Should this ring alarm bells...?

[sleepsuit]

We are looking at buying a property, we need more space for our growing family! We've found a gorgeous house which we love. It's a Victorian terrace which has clearly had lots of money spent on it. It's been repointing, electricals redone, roof, the works.

The issue is lots of these new things went in over 10 years ago. The kitchen for example was fitted in 2014. It's brand new to look at, never used, still has stickers and packaging inside the freezer for example. But why has this not been lived in for so long? Estate agent says it's been with one family for a long time, it was being renovated and then there was a bereavement so are now looking to sell.

Any further questions we should be asking? We love the house but don't want to walk into something filled with red flags.

Thanks!

could you speak to the actual sellers? Sometimes people do have work done and just never live in it for one reason or another, maybe the family had another house and just choose not to live in this one?

Could you speak to some neighbours for insight about the owners/occupiers?

A potential problem could be that if problems show up once things start getting used, the warranties are likely to have run out.

Has it really been completely unoccupied for ten years? That would be very unusual. I’d want to find out more from the sellers and neighbours.

I would be checking it’s all plumbed in and actually working and not just there for show which I have seen before.

Why does it matter to you?