Houses
- Thread starter MattHall91
- Start date
Paulwirral
Active member
ronk said:
That's the problem with inherited money ! My mate has the exact same problem in Hexham .
At least with an existing property you can scope out the neighbours beforehand. We even went to meet them before putting an offer in.
One of the easy things to forget about brand new developments is that you cannot guess who your neighbours will be, nor the 'dynamic of the immediate area. There is no preset precedent, so people think that they park/do as they please. No one knows anyone, so no one wants to back down etc etc...'
One of the easy things to forget about brand new developments is that you cannot guess who your neighbours will be, nor the 'dynamic of the immediate area. There is no preset precedent, so people think that they park/do as they please. No one knows anyone, so no one wants to back down etc etc...'
With newbuilds, you still have to go through the settlement cracks etc. which might be rather disappointing when you see your brand new bathroom walls cracking. Seen that a few times at friend's places, not sure what can be done about it - but tiling "fake" walls (plasterboard / stud partitions) is something I don't like.
Social housing mixing with private - not sure whose idea that was though.
Social housing mixing with private - not sure whose idea that was though.
Would love to buy a new build, lots of perks in doing so. As highlighted by the grand designs program yesterday - new builds haven't really come on in the last 20 years. We need a bit of an affordable new housing revolution in terms of design, efficiency and green credentials. to avoid too many cookie cutter houses built soley for profit.
Thus i bought a Victorian terraced house, it's nice n' all, especially in London, but comes with the inherent problems (and therefore running costs) of a 110year old house.
Thus i bought a Victorian terraced house, it's nice n' all, especially in London, but comes with the inherent problems (and therefore running costs) of a 110year old house.
I think the old adage, "location, location, location" holds very true.
Doesn't matter how nice the house is, if it's in a sh*te area you're going to be unhappy. My house is about 35 years old, sod all character etc. We like the layout & we've improved it a lot. We've also done the fascias, windows, kitchens, bathrooms etc. Pretty expensive when you add it all up I guess.
All that said, we're edge of village, right next to a canal with a lovely path. Cycling is great as the roads are graveyard quiet. We're 10mins from the old market town of Beverley, 30mins from the Yorkshire coast with beaches,cliffs etc and the same in the other direction for the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds
Contrast that with an acquaintance of mine who lives in a very spacious, well appointed 5 bed new build ... that's in the middle of hull, squeezed behind a little bungalow on a main road, with a council estate butting right up to his back garden wall. :thumbsdown:
Doesn't matter how nice the house is, if it's in a sh*te area you're going to be unhappy. My house is about 35 years old, sod all character etc. We like the layout & we've improved it a lot. We've also done the fascias, windows, kitchens, bathrooms etc. Pretty expensive when you add it all up I guess.
All that said, we're edge of village, right next to a canal with a lovely path. Cycling is great as the roads are graveyard quiet. We're 10mins from the old market town of Beverley, 30mins from the Yorkshire coast with beaches,cliffs etc and the same in the other direction for the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds
Contrast that with an acquaintance of mine who lives in a very spacious, well appointed 5 bed new build ... that's in the middle of hull, squeezed behind a little bungalow on a main road, with a council estate butting right up to his back garden wall. :thumbsdown:
sars said:One of the biggest worries I have with new builds is the use of plastic compression fittings, I'm just not sure that in 30 years I'm not going to come home to the house and find 6 inches of water downstairs after a 50p o ring fails, soldered copper pipe please
I bought a 70's house for same reason many don't like new builds.
The heating system is a little old, setup in an unusual way and was having some issues with being noisey due to being clogged up. I had the system flushed but the guy said it wasn't that bad. The problem houses he visits are newish builds, some estates he's there every month doing another house on the street. I wouldn't have thought it, but the pvc pipes are far worse for collecting the scum and rust in them.
