Old house with back garden development

[OlafLovesAnna]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59216110.html

We're going to see this house this afternoon- big enough for us but on a busy road. I think I need talking down or advice on things to think about.

The bungalows newly built on the land at the back are all sold but not quite ready yet. The main house seems expensive but I'm not sure of the position of the developer yet.

It's lovely and so cheap!

I think they're asking a bit much for it tbh, if I like it I'd go in with a v cheeky offer.

I'm trying to think of potential problems with the private access road for the bungalows at the back.

How busy is the road, what is the speed limit, how far back is it from the road and how long do you intend to live there?

We owned an absolutely lovely house on a rural A road, 40mph in the village - not that busy other than in the morning rush hour. We renovated it extensively and spent a fortune on it - 10 acres of land but at the back of the house.

It took two years to sell. After we bought it we realised that it had been on the market on and off for years (this was before the sort of info was available online that is today).

I can't work out what the building situation is on your link.

It looks like a money pit to me. The conservatory will be cold, the bathrooms look grim and the bedroom cupboards look rickety. When was it rewired? What sort of boiler has it got? What about that huge roof and the windows? I think you'd have to spend thousands on it. If it suits you though and you have patience to do things over time then good luck. The bungalows wouldn't be a problem depending on their access as there is a decent garden and they are not elevated.

The money pit thing is uppermost in my mind really. Boiler, electrics and roof are a consideration as is the builder making good the front drive.

It's a busy road morning and afternoon with a speed limit of 30 and it's set back about 15m from the road with a walk in front. To be fair where we live is a bit like that too though. I would imagine we would live in in indefinitely, certainly 15yrs +.

It's been on the market at £595000 for about 6 months at the moment and was last sold in 2006 but I can't see the record of a sale to a company or developer and the house is currently empty.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56754136.html

Barchester - this is one of the bungalows that has been built.

Well then, I would have a full survey, get the electrics and boiler looked at and negotiate a good price.

We lost money on the place I mentioned above - three years of work and and extension, we lived there for ten years.

It was a lovely home and we made it a much better place for us to live in so not too many regrets.

I now have absolutely no appetite for doing up houses though and we bought something completely done up next and are doing the same again.

X post - you just need your solicitor to be completely on the ball about the road and make the sorting out of the front a condition of sale (presumably the developer is selling it).

Watch the plans for the access road, the house I mentioned was on a private road and whoever drew up the plans missed a 1m strip on the part that gave access meaning whoever bought a house on that road had to buy an indemnity policy - PITA.

Quality of solicitor is key.

We're trying to work out whether it would be more costly to do an extension to our current home or move.

The apathy is exhausting!

So on sattelite view the house looks like it is side on to the road. Does the access run to the front or back of the house? Tbf you could possibly name your price. The developers have made their cash on the new builds and presumably want shot.

AJP yes it's side on to the road with the access running past the front but there is a 6ft wooden fence between the front door and the access road. The bungalows are at the bottom of the garden but mostly hidden by the back fence and the garden is a decent size.

In the village the prices vary wildly, and indeed on that road but they have asked £380000ish for each bungalow and they were sold within a week or 2. I'm hoping to get an idea of 'any reasonable offer considered' from the agent today but wouldn't want to pay more than £450000.

Well i think with some money you could make the front garden an asset and reinstate some kerb appeal. If its nice on viewing draw up a worst case scenario budget and go from there. Big advantage that it is empty and isnt going to appeal to a rental market and presume market flat where you are? I also guess bungalows likely to attract quieter neighbours?

Amazing house
So much potential and exactly my sort of thing
Only issue for me would be the road, when you click on street view the traffic looks very bad!
Depends how you feel about road noise, I grew up on a busy road, literally never even heard the road
Then moved to a very quiet street and when I go back to my parents house I really notice it!
But it doesn't actually bother me if that makes sense
I would rather have road noise then noise from neighbours

It could be an incredible house!

I wonder if the owner from 2006 is still the same and a builder? I have a builder friend who has a house with a huge garden. Plans on doing similar once kids have left home!

Honestly? Total money pit.

It's a strange market at the moment- sensibly priced family houses or bungalows go under offer within a week or so but anything too expensive just sits for ages.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56754136.html

This is on a similarly busy road but hasn't moved.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-47184537.html

This one is on a junction opposite a small co op and sold fairly quickly.

Our house is a 4 bed 70s wonder on a popular road near an outstanding school which we got for a song because it was a very tired ex rental.

AJP that's what I'm wondering too, there is no mention of a development company that I can see anywhere and no logos when you go to the site.

The agency is based in the same village so I'm hoping we can have a good honest chat and I can get an idea of expectation.

I'm not massively emotionally invested I'd just like to make use of an opportunity if a well priced one arises!

I love it because it's a beautiful Victorian house. I'd expect a challenge in doing it up though. But it's amazing, I'd buy it. Old houses are "money pits" but you factor that in don't you? And then it's worth so, so much more. People love done up Victorian houses

Am I seeing things or do they have 4 washing machines?

The description is a bit off; one of the bedrooms has no outside window.

Orchard I'll go back and have a look at that!

User1499 yes, the road is always like that from 4.30-5.30pm

Crazy: I noticed that, are there 2 identical utilities or taken on 2 days with new white (black) goods? It's very weird.

The situation of the access road would make me think hard. How far from the front of property is the fence? I know that you have got two bay windows on the adjacent side of the house. It will the fence affect the light in the other rooms, also, would you mind looking at a fence?

It is cheap though, if you don't mind the work and time (and money) involved in doing it up.

That road is very busy morning and evening; mind you, each time I am there I am astounded by just how much more built up and busy it is. Took me an hour to get from the married patch near Daedalus to Titchfield one morning.