What house to buy?
Poll: What house to buy?
Total Members Polled: 94
Discussion
I have a town house and the stairs are really not an issue for me, although I am over three floors rather than 4 and a larger footprint which means you don't have to change floors quite so much.
I'd prefer a townhouse with a kitchen diner in the basement with a dug out garden rather than a thatched cottage, although the lack of parking would kill any house for me.
I'd prefer a townhouse with a kitchen diner in the basement with a dug out garden rather than a thatched cottage, although the lack of parking would kill any house for me.
You'll have thought of this I'm sure, but what offers the best stretch potential in terms of you and your changing circumstances? Is a family a probability? If so, worth thinking about which one would best 'grow' with you.
I hate sharing anything, so it's detached always always. I also hate neighbours, so it's always the one that offers the most privacy for me.
I wouldn't mind a look at the links either if you don't mind?
I hate sharing anything, so it's detached always always. I also hate neighbours, so it's always the one that offers the most privacy for me.
I wouldn't mind a look at the links either if you don't mind?
Thanks for the link. They're both nice and I can see the appeal. I'd definitely stick with the thatched cottage though - if you 'get' the appeal of that, you'll love living in it.
Clearly the condition of the roof is important, but when I was looking at a listed thatched place I had some quotes for replacement, and they weren't as scarey as I'd feared. Local thatchers are thin on the ground, but they do exist and it's a wonderful craft to help preserve. You'll probably have to wait a while for availability, but the cost for me then (Dorset, and probably a smaller roof) was pretty sensible. I suspect that, as yours is new, it won't be a factor for many years.
Finally, the chocolate box look always appeals, so should be readily sell-able. The town house has been on the market since Oct 13, but the cottage only came on in March; I suspect that would be typical for a future sale as well. You'll eventually sell whatever you buy, so make sure it's appealing.
Do let us know what you decide.
Clearly the condition of the roof is important, but when I was looking at a listed thatched place I had some quotes for replacement, and they weren't as scarey as I'd feared. Local thatchers are thin on the ground, but they do exist and it's a wonderful craft to help preserve. You'll probably have to wait a while for availability, but the cost for me then (Dorset, and probably a smaller roof) was pretty sensible. I suspect that, as yours is new, it won't be a factor for many years.
Finally, the chocolate box look always appeals, so should be readily sell-able. The town house has been on the market since Oct 13, but the cottage only came on in March; I suspect that would be typical for a future sale as well. You'll eventually sell whatever you buy, so make sure it's appealing.
Do let us know what you decide.
A bit late to the party now, I appreciate.
The "townhouse" was really a pretty, mid terrace, smallish cottage with a loft conversion and a small dug-out basement so not the sort of town house I had in my head. Not that it matters much but I actually preferred it to the thatched cottage which just had too much compromise for me (for which other people would see an abundance of quirky twee features).
Any news?
The "townhouse" was really a pretty, mid terrace, smallish cottage with a loft conversion and a small dug-out basement so not the sort of town house I had in my head. Not that it matters much but I actually preferred it to the thatched cottage which just had too much compromise for me (for which other people would see an abundance of quirky twee features).
Any news?
Well, a very cheeky offer was put in on the thatched, obviously turned down, but we got told what they'd accept. So that was handy! We've also offered on the terraced house, again, below the OIEO price, and an other couple have done too. That was Tuesday, and we've heard nothing. Apparently the vendors are not answering their phones.
If they do accept, I'm tempted to tell them to do one, as it's unfair making us wait when there are other places we could be looking at.
After a pros/cons list last night, I think we decided that the thatch needed too much spent on it and would still be pokey. We had an additional viewing of it yesterday with my DIY dad and he pointed out a few extras. One of them being I can't stand in the bath, without touching the ceiling, so no way to have a shower! We also added 'no space for a Christmas tree' to the con list, I think that put the missus off!
The terraced house is by no means perfect, but is big, light, spacious, and walking distance to many pubs and shops. A slightly less private garden (we'd put in higher fences) and limited parking is the only downsides.
