Would you buy a house that doesn't steal your heart?

[Sorethroatpain]

I am in a quandary. There is a house on the market which in so many ways is perfect; location, room flow, size and garden outlook are all excellent. This combination is hard to achieve in our search area. It is however a chalet which is not really my preferred style. This house is intended to be a new start in a fresh location for me and DH as my children are flying the nest. So the question is would you compromise on external looks/style if everything else is right? My husband is keen to view but there's no point if I can't get over my (probably unreasonable) reservations.

I did. Still here 15 years later and have decided we're only leaving in our coffins.

I didn't want to view it but once I got inside it ticked so many boxes. And I really don't care what it looks like outside; inside is exactly to my taste and is future-roof for our old age (subject to kitchen replacement in a couple of years).

Sometimes I rummage through Rightmove looking at pretty cottages but then I look at the floorplans and think "well that doesn't work" or "look at all that wasted space" or whatever.

Our family home was a chalet style with huge spacious rooms and large front and back gardens with a driveway and garage. It wasn't what we thought we wanted but it was a fab home and we loved living there. Go and see the house before discounting it.

I agree with everyone else. I really think you need to step inside to fully make your mind up. Many times I have seen houses that on Rightmove have seemed amazing. Been inside and felt disappointed as it didn't give me the feeling I hoped that it would.

Same goes the other way round, some houses I discounted but were persuaded to see because my DH liked it and I have stepped inside and been totally surprised by how it made me feel.

I don't think you can fully discount a house, that ticks all the boxes, before you have stepped through the door.

You will know from seeing it whether you love it or whether it is just not the house for you.

Arrange to view then at least you will fully know and not have any 'what ifs'

Definitely view it. I don’t understand any emotions attached to house buying, you have to be practical! I don’t ‘love’ our house, it’s fine and functional.

Definitely view it. Our house is fairly ugly from the outside, has a North facing garden, was very tired and dated inside etc. But it turns out it was great for us as the layout really suits us and the rooms are all a good size. We're slowly updating the inside, the garden gets loads of sun as it's a corner plot and we are finding ways to soften the front (tidy up the front garden, clean the drive, add hanging baskets, pots, outdoor lights).

Our previous house was more impressive when you walked in, but despite living there for about 10 years I don't think it ever felt 'homely'

I searched for over 2 years, had 2 house sale fall through (costing us money), lost a few in bidding wars and early gazumping.

Got so use to being disappointed and hearbroken that by the time we bought this house I literally couldn't care less any more. I didn't love it, didn't feel anything for it, viewed just because we needed to move desperately, refused to plan the reno or picture us living here and put in an offer just because it ticked boxes and we where desperate.

This is the house we got, pretty easily and quickly (after all the past dramas) and its worked out fantastically. Its actually we now realise far better than the ones we 'loved' practicality wise.

Mother and step have a chalet. The downstairs bathroom and bedroom (that used to be a study) have been a gamechanger now mother is 89 and has Parkinsons and step has had knee replacements and has polymyalgia. If they had been in a standard house they'd probably have had to sell.

Oh do go and see it! My most happiest homes I've felt it when I was there! Is a chalet the same as a dormer bungalow? If so that sounds fantastic but then I'm a bungalow fan!

You will know!

Ours didn't steal my heart. It's a Georgian cottage, but both internally and externally it was stonkingly butt-ugly when we viewed it in spring 2024.

We've owned a few 'stunners' in various parts of the UK, all characterful, period houses - although the one I loved most didn't have kerb appeal because the front door was actually on the garden side (back of house) which was utterly gorgeous, just not visible from the street.

So, moving from a cheaper area (Carmarthenshire) back home to the south coast of England (we're originally from Hampshire, but bought in West Sussex), we knew there would be loads of compromises.

DH wanted to view this place, I wasn't keen and knew immediately I didn't like it. He persuaded me to buy - it did tick lots of boxes (period house, ORP, two minutes walk from the seafront etc) - but it was definitely the wrong decision.

We're gradually reinstating all the features ripped out in 1965 which is when it was last renovated. There's not so much as an original architrave left (no original internal doors, fireplaces, staircase) and they even stuck a hideous garage door on the front where there used to be a room/window 😭

The previous owners had lived here since 1970 so they were obviously happy here. But whilst I agree the location is great, I feel that how ever much we improve the cottage, I'll never love it. Every time I come home I'm reminded how much I loathe it and I've never felt that way about any of the other seven houses we've owned.

DH has now accepted that we'll sell it once it's finished...I can't wait! So think very carefully before committing to purchase @Sorethroatpain!

Thanks for all your comments, they were very insightful. I’ve decided to view the house next week and will keep an open mind. If we decide to buy it I’ll post a link (and hope there’s no comments about how I’ve made a poor choice!)

Oooh I love a link to something someone's buying/bought.

in your position I'd view it, but if I didn't really like it, I wouldn't buy it.

I presume you're thinking this will be your last move? I'd hold out for something I really loved (within my price bracket! I'm not unrealistic!) something that makes me smile when I drive/walk up to it.

I am in the same position as you - children flown the nest looking for my last home - The only compromise I will make is on size, location is critical as is a beautiful building to live in. I have compromised all my life for DCs etc - and this move is just for me and DH. I am moving to 2 bed flat in central London from large 6 bed detached in Home Counties. If it’s small but beautiful I will be creative with storage and just declutter furiously and live a streamlined life. Go see it but if your heart doesn’t sing with the new lifestyle it could offer you for this important chapter in your life don’t bother!

I did. (Dh was very keen). Been here 3 years. No regrets really.

I don’t love the house at all but practically it works very well for us, and particularly the dc. I said we’d stay here until the dc are grown up. We definitely will but I think it’s increasingly likely we’ll end up staying longer.

We bought our house because we were living with my MIL and I was desperate to get out.
I didn’t love it and I didn’t think it was ‘the one’.
However it’s massive inside, big garden and in a lovely area, we’ve done it up how we like and I doubt we’ll ever move again. No regrets at all