1930s semi or new build detached

[Housemove21]

1930s a small 3 bed, large garden, desirable road.

New build detached, 4 bed small garden, around social housing.

Thoughts?

MumofSpud totally agree about the soundproofing, it’s the one thing I hate about our new(ish) build house. I’ve got the thickest carpet and underlay it’s possible to get and it makes no difference. I spend a fortune on earplugs!

@Housemove21

1930s a small 3 bed, large garden, desirable road.

New build detached, 4 bed small garden, around social housing.

Thoughts?

Detached every time.

With regards to social housing if it's an issue for you, you could buy the semi and still be around social housing.

1930s semi

I'm put off by small gardens and newbuilds always seem completely overlooked (unless you're on the edge of the estate). I like a house with a bit of character too.

What about amenities? Is the new build within walking distance of schools, local shops, post office, restaurants etc?

30s semi. Probably has more space than the new build, space to extend into the garden and still have a nice garden. If you do get internal neighbour noise you can add soundproofing on the party wall (doesn't solve garden noise/noisy neighbours).

With an established street you can get a feel for the neighbours - and spot any abandoned cars/sofas in the front garden, with a "proper" new build you can't judge in advance and there's no existing community feeling.

1930s semi. Can’t beat the high ceilings and period features. Make sure you’ve got a slush fund to do it up though. We rewired ours, new bathroom, decorated parts of it but desperately need a new kitchen (hoping to do as part of an extension) and there’s still areas that need redecorating 8 years on. It was a shell of a house when we bought it and we hadn’t anticipated how much it would cost to modernise it (it only had two plug sockets!). But I don’t plan to ever leave, any work we do to it is with an eye to living here forever.

Has anyone had a double storey extension on the side of a house from 1930s, did it make it more expensive? Not a clue what them sort of things would cost

@Housemove21

Has anyone had a double storey extension on the side of a house from 1930s, did it make it more expensive? Not a clue what them sort of things would cost

I know someone with a full width rear double storey extension on the 30s build.

We have a detached new build and love it, been here 7 years.

SIL has a 1930s semi and nothing but problems, they’ve had to remortgage to replace the roof, it has a leaky and cold conservatory and they get noise from the neighbours. They do have a 130ft garden compared to our small patch, but I hate gardening (she loves it) and we have room for a swing, trampoline and a patio so that’s enough and actually a bonus for us.

In 7yrs the only maintenance we’ve had to worry about is a fresh coat of paint.

It really depends on your lifestyle and what’s important to you.

@Housemove21

Has anyone had a double storey extension on the side of a house from 1930s, did it make it more expensive? Not a clue what them sort of things would cost

I think in Not London you’re looking at £1500 a sq m for extensions. Roughly. Double that for two storey. So £36k for 8x3m across the back. Plus any kitchen/bathroom/flooring etc.

We’ve had three 1930s houses in varying states of extended and renovated and not had any major problems with any of them. Sturdy walls, nice sized rooms, fairly high ceilings.

1930s.

New build. Near us the 30s semis had a really small 3rd bedroom and one toilet whereas the new build detached all had at least 3 double bedrooms and downstairs toilet plus en-suite. I preferred having everything done rather than needing to do lots of work.

thanks so much guys.

We’re going to put an offer in on the 1930s in the hope to beat the stamp duty deadline. wish us luck

Ours had had a 2 storey rear extension when we bought it, plus conservatory. Obviously don't know costs but house was solid as a rock afterwards, no issues. It was ex council so limited period features but very solid.

1930s semi.

I doubt you have a snowflakes chance in hell of beating the deadline, 2 weeks+ to get mortgage offer/survey, 3 weeks minimum to get searches done, how long the Land registry take. How busy the conveyancers are on both sides, if there’s a chain involving a diffferent council it complicates things.
We are selling with no chain involved and our conveyancers have said it’s unlikely to be less than 10-12 weeks.

Ooh interesting thread as I recently moved from an awful 1900's mid terrace to a brand new build semi, and I keep looking at 1930's semi's on right move as we are planning to move in a year or two.

To me, this new build is light and spacious compared to the cramped terrace, but the master bedroom is much smaller. I've gone from no garden to a big square south facing lawn so I'm thrilled.

After living in a new build I think going back to an old property will be a shock (darker, colder, repairs needed) but there are definitely pros to both.

I’ve been told I can pay extra to have searches back within 10 days, no chain on my side and they’re moving into an empty house, so risky.

@Housemove21

I just extended my 1930's semi, adding a fourth bed and open plan kitchen/diner. Love the house now. If you want to ask anything..

1930s as I find them more generous in terms of ground floor living space than any new builds.

Check if the 1930s semi is a single brick construction. I've lived in two and both had condensation issues.

The garden would swing it for me every time.

Ooh, How much to expedite the searches?

Although I imagine it only works is the LA are on the national database.
Our tiny borough council aren’t, so my DD who has just intstructed her conveyancer probably won’t get to complete within 8 weeks, her chain consists of 3 properties, her vendors are downsizing, their vendor is going into a care home ( so I hope she doesn’t die during all this !).
I bloody knew we’d get a buyer for FiL’s house at exactly the same time as DD found a house 🙄 She wanted to move into FiL’s to save a couple of month’s rent. Sod’s law.

I’m not sure how much but waiting for a call to put the offer in, really hoping it works out!