Fallen in love with house

[Ferrisday]

St Anthonys Road, Blundellsands, Merseyside
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43392936.html

Can you find fault with it?
Needs new kitchen and new bathrooms probably but that's ok
Size of the garden!

[Shortdarkandfeisty]

OP we have a big house and it's great for all the reasons you mention - we often have extra children or friends staying and we entertain a lot, so it's been great for us even though we don't technically need the space for the number of children we have.

So I'm not sure why living in a big house is gauche tbh! We love it!

Interesting perspective from the person who's seen it though. If the area is right for you then think you should go and see it.

[Ferrisday]

Just done another drive by
we're going home tomorrow so can't view it for a few weeks! I'm kicking myself I didn't set up viewing for today.
The road is fine, its quiet.
There are a large number of bungalows around! But some nice big houses too.
Rugby club is right at the end of the road, I know people who go there, so will see how busy it gets.
The windows are ok, cowgirls. They are very dark frames which I wouldn't usually like, but I think it goes with the house, and the pattern wouldn't be my choice.
I know the schools too, that should be ok.

I am worried it's too dark inside, shame.
If I view it I will let you know!

I don't think I'm anywhere near making the decision to move, but year 5/6 would be a good time.
But if we stay where we are, ds junior school has a senior school too, so that jump is almost seamless.

[cowgirlsareforever]

The windows they took out were original. They put horrible, tacky ones in.

[Bluntness100]

OP we have a big house and it's great for all the reasons you mention - we often have extra children or friends staying and we entertain a lot, so it's been great for us even though we don't technically need the space for the number of children we have

Us too, and its just me and hubby rattling round when our daughter is at uni, but I entertain a lot and have regularly up to nine people staying, and often have four teenagers on inflatable beds in the second living room. I'm not about to downsize . I'll do that when I'm older and can't maintain it anymore.

Never heard anyone say it was gauche to live in a house bigger than your immediate needs before. If it is, then colour me a big ball of happy guache.

[NapQueen]

I think it could be a lovely home, but the triple patio doors and sky lights off the living area really bug me! Like irrarionally so. Three sets of patio doors and three velux yet I can see nothinf out of them! Jist an expanse of wall and a thin sliver of light. No views! Too much door and frame and handle.

[NapQueen]

And who needs three sets of door out of one wall? Just put one nice set of doors out and have the other two as floorto ceiling windows.

[helenfagain]

The sold history could be one partner buying the other out after a split. The history on my old house would look similar when I bought my ex out. Sold for exactly same price a less than a year later.

[pictish]

Honestly - for me it's too big. Six bedrooms for a family of three seems ostentatious and personally I'm turned off by overt displays of status.
I'd buy something smaller, prettier and easier to maintain and spend the rest on eye-opening foreign travel, a state of the art campervan or a holiday home somewhere I love to be. I'd not spend money on a load of predominantly empty rooms.

[Bellaposy]

The house would be too big for me but I know the area well and it's lovely. Quiet, close to the beach and train station. Easy commute to Liverpool. Good local shops etc.

[pictish]

If you love it and it would be your heart's desire, buy it. Of course.

Just for me it's a waste of travel and culture tokens.

[Ferrisday]

One of the positive reasons for the move would mean that I would sell my vastly overpriced house in London and it would mean money in the bank.
Which would make me feel a lot more comfortable.
At the moment we live comfortably, have nice holidays but not much savings.

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Do you have any family in the area or know it at all? I'm just wondering why you have picked that area specifically? Isnit just because you love the house? It's not untypical of a lot of similar houses in surrounding areas

One thing I would say is that you will need a good contingency fund. We are just buying a big doer upper hopefully and it will be re-roofed/boiler/mega flo etc. But we know we need to keep a good contingency for whatever big job will invariably need to be done in 15 years or so.

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

The other thing is that - however nicely you do - it will be hard to shift. Just because it is a very big house with a commensurate price tag and a lot of people will be put off by the maintance costs.

So you need to be really sure it's the right area etc

[Ferrisday]

Yes Gobblino
It's where I grew up and where all my family are.
I've been on the lookout for houses that might suit.
I like this one, mainly I think because of the layout and big rooms.
And it looks like the big work has been done and I could just finish the kitchen and bathrooms in my taste.
Also, as a single parent I've found there are things that make your life easier. Things like big cloakrooms, utility rooms and spare bedrooms for things like suitcases and storage, without having to get up in the loft and for the laundry before you put it away.
Outbuildings for scooters and bikes and sleds and surfboards.
These are all things that fall on top of me literally, no matter how much I try to keep on top of things.

