Is it true Victorian houses are higher price & if so why?

[Ruralbliss]

We went to view a nice house yesterday but it's considerably higher asking price than it's larger, well insulated, multi bathrooms modern counterparts.

A quick chat with the agent tells me this is definitely the case despite rooms being smaller, lower energy efficiency rating etc no garage.

I'm thinking of making an offer despite it meaning I'd have to get rid of loads of large pieces of furniture and belongings as like the location and garden

Just wondering if Mumsnet property board people have a view. Don't want to find out via a survey that it's priced more than current value.

A house is worth whatever someone will pay for it. I've never heard of Victorian houses automatically being more expensive than new builds and I have lived in both.

I don't know that they're more expensive on a like for like basis but the trouble is that there isn't usually a great deal of comparison between a new build and a Victorian property. You're just paying for different things like character Vs room height or guarantees Vs quirky features.

Not necessarily but they quite often have good locations, better proportions and can be more solidly built (not necessarily though).
Some people like the original features as well.
Round here the larger Victorian houses command a premium but small Victorian terraces do not.
In our old city in very much depended on location as even small/mid sized terraces went for a premium in some areas because of location whereas new builds were always further out so less popular.
The larger ones have scope for improvement due to large rooms sizes, big windows, great features and good locations which can keep prices up.

Some people hate new builds (e.g. me)

I’d pay more for a Victorian home with character and history any day. It’s also a travesty that so many Victorian houses are being renovated to within an inch of their life by grabby developers… honestly there was one I saw the other day that had been turned entirely grey inside, likes it’s soul had been sucked out.

People tend to be attracted to period features - no one seems to have told the previous owner of my house who removed them all
And older homes usually have larger rooms and sometimes have higher ceilings. But I haven’t heard of Victorian attracting a premium vs say Edwardian or 1930s. If anything I’d say that would apply more to Georgian homes.

I never understood the obsession with higher ceilings. Just means the room takes longer to heat up because heat rises. You're only as tall as you are so can't use the higher ceiling space, so extra heating costs for nothing . I don't want sash windows and draughty fireplaces either. I want double glazing and no draughts. I do like the character of Victorian homes though, just would never buy one.

In our area Victoria houses do cost more but that’s because your paying for bigger room with nice high ceilings and in most cars original features

they are not making anymore Victorian houses the original features are expensive to replicate, it depends on the type though two up two down I don't think would be a premium over a new build, a large victorian house would be over an "executive" home
outside big cities often have larger gardens and more space
Victorian probably better built original woindows over a hundred years old, if you asked for a new windows that would last that long there would be laughter, high ceilings fireplaces cornices original solid wood doors etc come with generally one bathroom and a smaller kitchen but often altered in town they won't always have parking, new builds are more convienent unless you are unfortunate enough to get one with a snagging list as long as your arm, 2-3 bathrooms as standard modern kitchen and utility but often a lack of storage and a small garden
Victorians lived differently bedrooms were only for sleeping in and getting dressed, people lived downstairs and kitchens were for cooking not eating in
so it is what you want
personally i love the high ceilings cornices fireplaces the pantry and laundry room etc, I don't like that housework takes longer and that it tales a lot to heat ( however it doesn't get cold quickly either) nothing can be found in B&Q the plumbing fitting are thick brass imperial sizes, to repair things properly requires experts and costly materials; curtains have 3 metre drop so you never find a pair in a sale but it has a character and is a wonderful backdrop for large furniture and large solid mahogany furniture is really cheap and will last and last

@OnyxOryx

I never understood the obsession with higher ceilings. Just means the room takes longer to heat up because heat rises. You're only as tall as you are so can't use the higher ceiling space, so extra heating costs for nothing . I don't want sash windows and draughty fireplaces either. I want double glazing and no draughts. I do like the character of Victorian homes though, just would never buy one.

I do like the character of Victorian homes though You DO understand it then Higher ceilings are part of the character of Victorian homes. I personally prefer an older house. Either that or a brand spanking new architect-designed place.

I asked an estate agent about renting my flat out for the London Olympics (I didn't do it in the end). He said they weren't doing Olympics rentals (company policy) but then came after me as I was leaving and in hushed tones asked if it was a period property. When I said yes, Victorian, he said, 'Think of a number and add a zero.'
So they have some sort of cachet, I guess.

I have a seventies 4 bed terraced house...if it was victorian, it would be worth about twice what it is in my area!

@LittleLottieChaos

Some people hate new builds (e.g. me)

I’d pay more for a Victorian home with character and history any day. It’s also a travesty that so many Victorian houses are being renovated to within an inch of their life by grabby developers… honestly there was one I saw the other day that had been turned entirely grey inside, likes it’s soul had been sucked out.

