Views on this house

[PhilandKirst]

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164944097

DD is keen on this house. She’s asked me for my views- I wondered if anyone knew the area or had any thoughts. House doesn’t have much character at present but I think it could be given a lot more.

As it is a new build I would check things like estate charges and whether the Council has "adopted" the paths in the estate.

Also I would check for any noise issues from the nearby railway line and main road.

The house itself is OK. It is a blank canvas. Although 4 bathrooms is over the top.

Does she know a good roofer. So many bits of roof to go wrong.

Not sure that a new build is a house to go for if you are looking for a house "with character".

Very noisy area

It spends how she’s going to use it.
we have a “top heavy” three storey and plenty of people would get frustrated, but for us with the need for bedrooms and home offices it works.

Again, surprised by all the ‘bland’ type comments! It’s a few cans of paint and the furniture will be going.
The main thing that puts me off is no outside access from the kitchen. Rubbish and washing need to either be tracked through the living room or out the front door. Also, never again would I share outside space, here there is a driveway and side access to consider.

Rubbish would go out the front door.

We have the same in our house and the bins and recycling are to the left of the front door so it's quite convenient actually.

I don't know Tonbridge well but it is a pleasant and expensive area in general. The street looks okay.
As others have said, it is a very top heavy house, which is probably putting some people off. There is no separate dining area, which isn't ideal if your DD has a family.

It looks as if prices in the area are falling as this house is now being marketed for less than it sold for in 2022 and there are lots of other reductions online. They will probably accept an offer to get rid of it before the new tenant's bill is passed next year.

The other thing is it looks to be as if it may well be a rental with tenants in situ- definitely worth double checking the situation here, @PhilandKirst if your DD is seriously interested.

Appreciate it's a tangent but what's with the mattresses on the floor of the bedrooms? The single one against the radiator looks like some sort of hostage situation save that there seem to be no blinds or curtains at all in that room.

I think it’s currently unoccupied so they’ve just put mattresses to give you an idea of the space.

Exposed on all sides
ie houses opposite are very close
neighbours land / parking to the right looks straight into the reception room side window

Car parking to the rear a security and noise issue

Like others have said, it's top-heavy.
There isn't enough downstairs living space to match the number of bedrooms. I guess fair enough if you've got teenagers who just hide out in their rooms constantly, but that's a short phase of life.

Even though it is detached it is quite hemmed in by other houses so will probably be noisy. The back garden is small and overlooked (by at least 6 houses probably more) and if I had to live on an estate I'd want to be in the end house - far too many cars will be driving past it to get to other houses plus it's not even a cul de sac so you will get people driving too fast.

Frankly the bland decor is the least of the problems as it can be changed.

Overlooked by loads of neighbours, bland new-build feel, overpriced, no wonder new-build sales have fallen by 60%. 600k would get you a better house with minimal neighbours in many parts of the UK.

Exactly, avoid this, look at something else.

Don't know the area, , but the house is nice enough. However I always am wary of a modern 3 floor home as it makes me wonder if they went up because the house footprint is small .

Like so many new estates, there isn't enough parking.
To afford a house like that (indeed to want a 4 bed house) it seems likely the owners will have 2 cars themselves, before you get any visitors - be they regular or even occasional trades needing somewhere to park.
WHY are they allowed to stick so many dwelling on a patch of land, that there is no room for anyone to park on the road ?

It's very typical of new builds in its top heavy layout - probably more generous in space than many. I always think that I would be happier to rent a house like this than own it, though.

DH was wondering if there was a r/RadiatorTooHigh subreddit to match the TV one 😂

Odd layout downstairs, I wouldn't even view. But everyone is different, maybe the layout appeals to your dd.

Also not great space outside, right on the corner. I'd think there are bound to be better houses out there.

There's only one parking space on the drive and you couldn't get a second car into that tiny garage unless it was a Fiat 500 or similar. That might be a problem if there are two cars in the household as there is absolutely no free space to park as far as I can tell, everything is allocated parking only. However the description mentions 'allocated' parking but not the number of spaces so it might be that there is one space on the drive and another space down the little alley opposite the house.

The road is tiny but it's not a through road to anywhere so there shouldn't be that much traffic.

The back garden is NW facing so will be in shadow except for evening, although I wouldn't necessarily hate that I find too much sunshine a but much in the summer.

I think it's a sweet little estate but everyone is very on top of each other so just one annoying family could make it uncomfortable to live there. I don't dislike it though.

Drives me mad. Houses built in the 70/80s when people had less cars usually have better driveways and bigger pavements etc
The gov are at fault for not making developers have higher parking requirements.

A toilet in the utility room?? (Pic attached)

I read somewhere very recently, like last week, that the government are keen for developers to make less parking available to encourage people to use public transport!

Tonbridge is lovely!