What to expect with an old house

lincroft1710

spannerzone wrote: »

Should be cavity wall if built in the 1920's I'd have thought...l

No!!!!!!!!

My parents' former house built in late 1940s didn't have cavity walls and the "front" door was actually on the side wall, not the front wall. Many 1930s houses didn't have cavity walls.

spannerzone

lincroft1710 wrote: »

No!!!!!!!!

My parents' former house built in late 1940s didn't have cavity walls, many 1930s houses didn't have cavity walls.

wow.... really??

Never found that myself on various houses, you live and learn!

duncan32

Must admit to being pretty :eek: now :(.

Having looked at it, I had already thought that we would need to re do the kitchen (immediately) and upgrade the downstairs bathroom quite quickly and the upstairs at some point. Adding these other potential costs certainly would worry me. I have other houses that are in my line of fire. Without giving up on this one (as I love it and will find out about all of the things listed on this thread that would be problems), is it ok to post a couple of others that are possibles for us, please? It helps so much to get advice from people who clearly know what they're on about.

Thanks again all.

Duncan
:T

MrsCrafty

Bought a similar shell and we had to rewire, double glaze and check out the damp course. Some of it might be good but some of ours wasn't. Get a cheap Dampometer and check out everywhere above skirt level all around the house top and bottom especially where you can see the guttering and fireplaces. Our surveyor didn't pick up hardly any of ours. We knew this though, so were not bothered.

The coving looks in good condition and this could be made into a fantastic family home IMO. If you don't have any building/diy skills though - beware as labour is expensive and when they pull off the wallpaper and the wall falls down..............

MrsCrafty

CLAPTON wrote: »

central heating radiators all seem to be along the walls

they should be under the windows otherwise the space by the windows will be very cold

I agree with this, our Victorian terrace didn't have any central heating and the first thing we did was install rads under windows. However, we now have a woodburning stove which takes the pressure off if you put it in the right place.

lincroft1710

spannerzone wrote: »

wow.... really??

Never found that myself on various houses, you live and learn!

I've even come across a bungalow built for farmworker in early 1950s which didn't have an inside toilet. Bathroom with bath and basin, yes, but toilet was just outside the back door. Although a covered porch connected toilet with bungalow it was open to elements on 4th side.

mark5

I also have a few friends living in 1930's style 3 bedroom semi's with no door at the front. The main door is at the side of the house leading on to a hallway with the 2 reception rooms with bay windows at the front of the house.

hcb42

duncan32 wrote: »

Must admit to being pretty :eek: now :(.

Having looked at it, I had already thought that we would need to re do the kitchen (immediately) and upgrade the downstairs bathroom quite quickly and the upstairs at some point. Adding these other potential costs certainly would worry me. I have other houses that are in my line of fire. Without giving up on this one (as I love it and will find out about all of the things listed on this thread that would be problems), is it ok to post a couple of others that are possibles for us, please? It helps so much to get advice from people who clearly know what they're on about.

Thanks again all.

Duncan
:T

Dont be put off. You can upgrade at your own pace. When I moved in I had to wash pots in the bath as I had no kitchen at all! Now I have a lovely victorian property we're pleased with.

it is a great price for size of house (although I dont know the area too well) , but obviously if you want to do everything at once, you will need upwards of £30K. If you can live with it, then you wont notice the outlay so much. It could be a gorgeous home, as it already is to someone.

hcb42

MrsCrafty wrote: »

I agree with this, our Victorian terrace didn't have any central heating and the first thing we did was install rads under windows. However, we now have a woodburning stove which takes the pressure off if you put it in the right place.

Is it modern building reg advice to put rads under windows? None of mine are and it would seem I was paying to heat the outdoors if they were?!!

duncan32

Eton_Rifle wrote: »

It's a nice house, my only slight hesitation about it would be the proximity to the football ground.

Interesting you should say that. The ground is Rockingham Road, home of the mighty Kettering Town FC (team I have supported since a kid). Not totally sure of what drawbacks the ground would have (cars in the street on Saturday afternoons maybe being the only one?). My main concern is that the ground is leased and the lease will expire in a few years. Who knows what the ground would become then? Flats? A supermarket? :eek::eek:

Certainly something to think about, though.

Duncan