Should we sell our new house after 14 months?

[FlyKim]

So we moved house 14 months ago because we wanted a bigger one. Same village, kids haven’t moved schools. The problem is, we’ve realised we really don’t like it. The house is older, colder, and I can’t quite put my finger on it without sounding crazy but I don’t get a good feeling about it. My husband feels exactly the same. Should we just put it back on the market or should we try and grow to like it?

If I were you OP I would move. I say this as someone who sold a house 15 months after moving in.

When we were looking at houses in the area we now live, we went in to one house that was very suitable on paper. As soon as I walked in, I was cold. I had a strange feeling. We didn’t offer on the house. I know the person who bought the house, she did an amazing renovation; but I’ve never once thought ‘oh I wish we had bought that house’.

I’m at an age where my friends are dying from cancer (mid 50s) so I believe you get one short life, be happy. It’s great that you and DH agree - it’s awful when 1 person in the couple hates their home.

I think just the fact that it’s so soon and having to pay the costs all over again and the stress of solicitors and the actual move itself. It’s also likely we will need to downsize slightly as most of the newer houses in the area are smaller.

I wouldn’t spend the money on the renovations as sounds expensive and you may still dislike it. I’d move.

Yes this is the thing. So I’m unsure whether fixing everything and renovating the kitchen and new windows would add any value. Especially if we decided to do it all and then realise we still hated it anyway. The house has a limit value-wise as it doesn’t have a huge garden or abundance of parking. The house is Georgian, just over 2000 sq ft, very thick walls. We’ve already rewired upstairs and renovated the bathroom and sorted out plumbing. We have also done the garden, 2 new patios and new fences. I believe the windows to be around 20 years old, possibly older? but that’s a guess based on the fact they’re brown PVC and double glazed. I would like new ones but replacing 19 large windows would be very costly. Other things we’ve done so far are splitting a very large bedroom into two by building a stud wall, built a walk in wardrobe and then we’ve just decorated, had new carpets etc. So really what’s left to do are the larger and most expensive things. Kitchen, windows, insulation?

I'd say brown pvc is possibly older than that, I think they were more 80s-90s. So could easily be 30-40 years old so the window doesn't seem all that odd at all.
I think you need a list of what needs doing to make it feel like your home and a list of what you'd want in a new home that would be different. New builds seem good value in terms of everything new upfront, but the windows and flooring etc often won't last as long so will need replacing at some point either way.
Older homes will likely need things doing, but you have to be prepared to budget and take the time needed to do them.

What feeling did this home give you when you first saw it? What could you do to this home to give you that feeling again? If it were me, which it isn't, I would want to make ot my home as I really wouldn't want to move again.

It seems to me you have already made your mind up. Life is short. If you can afford it then go!

From your title, I was expecting this to be about a soulless new-build with endless snagging problems. But you’ve said in one of your updates that it’s Georgian which puts it at around 200 to 300 years old, which maybe you could have made clear earlier on. I’d be surprised if a house of that age didn’t have creaking floorboards and strange little quirks that have happened over time.

Surely you knew about the lack of insulation from the EPC? You say it’s got thick walls, so I guess we’re talking loft insulation which is pretty easy to rectify and very cost effective.

Could the creaking and the window cracking be down to subsidence? Are there any diagonal cracks visible in the walls? Any large trees nearby? Georgian houses would have been built on very shallow foundations and we have just had one of the warmest and driest summers on record which could have caused the house to sink causing the problems you describe.

Kitchen - yes thats an expense. Windows - yes thats an expense, surely both of these you planned for when you bought it. I'm not sure why you have done cosmetic work ahead of building fabric. Youve' gone about this a* about face.

I am also staggered that you have invested so much on a very small garden when you have bigger priorities, that feels a false spend to me.

Are the 2 new patios, are these against the house or away from it?

As for insulation - what exactly did you have in mind?

Move.
This is not the property for you. I hope you get an estate agent that doest understand your home and your buyer has a solicitor that doesn't either.

