Rightmove hunting !

[pawpatrolonrepeat]

Family of 2 boys (toddler and newborn) and myself and Husband.
Have found this house which although requiring decorating throughout , seems like a good bet , and the price is actually lower than stated by about 15k.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71189930.html

My plans were to turn the bathroom into a more metro tile style , blacks and whites with an overhead rainfall shower head.
Downstairs dining room would become a playroom/homework room.
Outhouses where utility etc is located would try to become properly insulated and used as decent storage / washing area etc.
Garden is huge :)
Bedroom 2 would potentially house both of them for now making bed 3 a guest room.

It's 15 mins from our home now, and there is a school literally seconds away too 👩🏼‍🎓

Thoughts ?

“Agents Note:
The property has historic structural movement - this has now been resolved early 2017”
In other words, you may not be able to get a mortgage on it. No proof yet that it’s stopped moving.

But other than that, I agree it is a nice house - and that garden - wow!

Sorry other thing to add is that I don't need a mortgage , and the agent did say yesterday that structural problems were sorted (or something like that, we would have a survey done etc , and husband is in the business anyway so will be in charge of that).

It looks like it hasn't been updated for decades. So I'd expect to have to rewire, possibly install new central heating etc. And recent subsidence doesn't sound too good either.

If they can prove that the structural movement has been resolved and can get insurance then go for it.

If not then no way.

We are in a house with structural movement and can't open several windows.

You might be cash buyers, but if you ever wanted to sell, it would make it difficult and the house should be considerably cheaper than similar properties in the area.

My understanding is that even if house has been fully underpinned it is almost impossible to move insurance provider therefore you have to stay with whoever it is currently insured with and pay whatever increases they charge each year.

Only if you get a massive discount. You will most likely have a problem when you decide to sell.

If the house had been underpinned ten or fifteen years ago and had shown no sign of movement since, then it would be a fair bet. As it sounds like it’s only recently been fixed, no one has any idea of whether the work has done what it was supposed to.
Look into insurance, which might be an issue and / or very expensive - and if you decide to proceed, only pay a price which would cover the monetary costs and inconvenience of having to underpin it all over again, as you can’t rule out that possibility.
That said, any house could move and if this one has been properly underpinned, it’s probably a lot more stable than most!
I would also only consider it if it’s “forever home” type property -as it’s lilely that it will be a hassle to sell on, so if you’re thinking of only staying five years it’s probably not worth it. If you’re thinking 20+ years, then it sounds a better bet. It certainly has plenty of room to extend (and I love those art deco fireplaces).

Definitely food for thought there guys thank you

Looks like a total disaster zone re structural movement and super over priced given the amount of work you need to do.

Something like this is a much better buy.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64037800.html

I like fluffys link, with a new born and a toddler, will be easier than a rewire, replanted redecorate..

Looks great but might be out of budget slightly. Love it though!!

I think in your circumstances and if you intend to make a significant dent in the asking price it could be a great house. You would also need not to be planning to move for at least 10 years due to potential resale issues.

There's a boiler in one of the fireplaces - looks as though it is hot water only: see the pipes to the side of the chimney breast going up. There are electric storage heaters downstairs. You'd need to budget for a new boiler and heating system.

If the house has been underpinned then the chances of it moving again are slim - depends whether just part of it has been underpinned.

If you can buy the first one cash and it needs work I'd be tempted to look at the house propped (or similar obs) as might not work out much different money wise in the end.

50k mortgage would be nothing on a house that value - you'd get a good ltv

Proposed 🙄

@pawpatrolonrepeat if that is out of your budget, you can’t afford the house you linked to!

Full renovations will come to way, way more than the cost difference between the two houses.

@FluffyWuffy100 actually I think that is in budget, how though?! It's looking lovely so the catch is ...?!
The other one is on at £350 really, but they are holding out for the original price.

Only other factor is , Cant get a mortgage at all so it'll be all cash, so either all or nothing kind of situation. Makes it easier and harder all at the same time!

Wish the south east was cheaper.

It’s a huge project. But if you can get it for a real bargain, and you say your husband is in the trade, and it’s insurable I’d go for it no doubt! Love the garden and huge potential!

Just to say, my last house had structural movement (and it was very stressful) and we had to make a large claim under the insurance to get it sorted out. Our insurers did hike our premiums up a lot - eye-wateringly so. I was an idiot and didn't do my homework- and kept paying for a few years.

But in the end I did get on to it and found a specialist non-standard insurer and they were completely brilliant, and a third of the price! There are a few if you look online, but mine was Bureau Insurance.

And there's a happy ending too - I eventually sold the house for a decent market sum and the buyer used our insurer in turn. Subsidence isn't always the end of the world, but get decent advice!

I love that house and particularly the garden pawpatrolonrepeat. The house has so much character and potential.

But it will take some time and ££££ to get it up to a modern standard.

But that garden is so huge!

Honestly - we had issues with our old house when we first bought. When we sold 17 years later we had to go through hoops for the buyers to be satisfied we’d had no further problems. In fact their solicitor was a right pain even after we’d says we had one issue 17years ago. Think if we’d committed a crime it would have been easier to convince them. So no based on our issues I wouldn’t touch it.