit more just to be on the safe side. You would need to get to Sanderstead (by car) or South Croydon (probably by bus) stations - perfectly doable but don't be misled by the train websites!

SoupDragon · 14/03/2015 12:46

Another one who says that's not 30mins to central London! Sanderstead to Victoria is 23 minutes so that leaves you 7 minutes to drive to Sanderstead, park and get to the station. Purley Oaks is about 30 minutes as is South Croydon (although this is based on Saturday trains)

SoupDragon · 14/03/2015 12:47

You could drive to a tram stop, get the tram to East Croydon and a train from there but it's still not going to be 30 minutes.

SoupDragon · 14/03/2015 12:51

It's a solid looking house with scope to extend to the side which has the potential to add a large master suite or 2 beds and a good kitchen extension with utility room.

Bunbaker · 14/03/2015 12:54

Where would she park? Is there lots of parking at the tram stops?

SoupDragon · 14/03/2015 12:58

That depend which tram stop and how early you get there! :)

Lloyd Park has some in the side roads if you are early. Coombe Road is similar I think, as is the one on Gravel Hill.

SoupDragon · 14/03/2015 12:59

It's still no quicker than train anyway.

Bunbaker · 14/03/2015 13:00

The traffic down Coombe road in the morning isn't great though. You would have to be very early. Is there parking in Addington?

You may realise I no longer live darn sarf, but it is where I grew up.

SoupDragon · 14/03/2015 17:17

It's one of the flaws of the Tram system that they didn't provide any "Park and Ride" stops.

Bunbaker · 14/03/2015 17:19

That's ridiculous. Here in Sheffield they have provided massive car parks at the major tram termini, and at some interim stops.

Bunbaker · 14/03/2015 17:20

The side roads near Lloyd park all have yellow lines now I believe. I still have family living near Lloyd Park and you can't park in their road unless you live there.

Original poster

Emily2222 · 14/03/2015 22:27

just came back from a second viewing of that house. I'm thrilled by how much response i'm getting! thanks guys, really appreciate it.
yeah i agree with the actual total time needed door-to-door . I spoke to the owner today, she suggested to go to east croydon station and take a train from there which will be under 15mins! but again, it's the questions of driving to the station, finding parking etc. (but I guess its similar anyway you go in 'communtable' towns')..

back to the house - hm...the rooms are really small (compared to those in other houses we've been viewing - mainly in bexley/bexleyheath areas)..but i guess it's not comparable as the locations are so different..

soupdragon - you are right - there are scopes to extend above the garage!
it's all about money isnt it coz we do have a budget...the owner sounds quite fixed on the asking price of 390k as both herself and the agent has mentioned they have already had two offers very close to the asking price and they have accepted one of them (just waiting for mortgages to go thru)...thats what we've been told - but I wonder why would they still allowed us to go and view it if they have already 'accepted' an offer..

i think we are going to think clearly tonight and decide whether or not to put in an offer tomorrow..

OP posts:

Bunbaker · 14/03/2015 22:43

Parking at East Croydon is almost non existent. The T33 bus service is pretty frequent. I have family living very near the house you looked at and we always use the T33. According to google map it takes 20 minutes to get to East Croydon on the bus.

mspfan · 14/03/2015 22:45

I live near a station not too far from East Croydon and wanted to warn you that if you're commuting to London Bridge from East Croydon you're likely to suffer problems with your commute almost every day sadly due to the works at London Bridge which are going on until 2018. Thameslink is also really unreliable. On Southern the delay is usually only 10 mins or so but it gets annoying when it's nearly every day. That said I think Selsdon/South Croydon is a pretty nice place to live and there's lots of green spaces nearby.

Bunbaker · 14/03/2015 22:47

Is Thameslink unreliable due to the works? I always travel with them from St Pancras when visiting my folks. I guess I will have to use the tube and get a train from Victoria next time.

Would I need an Oyster card for the tube?

SoupDragon · 14/03/2015 22:51

The side roads near Lloyd park all have yellow lines now I believe

There are some bays.

she suggested to go to east croydon station and take a train from there which will be under 15mins!

The train part is 15 minutes but the journey from Selsdon will be longer than that. You cannot park at East Croydon, you would need to park further away and walk. I guess this is why prices in Selsdon are lower than those nearby which have better links to London.

Original poster

Emily2222 · 15/03/2015 08:30

Just to get an idea of money we need to spend , anyone has experience on house extension? If we want to extend the first floor by building on the garage, making an perhaps an extra big bedroom with ensuite. What sort of money are we looking at?

OP posts:

Original poster

Emily2222 · 15/03/2015 10:07

also, is selsdon much of a council estate area? i'm trying to avoid areas filled with chavs...

OP posts:

Amethyst24 · 15/03/2015 10:38

i'm trying to avoid areas filled with chavs...

Niiiice.

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