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Original poster

What do you think about this house in need of renovation?

30 replies

Whaleghost · 11/08/2019 09:42

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80575118.html

The area is right, right space but with the garden very steep it does look gloomy. Can you put in windows to the side of a semi like this?

One in a similar state sold at auction for 50k less than this asking but the asking has already been reduced by 25k.

I'd rather pay more for something in much better state but it's empty and need to move ASAP.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whaleghost · 11/08/2019 09:42

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80575118.html

OP posts:
CoolcoolcoolcoolcoolNoDoubt · 11/08/2019 09:47

Have you seen it in person yet? Looks damp to me in the second photo? I think you’d definitely do well to do a full survey if you decide to put an offer in.

Knitwit99 · 11/08/2019 09:50

Unless there are unseen structural issues the thing that would out me off is the garden. Why is it so steep, is there something underneath? Or could you remove all the excess soil to make it flat? It looks unuseable the way it is. The rest just looks dated and old but you could live in it. What about electrics and all?

Time40 · 11/08/2019 10:06

It's quite nice, OP. It's definitely got potential.

That garden, though .... haven't you read much Stephen King? There's quite obviously an alien spacecraft buried under there.

Bouledeneige · 11/08/2019 10:06

I agree with the comment about the garden - could there be a WW2 bomb shelter underneath?

With the house I think it looks like it could be a solid investment (subject to what a survey says) but have you got the funds for the renovation? Thats a considerable investment - I'd think where I live which grant you is an expensive part of the world, that you'd expect to pay £75 - 100K to fix it up. I have had the experience of doing up a house gradually as we got the funds - it was a long slog but worth it in the end.

What do they sell for when in good condition? Id it worth the investment?

Original poster
Whaleghost · 11/08/2019 12:33

I think it because it's on a hill and has been left for many decades so it's built up.

If I did it up for 40k I'd make a out 10-20k profit. Although I'd rather just pay 50k more. Needs new kitchen, bathroom, boiler, electrics and all the rooms need to be stripped and replastered. I'm not sure I can deal with doing it again!

I've not viewed, but told the agent I know the area and that street well and to get in touch if they would accept 250k and move quickly

OP posts:
Hawkmoth · 11/08/2019 13:07

Those ceiling tiles are going to be a nightmare.

Original poster
Whaleghost · 11/08/2019 13:08

Really? Why will they be so bad?

OP posts:
Hawkmoth · 11/08/2019 13:10

Well they will either be a fire hazard, or fireproof with asbestos. New ceilings definitely required, possible expert removal.

TurtlePinky · 11/08/2019 13:13

The cost of things these days, I think you'll be doing amazingly well to renovate that for 40k. Your biggest expense will be labour & that house needs A LOT. As per the previous poster, ceiling tiles can be a messy nightmare. Perhaps you could board straight over, depending on what they're made of. I think a more realistic budget is 60 - 70 to do the lot. I'd want that back garden sorting too. Looks like the house hasn't had any money put into it for decades.

TurtlePinky · 11/08/2019 13:15

Don't forget, on an old house, the grot you can see is only half the story. When you start peeling back there'll be a whole host of other issues that need addressing. Fun though if you have the time & money.

BitOftheSea · 11/08/2019 13:16

Are you sure about the price of the house that sold at auction? From the nearby sold prices £225k would be a very low price for a similar level of renovation, unless the market is falling sharply.

I agree with a previous poster that it looks damp in the second picture. That might be relatively easy to solve, but it might be a sign that there are significant structural problems. If there aren’t, then I think it looks like a nice house.

CoffeeRunner · 11/08/2019 13:23

It looks as though it has potential to be a lovely house.

It really depends on whether you have the time, energy, funds & inclination to do the work.

Also, what would the parking situation be? No parking would put me off straightaway.

GreenTulips · 11/08/2019 13:30

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72613255.html

This ones empty

Original poster
Whaleghost · 11/08/2019 13:31

The ceiling tiles are all polystyrene, so shouldn't be much of an issue. I'm planning on it all needing replastering.

