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Original poster

I hate our house. WWYD

96 replies

Jisforjuggling · 01/02/2022 18:10

We bought it 2 years ago just before the pandemic. We didn’t love it but there wasn’t much around and it looked in ok nick and seemed to tick most of our boxes…..except not being detached. That aside we thought we could make it ‘home’. It’s become apparent that it was patched up to sell and actually needs thousands spent on it just to make it a workable home (think heating that works). We’ve had the first quote from the architect and it’s just an astronomical amount of money to sort it and add a small extension, that we would probably not get back if we stayed there til we died. We CAN afford it, but for various reasons I’ve grown to hate the house (I love where it is). If we spent a million pounds on renovations I still wouldn’t love it. DH has phoned a couple of EA about houses locally that have come on the market to be told they have 30+ viewings already booked in. All the houses locally are either going before they hit the open market or are going to bidding wars and cash buyers. At best we could be a 2nd mortgage buyer, but most likely we’d have to be in a chain….and there is nothing to rent locally. So would you 1)spend a shed load of money on a house that you’ll never love, but would be nice enough
2) patch it up as best you can view a view to moving as soon as the market calms…which will probably be in 2-5 years
3)try to move now.

OP posts:
mimos4 · 01/02/2022 18:11

I think option 2 realistically. Are you able to share the rough price range, as that'll have a bearing (stamp duty etc.)

Dillydollydingdong · 01/02/2022 18:13

I'd do 2. No point spending a shedload of money if you'll never be happy, comfortable or satisfied with it.

RandomQuest · 01/02/2022 18:16

2-5 years in a house you hate… definitely not. Option 3 definitely.

myyellowcar · 01/02/2022 18:21

Move now. Make a hot market work in your favour and offload this house now.

Sell and deal with the next steps once the process has started. Get in with all the agents, expect to try and find a rental and see what happens.

Original poster
Jisforjuggling · 01/02/2022 18:22

@mimos4 bought the house for £600, it’s probably worth 680-700 now. The quote we got was £330k but it didn’t include about £100k of external works- landscaping (nothing fancy), new driveway and a garage, plus a contingency fund. So just shy of £500k by the time we finished and I don’t think we’d get more than 850 at a push when it’s finished.
We are astounded that the boiler has lasted this long….but the house is falling apart, thing break all the time and we are just patching them back to get us through

OP posts:
GeneLovesJezebel · 01/02/2022 18:23

Move now.

Totalwasteofpaper · 01/02/2022 18:23

Unless you have a lot going on (like job change / pregnancy / family illness) I’d go for 3

Life is too short for this crap and for me personally living in a bad environment just destroys my mental health.

Yes the market is shocking but it’s a numbers game and you just need to get on with it. Someone is getting their offers accepted - why not you?

I bought when the market was massively overheating in 2010ish. Yes it was a ball ache but I bagged a good one in the end.

PissedOffNeighbour22 · 01/02/2022 18:25

I feel very similar about my house. We moved in almost a year ago and the worst thing we compromised on was being attached to another house. We'd said it was a deal-breaker but then assumed it would have nice thick stone walls so it would be ok. Turns out it used to be one house and it's been separated cheaply and poorly.
It needs so much more work done than we expected as the quality is very low. We've decided there's no option but to fully renovate it before we can sell it. Luckily we don't need to extend it as it was already done (badly of course). We'll definitely be here less than 10 years but will hopefully be able to start looking elsewhere once the market settles and we can be sure we won't lose money on this house.

whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy · 01/02/2022 18:27

Half a million pound worth of patching?

Are you sure you are not over egging that and falling into nice to haves and making things to your taste?

If you can't get over it then you will have to move but my view is you can get over these niggles

Clymene · 01/02/2022 18:27

Put it on the market. Get a buyer, then you're proceedable. Right now, no one is going to take you seriously. Make it clear to agents that you will rent between sale and purchase if necessary.

Presumably unless there's something dreadful about the house you haven't told us, someone else will snap it up.

