Intrigued by this house - PurpleBricks and selling after a year?

[IntriguedPotentialBuyer]

Hi everyone,

DH and I are looking for our next house, which will ideally be our family/‘forever’ home. We’ve seen a house which would be ideal - great area, period property, spacious, lovely garden, off-road parking etc.

It’s on with Purple Bricks, which we’ve never used (we bought our current house through a local high street EA). It’s also being sold after just a year (last sold for £425000 in March 2022, I think), and has already been reduced this time from £475000 to £450000 (or OIEO).

As far as I can see from looking on Zoopla, the neighbours both sides are long-standing, so it seems unlikely to be neighbour issues (prior to last year, the house was last sold in 2002, so the previous owners were there a long time). There’s been no extensive work done in the past year that I can see, so it’s not likely to be a case of ‘flipping’ the property either?

It looks a brilliant house for us, but I’m a little worried that it’s being sold so quickly after its last sale. With it also being sold through PB, I’m not sure how easy it will be to find out why, or whether there are any issues potential buyers should be aware of.

What would your thoughts be as a potential buyer?

link is here (hope it’s OK to share) https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137259164#/?channel=RES_BUY

In the future you might have people look elsewhere if you offer low and it’s accepted. I’ve seen two properties take ages to sell in our area where they usually are snapped up above asking price, one was last year. Of course you may be viewing it as your forever home.

Could be anything. The couple who previously owned our house bought it for their retirement, then the wife sadly got a cancer diagnosis and passed very soon after. The husband wanted to be nearer to family and felt the house was too big for just him. I only know this because I asked 🤷‍♀️ I think with purple bricks the owners show you around so just ask. You'll be able to tell if they're lying I am sure.
Drive around it a few times at different times of the day to get a feel for the area (is it by as school with heavy traffic/parking issues etc). It could be on the market for any number of reasons.

Ask the estate agent—purple bricks generally use local agents and they would have talked to the seller and will know their circumstances.

I think that represents the v large lag in reporting. Prices are falling faster now, it seems but the ONS takes > 6 months to report.
Have you even seen the house yet? How does 385k compare to those that have gone under offer in the last couple of weeks (minus 5% plus)? Your suggestion of 385k seems reasonable.

I prefer the second house. Does the first one have privacy screen on some of the windows in the kitchen/dining room or have the windows blown ?

Although looking at the street view of the second house, I think parking is going to be a major issue unless you can park round the back ?

I like your style, are you a detective?

Do you always win Cluedo?

I know of a few houses up for sale after a really short period. One was related to money, the couple realised they just couldn't afford to stay there when all the bills went up and jobs didn't seem secure. The second, the couple split up, and neither want to stay there, and the third, someone died and lived there alone.

Could even be that they won the lottery? Or now live in an Omaze house?

Ha I was coming on to say it's clearly haunted so you're not alone!

Bricks replaced because pipes have been removed. We have similar where we resited the boiler and had to fill the holes left by the old one. Similar for a bath/shower/WC or kitchen/utility.

DP's brother bought a house with a toilet IN the kitchen,cunningly disguised as a larder unit.