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…

Turn offs:

A free standing bath in the bedroom (yes it can be removed but I find them a huge style no-no).

If bins have to come through the house.

If the garden is too big. I’d prefer a small garden.

My requirements are so different to a few year’s ago, a lot of stuff that would put people off would be fine for me now (shared kitchen/living area, small garden etc).

Not this again 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I think solar panels are a good idea for the environment.

They often get left as more hassle to move then get new

What’s wrong with an electric oven? I have an electric oven, with a gas hob and I hate the gas hob with a passion. Sick of cleaning it when I could just wipe a cloth over a nice flat electric hob.

With Japanese knotweed or bamboo in the garden! Both are SO invasive and an absolute nightmare to get rid of! I also wouldn't be keen on a property that didn't have a driveway. I don't drive but I have friends/relatives who do and it's handy for them when they visit. So many areas are parking permit only now.

Oh yeah, the front door opening into the lounge/living area is a horrible design IMO. It's almost exclusively small, late 20th century and 21st century starter homes. I have never been in any house built before the 1980s that has a front door opening into the lounge/living area. Not even in small 1 and 2 bedroom houses.

There's always a hallway with the stairs going off it. (Sometimes only a 6 foot X 6 foot space, but still a hallway, often with a little hall cupboard with the boiler in it, where people keep the hoover, ironing board, broom, umbrellas, shoes, coats etc...)

.

1. A Front door that opens directly onto the living room.
2. No driveway
3. No utility room

It's very common in northern cities, with lots of Victorian terraces build for factory workers. They all open on to the living room, sometimes directly from the street. It's not ideal, but it's all some people can afford.

A conservatory

Adding another few..

I’d never buy a property that’s leasehold or with any sort of management fees whatsoever.

No part rent/part buy.

No to a flat roof.

I have a bathroom with no window. It’s never been a problem as it has an extractor fan (not a very noisy one), also the downstairs loo doesn’t have it’s own window although there is one close by.

Lots of modern apartments don’t have windows in the bathroom, not really any different from luxury hotel bathrooms.

The other great thing about solar panels is that when there is a power cut you still have power!

that said we also have artificial grass which I was hesitant about but the mud from football playing in the garden was too much.

and I agree the location of our house and the rest of it means our house would sell easily

I would kill for a gas hob, heat when you want it doesn't take an age to cool down doesn't get arsey and turn its self off if your pan is positioned slightly too far forward doesn't have awful beepy noises.
But a gas cooker, I used to love baking until I moved somewhere where it was all electric. It changes all the time sometimes a tempreture will burn something sometimes leave it raw sometimes both, for the same item same place in the oven same cooking time it all depends on what it feels like doing. Gas is either on or its not it doesn't mess you around.

A front door leading in to the lounge. Neighbours with scruffy frontage, no parking.

I would never buy a house.....

With downlighters in living and/or sleeping areas, no idea why, they just give me the ick. Can just about tolerate them over a worksurface. Unless I could afford to replace all the ceilings.

Without a garage, and no, it's not for storing junk.

With an openplan kitchen/living area.

With only one loo, unless I could afford to add one, and there was space to do so.

1. That's more than a five-minute walk from a corner shop.
2. That's more than a five-minute walk from public transport
3. Where the front garden (if one exists) has been paved over for car parking with not a single speck of greenery.

I'm a city girl through and through and like being near everything. A country cottage or a house miles and miles our in the suburbs is my nightmare! Victorian city terraces and flats will always have my heart.

Won't anyone think of the pandas?!

Kung fu or normal?!

Yep legal with an extractor fan.

So do I! So redolent of horrible, wee-smelling old public loos.

North facing garden
Swimming pool
Noisy road

Shared drive
no drive
one toilet

I agree, sadly very popular when you're looking at properties. It's possible to rip them out, but what a faff.

This is fascinating.

I predict north facing gardens will be desirable in 20 years time given climate change - especially in urban areas.

My Top 3:

1. No outside space/balcony
2. On a busy main road
3. Inspires a feeling of dread, menace or ennui

Most other things can be resolved with time, money, creativity. Or you learn to live with them. All houses have some sort of compromise.

Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. If you have them, look after them!