Are you looking to stay in the same area? You need a story about why you're selling rather than you hate the house

CrunchTime22 · 01/02/2022 18:33

[quote Jisforjuggling]@mimos4 bought the house for £600, it’s probably worth 680-700 now. The quote we got was £330k but it didn’t include about £100k of external works- landscaping (nothing fancy), new driveway and a garage, plus a contingency fund. So just shy of £500k by the time we finished and I don’t think we’d get more than 850 at a push when it’s finished.
We are astounded that the boiler has lasted this long….but the house is falling apart, thing break all the time and we are just patching them back to get us through[/quote]
That's an insane amount to spend on a house of that value. I've added a new kitchen, bathroom, bedroom for less than that. in stockbroker belt Surrey.

Whatiswrongwithmyknee · 01/02/2022 18:37

[quote Jisforjuggling]@mimos4 bought the house for £600, it’s probably worth 680-700 now. The quote we got was £330k but it didn’t include about £100k of external works- landscaping (nothing fancy), new driveway and a garage, plus a contingency fund. So just shy of £500k by the time we finished and I don’t think we’d get more than 850 at a push when it’s finished.
We are astounded that the boiler has lasted this long….but the house is falling apart, thing break all the time and we are just patching them back to get us through[/quote]
This is a phenomenal amount of money to spend on a small extension and some patching. I am totally guessing but based on this info I think you are pretty wealthy and want the finer things in life? In which case move to the house you want. If you can afford it, just do it or you will always feel dissatisfied.

SwedishEdith · 01/02/2022 18:40

Can you show some pictures/floorplans and give more details of what the quote covered? That's Grand Designs level of costs for renovations.

MyHusbandTheIdiot · 01/02/2022 18:45

I think the architect is having you on.

I agree with PP above, do you have a floorplan? What are the issues?

Kyrae · 01/02/2022 18:45

Apply for Kirstie and Phil's Love it or List it!! :D
www.channel4.com/4viewers/love-it-or-list-it

Unsure33 · 01/02/2022 18:48

330 thousand !

Surely that can’t be right . How on earth did you get a mortgage on it ?

2bazookas · 01/02/2022 18:52

Option 2. Make do and mend until you can sell. Don't extend it.

I'd install working heating, because you will benefit from it meanwhile, and it's an important factor when you come to sell.

Otherwise, just DIY enough to make it LOOK nicer. No need to spend a fortune. I'd paint all walls white . Accessorise the bedrooms kitchen and bathroom with colourful stuff you can take with you.
Get houseplants.

DIY tart up the garden, again so that you can enjoy it yourselves, and to be a plus when selling.

Treacletoots · 01/02/2022 18:53

We've just had a quote for a smallish extension which came in at under 40k. Hmm

100k for landscaping? Are they gold plated trees?

Jmaho · 01/02/2022 18:56

330k seems an incredible amount of money to make good
That's huge extension and full refurb on a huge house type figures
You could knock it down and build a whole new house for less

Greenfields124 · 01/02/2022 18:57

I would move.

Kshhuxnxk · 01/02/2022 19:06

1/2m patching works - whoever is quoting you is ripping you off!

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 01/02/2022 19:13

We’re in a similar ish position, although we leave in a cheap area so the amounts involved are less (£370k house, will cost about £120k to get it how we want it). We’ve done some basic jobs… changed the shower and all the tiles in the bathroom, changed the sanitary ware in the en suite, fresh paint, replaced the windows that had blown, new front door etc and will be selling in the spring. We’ve spent about £15k overall on making it respectable but I don’t want them plough any more into it because I know it’s not the house I want to be in long term, even if we spent all that money.

ChicCroissant · 01/02/2022 19:16

Things like boilers need replacing in all houses at some point!

You don't like the house and want to move - fair enough, put it up for sale and see what happens. At the moment, you are proposing a lot of work (which doesn't sound essential) or looking at houses that you have no way of buying if you do see one you love. Neither of those options are a winner for you

ChicCroissant · 01/02/2022 19:17

so they don't seem worth taking any further. What is stopping you putting the house on the market?

(sorry, fat fingered earlier Grin )

Lemonnata · 01/02/2022 19:17

Sell now while the market is good, rent until you find something you like, house prices may drop a little and you'll be in a good position to move relatively quickly.