My house is now for sale due to relocating (anyone wanting a nice 3 bed semi in Helsby/Frodsham area?) and I'm living in an apartment built in the late 1800's, can't beat large rooms with high ceilings and a bit of character. The plumbing and wiring is a bit adhoc compared to modern housing :roll:
Totally agree that it's a very personal thing. Myself, I would not even consider a new build. I may be wrong but I imagine paper thin walls and very shabby workmanship. Give me a good stone built house any day please.
Having said that where I live 80% are stone built and majority do not have any off road parking. 2 up 2 down houses that were just not designed with cars in mind. Cars weren't invented when they were built. Most people working in the local mills
Having said that where I live 80% are stone built and majority do not have any off road parking. 2 up 2 down houses that were just not designed with cars in mind. Cars weren't invented when they were built. Most people working in the local mills
I live in an old coach house that was converted in to a hose after the second world war. I love all the odd angles and old wood and stone in our hose for that reason alone i cant imagine living in a new build.
But it would be nice not to have the maintenance issues associated with old places. We gutted and rebuilt our place. Well almost and old houses even after lots of rework need attention.
And we have a big back garden. And sometimes i wish it was smaller. Or i enjoyed gardening. Either or would be fine.
But it would be nice not to have the maintenance issues associated with old places. We gutted and rebuilt our place. Well almost and old houses even after lots of rework need attention.
And we have a big back garden. And sometimes i wish it was smaller. Or i enjoyed gardening. Either or would be fine.
New builds seem fine to me. They'll be more energy efficient, if you like that kind of thing. They'll also be warmer in winter, what with all the insulation stuff needed to be put in.
Only thing I wouldn't like is buying 'off plan', where you can see exactly what you're buying.
Our house was built in the mid 90's, so would be classed as a new build, I guess. It's a semi and you can hear the morons next door, which annoys me greatly. Saying that, my dad lives in a pre-war brick built house and you can hear his neighbours also.
I've also realised that sometimes the previous owner can be a 'jack of all trades' type guy. I've had to spend many an hour putting right his wrongs.
Only thing I wouldn't like is buying 'off plan', where you can see exactly what you're buying.
Our house was built in the mid 90's, so would be classed as a new build, I guess. It's a semi and you can hear the morons next door, which annoys me greatly. Saying that, my dad lives in a pre-war brick built house and you can hear his neighbours also.
I've also realised that sometimes the previous owner can be a 'jack of all trades' type guy. I've had to spend many an hour putting right his wrongs.
srhutch said:
It's a great area though.
We would seriously consider it I didn't rely so much on the M6 for work.
What's everyone's view on house prices and the impending EU in/ out vote?
I'm looking to move soon and the properties I'm looking at seem to be priced at £20-£30k higher than last year! I know nobody can predict the market but what are the general thoughts on what will happen?
I'm already furious at the new stamp duty laws for 2nd properties. Myself and my partner both have our own property but wanted to buy a place together and keep her city centre apartment for rental but the new stamp duty costs on the houses we're looking at are impossible to swallow.
We'll seemingly be a lot worse off than if we bought this time last year.
I'm looking to move soon and the properties I'm looking at seem to be priced at £20-£30k higher than last year! I know nobody can predict the market but what are the general thoughts on what will happen?
I'm already furious at the new stamp duty laws for 2nd properties. Myself and my partner both have our own property but wanted to buy a place together and keep her city centre apartment for rental but the new stamp duty costs on the houses we're looking at are impossible to swallow.
We'll seemingly be a lot worse off than if we bought this time last year.
I try not to worry too much about that kinda thing. We have been looking at properties since the start of the year as we need to upgrade from our 2 bed semi to a 3/4 bed detached.
The jump in cost is insane, but sometimes you need to just pay to have a good quality of life. I highly doubt the market will crash to the extent you'll be hundred of thousands in debt.
Obviously that's area dependent. We live in the south East, so house prices are always rising here.
The jump in cost is insane, but sometimes you need to just pay to have a good quality of life. I highly doubt the market will crash to the extent you'll be hundred of thousands in debt.
Obviously that's area dependent. We live in the south East, so house prices are always rising here.
pvr said:
That's one the thoughts I've been having too.