Critique this house for me?

[PartII]

DW and I are first time buyers, and until now have been looking in the Tooting/ Colliers Wood/ Mitcham area. However I've just expanded the search area and it seems we could get a lot more for our money if we went a bit further to Carshalton.

Do any of you have any views on this house as a potential buy, and/ or Carshalton in general? I know nothing about the area, so don't know which parts are better/ parts to avoid.

I've requested a floor plan from the agent, which will help.

Any words of wisdom greatly appreciated!

http://m.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/43844801?searchidentifier=&leaddid=957f5ceb3a2129451a2cea4add6b4aee&typeoffenquiry=requestpropertyydetails&aboutme=firstttimebuyer&zzopt=1&partnersopt=1

Looks a lovely house. Not sure there's any scope to add value, but if you are looking for a home it looks spacious and tastefully done. There's some sort of industrial unit behind it - I'd want to know more about that and any impact from it before proceeding.

It's a lovely house

Not much storage though, I'd there any in the third bedroom?

as wowfudge says, you won't be able to add any value to this so I would only buy it if it was exactly my taste and I didn't want to do anything to it. I really dislike the style of the bathroom in that house so personally wouldn't even view it because of that. I would hate to rip out something brand new just because I didn't like it. I'd much rather have an ancient old wreck that needs doing up, I'd feel too guilty otherwise.

Also do you want to live in tooting or carshalton? they are very different places. Will you want to move in three years or in 10? What will your life look like in 10 years?

No garage which would make it a no-no for me.

House looks nice, spacious and huge garden. What's the area like? The area is the most important thing to me. The shops end of the street looks a bit tatty. What's the crime rate like?

Thank you all. We're currently late 20s, no children yet but would like them in the next few years ( we're both women so it may take a little longer to happen for us than we're hoping!) Both in a very stressful profession, long hours and multiple work locations, but being on the Thameslink is a big bonus for both of our jobs.

We had initially been looking at 2 bed flats in Tooting/ Colliers Wood with the idea that we could move onto something bigger/ more suitable for a family in about 3 years (our earnings are likely to be much higher by then). But with the uncertainty in the market this may not be possible- we may end up in negative equity and be unable to move for a lot longer than we originally hoped (small deposit).

That's why we thought something bigger and further out, that we could stay in with children if we needed to, was more sensible than a more central flat. But it might be that Carshalton isn't a good place to buy at all. I just don't know!

It's lovely. I can't comment on price as I don't know the area but I think it's gorgeous and if it suits your tastes I think there is an awful lot to be said for buying somewhere that's 'done' because doer uppers cost a fortune.

Lovely house, I honestly can't think of anything negative about it?.
I like the fact it has a big front drive, and garden.
It really has scope for adding your own character to it as well.

It's a great price too! In my area it would be at least £700k

(Having stalked it on streetview I might caution that it looks a bit 'best house on the worst street' and if youve got time and cash to buy a less highly-polished house in a slightly nicer area.)

Lovely house. I don't really know Carshalton but have some friends who lived there and they loved it. Great for families and lots of things to do.

House is lovely but the rest of the street is not as nice. I would drive by it person at different times of day and evening to get more of a feel of the place.

Wow that kitchen is beautiful!!

Hello, I lived in Carshalton for 13 years, moving away in 2012. We lived very close to this house. We loved Carshalton itself, nice high street, lovely park etc. You're also not that far from the station, but be warned there is literally about 10 spaces in the car park.
The area that house is in is...ok. The posh part of Carshalton is the other side though, towards Carshalton Beeches. You're quite close to the St Helier estate, which is a bit dodgy. Having said that, the house is beautiful, and we never felt unsafe or anything like that living there, (and our DD was born in St Helier hospital!).
I would go up there, on a weekday and a weekend, (in the evening too if you can manage it). Get a feel for the place. There are a LOT worse places to live around there. Best of luck!

Looks fab.

10 min walk from station so no dramas about parking.

If you aren't commuting into central london each day if looks like it would be great.

It is quite different to a 2 bed flat in tooting though! Just as long as you are sure its the lifestyle you want.

We lived in Carshalton and are now about a mile away ( having sold the house to 2 ladies up-sizing from Tooting). Carshalton is very sweet and a fab place to live. It's very relaxing after a day in central London. Plus at the southern end there are some smallholdings so you can see horses and sheep + a couple of lavender fields. The Thameslink is pretty good as you'll be able to get a seat in the morning - so much nicer than being squashed on the tube.

However, the exact location of the house would be a bit boarderline for me - pleasant enough and obviously very safe etc but if you're even remotely snobby, you might prefer being south of the station in the villagey bit or even towards Carshalton Beeches (although that's further away from the Thameslink).