I'd do some of it myself, but in the current house I put in a new kitchen and bathroom for 13k and had two builders for a two weeks working on it. Nothing fancy but clean, new and fresh.

Am I missing anything else? The garden I'm fine to do myself so then just plan on new carpets, floors and doors everywhere else

OP posts:
Original poster
Whaleghost · 11/08/2019 13:32

That one is right on a very busy road unfortunately green so a no go for me (asthmatic)

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BitOftheSea · 11/08/2019 13:45

Well it will probably need rewiring, damp sorting, new heating system, potentially new roof, new windows. If the damp has affected the floor then new joists and floorboards. I don’t think you’ll know whether it could be done for £40k until you’ve had a survey done. How do you know the ceiling tiles are just polystyrene if you haven’t seen it yet?

Original poster
Whaleghost · 11/08/2019 13:47

Yes the damp and floorboards, joists are a concern.

When the agent spoke to me about it the first thing I said is the tiles put me off. They said they're all polystyrene throughout

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longearedbat · 11/08/2019 14:04

There is a lot of damp, but all the things in the house could be fixed, but it's the garden! Why is it so high? The neighbours don't appear to be. It would need to be levelled and landscaped to be appealing to a buyer, it's just an eyesore at the moment. That would be an expensive and labour intensive job alone.
I wonder what's underneath?

ghostofharrenhal · 11/08/2019 14:11

Is that a damp patch on the ceiling in pic 9? Leaky roof?

I think it will need a lot of work OP, maybe more than you might think at first? Sounds like yo uhave experience in renovating though.

Having bought a house that needed lots of work, I would always now go for something that was in good nick and just needed redecorating!

DonPablo · 11/08/2019 14:15

That's a lot of hill for your money!

TeacupDrama · 11/08/2019 14:37

firstly the damp could just be due to being empty for a while with no heating and/ or leaking gutters which is an easy fix, however I would get a proper survey as it might be a worse damp problem that could cost thousands, unless you are incapable of doing anything yourself there is no need for any of it to cost 70K
while none of it might be your taste it looks livable, has a functioning kitchen and bathroom, though very old fashioned not everything old is poor quality just needs checked out, though downstairs bathrooms aren't popular they are probably normal in the area and it at least has a toilet upstairs
it has the potential to be lovely just get a proper survey and take it from there, it is either a probate sale or someone who has gone into care so either it needs selling asap to release funds or it maybe for the same reasons they are in no hurry to sell
garden it looks like it is flat once up the slope, I would get steps put in so long as you don't have toddlers it will be fine the upper garden looks a sun trap so could have a nice patio and seating at end of garden, the neighbours obviously have the same sloping gardens so look over the fences for ideas, you have side access for bins and tools you would get a mini/micro digger round side so you can create the steps up

buttertoasty · 11/08/2019 14:56

A lot of potential and a good price but a lot of work. Just depends if you are up for it really. Would check for damp though as second photo looks like there could be

Original poster
Whaleghost · 11/08/2019 15:04

Lots of soil does need to be moved, that's why I'd would be good to get in asap and my nephew's to move it to the skip while on holiday. But it will naturally have a hill there. Others have got it landscapes.

Yes I agree it could be livable in it's current condition and just getting the rooms stripped, painted and carpeted would give a decent space util the kitchen and bathrooms can be done.

Having bought a house that needed lots of work, I would always now go for something that was in good nick and just needed redecorating!

Same! Been there done that, can't be bothered to waste years of my life and live in a mess. But can't see anything done up and unless the selling was reduced wouldn't even make anything after doing up.

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BitOftheSea · 11/08/2019 17:23

There’s no way that damp in the second picture is caused by condensation. If you look at the rear picture and the height of the door, you can see the internal floor is barely above the exterior ground level. I’d guess there is an issue related to that.