Would you put an offer?

[Ellie2015]

Dear all

We have just viewed a 5 bed property which has an agent note next to it as below:

There is additional land to the front of the property (Not shown within the marketing photographs). This land has been sold and is not part of the sale. An existing double garage and garden wall, will be removed creating an access point to a new gated driveway for the sale property and a separate driveway to a new build chalet bungalow, being built on the adjoining plot of land. All works on the new driveway, walls, gates and fencing will be completed prior to exchange of contracts. Full plans are available upon request.

We met the vendor and he is an architect himself . He explained that he would be chopping off a significant part of a large garden to build a 2 bed bungalow for themselves. They went through the plan. By the sounds of it we would first have to put up with a building work for the new bungalow that owner is trying probably for next 6 months or more and also so much of uncertainty despite the plan (okayed from planning permission after having been rejected once before). Also garden size small and no drive way as expected for a 5 bed property, no garage, perhaps ok for two cars..

Is there a fine line to it? They say they haven’t received any offers as yet.

That sounds like too big a compromise and potentially you would struggle to sell on. I've heard of this sort of thing before where people looking to downsize come up with the idea for slicing off some of the land and building a new property. I imagine it's a great idea for the sellers, less so the buyers.

What is attracting you to it - is the house bigger then you expected to get for your budget? No judgement there - we all make compromises - but from what you're saying this sounds like a very compromised five bed.

Personally no. Not without plans.

Nothing wrong with the owner building a house.

Whether you’re happy with a small garden and no garage and a bit of building work next door is your personal decision. If you don’t feel that works for you, just walk away.

No I wouldn't, but because I'd never feel like it was mine while they lived there.

I’d be worried about buying a 5 bedroom house with a small garden. Limit your resale options in the future

I would never buy a 4/5 bed without garage and a good garden.

I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole!

No

No, I wouldn't. There are some 4 or 5 bed houses round here with small gardens, in my view, but without exception they have at least a single garage usually double.
I wouldn't look at a 5 bed without a garage

The thing that would annoy me is that they got to live in the house with the garage, driveway and large garden but you will fund their retirement and their new house by buying a house with compromises that he didn't have to live with while he lived there. And I would hate to live next door to the previous owners who may well frown on any changes you make or how you look after the house. I over think things, hold grudges and am gemerally a grumpy jeslous old git.

No chance, if I’m spending out for a 5 bed I’d expect a driveway, garage and a decent garden. Also as others have mentioned I expect it’ll impact any future resale value.

No I would want a decent garden and garage.

@ChateauMargaux

The thing that would annoy me is that they got to live in the house with the garage, driveway and large garden but you will fund their retirement and their new house by buying a house with compromises that he didn't have to live with while he lived there. And I would hate to live next door to the previous owners who may well frown on any changes you make or how you look after the house. I over think things, hold grudges and am gemerally a grumpy jeslous old git.

I completely agree with you

Thank you everyone very helpful responses.

@IsThisIt123

I’d be worried about buying a 5 bedroom house with a small garden. Limit your resale options in the future

This

No, nothing against people with a huge plot splitting it and building, but from what you've described there isn't really enough room.

Depends on how much garden and parking you have left, how happy you’d be with the building work, etc. It might be that the plot your left with is still really good, and the building work hassle and uncertainty is reflected in the price. Or it might be that it’s tiny, sunless and overlooked.

In terms of resale, it might be ok. I’m in an area with a lot of larger detached properties and houses with smaller gardens and no garage sell well too. They’re cheaper so appeal to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a property of that size in the area or aren’t fussed about a massive garden. Some people are ok with no garage but off-street parking and a shed for storage instead. I think it’s fine as long as the remaining garden is good enough and doesn’t feel claustrophobic.