Total cost of putting this house up to date?

[Rainbowhairdontcare]

www.bradleys-estate-agents.co.uk/properties/12448176/sales

I like it for its potential although DH hasn't seen it. Yes, patio is fairly small but oh well.

I think it needs all flooring although could live with the wooden boards for some time and at least 4 radiators.

The staircase to the loft needs to be changed so the the 3rd bedroom can be used again. Not urgent but something to consider in 18 months.

Sooner rather than later will need a new kitchen too, again maybe in 2 years.

Would £2k make it liveable for now? And the rest fixed as we go?

@rainbow having a quick look at rightmove it seems that all the cheaper but decent houses are snapped up pretty sharpish.

That doesn't mean the perfect house won't come up though.

I don't think that kitchen can have building regulations with that roof. There's issues with energy saving etc.

The loft might not be as simple as just putting a staircase in - you don't know if the floor has been strengthened etc.

It could be a money pit.

The smaller one on the same road looks nicer and less hassle but if your DH doesn't like the area?

@sunshinesupermum the smaller one is simply too small. We need four bedrooms from the get go (unless it proves to be impossible to find and then we'll just have to live on top of each other until baby gets 30hrs free childcare).

Rainbow :-(

The house you are considering though with a loft that doesn't appear to be a useable bedroom looks like it will be a money pit

@Rainbow I think there are 8 4 bed houses for less than £210k within a 10 mile radius of where I am. And half of them I wouldn't touch at all. So seems you are quite limited unless you get lucky with a decent sized 3 bed. I'll have a look.

From this Saturday we'll start 3 beds that were happy with. We're starting to see we might not have a choice because we have time constraints (my maternity leave being the main problem).

It looks like a conservatory has been built off the kitchen and then knocked through. That would put me off , I'd want to see the building regs certificate for the beam. It could be hard to heat in winter and too hot in summer.

That kitchen extension doesn't have a radiator. When I was in at 18 degrees outside room was a very pleasant temperature.

I'm almost tempt d to try a completely different area, for both of us commutes would be 25 mins but school runs would be 45mins. I'm sure DC would complain so maybe not the best option.

Well the Camborne/Pool/Redruth area is probably the cheapest place to buy in Cornwall after St. Austell. There isn't much difference between any of them, some areas are lovely and then some you wouldn't want to buy but that is the same an anywhere really.

Where are your DC at school? No chance of them moving?

For better or for worse no chance of moving schools with shared custody. All will eventually go to Truro college but that's in 4-5 years.

The second house you linked to is better value than the first. The first one isn't a four bed, it’s functionally a two bed. It will cost you more to rip out what’s been done in the loft and move the staircase than it would to start anew with a loft conversion in the second house. You can’t use the loft space in the first house as a child’s bedroom, it isn’t safe and the temperature will get too hot and too cold.

Would have to check if the ceilings are as high. Of what I can tell (from photos) the second house is a cottage and the second one is a Victorian terrace, which could make the difference on terms of ceilings

I was going to say the same thing about the 'bedroom' in the attic. My OH does house renovations for a living & the rules in our area for it to be signed off as a bedroom/living area are that a) the staircase has to come from a landing, not an existing bedroom & b) there has to be a landing area at the top of the stairs with a fire door for entry to the bedroom. At the moment this house seems to be a two bedroom with a boarded loft space, so should be priced accordingly.

@MO21305 fully agree with you. Real price should be around £165-170k considering the other house is selling for £180k. We know the mortgage company wouldn't lend for that house based as a 3 bedroom. It's listed for 190k though and given my past experience I'm not entirely sure they'd be happy to lower the price so much.

It doesn’t matter if they’d lower the price. It doesn’t have the number of bedrooms you need because one of them has a staircase in and one of them isn’t safe.

2k wouldn't even touch the surface. The bathroom looks mankey and I would expect it to need a bit of tlc.

Quite honestly, I wouldn't go near that first house with a 20 foot bargepole.

I suspect as soon as you start doing your own improvements, it will become clear that you are dealing with the aftermath of many years of sorry neglect with a patch up job done by cowboys.

Second house much nicer. Changing's link is too.

We've decided against it (although we'll probably still have a second viewing so we're on the same page about what's doable and what isn't). We've found a lovely Victorian we both like and that we're almost certain the loft can be converted.