Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Should we buy this Victorian house?

113 replies

Wigeon · 07/08/2022 08:08

Help! Agreed a sale on our house almost 5 weeks ago, have looked at around 12 houses, and finally viewed this one (Rightmove link) which is the first we are considering offering on.

However, we never thought we’d be going for a Victorian property - most of the ones in our budget/location are 1930s or later (this is over budget but it’s been on the market a month with no offers and the owners told us they’ve found somewhere they want to move to, and the agent says they’re open to offers).

What should we look out for? Are the heating costs going to be mad, with the high ceilings, and is it going to be draughty? Is the maintenance bound to be a money pit? We’d get a full survey.

Other cons:

I don’t like that you can’t see the garden from either the dining room or main reception. Not totally sure how to use the second reception area (the bit next to the dining area).

There isn’t a massive amount of room for the gazillion coats and shoes our family has.

Small garden.

Bit further from the children’s school and DH work, altho they’d still all cycle (prob 30 min cycle for the youngest DC, faster for the other two as they cycle quicker).

Pros:
3 big bedrooms, smaller one would be my working at home study. Big loft and big tanked basement.

Three loos and two showers when we currently have one loo and one shower between the four of us!

Very close to train station (I’ll be commuting once or twice a week), the town centre, the huge beautiful park, close to my children’s friends and their various activities, they’ll be able to get to all that independently (they’re going into Y7 and Y10). Generally one of the most desirable locations in the town (and we can’t afford the bit right next to the park, which is the most desirable bit).

Masses of period features, most places we’ve been viewing are much blander modern places.

Help help help! External /objective perspectives needed!

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 07/08/2022 11:26

hotdiggetydog · 07/08/2022 09:35

Translation

"Hello everyone I can afford a million pound house"

Translation

“I’m jealous”

bilbodog · 07/08/2022 11:32

Beautiful house - i love victorian and edwardian houses. I would think the fact that you are semi-detached and also have that covered passage on the other side might provide some insulation in winter. Cant comment on the local prices but i would go for it!

Original poster
Wigeon · 07/08/2022 11:44

TeachesOfPeaches · 07/08/2022 11:17

£1m for a terrace in Watford! No wonder they haven't had any offers. Surely you could get a semi-detached or detached with a garage and driveway for the same or lower price?

Well yes, that’s the kind of other 11 houses we’ve been viewing. But so far there’s been something wrong with all of them (to us).

The dilemma is whether this perfect house that we are envisaging actually exists, or even if it exists will come on the market in the next month or so, or if this one (which has lots of pros and some cons/unknown cons eg extent of heating issues) is good enough, given the pros…

OP posts:
Original poster
Wigeon · 07/08/2022 11:47

TwoBlueFish · 07/08/2022 11:04

Is the side passage to the garden owned by the property or is it shared with next door? As the bedrooms are built over the passage If it’s shared you might want to look at flying freeholds as it can make properties harder to mortgage.

it’s a lovely house and looks well maintained as others have said a good surgery especially to look at plumbing, electrics and roof.

The passageway is under this house and that whole side of the house isn’t attached to the one next door. The access is through this house’s front garden, and it leads direct to this house’s back garden, so I’m sure it can’t be shared.

OP posts:
KatharineofAragon · 07/08/2022 13:10

I would make a low offer if I were you.

sunshinesupermum · 07/08/2022 13:36

Gorgeous house OP. I wouldn't hesitate personally.

Louloubelles · 07/08/2022 17:43

Wigeon · 07/08/2022 10:46

Oh hello! We currently live a 20 min walk away/5 min cycle. I think no offers in a month does mean it’s over priced. Our house went on the market a month ago on a Thurs and we accepted asking price offer on the Monday.

Are you in Nascot if you don’t mind me asking? Any other general Nascot thoughts?

It’s not actually attached on the right, so it’s like a semi.

Show quote history

Yes, I’m in Nascot. It’s a nice area with a good neighbourly feel to it. I do think the price of that property is ambitious for what you’re getting. I would speak to the agent about what level of offer might be accepted and go from there. I think going close to the asking price might be a mistake even though it’s a lovely house.

Housenoob · 07/08/2022 17:53

Wigeon · 07/08/2022 10:57

We definitely don’t have to be so central and have looked at several in Abbots. Also in Garston, Leavesden, one other in Nascot. Two of the Abbots ones had the roar of the M25 in the garden plus the very frequent train noise from the mainline. Trains were ok but the M25 was just awful, even though the houses were pretty good. Third Abbots one was much quieter but a huge doer-upper. Fourth was just a bit meh and on a 30mph road.

We’d also have to drive the DC round (to friends and activities) a lot more if we were in Abbots whereas this Nascot one would mean they’d be a lot more independent (they’re 11 and 14). And slightly longer commute /less frequent trains/can’t use Oyster from King’s Langley station.

And so far none of the Garston/Leavesden/other bits of Watford ones have grabbed us. Or need a lot of work, which we want to avoid if at all possible.

So hard to know what to do! This house ticks lots of boxes but does clearly have some downsides too.

Show quote history

Hmm fair enough. Yeah you do have to pick a decent part of Abbots/Kings to avoid the stuff you mentioned and I guess there's not that much on the market to choose from. Definitely agree with Garston/Leavesden they are both a bit meh and I wouldn't want to live there.

I guess if you're happy with what you're getting for the price then go for it! For me I still think to have that many big compromises on a nearly million pound house- it's just not worth it.

CrepuscularCritter · 07/08/2022 18:41

That's gorgeous, OP. We have a much cheaper but bigger Victorian semi in the Midlands and I wouldn't be too concerned about fuel bills. We currently pay about £280 pm for dual fuel, although I appreciate it will rise dramatically in the autumn.