This Our home (1870s) has a fireplace in both reception rooms and all 3 bedrooms.... we have original ceiling roses in 2 rooms and lovely high ceilings with pictures rails in every room apart from kitchen and utility room.....we have a lovely wooden front door with cast iron furniture including a lions head door knocker....and we have a beautiful stained glass panel above our front door....our front path is made up of black and white tiles....we have lovely king and queen chimney pots....the stone wall around my back garden is around 150 years old and looks great.... I could go on and on...but this is why we paid more for our house at the time, than boxy modern houses.....but if you want a modern boxy house then that’s fine too

We looked at loads of Victorian terraced houses, no parking, tiny garden, small rooms and then for the same price bought a 4 bed, detached 1970’s house with a massive garden and lovely light rooms, it’s not a pretty house but you get loads for your money.

Victorian houses often have bigger room sizes and gardens than new builds, which partly explains the higher prices. In the case you describe, the room sizes are smaller so something else must be at play, probably a better location.

Victorian houses generally have more character and lower energy efficiency, and as the replies above indicate, some people prefer one factor and some the other.

My Victorian house has high ceilings, huge windows, picture rails and cornices and fireplaces in three rooms. Yes, it needs constant repairs / maintenance but I love it. Though if someone offered me a Georgian house...

For me is not so much the character issue - although that is nice - its that many new builds are in estates out of town, you have to drive everywhere, and they have fewer facilities. Also quite a few built in the last 10 years have service charges for communal areas and unadopted roads, even as a freeholder - you have to look carefully at terms and conditions of that.

My house is Edwardian rather than Victorian but I would pay more for a period property than a new build or something from e.g. 70s/80s/90s, all things being equal. I prefer larger rooms and higher ceilings and love a fireplace with original tiles.

A pp refers to not getting the appeal of high ceilings - i think it’s just something you like or don’t. IMO it just makes the proportions so much better. DH is tall and can touch the ceilings in his parents’ house, it feels too low and stuffy and enclosed. Give me a chilly big old pile any day.

I love Victorian houses as the rooms are generally bigger with more character and they're usually on roads rather than estates.

Period properties definitely go for more where I am.

Ours is early 1900s. Huge rooms- sitting room 31ft x18ft, kitchen 28ft x 16 ft, master bedroom 20ft x 18ft. Lots of rooms- dining room, snug, small sitting room, playroom, laundry room, another utility room, 5 bedrooms and two lofts 3 bathrooms and downstairs loo. 3 stories. High ceilings, fireplaces, original wooden floors, original tiled hall floor, plasterwork. Large back garden, decent size front garden. Only 6 on private road. Beautiful brickwork and architecture. Single garage. Has almost doubled in price in 5 years since we bought it. I don't think you get houses this spacious now built in suburban villages. There are a number of streets of houses about the same age and size in our village- they sell for a premium and always very quickly.
There are also large houses on new build estates on the edge of the village - tend to have large downstairs family room/kitchen and then lots of smallish bedrooms, ensuites, and a smaller sitting room than kitchen, double garages. They sell for about 60% of the price but are certainly easily maintained and better insulated but not better built.

Lovely gorgeous period property here too. 1780. Blah blah blah.

It's damp, crumbly, crooked, buyers would be few and far between (like I was)

It's a full time fucking job. Buy new!!!

@TrudyRuby

Lovely gorgeous period property here too. 1780. Blah blah blah.

It's damp, crumbly, crooked, buyers would be few and far between (like I was)

It's a full time fucking job. Buy new!!!

But your house isn’t Victorian 🤔 No damp in my 1870s house

Interesting. Round here Victorian properties are better proportioned so a 3 bed Victorian terrace would be worth more than a 3 bed inter-war semi, because in the first the 3 beds would be large, where's as the other would have a box or much smaller 3rd room.

On a like for like square footage and room size, I'm not sure which would cost more.

They are usually more expensive near me as there's only a finite supply of them (no new build Victorians!), and if they've been kept well, they have many features which lots of people love e.g. high ceilings (makes even small rooms feel spacious), huge windows (makes small spaces feel bright), corniced ceilings (original designs can be gorgeous), thick walls (so neighbours are rarely heard).

Character properties are nearly always more expensive than new builds. Sure there are outliers Ie shit ones in poor repair obvious are not more expensive

New builds have other qualities Ie energy efficiency etc, but generally are a poorer build quality, boxy rooms, small plots , etc v their Victorian counterpart , although again clearly some outliers by high quality independent builders.

Houses are only worth what people will pay and people tend to pay more for character.

@TrudyRuby

Lovely gorgeous period property here too. 1780. Blah blah blah.

It's damp, crumbly, crooked, buyers would be few and far between (like I was)

It's a full time fucking job. Buy new!!!

I think that’s about the property itself being in poor repair.

Mines about four hundred years old, no damp, no crumbling, it’s not a full time job, but on saying that, we have fully renovated it, one big job a year though, for eight years Ie kitchen, bathrooms, landscaping etc, more because it was very dated inside and hadn’t been touched in over thirty years, but it is definitely crooked 😂