What would put you off a house...?

YoungBlueEyes · 5 March 2018 at 12:20AM

I've just read the fake grass thread, and it got me thinking.
What kind of things would be a deal breaker for you?
I don't mean terrible area/apalling neighbours/massive cracks in the roof and water left to pour in for months etc.
More like - is a bit of peeling wallpaper ok? Original period windows that could do with some love? Is double glazing a must? Carpets the colour of a Dairy Milk bar? No shower in the bathroom? An unloved garden?
What do people expect to have to do when they buy a (not new built) house?

AnotherJoe · 5 March 2018 at 12:25AM

First ever house I looked at had wood panelling applied to every single room. The place looked like a sauna.
Would have required a huge amount of work to rip it all off and probably replaster. I guess on the upside it would have been cheap to heat for the first year but this was well before woodburners were fashionable.

Robby1988 · 5 March 2018 at 12:57AM

I would never buy another house with cement rendered exterior walls. Looks alright when its new and/or freshly painted but overtime just becomes a maintenance headache to keep looking nice. It's also often a cause of damp on older houses because it traps moisture in the structure. You never know what the render might be hiding either.

MalMonroe · 5 March 2018 at 1:11AM

I guess you wouldn't employ someone to do a survey? If you're making such a big investment, it would seem wise. Then you'd (hopefully) not be ripped off. But if you don't want to, then I'd try to buy the best house I could in the best area. I once made the mistake of buying a great house in a rubbish area and regretted it until the day I left. Neighbours were awful. The things you mention are all superficial though and if you loved the house in spite of them, no problem. I'd have to pass though!

seven-day-weekend · 5 March 2018 at 7:26AM

I would hate a house in the middle of nowhere. This may include a house on an estate with no shops, schools or transport links. I would not like a house in the middle of an estate.

Internally there probably isn't a lot that would put me off if I liked the house in other ways - maybe wall-to wall artex would be a no-no - but most internal stuff can be fixed.

I'm not keen on the trend of open plan kitchen/eating/living all together, so that would be a no-no to me.

Also after forty years of living in terraced houses, off-street parking is a must and I wouldn't consider a house without it.

remembermee · 5 March 2018 at 7:40AM

I would never choose to buy a house that you have to go through the living room to get to the kitchen.
Nor would I want to find myself in one that had the stairs coming off the living room.

As you can tell, I see the point of hallways lol

jackieblack · 5 March 2018 at 8:33AM

I wouldn't consider buying a house:
In the middle of an estate
In any area where neighbouring properties look unkempt/run down/uncared for
With an overlooked back garden
With no off-street parking
Pebble-dashed
External door leading directly into living room (unless the budget and property both enabled a decent porch extension to be easily added as a priority)
Only bathroom downstairs (unless budget and property allowed for an additional bathroom to be easily added upstairs)
Dark internally/small windows/lack of natural light

lovehols · 5 March 2018 at 8:59AM

Off road parking definitely a priority, and the surrounding area so if the neighbours look like they care for their homes. I always check the local crime map too, that's normally the first things I do.

Oh and not overlooked, though the house we have just bought is on the canal and our neighbours are on the towpath opposite, but there is a canal in between us so that's fine and no neighbours the other side just a wood we own.

For the right price the majority of other things can be changed or updated.

glasgowdan · 5 March 2018 at 9:30AM

jackieblack wrote: »

I wouldn't consider buying a house:

Pebble-dashed

Why not? It looks smart and is zero maintenance for decades!

For example
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815_440_1_1_5632GnSLuY7a-lmusDMseUUi9vLGl1WcI2UyQs58x71IkM%2C0V1BBm2AY_vOqGASWHZs739GWyKZ9Py4awzSKDE_DZE.jpg?1448361528

Davesnave · 5 March 2018 at 9:32AM

lovehols wrote: »

For the right price the majority of (other) things can be changed or updated.

I tried to answer the question, but that's the answer for us too.

There's almost nothing of our house, inside or outside, that remains the same.

If the location and setting suits, then provided the money, enthusiasm and the law allows, nothing trivial should stand in the way of buying it.

I'm a bit lacking in the enthusiasm department now, though! :rotfl:

sleepymans · 5 March 2018 at 9:42AM

A house with little natural light. Or one in a shaded valley or amongst woodland.
I need light....and preferably a pleasant view from most windows.

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What would put you off a house...?

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