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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Would a real open fire put you off a house

77 replies

OneSugar1 · 13/10/2021 11:30

Gearing up to put house in market. It’s a 70s house with an open fire in living room which hasn’t been used for yonks. It’s not needed to heat the room - just atmosphere/cosmetic/extra heat if needed.

Wondering whether to fix it up or replace with an electric fire.

I like real fires as they are very atmospheric but wondering if they are off putting for others. Cons of fixing up the real fire is that a new surround is needed and there’s not many nice ones for real fires. Would be a bit of a pain in the neck to source and might open a Pandora’s box if the glue is no longer up to scratch?

The alternative would be to replace it with an electric fire but not sure if there are nice ones at a reasonable cost. Not wanting to shell out loads.

Have ruled out any gas options due to cost of pipe work etc.

OP posts:

Original poster

OneSugar1 · 13/10/2021 11:31

Flue, not glue!

OP posts:

Beamur · 13/10/2021 11:34

It wouldn't put me off, but I probably wouldn't keep it because they are polluting and not great for health.
Depends on what else you're doing to that room.
Unless you are renovating to sell I'd leave it and price accordingly. If you're renovating then I might see how much it would cost to take out.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 13/10/2021 11:36

No it wouldn't put me off at all! I'd consider replacing with a wood burner, but I think that's a personal choice tbh!

Naaaaah · 13/10/2021 11:37

It'd be a big plus point for me.

PurBal · 13/10/2021 11:38

An electric fire is more likely to put me off. Either keep it or get rid I think.

RedCarsGoFaster · 13/10/2021 11:38

No, but I'd expect you to have had the chimney swept in the last year...

GemmaRuby · 13/10/2021 11:39

No I wouldn’t spend money changing it. Some people might like it, some won’t but would probably rather put their own stamp on new electric fire/surround etc

GemmaRuby · 13/10/2021 11:44

People might also like that they could potentially put a log burner in.

BalloonSlayer · 13/10/2021 11:46

We have got an open fire and I am comforting myself by thinking we might be using it a bit more if gas goes up and up

SirSamuelVimes · 13/10/2021 11:48

Nope, I'd be pleased. Especially if the chimney had been taken care of. Would mean I had options for what I could do with it.

Seeingadistance · 13/10/2021 11:50

I’d leave it as it is. That way, buyers can decide whether they can to keep it or change to suit their own tastes. I’d find a new electric fire in its place much more off-putting.

Owlink · 13/10/2021 11:53

Would be a great bonus for me. I love a real fire.

Original poster

OneSugar1 · 13/10/2021 12:08

Thanks for all the input.

I can’t leave as is at the moment as the old surround has already been removed so there needs to be a new one out in. Difficulty is that most places only specify whether a surround is fit for electric and/or gas. Went into a local showroom at the w/e and they looked a bit askance when I enquired about real fire surrounds, babbled about Hetas engineers and said that their fitters ‘wouldn’t be able to touch the fire itself’. Not sure what he meant by that - will have to go in again.

OP posts:

elfofftheshelf · 13/10/2021 12:10

It wouldn't put me off, but I would be thinking we would need to knock the fireplace out and install a woodburning stove. I'd certainly rather a real fire than an electric one.

TuftyMarmoset · 13/10/2021 12:19

I wouldn’t want an open fireplace - fires are bad for the lungs and chimneys draughty. But I wouldn’t want an electric fire either. I’d just brick up the chimney and leave a gap at the bottom which could be used decoratively.

MrsRobbieHart · 13/10/2021 12:30

The opposite OP, it would be a plus point for me.

Mamette · 13/10/2021 12:48

No it would not put me off. There was an open fire in this house when we bought it. After we moved in we changed the surround and installed a wood burner brought from our old house.

StormyTeacups · 13/10/2021 12:50

Lovely. We had one for years before replacing with a log burner

TheYearOfSmallThings · 13/10/2021 12:53

It wouldn't put me off at all (I would expect a sitting room to have a fireplace).

An electric fire would be off-putting, but it wouldn't stop me buying a house I liked.

LittleMysSister · 13/10/2021 12:54

I'd love it, tbh would be put off by an electric fire.

Frazzled2207 · 13/10/2021 12:54

Wouldn’t put me off. Had one as a child but they are frowned upon these days.
Would prob put in sthng electric.

NoBetterthanSheShouldBe · 13/10/2021 12:56

I’d prefer it to be blocked off - I remember how much work they were and the way they dirtied the wallpaper.

PlanDeRaccordement · 13/10/2021 12:56

Wouldn’t put me off. Although would probably install a pellet stove.

Bluntness100 · 13/10/2021 12:59

Well no, most old houses have open fires or wood burners, the issue is you’ve removed the surround before you had a plan on how to replace, and if you do it wrong or leave it then yes this shoddy work would put me off,

AlbertBridge · 13/10/2021 12:59

It would be a MASSIVE plus point for me. My old house had an open fire and I loved it, used it every day in the autumn and winter.

Please don't replace it with a generic electric one.

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