The costs that have surprised us have included a rewire; has that already been done for your prospective purchase? Also the costs of things like curtains...3 metre bay windows do not come cheap, and our French doors don't fit standard curtain sizes. Our house is the same orientation as the one you've shown, and it's warm in the front rooms in the morning, and in the kitchen and back bedrooms at night. Good luck if you decide to go ahead.

dottypencilcase · 07/08/2022 21:15

I drive past that house regularly. Are you happy with the location? It's really, really busy and although the house is stunning, you'd get more for your money in nearby Oxhey/Bushey.

Adversity · 08/08/2022 02:03

It’s a pretty house but the parking situation looks dire. I grew up in a high ceiling four storey Victorian house and for that reason as much as they are beautiful I would never buy one.

Twillow · 08/08/2022 02:31

It's character vs practicality, isn't it? It's beautiful inside. and the front aspect nice. I've lived in a victorian house and while I loved it at the time I wouldn't be in a rush again. They have thick walls so generally stay warm once warm - but with the high ceilings and big rooms can take some time to get to a good temperature. I remember coming back from a winter holiday once and the house took an entire day to get warm again! Nice and cool in summer though compared to modern homes - a plus in the changing climate. You must have strapping teenage boys as I can't imagine cycling 30 minutes to school...
The garden's not massive but they're generally not for terraces. A bit overlooked.
Character means it should hold it's value well.

Original poster
Wigeon · 08/08/2022 08:29

CrepuscularCritter · 07/08/2022 18:41

That's gorgeous, OP. We have a much cheaper but bigger Victorian semi in the Midlands and I wouldn't be too concerned about fuel bills. We currently pay about £280 pm for dual fuel, although I appreciate it will rise dramatically in the autumn.

The costs that have surprised us have included a rewire; has that already been done for your prospective purchase? Also the costs of things like curtains...3 metre bay windows do not come cheap, and our French doors don't fit standard curtain sizes. Our house is the same orientation as the one you've shown, and it's warm in the front rooms in the morning, and in the kitchen and back bedrooms at night. Good luck if you decide to go ahead.

Don’t know about re-wiring, would plan to get the full survey to find out as much as poss. That’s encouraging your fuel bills aren’t too horrendous (pending them getting horrendous for us all in October).

OP posts:
Original poster
Wigeon · 08/08/2022 08:32

Adversity · 08/08/2022 02:03

It’s a pretty house but the parking situation looks dire. I grew up in a high ceiling four storey Victorian house and for that reason as much as they are beautiful I would never buy one.

Yes, all the other houses we’ve looked at have off street parking, so that is a downside. I have to say, we’ve currently got on street parking on very full street and it’s not too horrendous. We don’t use the car every day - in fact maybe only 2 or 3 times week? Although it’s definitely a disadvantage, we don’t think it’s a dealbreaker for us.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wigeon · 08/08/2022 08:42

Twillow · 08/08/2022 02:31

It's character vs practicality, isn't it? It's beautiful inside. and the front aspect nice. I've lived in a victorian house and while I loved it at the time I wouldn't be in a rush again. They have thick walls so generally stay warm once warm - but with the high ceilings and big rooms can take some time to get to a good temperature. I remember coming back from a winter holiday once and the house took an entire day to get warm again! Nice and cool in summer though compared to modern homes - a plus in the changing climate. You must have strapping teenage boys as I can't imagine cycling 30 minutes to school...
The garden's not massive but they're generally not for terraces. A bit overlooked.
Character means it should hold it's value well.

Thanks, all really useful.

Re cycling, google maps says it takes 19 mins, and DH can do it in that, but I know my 11 year old will take longer. The 14 year old has been cycling to school since Y7 from our house which is a bit closer (google maps says 15 mins cycle) but she can do her current school cycle in 20 mins. The DC are girls btw!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wigeon · 19/08/2022 15:40

Update: we have had an offer accepted on the house! 😬🤞🙂

OP posts:
GlueyMooey · 19/08/2022 16:18

How exciting. Good luck. Hope we get updated photos of the house after you've redecorated etc. it's a stunning house

whenwillthemadnessend · 19/08/2022 16:23

I live in a Victorian house. We changed all the windows and back door and front door at a cost of about 15k.

Also new boiler and upgraded radiators in many rooms. This has really helped with the heating not escaping but obvs not gone through winter with new costs yet.

I love my house though but I warn you it's harder to maintain than a 60/70 built home

Original poster
Wigeon · 20/08/2022 10:06

@whenwillthemadnessend - what kind of things have you found particularly, in terms of the maintenance? I do have a general idea that it’ll be more effort/work, given the age, but specific examples would be interesting.

OP posts:
PPop · 20/08/2022 10:17

Our house is from 1909 and I love it! You just cannot get rooms this size in a newer house, we only moved in in January this year but the hearing bill hasn't been too bad so far, we will over time make improvements such as new windows etc which all helps with heat retention.

Trivester · 20/08/2022 10:20

I’d say no.

If you’re buying a property with problems, you need to really love it for it to be a success.

I love how level headed and clear sighted you are, but I think you would be happier in a different type of property.

Trivester · 20/08/2022 10:21

I’m sorry, I missed the update where you said you’d had an offer accepted. Sorry for being negative.

whenwillthemadnessend · 20/08/2022 10:24

Roof needs watching.
Pointing wears easily. Masonary bees love old brickwork

Plaster inside is often horsehair and falls apart when you try to do something.

Often single brick so no insulation like a modern home.

Starseeking · 20/08/2022 13:59

That is a gorgeous house. I don't usually like terrace houses, but that one is lovely. If I was looking in that area and at that budget, I'd definitely be putting in an offer.

SummerLobelia · 20/08/2022 14:01

It's a beautiful house. :) Congratulations!!