From the voting the cottage wins hands down, but I think in reality, if you lot viewed it, you'd see sense too. It's just that little too small. Anyway, rightmove is being frantically refreshed, so there may well be an other topic. Oh, if and when we get something sorted, I'll provide you with a build thread, for all of your helps.
If they do accept, I'm tempted to tell them to do one, as it's unfair making us wait when there are other places we could be looking at.
After a pros/cons list last night, I think we decided that the thatch needed too much spent on it and would still be pokey. We had an additional viewing of it yesterday with my DIY dad and he pointed out a few extras. One of them being I can't stand in the bath, without touching the ceiling, so no way to have a shower! We also added 'no space for a Christmas tree' to the con list, I think that put the missus off!
The terraced house is by no means perfect, but is big, light, spacious, and walking distance to many pubs and shops. A slightly less private garden (we'd put in higher fences) and limited parking is the only downsides.
From the voting the cottage wins hands down, but I think in reality, if you lot viewed it, you'd see sense too. It's just that little too small. Anyway, rightmove is being frantically refreshed, so there may well be an other topic. Oh, if and when we get something sorted, I'll provide you with a build thread, for all of your helps.
Well I voted blind for the thatched cottage and having "seen" the two of them it would definitely be the terrace/townhouse for me - so you can shuffle a few percent from one camp to the other. The cottage just seemed unbearably small/cramped/compromised for me - if certainly chocolate box cute. I'd rather drive by it every day and think to myself "that's a pretty house" than actually experience it all day every day.
On another point, vendors are allowed to be on holiday/be in hospital/lose their phone/be kidnapped/take their time considering by the way. Please don't (at this incredibly early stage) get all toy/pram/throwy because you don't get an immediate response to an offer. Between now and the day you move in - to whichever property finally gets the nod - there will be months of glacial conveyancing and petty issues to solve. It seems unnecessary to start off in such impatient spirits.
Keep us updated.
On another point, vendors are allowed to be on holiday/be in hospital/lose their phone/be kidnapped/take their time considering by the way. Please don't (at this incredibly early stage) get all toy/pram/throwy because you don't get an immediate response to an offer. Between now and the day you move in - to whichever property finally gets the nod - there will be months of glacial conveyancing and petty issues to solve. It seems unnecessary to start off in such impatient spirits.
Keep us updated.
Whilst I understand people get busy, all they need to do is make that apparent. It makes us think they'll drag their feet come crunch time with other parts of the conveyancing.
They had an open house, the next business day they've suddenly decided to not answer their calls. Not really on.
They had an open house, the next business day they've suddenly decided to not answer their calls. Not really on.
I've had a vendor die on me overnight before and I can think of dozens of justifiable reasons why someone might not get to a phone on what suddenly might have become a trivial matter to them. I've also known a junior negotiator forget to pass on a message. It just seems a shame to start off in such an adversarial style.
Who knows, in full-on PH conspiracy mode it could be that the agent just isn't getting back to you and is busily tying up an offer to one of his mates...
Who knows, in full-on PH conspiracy mode it could be that the agent just isn't getting back to you and is busily tying up an offer to one of his mates...
Well, we got a call last night at 6pm from the agent of the terraced house. We didn't get it, turns out someone had offered way above the OIEO price, and we'd offered lower than it. It's not worth the OIEO price, so we're out.
In the mean time, the thatched property has had £15k taken off the asking price, as I imagine with our low offer and explaining what needs to be done they've come to realise it's overpriced. It will potentially drum up more business for them, but the agent has said they'll give us a heads up about any movement.
If we went with the thatched place, it'd need some work, new bathroom and kitchen, a few cupboards taking out, new floors throughout (currently cheap laminate), a few trees out as well as doing the whole garden, and making a space in the garden to park cars (there is already a nice metal gate).
