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Original poster

What do you think of this house?

123 replies

lia66 · 13/02/2017 18:37

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-58012468.html

Not sure it would look like that after my kids had lived there for a few weeks.

OP posts:
Original poster
lia66 · 13/02/2017 20:10

It's a mixture, the front used to be a pub that dates back to the 1800's and the back is new ( 10/12 years) .

Before this house we had a big, Victorian terrace in Kent.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64643510.html This is mine. The pics are shit. Even the description is wrong. We have 2 x ensuites, no mention of the second. Garage is triple not double. Tad frustrating.

This was when it was on last year, much better pictures.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52690195.html

OP posts:
70ontheinside · 13/02/2017 20:11

Oh FFS we need to move away from bloody London!!!!

Two stunning houses at very affordable prices. I would go with the one that makes your life easiest and allows most independence for teenagers.

garlicandsapphire · 13/02/2017 20:15

I agree with Ivor - the proportions of the rooms in house 1 look all wrong - you cant fit a big family table in the kitchen which would be a deal breaker for me, silly use of hall space, is that table by the stairs blocking a cupboard or something?

I'm more of a fan of an victorian/edwardian type house but I'm afraid house 2 looks a bit grim. It needs a lot of work. I did one up and its still always going to be darker than a new build and tough to get a decent sized bathroom or en-suite.

fallenempires · 13/02/2017 20:20

Have you ever lived in an estate? If not there are many things to consider such as proximity of neighbours.

DesolateWaist · 13/02/2017 20:25

Not in a flood zone.

In my opinion you have no idea how the next 20 years are going to pan out. Places flood every year that have never flooded before or in a long time at least. I would never buy that close to a body of water unless I was very far uphill from it.

Original poster
lia66 · 13/02/2017 20:28

@desolatewaist I hadn't thought that far ahead I have to say. Good point. I was only going on what EA said.

There's no way my current house will ever flood Grin

OP posts:
BackforGood · 13/02/2017 20:29

Much prefer house 1
SO much more spacious.
Even before you factor in that it is detatched.
(Without knowing anything about the location, which is of course, key) I'd just not even consider house 2 if i could afford house 1.

Can't understand any family choosing a semi over a detached if finances allowed.

Original poster
lia66 · 13/02/2017 20:34

@backforgood my 19 year old ds agrees with you completely.

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 13/02/2017 20:44

What did they mine there? OP?

ChishandFips33 · 13/02/2017 20:45

Can't believe I'm about to say this I hate new builds but I prefer number 1 Shock

What are your non-negotiables?

PinkShampagney · 13/02/2017 20:54

The first one is dreadful. It looks like has been decorated by Show Homes R Us. It's much too close to the neighbours and has a touch of the identikit stepford wives about it.

The second one is better but has a dire kitchen and would need work.

This wins by a country mile www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52690195.html

If that's yours, why on earth do you want to move? Stay put! much nicer than the other two.

Original poster
lia66 · 13/02/2017 20:56

They mined coal. It's Black Country.

Non negotiables are

Large bedrooms, at least 5 and they all have to be doubles
2 x ensuites
At least 2 x reception rooms to escape from each other
Either kitchen diner big enough to get my big table in or separate dining room
Some garden, large enough for a trampoline and some sitting out space.

House #1 garden concerns me. would the proximity of neighbours bother me or more realistically dh who I imagine might be on the kids case about noise.

House#2 kitchen concerns me. Can I make it work for me?

I viewed number 1 and loved it straight away, really loved it.

Viewed number 2 today and love the light.

Thing is I guess it's academic as I have to sell first.

OP posts:
Original poster
lia66 · 13/02/2017 20:59

@pinkshampagney yes that's my house.

I want to be closer to things, youngest is almost 6, 2 in secondary and one going up next year. I'd like them to be able to just pop out and see friends, go to the cinema, walk to the shop... in 3 years I've driven 60,000 miles and I don't work away from the home.

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 13/02/2017 20:59

Is new build south facing at front therefore meaning the back garden faces north???

So is there much sunshine in back garden or will it be chilly and dark out there having your BBQ etc

Where does south west face?

Will you have warm sunshine in afternoon

If it is East then sunny mornings until it is in shadow all afternoon so chilly BBQ

Hope my garbled message sort of makes sense

Your children will love those stairs they will be jumping from one side to the other at the top GrinGrin That is what we did with our cousins on our grandparents stairs like that GrinGrinGrin

Bestthingever · 13/02/2017 21:04

I'm actually depressed at the difference in property prices between where you live and our part of the country (S.E. England). Something like that would easily cost £250k more.

Original poster
lia66 · 13/02/2017 21:11

I know. We moved from Kent to come here.

@rtkangamummy haha, that would absolutely drive dh demented.

I don't have a scooby about the garden but a very good point. I should find out.

OP posts:
RTKangaMummy · 13/02/2017 21:21

GrinGrinGrin

Funnyonion17 · 13/02/2017 21:24

Beautiful exterior and views, beautiful hall. The rest is bland and a bit mediocre

MakeItStopNeville · 13/02/2017 21:38

I'm surprising myself but I much prefer the new build. The older house seems to need quite a lot of work.

Sidge · 13/02/2017 22:03

Really? Gosh it looks like a show home, no personal items at all. No books in the study, no photos. I guess they've decluttered and depersonalised to the max Confused

It's a lovely house. House number 2 didn't do much for me, kitchen is awful as are the bathrooms.

Astro55 · 13/02/2017 22:25

I looked at your house a few weeks ago!!! I recognize the wallpaper in the kitchen .... if we ever move home!

Firefries · 13/02/2017 22:36

I like the location of house 2.

fallenempires · 13/02/2017 22:39

Having looked at your current home and how you have decorated & furnished it then I would imagine that house 1 might be more suitable for you.But house 2 would work better IMO,I don't know the area at all but it does seem quite a jump from having all that space between you and any neighbour to being literally shoe-horned into an estate where your outside space is often compromised and there are always neighbours' windows overlooking your privacy.I detest housing developments always have done,but spent almost a year renting one during relocating.It was beyond awful! I have always gone for Victorian houses as I love the proportions and many quirks! Granted house2 needs work but if you have already got a budget in mind then it is possible.
How many years do you plan to live in the new house for?

BackforGood · 13/02/2017 22:41

For those saying it is 'bland', or 'just like a showhome' that is just decoration though - as you hear so often, you have to look past other people's decoration, and you put your own style on it. What is much more difficult to change is the shape of the rooms, size of rooms, etc, all of which are better in the first house, IMO.

allthatnonsense · 13/02/2017 22:44

People can be snobby about new builds. They are lost if romance and character in damp Victorian terraces.
New builds lend to a minimalist look and should be cheaper to maintain.
Unless your children are prone to running outside without you realising, the canal shouldn't be a problem.

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