Opinions on this house...

[needmorespaceforthegiants]

Please could I have honest opinions on this property - I can't see the wood for the trees.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65218728.html

We thought we wanted a period property but there's nothing around our area that doesn't need a ton of work or is £100k over budget.

We desperately need more space and this is such an amazing price and has the room that we need. Dh and dcs like it.

But...I'm not 100% sure, so obviously the opinion of a load of strangers on the internet is going to help with a life-changing decision.

Lack of kitchen worktop space is bothering me...I hadn't really registered but with having all the units on one side there's less than in our kitchen now.

There is lots of hidden storage so that's not an issue - a hallway cupboard, airing cupboard, built in wardrobes.

A little new for me but I still like it. Love the long window's. Looks lovely and bright.

The current owners have questionable taste, but you could make it really lovely!! I'd go for it!!

Hmm, a little glitzy for my liking too!

We've done grade 2 cottage (loved it but oh the damp!).

New build next was so easy.

Third purchase we went for a cottage but it fell through and we ended up with a newish style that is practical. It's uncomplicated and we've made it our own. I'm sure we might end up in a cottage in our old age but if finances meant staying here forever I'd happily host Christmas for grandchildren here. Can you imagine your family Christmas in that home? That was when I knew this house would work for us when other new builds left me cold.

I don't like the way they've chopped up the kitchen/family room. But is that something you can change. It would be nicer all open plan without the divider, if you hate the kitchen and plan to replace anyway, could you do a wee bit structural work and move things round a bit? The rest of the house seems ok

Clutter in every room? Where?

Things that would bug me:

• if you have more than one car (and ultimately your eldest DC may have a car in 4 or 5 years), a long driveway would drive me mad, having to shift cars around to get them in to the right order for the morning.
• worktop space is limited, though they do have a fair bit of clutter on the sides in the photos.
• having to turn around when you take something out the oven as there's no direct spot nearby to put a hot tray, etc.
• the back of the house view from the garden looks a little lopsided with windows on one side but not the other

Positives:

• From what you've said about your family, the layout would no doubt work well - having a second reception area when you've got teenagers would be a godsend.
• no need to spend any real money right now. Yes, the kitchen is not pretty, but it's livable and you may be able to find a kitchen refurbishment company that can give it a facelift if you're otherwise happy with the layout.
• I LOVE the dinosaur room! I have no DS so would have to change it, but I would feel a little bit gutted ripping that off the wall!
• It has a nice family feel to it (do you know why the owners are selling up?)

Overall I really like the house. On the basis of your description of your family I could imagine it would work for you, though if it doesn't make your heart sing as you walk in, could YOU imagine yourself living there, or will you end up resenting it quickly?

I have a '60s semi, I wanted a period terrace. This was the best option for our family and while I pine for the period style I love the light in my house and having a garden and a garage. Sometimes you have to think about location and space (and budget).

I'd want a utility room for that price, not a utility cupboard as per the blurb.

We're going to put an offer in...excited and nervous in equal measure but it fits most of our wants and as someone wise said further up the thread, the elusive dream forever home only exists if we have a vast budget.

Just hope it happens now that we've finally decided

I think it's lovely! Spacious enough, and you won't have to do any major decorating.

Periods do tend to come in two flavours - renovated to their eyeballs with a price tag to match, or untouched since the 60s so it's in or even below budget, but it depends how you feel about a doer-upper. Admittedly, I'm about to go for the latter, but I've done it before and can kinda live with it. It's not for everyone, though.

For a new build, it's got big windows and space.

thetiger do you know much about the other estate avant are building st the moment in harb ten locks village?

How did you get on with the offer OP?!

Check flooding risks ( and quiz your solicitor/ surveyor about it)- if I’m right, it’s the development built on the old water meadows.

Planning permission was refused for decades due to flooding risk and the deputy PM overrode it.

It’s a perfect family home, loads of parents would kill to bring their kids up in a house like that. You could enjoy decorating and making it nice without having to worry about rewiring, reroofing, maintaining a massive garden etc. Why the snobbery about wanting a period home? They’re not all that practical. The thing which put me off new builds is that sometimes they are a bit plain and boxy, which this one isn’t. Also they are sometimes squeezed in alongside their neighbours on massive developments. That’s the only thing that would put me off buying this house.

OP you sound like me 4years ago. I wanted period but for various reason needed many of the practicalities a new build brings. We looked at barn conversions in an attempt to compromise but they were inevitably in the middle of nowhere.

We went with the newer build and don’t regret it. The location was just perfect for us.

Even newer builds need maintenance and things doing to them I don’t know how we would have managed with the period property down the road.

Interestingly our kitchen and bathrooms look near identical, I wonder if it’s the same builder. I certainly wouldn’t have chosen brown shiny wood effect doors for a kitchen but it works just fine- certainly not hideous as others describe.

Go for another look, imagine coming home from a stressful day at work - is the house going to add or take away some of that stress....
Good luck!

Oh just read you’ve put an offer in! Good luck