Upside down layout, a No No?

[Ihopeyourcakeisshit]

We have seen a house that fits most of our requirements, however it is upside down. 3 of the 4 bedrooms are ground floor and kitchen and living areas are on the second floor.
The design is to take advantage of the views.
Dh is concerned that it might be too difficult to sell at a later date because of the layout. Would it put you off?

Absolute opposite for me - I'd see it as a selling point especially with beautiful views! The bedrooms on the ground floor is no different to a bungalow so that wouldn't worry me.
Oh it's sounds lovely.

I'd only consider it if there was a decent terrace/balcony off the kitchen or living area. Not just for convenience to eat outside in nice weather but also to be able to open doors wide for air flow in the height of summer.

Speaking purely personally, it would put me off. But I have a weird thing about not sleeping on the ground floor. (Wouldn’t buy a bungalow or ground-floor flat for the same reason.)

I think it's swings and roundabouts. Some people will be put off because of sleeping on the ground floor, but others will be attracted by the views. I agree with PP some outdoor space at "living" area is important. I think you need a door out from the kitchen, plus one other from the living or dining room.

Depends on whether there's access from outdoors straight to the top floor or whether you have to bring your shopping and deliveries in at bedroom level and take them upstairs.

It would 100% be a selling point for me. I've always wanted an upside down house.

Bedrooms on the darkest floor make more sense to me somehow, especially if they are sat in a hillside. It's like a warm and cosy hobbit hole. But also, hot air rises and I'd like to take advantage of that during the day and then have a cooler bedroom to sleep in. If there's a good view too, then why would you waste it on a bedroom?

Some great points.
I really love it, it's a bit knackered, 1960s/70s bathroom/kitchen and doors ,the people in it are elderly and struggling with the upkeep and garden.
We are viewing on Monday.
Appreciate all the feedback thank you.

There was an upside-down house on Ugly House to Lovely House this week (S4 Ep6). It might give you some ideas.
www.channel4.com/programmes/ugly-house-to-lovely-house-with-george-clarke

I'm similar to MrsMoastyToasty, my first thought was where is there direct access.

I can definitely see the appeal, but our main focus is accessibility over the long term would we be able to live on one floor if stairs became a greater risk so if we had to go upstairs with the shopping or to do cooking, that would be a negative to me (and I'm not big on views other than feeling weird if I can see into other's houses).

I have seen floor plans of properties that have a mini kitchenette downstairs with a main one upstairs, which I thought was interesting, but I imagine others might find annoying.

Do you walk down to the bedrooms or up to the living area? There are some upside down houses where I grew up, they look like bungalows from the front. They are built on a steep hill.

The only negative was that you couldn't have an outside sitting area from the living room and kitchen and have to access the garden either down some outdoor stairs or through the bedroom.

One family had a bedroom extension with a rooftop sitting area on top coming off the living room. It looked a bit weird when they were sat up there. The views from the living areas were fab though.

Just like @LooseMooseHoose, we would love an upside down house, for the same reasons. If a suitable one came on the market where we're looking I'd pull out off the conventional, old-fashioned layout house we are buying and buy that instead.

Yes it might be difficult to sell but not impossible. It's not like it is riddled with woodworm or asbestos. When it comes time to sell it may take longer to make a sale but you only need one person to love it.

I live in a house that will be hard to sell. The previous owners had it on the market for a year. I expect it will be the same for us when we sell. I have no fears of it not selling or of going too cheap. There are plenty of people who LOVE the quirky. You'll just have to wait until one of them is looking to buy at your price in your area.

It would put me off. There is a few of these near us and they struggle to sell even though they are cheaper than the average for the size house in the area.

We have a house on a hill, with a similar layout. Internally it makes no difference and wonderful views. But, we do have outside access on middle ( where the front door is) and lower ground floor. Also a bathroom on every storey. If there was only one entrance at ground floor level I wouldn’t go fit it.

depends on the view. if it's a really good view you can genuinely see from the living room, its def a selling point.

if no views, then it would probably depend on the overall quality of the house and the age of my kids. 3 under 6, it would be a nightmare but three over 6 would be less of an issue iyswim

A lot of the ‘bungalows’ on my street are ‘upside down’, they’re not technically bungalows because they’re 2/3 floors but from road level they look like bungalows as the ground drops away behind.

Kitchen garage living room and balconies on top the bottom 1/2 floors are bedrooms and hobby rooms leading to gardens.

They’re lovely and as soon as one becomes available me andDP want to make an offer of we’re in the position at the time. It’s u likely they will though it’s rare for them to go up for sale.

Example floor plan

I prefer not to sleep with people walking about above me. I go to bed late and like to sleep late. Living with someone who would be moving about above me would be hell. Would need a shower, toilet and small kitchen downstairs.

Depends on whether or not the you enter the house from the top. I've only seen these designs done where you live on a hill, so you enter at the top of the house in the living space and go downstairs for bedrooms. If that's the case then I see no issue.

We went for a look yesterday. You can access the kitchen/living area from the garden thankfully. It's on a hill, has an acre of land, a functioning well and a revolving summer house. Needs quite a bit of cosmetic work but I think it could be amazing.

Whatever you do, don't post a link or we will all want to buy it! It sounds amazing.

I'm jealous, it sounds amazing.

I won't be posting a link, the owner is an elderly lady, recently lost her dh.
I don't want to be disrespectful if someone recognises the house and says 'mum/granny your house is on t'interweb '

I’d probably buy it just for the revolving summerhouse! That sounds amazing, being able to take advantage of the sun whatever the time of day...

If I could - I would!