Advice - what would put you off buying this house?

[surfingdreams]

We've been looking for a while and seen this one in N.Devon, where prices are crazy rn. DP loves it because of the setting and the light feel of the bungalow, I think it's overpriced and the garden is small. It only has one toilet, so we would be looking to add an ensuite to one of the rooms. And the loft has the height for a potential dormer extension so that's a positive.

As it's been on the market for a while we would be justified in offering under, but are there any other obvious things that could be putting people off, that we've missed?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111938369#/?channel=RES_BUY

A few things jump out at me.

Solar panels can cause issues with contracts and ownership.

Flood plain? Have you looked at whether the river floods?

The access to to the house - is it via that steep slope only? Not safe, I'd question building regs compliance without a hand rail there. Also off putting for removals and carrying heavy things in and out personally!

It needs a new kitchen IMO, plus most of the rooms need a full redecoration and flooring.

It's a bit yellow eh?

Genuinely, the pokey bathroom and bedrooms the weird family room.
Shit garden
Also that ramp access.
And the EPR.
The cars parked all up the lane, that's asking for a parking thread.
And the yellow!!!

Have you looked at whether the river floods?
I have! flood map
When the river floods I presume that you are cut off from the A-road.

I wonder about that family room. I know it's got some sort of roof on it, but is it well insulated and warm? Not sure whether it's also not got a door to the kitchen, if it hasn't then it would be very draughty. Personally the garden would put me off, and also the proximity of that woodland in terms of security, but I appreciate that to some that would be their dream to be adjacent to countryside. Have you actually viewed it yet?

That side extension looks like a glorified conservatory and probably leaks heat, is flimsily built, could be damp etc.

The main issues for me are:

The family room that looks like a village hall - all those windows. It will be hot in the summer and freezing in winter.

The bathroom with no shower.

The tiny bedrooms.

No parking right by the house. You need to lug everything up the ramp.

I don't like that gigantic extension. It just looks odd.

Thanks all for your comments, good food for thought.

Solar panels – we have asked for further info on these.
Flooding – checked the flood maps, the property itself is okay but there is local flooding which affects access in one direction.
Family room – roof is well insulated apparently and its double glazed, but i can see heat in the winter being a concern.

Ramp access – apparently used to be steps but they recently redid it as a ramp. I agree on the handrail and looking for other options for creating an access!!

Parking – it’s a private road and apparently everyone parks in front, its got a long frontage so you can get 4/5 cars there but I can see it being a future problem.

Bathroom – there is a shower but not shown. Tbh the pictures (and EA) are a bit cr*p.

The yellow, yes, we’d need some redecorating for sure :D

The deck would also be an issue for me - rat central!!!!

That ramp looks lethal in icy weather. The conservatory will be a hearing nightmare.

Why is it raised to high? Does the area at the bottom of the shope flood?
Is that slope the only access??
That family room extension is out of proportion with the rest of the house, and looking at the construction could be freezing.

Flooding! It is very close to the river.

The bit at the beginning about tenure is odd. They state it clearly on other listing so I would wonder if it's leasehold. Perhaps on very reasonable terms so they don't want to put people off by just saying leasehold.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate they seem to have that on most ads locally these days, it is freehold.

I'd worry about parking (doesn't seem like they use the garage), and I'd want to look closely at the family room extension.

Also the retaining wall holding the garden up would concern me. The garden is also awkward but at least it's manageable.

Everything inside, even dodgy extensions, can be changed if the price is right but it looks like it would be difficult to make good parking there, which would be a deal-breaker for me - I don't like the daily stress.

I really don't like the garden area... which has been taken up by the conservatory... where is the garage?

If it's a private road, who pays for the upkeep?

And the back of the house has a road...

Over looked and not very private...

The house is accessed by an unadopted road - Google Maps can't go down to see it.

You can see the roof of the house on Google Maps, from the 'road' which can be accessed and is little more than a goat track.

The private road is owned by a local landowner and everyone on the lane contributes to maintenance, we used to live in a similar setup so ok with that bit. It's wide enough for parking and current condition is ok but again, something that could change in the future...

I've just watched the walk through video and it's really really small! The garden is also tiny compared to the photos. Naughty EAs. As usual.

The decking is going to need replacing - it's cracking and poorly maintained. The garden needs a huge amount of work, especially at the back.

The family room is definitely just a conservatory with a cheap looking roof on it... I suspect its very cold in there, but they also have no blinds or curtains in the room which is weird from a heat perspective!

I'm impressed it's gas central heating - I'd have expected oil fired out there.

Garage is to left of house, roof is level with garden

The lack of measurements on the floorplan makes me wonder if it's a bit small, family room aside.

120 sq m (thank you, EPC finder) and nearly a third of that is the family room. Not impossible but something to consider.

"The private road is owned by a local landowner and everyone on the lane contributes to maintenance" - for now...

Check that gas central heating is from the mains. It could be a propane tank.