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Original poster

Would this put you off buying a house?

41 replies

SingingBabooshkaBadly · 13/01/2018 16:52

We are planning on putting our house on the market shortly. It's a three bed semi with a large garden in the catchment area of a well-regarded seconadary school. Our garden has pretty big pond. If you have younger children would this stop you buying a house you otherwise liked or would you be prepared to buy it and get rid of the pond yourself?

OP posts:
DrRanjsRightEyebrow · 13/01/2018 16:52

yeah I'd buy and get rid. Not so tricky to drain a pond.

WillowWept · 13/01/2018 16:53

I'd buy it and fill the pond in immediately.

If I thought it was going to be difficult to do immediately I'd find it hugely off putting. And I've lived in total building sites over the years.

DrRanjsRightEyebrow · 13/01/2018 16:53

when you say pretty big... how big?

littlecabbage · 13/01/2018 16:54

If I otherwise liked the house, I would definitely buy, and fill in myself.

DrRanjsRightEyebrow · 13/01/2018 16:55

you could say to agents you are happy to drain the pond before completion if a famoly purchased that wanted you to do so. They can say this to potential vendors on showing them round (and save you the bother if bought by someone not fussed about removing it)

starlingsintheslipstream · 13/01/2018 16:57

Wouldn't put me off and wouldn't fill it in. I think it's a nice feature.

Dozer · 13/01/2018 17:00

Are you well within the current and likely future catchment? If so and getting into the school is tricky that will sell the place whatever!

Original poster
SingingBabooshkaBadly · 13/01/2018 17:20

Thanks for all the responses, much appreciated Smile. DrRanjs hmm...too late to go out and measure but I reckon it's 15-20ft in length and about 4ft at it's widest point (curved so narrower at either end) so quite big to fill in. Great suggestion re making it clear we'd drain it if required.

Dozer, yes, I can't imagine the catchment area would change. We're about a ten minute walk.

I'm reassured by your messages, so thank you. Obviously it didn't stop us buying the house but then we don't have DC. I know if I did I wouldn't consider having a pond.

OP posts:
HannaSolo · 13/01/2018 17:30

I bought my current house with large deep pond when the kids were small.

It's really pretty and DH and I had no intent of draining/filling it.

We bought a metal grid to cover it (strong enough so you could stand on it) that let us see the fish and for plants to grow through.

Resolved the safety issue and had no problem. Removed the grid about 5 years ago.

Only person whose fallen in the pond was DH when he was cutting the grass - thought he was further away than he was and stepped back into the pond. I shouldn't have laughed but it was very very funny 😂

SkyIsTooHigh · 13/01/2018 17:35

I think people who are reading and commenting on the property/DIY board will be less likely to be put off than the general population.

We did buy a house with a pond and shingle garden, filled in the pond and replaced the shingle with lawn. But I think we added value and saleability.

HannaSolo · 13/01/2018 17:37

Op if you google pond safety covers there are loads of firms that can provide grids like we installed.

If I was you I'd ring and get a quote.

You can then either install one pre-sale or offer to do so as a condition of the sale if it's needed.

Lots cheaper than filling/draining and very safe.

Original poster
SingingBabooshkaBadly · 13/01/2018 17:55

Hannasolo. If only you'd been filming! 😂😂

Off to google safety covers - thanks!

OP posts:
InTheRoseGarden · 13/01/2018 18:10

It wouldn't put me off at all. I have little children (and like ponds!)

KitKat1985 · 13/01/2018 18:14

Wouldn't put me off particularly as long as the house itself was in good condition and in a good area (and sensibly priced).

HannaSolo · 13/01/2018 18:22

Forgot to mention a neighbour of ours filled their large pond when they put the house on the market. Thought it would appeal more to family buyers.

I know this as we "inherited" their fish Grin

People who bought it though had 3 children aged 10 and over and one of the first things they did to the garden was put a pond in! No I didn't offer give the fish back - koi carp and very lovely and expensive!

Reality is you don't know who will buy the house, so doing anything pre-emptive is just silly.

When people are viewing simply say (if they have small children) you can get safety covers - we had a quote and it costs x amount. People don't like the cost of the unknown.

That way they can look to install themselves or make it a negotiation point of the sale.

TheQueenOfWands · 13/01/2018 18:25

I had a toddler and a pond.

No issue.

The real problem was the cats bringing in big fat toads and then constantly seeing the deckers hopping around the house.

Mermaidinthesea123 · 13/01/2018 18:29

I really hate ponds but if I loved the house I'd buy it. There is always a compromise somewhere.

Changednamejustincase · 13/01/2018 18:30

It would put me off. I would leave it off the pictures and tell any viewers that it could be filled in easily (if it can be).

TheQueenOfWands · 13/01/2018 18:34

Deckers?

Really, autocorrect? It's never been 'deckers'.

Original poster
SingingBabooshkaBadly · 13/01/2018 20:46

Thanks to all who posted. Good point Hanna would be just my luck to spend time and money filling it in and the buyer to be a koi carp enthusiast!

OP posts:
PandaPieForTea · 13/01/2018 20:52

It would put me off a bit, but assuming there aren’t 2 identical houses on the market, but one has a pond, then I’d put up with it and fill it in. We did look at a house with a pond and the owners made it clear that the fish were included. That was really offputting as an empty pond or just water are fine, but I wouldn’t want to have to work out what to do with the fish.

FluffyWuffy100 · 13/01/2018 21:15

No. It’s not expensive to deal with a pond if you have small children.

Original poster
SingingBabooshkaBadly · 13/01/2018 21:34

Panda that happened to us! We didn't realise the vendors were leaving the fish. Turns out fish are quite complicated to look after properly. Thankfully we found someone who wanted them so now it's pond but no fish.

OP posts:
itsgettinghotinhere80 · 13/01/2018 21:40

It wouldn't put me off buying but I'd definitely appreciate it if you offered to fill it in before completion. No way up have s pond with small DC (toddler died locally last year, they're so dangerous with little DC I'd never risk having one)

ChoudeBruxelles · 13/01/2018 21:42

Put me off buying a house previously. Owners had put a pond in for the sale Hmm. We have two water loving spaniels who would have been in the pond every time they went in the garden

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