Victorian vs new build

[collywobble]

Just asking for what your thoughts are on these two different properties . I'm trying to weigh up the pluses and minuses of the two when deciding on which property to put an offer on .

Large 6 bedroom end terrace huge rooms all nicely decorated new carpets kitchen and bathroom with the potential to convert the large cellar for additional living and a garage and off street parking

Large 6 bedroom detached fairly new build on a quiet private estate with double garage , smaller rooms but more modern feel, nice kitchen , nice bathrooms again , needs new carpets but slightly nicer area with the potential to convert the double garage for additional living.

The new build is empty but so no chain but costs 40k more but the Victorian terrace has a seller who hasn't yet found a property who will be part of a chain .

I need to move out of my rented property by the end of June .

What would you do ? Help !

If the size of the master bedroom is anything to go by, then the size difference isn't 10% but more like 50%+. Frankly, the master in the modern house sounds pokey.

I think I'd actually go for the period house if it's 20% cheaper and 50% bigger. Just get a full survey and spend money on insulation.

See my heart would always say Victorian but having frozen last week in my easy to heat cheap to run soulless 1960 property and having got cast iron sewerage pipe issues the new build would be my head decision!!!

Gosh so many differences in opinions but all fair comments. The Victorian house is at least 50 percent bigger against the new build as it has three floors ( all to heat) and a basement that would potentially be converted to a ground floor apartment in time.

How on earth doctor not know the sq ft? You need that for all properties you consider - can be found on the EPC if not on floor plan.

So dumb how people in the UK price on ‘bedrooms’ not £/sq ft

Nothing to add but can someone link to the cellar thread. Pleeeeese

We've had both, end terrace Victorian and new build detached.
Wouldn't go back to victotian.
Love the insulation, no drafts, easy to maintain.

New build every time

I’d go for the new build. Unless it’s possible to insulate inside the Victorian house (retrofit).

Older houses take a lot more maintenance and the heating bills are a lot higher.

Look at the APC rating.

We live in a 1930’s property which has taken us ages to insulate ie under the floor, new triple glazed windows (the old ones were from the 1980’s and knackered), new composite front door, cavity walls, top up the loft, seal round the edge of the floor. The cold always seems to find another crack to seep in.

The ceilings are lath and plaster. We removed the one in the bathroom and replaced with plasterboard. It was the dirtiest thing I’ve ever done.

Older properties generally have a bit more character, but due to the age, there’s always something which needs doing.

Period property, absolutely no contest. I agree with pp, I’ve not yet seen a house on modern estate that isn’t cramped and soulless.

And having lived in a ‘new build’ conversion, don’t bank on your maintenance costs being cheaper. Most developers are more concerned about throwing a house up and leaving the snagging for the homeowner. Our ex neighbour had to rip the entire floor of his house up to find a leak, think gallons of water trapped in the sub floors!

Ohi dear Rockpapercut that doesn't sound good at all. When I say new build it isn't brand new so I'm hoping most teething problems will have been sorted out by the previous owners. When I viewed the Victorian one I asked about the heating and they did say that you get used to a certain level of heat. Which I read to mean it's blooming freezing. Decision time on Friday when I go for the second viewing.
Most people are saying that new build as its cheaper to run but we will be saving 45k on the property and around 15k on the actual deposit so that would factor into the running costs I suppose.
Space, character vs warmth and low maintenance.

It does have lots of lovely fires and a beautiful kitchen though.

(Goes of to dream of huge Victorian houses with sweeping staircases)

Victoria definitely!

Don't underestimate how much you will want to be warm in your home.

We live in a 1911 house. Loads of lovely features. We had to spend an absolute fortune taking out and replacing every window, putting in insulation, fixing the absolutely crap electrics, etc just so we didn't freeze every winter and go up in smoke from an electrical fire. This was the first winter where we didn't come down to the kitchen in the morning wearing hats and gloves.

Dh grew up in a beautiful house built in the early 1800s. he spent his teen years being cold, never having a good shower and learning every form of DIY there was. It was beautiful though. I'm amazed I got him to buy even a 1911 house.

Have a good look at the Victorian and see what you could do to improve insulation - glazing, loft, increase radiator sizes, better boiler/heating system.

glazing, loft, increase radiator sizes, better boiler/heating system.

We did this. It was expensive. Worth it for us but expensive.

Mamaohana This cellar thread?

On factoring in the running costs - our last house was a period semi (5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 3 reception rooms sort of size). It had original stained glass and sash windows as we couldn't bring ourselves to replace them. The entire heating system was new and efficient (boiler, pipes and rads). To keep the place heated to 18-20C in winter (but no one in the house in the daytime), it worked out at about £350-500 per month. And that's in London (so a relatively warm place).
So definitely sth to consider.

£200-£245k is cheap for a six bed detached. Whereabouts in the country are you?

‘Victorian’ is a long time period I’ve lived in a house built in 1760 ish with no foundations and one brick thick. Poor standards one those days. However my current house from the 1890s feels v solid.

1860 not 1760

I'd go for the Victorian house.

Victorian but only if the finish is relatively modern and high spec. Imagine the Christmases! I think new builds can be a bit sterile but undeniably easy to keep clean. With young kids and a husband away in the week this might be good for your sanity.

As well as lovely kitchen and bathroom, does the Victorian house have good windows and external doors, a central heating system that's right for the size of the house, roof in good condition etc?

Friends of mine were beguiled by the beautiful décor of the large old house they bought but found that the basics hadn't been done properly. They still love it, but have spent a fortune improving it (cold part of the country).

Madmarchpear that is exactly my concern as he really loves the house but I'm worried I'll be in a cold house with the children when he's away which could be difficult. The house is part double glazed fully rewired and has a two year old boiler. I'll definitely be asking about heating costs as we are in snowy Yorkshire.

Victoria without a shadow of a doubt for me despite the heating costs etc. I'm really not a fan of new builds.

It’s a hard one, especially with head v heart lots you can do to make a Victorian house more cosy, good windows really thick curtains/door curtain draught excluders, possibly a wood burner making sure the boiler is efficient & enough radiators etc, no doubt a new build is easier to heat & running costs are cheaper, but for me nothing beats really good proportions & character, so I would go for the Victorian but you have to go with what is right for you.
Am wel jel of the fact you, can get a six bed for that amount of money😀