Old home vs new home - what'd you rather?

Vibrant

I do quite a lot of handyman type maintenance jobs on cheaper (less than 250,000) new build houses and have not been impressed by the build quality. I see a lot of bodges by the builders, the worst I have seen is the banister rail fixed to the wall with mastic, until it fell off (which was the reason for my visit). And a power shower where the power cable ran down the wall in plastic conduit, into a hole in the top of the unit.
The more expensive new builds seem better built, although extras such as patios tend to be total cowboy jobs, that fall apart in a couple of years. Everything seems to be built to last just long enough for the building firm to finish the estate and scarper.

The only plus points I can see with new builds, are they look nice and are usually quite warm in winter. Although the good insulation seems to be a double edged sword, as in the summer the upstairs are uninhabitable as they get so hot.

Nine_Lives

As someone just getting in to this - how can you tell what era a house is from without paying for the information?

Doozergirl

K_P83 wrote: »

As someone just getting in to this - how can you tell what era a house is from without paying for the information?

You can usually tell by the architectural style of the exterior combined with particular interior features like fireplaces, ceiling heights, front doors, wall width, brick pattern etc.

If you don't know then ask us or ask the owner or their neighbours.

rustyboy21

Thought my house was circa 1900, but now transpires checking on find my past it was built round 1875-1881 ! Will I need to notify insurance company anyone know?

Love my old house 3 bed semi bay windows and cellar and attic, have 3 pear trees in garden, all give off lovely pears that neighbours go mad about, neighbour preserves them. Was a quite select area when built,bit of a stock broker belt for liverpool/manchester. Newer council houses towards end of road, but our end is really quiet.

I also think I have a ghost, as in certain parts of the house we get very strong pipe tobacco smell, I normally say hello and it dissapears ! Dog also looks into thin air at times like he is following someone. OH is quite religious/spiritual and knows something is there but is not afraid of it.

Wouldn't have a new house even if it was given to me.

ed110220

My house was built in 1949 according to the daughter of the late owner, who lived here from when it was built till last year. It's by no means at the luxury end of the scale, but it's spacious, airy and homely compared with my parents' c. 1900 house, and I find the proportions more pleasing (horizontal rather than tall and narrow) and the layout more logical eg having a hallway from the front door to the kitchen rather than having to go through the dining room. It's worth about half the value though!

At the end of the day a lot of it is down to personal preference.

Leif

I like the look of the 30's bungalows nearby. They look solid. The flat I rent till the end of the month is scheisse. The walls are made of rice paper, and you can hear the neighbour's fleas fart. That said, they are well insulated, and the walls are all square (which means a bit soulless).

Doozergirl wrote: »

I'd not be keen on a 50s-70s house as standards were pretty low and there's the use of asbestos to contend with.

60's houses seem okay to me. Mine is late sixties, and it is very solid. The woodwork was not brilliant, but it was easily replaced. I think the 60's was not so bad as it was a time of prosperity. The 70's was the winter of discontent, strikes, roaring inflation etc.

We have post war houses nearby. They are made of corrugated iron. But they are on large plots. They must be a tad chilly in winter

ed110220

Leif wrote: »

We have post war houses nearby. They are made of corrugated iron. But they are on large plots. They must be a tad chilly in winter

They may be BISF houses, like mine. It's actually surprisingly warm, certainly warmer than an older, non-cavity wall house with solid walls as there is a cavity with insulation behind the profiled steel sheet and then the inner layer of the wall.

Leif

ed110220 wrote: »

They may be BISF houses, like mine. It's actually surprisingly warm, certainly warmer than an older, non-cavity wall house with solid walls as there is a cavity with insulation behind the profiled steel sheet and then the inner layer of the wall.

That is posh!

Google maps to GU34 5AR. Look for Hawthorn Stables, go two properties to the East, and you'll see a single story example. I think that one is scheduled for demolition and they will build one or more new houses on the plot. There are more than a few rabbit hutches in the area, sorry I mean desirable new properties.

There are quite a few sprinkled around a wide area.

Leif

There is a more basic example nearby (West) on Swelling Hill, not far from Swellinghill Pond.

AdmiralX

K_P83 wrote: »

Personally, i think i'd rather a new build - something that has been built in line with current regs. You assume things improve over time, so structurally i imagine a new build would be better. I could be way out on this though.

So what'd you rather & why?

The new homes will be good for as long as the guaranteed lasts at least -and until new regulations come in force. You will need a new boiler after so many years and power flush. The old homes are there for very long time, and one can improve them. Some people prefer original features that give value.