I would NEVER buy a house with…

[Wyr]

• solar panels

• a ‘garden house’ IE a lockdown special outdoor wooden shed dressed up as an office - usually taking up half the garden and completely pointless

• a neighbour who has a load of cars / shit in their yard - hoarder vibes

who’s next? 3 things that would make you not buy a house…

Not sure how much home reno you've contracted? Getting good, skilled workmen is like pulling your own wisdom teeth.

Just easier, less expensive and less stressful not to have to engage in it. I'll never totally renovate another house. One was more than enough.

I am sorry but solar panels ARE so ugly. One day no doubt they will be designed to blend in, but right now they are just a monstrosity particularly on period houses.

I wouldn’t even view a house with them.

• Septic tank

and

• Neighbors houses covered in Union Jack/St George/Reform/UKIP/BNP type signs/Smashed/Bordered window etc...

I like to think I'm not put off by much. Most things can be changed, like I do HATE open plan but would just knock money off the offer for the cost to rebuild all the walls. I also would knock money of for having to remove an old water tank (I know so many that have ruptured and flooded houses) etc...

I have lived in coal powered Victorian terraces with downstairs bathrooms most my life, I don't get some peoples hate for them. I do get that coal/coke power is a PITA especially for people with disability so would avoid it (and woodburners) now due to the physical work side but I honestly don't find 'gas' to be all that great (rarely stable, has risks & doesn't get as hot) so when people act like its the only real option its weird.

A downstairs bathroom is great, we are adding on into our new house. We will have 2 due to adding a new one which will help with queuing (teen DS will plonk himself on the toilet for over an hour and others need to use it too) but theres no great benefit of the 2nd one being upstairs. It was actually so annoying in our old house where the bathroom was upstairs and we where couldn't make noise/shower/flush after the kids bedtime or before work due to it waking them up.

front door opening straight onto a staircase, without and space down the side, it makes coming through the door with multiple children really chaotic .

no driveway.

neighbours with multiple dogs.

small bathroom.

galley kitchen.

only one reception room; once kids are teens this becomes increasingly problematic as they want spaces to hang out with friends on the games console and have tunes on, whilst you just want to sit in your pj’s and have some peace and quiet.

Same and if I’m being totally honest I’d probably judge the vendor for being a bit gullible / and or not having taste eeeek sorry guys

Solar Panels and a garden room is in my list of wants, but not if it has a hot tub.

I would reject:
Artificial Grass
Open Plan Living.
Any house built before 2000. “Period features” = difficult to clean and maintain.

Most of the things listed are fixable. Plastic grass for example, can easily be ripped up.

If I was buying I’d avoid anything without separate rear access (I’m beyond this, it probably applies to first time buyer type properties).

I’d not be interested in a property without a downstairs loo, or a large utility room.

If I heard wind chimes from neighbouring gardens, I’d not even consider buying.

Close neighbours with dog's. I hate the noise of dog's barking!

Those plastic wall 'pannels' that people cover their bathroom in. I can guarantee that 90% of them hide a multitude of sins/mold.

Plastic grass

Wind chimes are enough to make me commit a murder 🤣

Oh I love a media wall @Dogaredabomb ,if you're meaning the kind where the wall pops out with TV and then modern fire underneath, and customised wooden shelving built in either side, where you can store books etc. It looks so neat and tidy to me. I really want one in my house, but they're expensive to get installed. I hate to see the wires!

And how often do you look at the roof.

Definitely on the ‘never’ list for me are:

Plastic grass
UPVC windows or doors
Grey render, doors or windows
A satellite dish
Neighbours with caravans
LPG for heating or cooking
Electricity pylons nearby, or poles (power or ‘phone) in the garden
Any shared access
Public right of way along the side or rear boundaries
Within walking distance of a school
No side access to the rear

Every time you come home ? 😆
I see a lot of people with here with solar panels having a little bit of regretti spaghetti for lunch haha

I’ve seen a few people put ‘neighbours with caravans’
how come? Even the fancy ones?

There is no reason for wet wall acrylic panels to be have mould behind them. It’s also just as likely there is mould behind tiles. Wet wall is far easier to maintain and actually has a longer life span.

A big garden. I don't like gardening. I don't like maintaining it. All I need is a sunny spot and a small bistro set to have a brew on.

We have had a lot of things that would be classed as deal breakers in our current home. It isn’t such a big deal because one, it’s rented, and two, it’s in an absolutely stunning part of London with an embarrassment of riches literally at the doorstep. I feel like despite London’s many faults, you make trade offs without thinking so much of it here because you know you have access to a different lifestyle. Perhaps similar trade offs are acceptable in other exceptional parts of the UK.

Now as we look to move out of town I am much more demanding about the house. That said I would love to know what some of you do and where you live to be able to avoid compromise so much. I feel like if I applied too many of the factors mentioned here I will never find a house.

I have noticed a trend towards having some open plan living area and dining table alongside the kitchen, but then also a separate living room. You might get two smaller areas but I see the logic because having supervising young children in open plan seems to me much easier as you can do everything in the kitchen etc while still watching them. But, yes it is smelly and noisy!

I think they are awful... what if you change tvs?

So impractical, I'm buying a house and have to have a TV the exact same size as the previous owner? I also have to have it fitted to the wall.

We HATE craning our necks up to wall mounted TVs in hotels. In real life I haven't known a single person with a wall mounted TV in their house. While obviously some people do do it, I don't think its all the common or popular so making it a permanent feature is probably quite devaluing.

Fair enough not to like them though they’re probably more of an eyesore to my neighbours as I rarely look at my roof

But guillable? They’re literally reducing our energy bills? The cost of energy is only going up and up. You only have to compare bills from 2/5/10 years ago to now. From an environmental standpoint also it’s a renewable form of energy. I’d understand your point more if you had iota of knowledge about solar energy systems but you literally stated upthread you knew nothing about them

I understand what you mean, but there is a certain size tv that I wouldn't go bigger than in corellation to the size of the room, viewing distance. The TV wouldn't need to be high. It can be at the optimal height for sitting down. I don't know anybody with a TV you would have to stand to watch. Well hopefully I'm adding value to my home, by not being able to have this 😂
It always depends on your audience, like anything else I suppose. If I bought a house, and felt the height and size was good, and it also had lovely storage shelves built in, I'd be happy!

Average time to get payback is 8-12 years
thats a loooong time!

Yep I agree hate in hotels when they’re on the wall.

A good installation, sympathetic to the property shouldn’t be that noticeable. I’m happy enough with the £800 odd a year I’m paid for the export of power, and £4/500 or so I save on my own use :)

Period property that need never ending work

There is more to life than pursuing cut backs, and if your house is majorly compromised and made ugly by vast panels all over the roof - for sure it will devalue your house, reduce kerb appeal and you may not sell for as much as hoped, therefore eliminating any savings and some.