Most of the work I can do, so we won't have massive labour, but it'll take time and still cost a chuck of cash, so we're undecided. We think if we done the lot and put it back up, we'd maybe make £20k after all costs, but then factor in stamp duty for the next move, and it's not worth the effort. So, I think it needs to be somewhere to do up and live in for a good few years.
In the mean time, the thatched property has had £15k taken off the asking price, as I imagine with our low offer and explaining what needs to be done they've come to realise it's overpriced. It will potentially drum up more business for them, but the agent has said they'll give us a heads up about any movement.
If we went with the thatched place, it'd need some work, new bathroom and kitchen, a few cupboards taking out, new floors throughout (currently cheap laminate), a few trees out as well as doing the whole garden, and making a space in the garden to park cars (there is already a nice metal gate).
Most of the work I can do, so we won't have massive labour, but it'll take time and still cost a chuck of cash, so we're undecided. We think if we done the lot and put it back up, we'd maybe make £20k after all costs, but then factor in stamp duty for the next move, and it's not worth the effort. So, I think it needs to be somewhere to do up and live in for a good few years.
Don't know if you lot are interested, but hey.
So, the house was live with it's new price on Rightmove this weekend, with only 1 viewing and no interest. We decided that we'd like to see it empty, as it's a tip due to the tenant moving out.
I phoned up and was told NO viewing until the tenant moved out, as it was so messy. No problem as no one else could see it. We agreed Tuesday (next week), but they'd do no later than 4pm as they finished at 5. Not sure what they are thinking, but usually the only people buying houses are in jobs! I was also told that we would have to offer what they told us was the vendors minimum they'd take (20k off the now revised price). I'm pissed with them, telling me they won't do 'out of hours' viewings and dictating what I should offer.
Someone suggested they're 'fed up' dealing with me, but I can't see why they should get fed up with 4 viewings, on 3 of which I couldn't get into 2 rooms due to the mess!
Anyway, a house we liked some 6 months ago has fallen through, so we've got a viewing with that. Down side is it's just been renovated, so no work/profit for us. Upside is it looks great and we could just move in and pocket some cash (911?) from our sale.
So, the house was live with it's new price on Rightmove this weekend, with only 1 viewing and no interest. We decided that we'd like to see it empty, as it's a tip due to the tenant moving out.
I phoned up and was told NO viewing until the tenant moved out, as it was so messy. No problem as no one else could see it. We agreed Tuesday (next week), but they'd do no later than 4pm as they finished at 5. Not sure what they are thinking, but usually the only people buying houses are in jobs! I was also told that we would have to offer what they told us was the vendors minimum they'd take (20k off the now revised price). I'm pissed with them, telling me they won't do 'out of hours' viewings and dictating what I should offer.
Someone suggested they're 'fed up' dealing with me, but I can't see why they should get fed up with 4 viewings, on 3 of which I couldn't get into 2 rooms due to the mess!
Anyway, a house we liked some 6 months ago has fallen through, so we've got a viewing with that. Down side is it's just been renovated, so no work/profit for us. Upside is it looks great and we could just move in and pocket some cash (911?) from our sale.
We've just moved from a London town house, to something out in the country. I couldn't go back now, the thought of being penned in and also having to park half way down my street and then lug all the BabyStuff(TM) to the front door would be unbearable now.
What I would say however is do your research on thatch. I had relatives that have just sold a beautiful thatch cottage, mostly due to wanting to be near to grandchildren but also to get away from the drawbacks associated with having a thatch roof (constant dust falling down, mice scratching around it, cost to rethatch).
I can't remember the exact figure, but they said it was several tens of thousands of pounds to rethatch and they did it at least twice in the 10+ years they were there.
What I would say however is do your research on thatch. I had relatives that have just sold a beautiful thatch cottage, mostly due to wanting to be near to grandchildren but also to get away from the drawbacks associated with having a thatch roof (constant dust falling down, mice scratching around it, cost to rethatch).
I can't remember the exact figure, but they said it was several tens of thousands of pounds to rethatch and they did it at least twice in the 10+ years they were there.
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