I think it's the experiences you have in a house that make it home. Have you managed to have a lovely Christmas, host friends and family? Found ways to enjoy the house? We moved last May and I love my new house despite the scary massive mortgage, almost daily threads on here about the property market might tank, and how it ties me to my stresssful job. I am getting so much enjoyment out of the space, the garden, the lovely big kitchen etc that it makes those things worthwhile. I think if nothing about it is making you happy then just get on with it and move. Life is too short.

When you come to sell it won't matter what price you ask, it will be difficult to convince a potential buyer that the price is adjusted for works such as "... but replacing 19 large windows would be very costly" this. They will say oh that will cost (takes a guess) at least £lotsofdosh, take it off the asking.
So realistically it has to be done, as also buyers often don't have the spare cash to do it themselves. Do the windows and then see what you think?

It’s probably haunted. So yes, sell.

Personally I think it’s only worth spending the money on improving the house if you think you can add value to sell it. If not, I wouldn’t.

We bought a house i knew pretty much from day one we’d make a mistake. We liked the house but hated the area. We’d have moved sooner if we could have afforded it but stuck it 4 years and then put it on the market when the value had increased enough and we moved out just before we’d been there 5 years. The people that bought it after us must have felt similarly because they were there even less time (about 3 years). We’re still in the house we bought when we sold that one, and felt comfortable as soon as we moved in, we don’t have that burning desire that we need to leave.

It’s really hard when you don’t like your home, you’ve referred to constantly feeling on edge and that’s exactly it. Your home should be your sanctuary and safe place, it’s an emotional thing not a physical thing - so doing the works and improving the house isn’t necessarily going to work.

Id move OP. You dont like living there. Get it on the market now, if you can afford to move. Life too short to stay in a house you aren't happy in.

I hated our second house. It was a rushed move as the house we had originally bought the sellers pulled out and this house was a fixed price (we live in scotland)
We had Horrible neighbours, estate behind us had a violent murder, strange noises (house was only 15 years old) and we always had hand sized spiders and woodlice everywere. The atmosphere of the house was weird too, we were always arguing and never happy. You can see how sad we were in photos from that time.

We sold after 3 years. No regrets except wish we had never bought it.

Love our current house ( despite the disgusting condition the previous owners left it in ! ) , been here 15 years.

We moved in 2019 into what I thought would be an amazing house. I hated it after the first week. I thought being confined by lockdown might change as it forced me to be home all the time, but nope. I gave it six years. The day we left was the happiest day. In a new place now and feel more relaxed and content.

This. There may well be a financial hit but in 5 years you'll have sold it, bought somewhere else, absorbed the loss and be happy in a new house. Or you could stay where you are, have a house you hate , that has still lost money and still feel stuck. It's a house, a lump of bricks and stuff. Thats all. If you hate it and you can afford the costs then just do it.

So, today it went on the market, we’ve had one viewing and accepted an offer slightly over asking price. It went for £54000 more than what we paid 18 months ago. I’m feeling relieved.

If you don't like it you don't like it . But it doesn't seem to make financial sense. If you can afford it and are in agreement then go ahead . But your reasons that you telling us seem trivial and fixable . I would be concerned that you will not be contented in a new house either.

Oh update crossed . That is a great amount of value increases . Hopefully it all goes through for you and you find something you all are happy with . 😀

If your DH is on board, do it.

We bought our current house in 2022. It was a bit of compromise - we’d seen so many nicer ones but got priced out and then we had to move fast so not to lose our buyer Ina tricky market ( we were selling a flat). The house is the right size but we’ve had to do work and don’t have enough money to finish it and tbh I just don’t like it. I’ve never felt at home. I never sit in the lounge. There’s nothing creepy about it; it’s just not the home we should have bought . We were rushed into it by circumstances. Now the market is mad (we are in London) and we won’t be able to afford to move again while the kids are at school and my DH refuses anyway. He really loves it beside it’s in a nice area (it is, but it matter more to me how my home feels inside).

I wish I had refused this place and hung out for something I was actually excited about. If you have the chance, move.

Oh wow! Well done! At least that covers the stamp duty.
Have you found somewhere you like?

That’s great, I hope it all goes through smoothly. Wishing you all the best in your new home.

Well done, you have obviously made the right decision for your. Good luck with your move.

Congratulations! Fingers crossed you also find quickly a house that brings you joy 😊