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Original poster

Why is this house so cheap/not selling?

125 replies

mumarooni · 15/01/2023 22:51

I've been keeping my eye on houses in this area for a little while, and this one seems like an outlier. Other 3 beds of similar stamp/condition seem more like 350-400. I can see the rooms aren't huge, but still can't quite understand why it didn't sell at 335 and has had a series of reductions. I'm new to houses though...anyone see what I'm missing? I'd be fascinated to hear your thoughts! Ta www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/61485157/?search_identifier=b43641523cafb99b48903e150f486393

OP posts:

Coffeaddict · 15/01/2023 22:53

I'm not sure but my thoughts would be that thatched roofs are difficult and expensive to maintain so may put buyers off

MardyBra · 15/01/2023 22:53

Probably issues with the thatched roof.

AssumingDirectControl · 15/01/2023 22:54

Being listed and thatched would put me off.

MoscowMules · 15/01/2023 22:55

Thatched roof, they can be difficult to get a mortgage on plus the upkeep of the roof.

TooManyChoicesNotEnoughDecisions · 15/01/2023 22:57

Thatched roof looks green, they cost a fortune.
Subsidence?
Woodworm?
Flood risk - there's a couple of rivers/streams on the map, but no idea if they'd be a problem?
Nightmare neighbours?
The pictures look weird with binbags in a few of the rooms, implies there's something odd going on.

9outof10cats · 15/01/2023 23:01

My concern would be how busy the road is, which could generate a lot of noise. And yes, the roof needs redoing.

Viviennemary · 15/01/2023 23:01

It's a bit odd looking. Has it got two front doors. Or is that another house.

Original poster

mumarooni · 15/01/2023 23:01

Interesting about the thatch and mortgages, I didn't know there was any issue there. Thanks all!

OP posts:

9outof10cats · 15/01/2023 23:02

9outof10cats · 15/01/2023 23:01

My concern would be how busy the road is, which could generate a lot of noise. And yes, the roof needs redoing.

Plus EPC of F - would be costly to keep warm.

Boredwithlife0 · 15/01/2023 23:03

EPC rated F! Imagine the bills….

Possibility of development on the land behind?

And much more

paulhollywoodshairgel · 15/01/2023 23:04

Haunted??

Theunamedcat · 15/01/2023 23:07

Land behind probably up for development it all looks a bit empty and freshly painted looking at the carpets they look a bit dark at the edges im guessing damp issues due to the roof

Pure speculation of course

9outof10cats · 15/01/2023 23:08

paulhollywoodshairgel · 15/01/2023 23:04

Haunted??

😂

DottyLittleRainbow · 15/01/2023 23:16

How busy is the road? Are there issues with the thatched roof? Damp issues? Issues with the single storey extension on the end of the terrace? Nightmare neighbours? Planned development of the beautiful fields behind? Something that comes up on a survey or is obviously an issue on viewing like a horrible smell?

JennyForeigner · 15/01/2023 23:20

It obviously needs a bunch of work and updating, and damp would be a big worry. That said, we have a listed and thatched building that we bought in similar condition. The thatch isn't an issue at all. It's very warm and naturally sustainable, and costs around £10k per side every 25 years or so and round another £5k for the ridgeline. I'm not sure that's far off tiled roof costs over time.

We didn't realise you don't remove thatch but rather that it gradually beds down and is then re-covered, so isn't disruptive. It has been a nice surprise - I would have another thatched property without hesitation, especially as as you've found, houses now come with a price discount.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 15/01/2023 23:21

Houses with thatched roofs look beautiful on biscuit tins, but they're an absolute money pit when it comes to getting them repaired/redone - and insured for that matter.

Slate or tiles might not have quite the same aesthetic beauty, but they're 1,000 times more practical.

SarahAndQuack · 15/01/2023 23:21

I'm not sure an EPC of F is necessarily an insurmountable issue. My house had an EPC of F when we first rented it, but our fuel bills aren't particularly high - the issue is more that we have places that are cold (eg. the entrance hall), and you need to be careful that you air the house, more than you would with something with a higher EPC. Obviously, you'd need to do some checks and see. It could be EPC F because it's horrible draughty and badly maintained and freezing, or it could be EPC F because it's listed so doesn't really fit with modern standards, but it's actually ok.

My concern looking at that is that it looks as if it's been rendered and plastered with concrete, which is bit of a liability; it also has a weird layout with far too many doors opening onto the outside. With it being only one room deep, I wonder if the whole house is noisy/exposed to road noise?

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 15/01/2023 23:25

The thatch isn't an issue at all. It's very warm and naturally sustainable, and costs around £10k per side every 25 years or so and round another £5k for the ridgeline. I'm not sure that's far off tiled roof costs over time.

What happens if it was last done 24 years ago, though? People balk at buying used cars with overdue new cambelts, but that's a tiny fraction of the cost of re-roofing a house.

Also, with tiles, you might have to replace the odd one now and again, but I don't know anybody who budgets/pays £25K for a new tiled roof every 25 years. Also, if you do need work doing to your tiled roof, there's no shortage of general roofers out there who can do it for a fair market price.

Pixiedust1234 · 15/01/2023 23:25

Field is being built on so not only won't have that view anymore but all the dust and noise whilst houses are being built. Probably lorries going past on the road.

Anything listed in the local planning portal?

Thesonglastslonger · 15/01/2023 23:27

Thatch needs replacing at least every 20 years and costs a fortune. Why buy a house that needs a new roof every 20 years? Plus animals can damage it, it can get infested etc etc.

An agent tried to sell me a thatched cottage once. Roof is fine she said, won’t need doing for ages. I didn’t buy it. Someone else did, and a year later I see they’ve now had to buy themselves a new roof…

Thesonglastslonger · 15/01/2023 23:28

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 15/01/2023 23:25

What happens if it was last done 24 years ago, though? People balk at buying used cars with overdue new cambelts, but that's a tiny fraction of the cost of re-roofing a house.

My last house was 150 years old and still had almost all of the original tiles…

GoldilockMom · 15/01/2023 23:30

That house has been on MN - the owner asked for help to sell! I remember the living room. It was a while back now though.

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 15/01/2023 23:30

Right on the road, thatch needs redoing as someone has just replaced part of it not done the whole thing at once. You’re probably looking at £20k for that job.

It may have really low ceilings inside which would detract from the value a lot. Hard to tell from the pictures.

Laquila · 15/01/2023 23:31

It looks as though a wide-angle lens has been used for all the photos, which implies v small rooms (rightly or wrongly).

PriamFarrl · 15/01/2023 23:32

GoldilockMom · 15/01/2023 23:30

That house has been on MN - the owner asked for help to sell! I remember the living room. It was a while back now though.

I think you’re right.

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