Thoughts on this house/maisonette

[lilyannofpembleton]

Hello,
I am looking at this property and would love to hear your thoughts. I love it but have never lived in a period property or a maisonette before so would love to sense check the choice, as well as hearing any opinions on maintenance requirements, potential issues, things to watch out for.
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/60334602/?search_identifier=c190c45db2c9ac5444880a71b43c6f66
Thanks a lot in advance!

It's lovely - great decor and lots of room and big garden. Good that it has freehold.

Open plan is lovely, but can get annoying if it's your only reception space - our main downstairs area is open plan but it's helpful that we have a second reception so you can get out of there if someone's being noisy in the kitchen!

I think as long as trains aren't running right past you it's OK.

@Callisto1 yes, everyone has their front door

It's beautiful but I think that's reflected in the price as it's not the greatest location. Has the area really gone up in value by 200k in 2.5 yrs? I would say no

[quote lilyannofpembleton]@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads i might do a second viewing to double check. Apart from train noises, would you recommend the area? I know it is close to Northcote road which is now super posh but is it equally well regarded or a bit less because it is on the "other side of the tracks"?[/quote]
I grew up on the Northcote “nappy valley” side of Lavender Hill, so the “right” side of the tracks, quite literally. It’s been more than 25 years since I lived there though, so my judgement may well be out of date, but I suspect that the Falcon Rd/Battersea Bridge area may always be slightly in the shadow of a couple of big estates.

Love it.
Layout is great…also like the bedrooms are away from the shared floor /upstairs neighbours

Garden is fab.

Personally I don’t love Clapham J but it’s great for commuting…

It's under offer though?

Lovely property.

I would prefer a small Sumner house in the garden.

Main areas of insulation are
Roof- survey will let u know if roof is insulated.
Windows - are they double glazed
Walls - external insulation quite costly not really worth it.
Underfloor- u could do this from the cellar space or lifting floorboards and adding insulation. Worthwhile doing.

I’ve lived a stone’s throw from here. I think the layout is really practical for a maisonette and I think it would be a really pleasant space to live in - it looks like it’s been carefully renovated. The outdoor space is a huge bonus. You may not have heard the trains when you looked around but in summer with windows wide open, or in the garden (and wind direction affects it too) you will definitely hear the trains. I got used to it over time but it is pretty relentless.

It seems expensive, there is no bath & i'm guessing it was recently refurbed with some strange decisions made (That illuminated mirror at right angles to the sink???) so warrants further scrutiny. In fact the more I look at the pictures the more it looks like it wasn't a high standard refurb & more a tart up with F&B paint.

I'd want to know about who is living above.

I think the flat has been done really nicely, however I would be thinking about neighbours (particularly since they overlook the garden), damp/ plumbing, especially in the lower floor, subsidence/movement, noise of neighbours above and trains, whether you’d be happy sleeping with the window open in the summer, parking and car crime. I do also think that it might not be as good an investment as a house a bit further out, especially since you’re paying a premium there to live near transport links which may carry less pulling power in the future. I also personally don’t like the fully open plan living room but that’s personal taste.

I lived in the same type of house in Chiswick. The noise from upstairs neighbour destroyed my soul. Make sure you check it’s insulated properly. The ceiling above me was literally bending when they were walking/doing whatever. I heard every word, every step, how many times a week they had sex (many)🥲

It looks lovely!!

It’s fabulous but I agree you will hear the trains.
Just as a sense check though you would get a house in Earlsfield for that price.

Fair enough if you don’t want Earlsfield but it’s literally a stone’s throw away and for longevity and investment a house would stand you in better stead in terms of resale and being the sole freeholder in terms of making decisions and up keeping the property.

It’s a great maisonette but nevertheless it’s a maisonette and not a house and at that budget I personally would go for a house and I’m talking spitting distance away.

@HaaaaaveyoumetTed interesting! The estate agent described St John's hill as "prime" (as he would🤣)

In fairness to the estate agent it is in a good location for Clapham Junction! It's kind of equidistant to Northcote Road and The Tonsleys.

It's whether you want a fabulous looking maisonette or a 3 bedroom house at the same price but in Earlsfield.

The cheaper side of CJ is behind the station near Falcon Lane etc moving backwards towards Battersea High Street.

@lilyannofpembleton

It might be absolutely lovely but I am not the best person to ask for advice here. I would much prefer a house in a little village in the countryside.

The property is really nice that aside.

Neighbor noise would be an issue for me. At least modern apartments are better soundproofed

Many years ago I lived in Battersea

I think I would check for train noises more than once just because so close to the junction itself not just a line leading out of it. BUT that said IME lower ground rooms are very well protected from noise either traffic or trains so given that is where the bedrooms are - I would not worry about having a good night's sleep but I would visit more than once to check general train noise - it may well be fine.

It looks very convenient - I would say it is not the "best " part of Northcote road area ( the roads off Northcote road itself tend to be that & if you want to go out & don't want to drive how close are for walking either to Northcote Rd or elsewhere ( although that general area I think is well served for buses or indeed a short cab ride.) The Winstanley estate used to have a bad reputation , but I do know the council earmarked a lot of money to getting it refurbished / upgraded - so my knowledge is probably out of date.

I am sure you have but I would definitely go and have a good walk round in all directions and see how you feel about the area. Other than that I think the flat is great.

The flat itself I think is lovely & for the area a fabulous garden . I think being the freeholder would give me some comfort ( although there will be responsibilities along with that. ) I am not convinced all modern flats are better soundproofed - some are some aren't .

Good luck @lilyannofpembleton

beautiful, but never ever would I pay that money to be overlooked to that degree which is obvious. And train noise on top. You can do better. Take the photos and do up a cheaper place to that standard.

So @lilyannofpembleton - just as an example ( and it will take work which not sure whether you are up for - but much cheaper than the one you posted ) - for location every time I would choose this www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117603380#/?channel=RES_BUY

Personally I would never buy a lower ground floor flat for fear of flooding, if the drains block you're the first in line for them backing up!
I would check the length of the leasehold carefully and also want to know who's responsible for the maintenance of the building and any communal / shared outside area.
It's a beautiful flat to look at though!

It might be absolutely lovely but I am not the best person to ask for advice here. I would much prefer a house in a little village in the countryside.
Haha, same. And even if you have to be in London for work, for that price you can get a whole house further out.

OP, I’d seriously consider taking the leap to buying a whole forever house at that budget rather than compromising on a maisonette.

Not sure of prices but you might find something in Kennington/Oval or Battersea itself that’s nice.

It is some distance from the railway. Go back and walk around but no trains run all night. Also very many London areas get some noise!

Go for it.