What property features would you never have again?

[AnxiousRose]

What features from your current or previous property would you avoid if you were househunting again?

For me, it is three storeys. I had this in my last house and did not expect to dislike it as much as I did. My bedroom was on the top floor and I hated all the stairs especially with young kids. Three storeys usually means the downstairs space is small for the number of bedrooms.

Just take the inside door off. Then you have the added space to keep shoes, coats etc without the tiny room. We did this by accident as had a problem with the door jamming then just never put it back on again.

If

Porches are great fill it with coir kick off your shoes and keep the weather out

I agree with this. I like feeling close to nature and it rarely keeps me awake unless it's particularly stormy. Our loft bedroom is the biggest thing I'll miss when we move. It's so bright and airy and we don't have to close the blinds on the Velux windows to get dressed as nobody can see in. Good light for putting on makeup and doing your hair. Lovely big room, as it's the full length of the house. Doesn't take much heating in the winter but we are a terraced. Gets a bit hot in the high summer but that's literally a few days a year in the UK and a fan does the job. I don't mind the stairs - I work from home so it's good exercise during the day.

@Pickpocket absolute nightmare worktops-we got deducted £1000 in a rented house in Denmark because a black marker pen had leaked onto it about the size of a2p from our fruit bowl and it was totally impossible to remove -

A conservatory, especially if there aren't doors between the conservatory area and the rest of the house. Bloody freezing!

I would never have a new build. In fact, I would never buy a house less than 70-80 years old.

I hate ensuites unless they are a decent sized with natural light and ventilation which most newly built ones aren't. I'd much rather have a bigger bedroom or bigger family bathroom. I get the convenience of an extra shower but I don't need a toilet right next to where I sleep. Nor do I want a load of steam coming into my bedroom.

Just use your hardwood worktops as boards for chopping and hot pans enjoy them and the patterns and patina you only live once

That's my plan! Have only recently moved in so on the list. Front door is very draughty so will need to insulate, get a new one. DH likes it, thinks it's useful, I just see it as a cold hole lol 😆

Loves a porch…..heat loss is less from hall….makes me feel safer ( 2 doors to lock) ….,attractive addition to my house ….had a porch in 3 of my 4 homes

Conservatory
Downstairs bathroom

I can understand that. We just recently moved in and had a room before another room which was locked so was so safe. X

Poo particles!! I have a windowless bathroom with a very efficient extraction fan and have experienced none of the above!

Totally agree with decking being a bad idea in a shaded area. It gets wet, stay wet and very very slippery. If it’s in an area that gets a lot of sun then it’s ok.

I loathe decking. It is slippery and ugly. It looks cheap (even if it wasn't). Yuck.

Agree don't like decking (rats) or storage heaters - these were warm during the day when we were out and cold in the evening when we needed heat.

Worst is spiral staircases. We had friends who stayed in an expensively done-up house in a pretty Dorset village but with poky spiral staircase - awkward to get up and down and somehow impossible not to scrape your heels on the treads. Couldn't understand it, given the large amount of money that had obviously been spent on the house.

Downstairs bathroom galley kitchen high ceilings beams

Probably not realistic for me, but I’d love to not live in an attached house.

Thanks. Seems very reasonable.

Can I do a reverse one? Previous house had an open fire and I really miss it, despite all the stuff about particulates. It was also useful having an off grid source of heat. If I moved again I would want a house with a fireplace or stove.

Never say never. I am getting there slowly. Started in a flat with neighbours above, below and each side, then a flat with neighbours on 3 sides, then a mid terrace and on Monday hopefully will own a semi-detached. One of these days I may be able to walk all around the outside of my house which has been my dream since I was little.

Me too. Love a crackling fire and knowing if the gas/electric fail that there's a source of heat and light. Loved making toast/warming crumpets over the livingroom fire at my grandmother's as a child. We had a long, ornate, Victorian toasting fork for the purpose.

Yep, I also had a toasting fork. Lovely in winter!

Our house was a semi now it's detached and the damp from the detached side has been going on for 45 years.

Not worktop but we lived in a rental with wood windowsills and my toddler left a crayon on the window sill in a summer heatwave... NOTHING gets wax out of wood, it absorbs in so you can't just scrape it off and being wax you can't paint over it either.

We just gave up in the end, wonder if it still has a fashionable waxy blob on it or if it got replaced.