[pictish]

Who the hell buys a house to give suitcases their own bedroom?

Sorry - of course it's up to you. It's your money, your lifestyle, your preferences. It's a wonderful house. Too big for two imo, but that's all it is...my opinion. You certainly won't care about that. Good luck if you decide to go for it.

[Ferrisday]

Well they are stuffed in my spare tiny box room right now which means that for anyone to sleep in that room I have to clamber around getting them out, then the only place for them is the landing which means if you want to go to the loo in the middle of the night you have to move them.
Obviously you can't see the bigger picture here Pictish!

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

ferris - I do kind of agree with pictish.

I know you are a single parent but look for something with a loft extension and accessible storage or a big garden that can accommodate a garage or big storage shed

There is something mildly depressing about thinking about two people rattling around an enormous, quite dark, house with spare rooms stuffed full of suitcases and other things that really belong stored away

[Ferrisday]

I really don't want to be going up loft ladders and thinking about cobwebs and dust.

I've never had a garage!

I remember some friends had their own lounge as teenagers, I could imagine ds doing that with his friends.

I am thinking about what you've al said, but I just don't imagine the house ever being empty.
My parents would like to downsize and simplify but they can't cos their children and grandchildren are always there!

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

With a loft extension, you don't go up loft ladders. The loft will have been converted with a permanent stair case and landing that (to meet building regs) is as safe as a normal staircase. The loft will most have been converted into another bedroom etc. However usually the eaves have been turned into easily accessible well lit storage and there often is a storage cupboard on the landing too. So it's very easy to access suit cases etc

You can investigate garages etcor even get one built relatively cheaply.

I know you will havecrejatinns visiting but not the whole time and you will need to cheat rooms if suitcases to let them sleep there anyway

It sounds like your issue is accessible storage and there are lots better options than dumping things in bedrooms

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

THE other thing you could look at are houses with a cellar conversion too. We have had that done and have a storage room down there too as well as a playroom and an office and a utility room and storage under the stairs. Again, the stairs are as safe as any others in the house.

Here are the cellar and loft conversion stairs.

I think you should focus on houses with good accessible storage and flexible living space rather than turning bedrooms in to storage and quasi living areas. It never works properly and feels a bit bed-sittery

[Ferrisday]

But what's the difference ?
A converted loft on the second floor, which is possibly what this is anyway or 2 ready made bedrooms on the 2nd floor.

We converted our loft in the last house to make it a 3bed.
The eaves storage was horrible, I hated putting stuff in there
Sorry I'm sounding argumentative now!

But I want
Big kitchen/diner/living area+ separate living area.
Another separate area for ds playroom/teenage room is good.
Utility
Downstairs bathroom
Garden room
At least 4 big bedrooms. Not just enough space for double bed and bedside tables.
Garage! Or outbuildings.
Large garden
Not overlooked is really nice, but not essential.
The only thing this has extra is the 2 bedrooms, one of which I could make into dressing room.

Anyway, It's been very helpful to figure out what I actually want/need !

[Ferrisday]

Cellar conversion is good!
That would really work

[Gobbolinothewitchscat]

Because most people don't want to dump stuff in bedrooms? They want to put it away neatly in an organised fashion so their house doesn't look like a jumble sale? And most people don't want to turn a bedroom on another floor into a living space because it feels like a bed sit or HMO. So they arrange their living space over the ground and basement levels

If you have a large enough space and a decent architect, the eaves storage and storage cupboard can be designed to be very accessible and work well.

However, if you love the house and want to do that, then of course buy it

I think you obviously love it, which is great. And that means your heart is going to generally over rule any practical considerations or suggestions that we might make on here.

[Bluntness100]

A surprising amount of people feel strongly you shouldn't live in a house with more space than you actually need. I personally don't subscribe to this view, live in the house you love and that works for the way you live and that is affordable for you. Life's too short to be living someplace you'd rather not be. Your home is important, it's where many of us spend most of our time.

when we bought this house my husband was not sure, when I questioned him he said "people will think we are more than we are" I'm not sure who the fuck these people are, or that I give a flying toss what they think, I love it here, he loves it here, our daughter loves it here, our friends love it here and quite frankly we can afford it, so it is what we are. Buy what you can afford and love and be happy,

[Ferrisday]

Gobbolino
What type of house is yours, is it old?
How do you know if basement is viable?