quick poll - would you rather live in a brand new house, or an old character-filled one?

[Thunderpants]

My vote goes for old.

low maintenace, which could be either tbh . We have a relativie newbuild (12 years old or so) but it is individually designed with proportioned rooms with a semblance of high ceiling and character and real wood floors.

old
Though I love modernish good architecture and would happily live in a well designed 70s house for eg or modern

gosh
I was about to post almost exactly the same as CountessDrac

if I were to do a Grand Designs type thingy I would probably be more in for converting an old building, e.g. barn, warehouse etc.

gosh
I was about to post almost exactly the same as CountessDrac

if I were to do a Grand Designs type thingy I would probably be more in for converting an old building, e.g. barn, warehouse etc.

Old - any time.

I live in a Victorian semi (dated 1887). Even though it is only a 3 bed semi, footae wise it is the same as the 4 bed detached shoeboxes on the modern estate behind us.

Also, we have a 120ft garden, modern houses have postage stamps.

I don't agree with old houses being more of a money pit. My friend in one of the new houses has had walls crumbling when her dh put a shelf up, wall denting when her ds threw a football boot against it, the shower tray was badly fitted and leaked into the room below, electrics have blown, door handles have fallen off, she has spent SO MUCH money keeping the place habitable. (and is going slightly mad trying to reclaim some costs under her nhbc guarantee)

My lovely grumpy old lady of a house is just fine. Yes of course sometimes things need replacing, but if the work done is of a good standard, then it will be centuries before this needs doing again.

And my house just oozes character - stripped floors, sash windows, original fireplaces, it gives out a very happy feeling.

that would be footage

Dream house would be new, but designed to my spec, not built by mass-market developer.

Our first house was new but a one-off built by a local builder as an infill on a 1920's/1930's street and was built to look exactly like the existing houses - so had the benefit of highish ceilings, etc but modern insulation & plumbing!

Our current house is early Edwardian and although it doesn't have loads of period features it does have high ceilings and quirkily shaped rooms which I love - but something always needs repairing/updating - and the garden is small compared to the size of the house.

Old without question

Old every time. A few people I know who've bought new builds have had nothing but trouble with them since they moved in.

Old but you have to budget serious money for the ongoing upkeep, which can come as a bit of a shock if you are used to new.

Also if you like decorating go for new - the weeks and months of preparation before you can actually do anything creative to an old house can really wear you down!

so predictable

old character filled, deffo

old, they just have so much more charectar. I have almost finished renovating our art deco house and its been well worth it. I could never imagine moving into a new build, fair enough i can understand the appeal of living somewhere all shiny and new, i prefer something i bit more rough and ready, kinda like dh! but also what a lot of people don't realise is that a new build depreciates in value so quickly like driving a car of a forecourt.

Old and full of nooks and crannys any day!

We live in an old house with lots that needs doing. Not a day goes by without dh moaning that if we'd bought a modern house he wouldn't have to spend all his time on DIY and maintenance.

Old character filled. Provided the structure of the house was sound (ie not spending heaps on underpinning etc).

Old character filled one unless I could have my own architect designed house to my own spec.

In my dreams, perfect house is old and full of character. In reality, for this time in life (small family, busy lives etc.) v. happy with new build.

Almost bought an old pile last year, seduced by the character and potential. Chickened out and we're in a new house and am SO relieved.

House is bigger, larger rooms, higher ceilings than the older ones around here (that we could afford) and an unusual layout, so doesn't feel too off the shelf. So much cheaper to run too.

Bottom line: It's warm, reliable and our weekends belong to us and not DIY.

I've lived in both - but the two times I've lived in new build they were both architect designed, not developer-style.

I love 1930s type - this Paris flat was built in 1929 and my sister's house in Amsterdam is 1930 and both are great (though this flat is a bit easier to live in). And I love 16th-17th-18th century but I'd need to modernise myself .

everything brand new - to suite my taste

brand new houses make me puke

lived in a new build will all mod cons, double glazing, en suite, lovely fitted kitchen, wall to wall carpets, warm, cosy, totally souless and no room for DS to play

now live in a big , old no mod cons house, full of origional features, incl stained glass windows, leaded windows, origional fireplaces, range in kitchen, origional floorboards, on 3 floors.

but freezing cold and bits keep falling off it and we had a ghost !!

but tonnes of room for DCs to play and run, lovely big kitchen ( the kitchen units were mega cheap ex display ) with the fire roaring in the winter, it is the heart of the house

although it can be a bind wearing a coat indoors in winter , it is such a homely home, and filled with a mish mash of furniture, looks shabby chic, with emphasis on shabby, but we love it

and we have the best neighbours in the world.

old.

gotta have SOUL!

I like living in an old house (17th Century Scottish Farmhouse), BUT the cost of doing anything to it is appalling! Everytime we need something done, we plan it get quotes, double the estimate, and it still isn't enough...there's ALWAYS something extra.

We're coming to the end of a nightmare 6 months- three rooms at the back of the house being re-roofed and turned into sunroom, utility and shower room....the cost has doubled at least and the original 14 week schedule was laughable!

My second house was a new build Persimmon Home, and OK, so it was soulless, but it was warm and cheap to run!