What things would seriously put you off buying a property?

Amanita_2

Saffagal wrote: »

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Neighbours are a tough one, as they may be lovely when you move in and then move out a few months later!

Exactly! ( apparently I need to make my comment a bit longer)

alwaysbrassic

Having just recently dropped this clanger, would now never again buy a house next to a park. Had visions of our kids meeting the neighbours kids to play. Reality is sleepless night from gangs of youths shouting and swearing in there.

SnowyOwl_2

Speaking from past experience, my "never again" list consists of:

1. overlooked garden, shared garden, or garden with short fences
2. north facing garden
3. a house on a new development which is aimed at young families (I am not maternal, didn't realise to what degree until I had to put up with neighbours' children)
4. a busy road (I didn't get used to the noise despite being there for seven years)
5. a flat with a total to$$er living in the flat above

From looking at houses and flats I know that I would never consider any of the following:

• a house that is downwind of a slurrey pit (dream house on 1st viewing, on 2nd viewing I smelt of cow sh*t just because of the breeze)
• front door opening directly into living room, or other room that isn't a hall
• stairs not in a hall
• bedrooms which open onto living space
• flats with the one and only loo being ensuite to the one and only bedroom
• near a chippy, pub, nightclub, taxi rank
• with "communal" paths running down the side or to the rear (teenage drinking dens)
• a flat (or house) with the biggest bedroom only just big enough for a double bed and no other furniture (yes, I've seen one like this).

I suppose it boils down mostly to location - get that right and you're at least half way there.

breadlinebetty

Lots of good and interesting observations here! And some I'd never thought of but that would certainly put a buyer off!

I notice lots of people mention not wanting a shared driveway - call me stupid - but what exactly do you mean by a shared driveway? Do you mean a shared driveway dividing two houses, or one all drivers need to go down to reach their houses/parking space/garage - or just a driveway at the side of the house shared by a few other houses? I'm a bit confused on that!:o

jonewer

Just about everything is subject to compromise.

We didnt want a house on a (moderately) busy road or a house with a north-east facing garden.

Thats what we got though, but what we also got was a very private rear garden, facing onto an aforested common and every other box ticked and then a whole lot more besides that we hadnt thought of.

I'm a bit bemused by people who say that they wouldnt even consider a place that, for example, had a front door opening into the living room. rly? Srsly? So you'd never even look at a place like this?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33365992.html

tealady

I wouldn't want a house with shared access from the rear (burglars and flytippers can cause heartache and costs)
I would NEVER buy a house near a school (haven't got kids and don't wan't noise/parking problems from other people).
Although I don't drive it must have off road parking for visitors.
Not near a pub (can attract all sorts of low life if not managed properly)
Not on a main road.
Must be near to decent public transport (where I live the last bus home is at midnight which is great)
No storage heaters.
No high ceilings (cost to heat)
No sloping ceilings either (I LOATHE barn/church conversions for that reason)
Must have a shower (preferably a double one)
other than that I'm not fussy!!!!!

breadlinebetty

jonewer wrote: »

Just about everything is subject to compromise.

We didnt want a house on a (moderately) busy road or a house with a north-east facing garden.

Thats what we got though, but what we also got was a very private rear garden, facing onto an aforested common and every other box ticked and then a whole lot more besides that we hadnt thought of.

I'm a bit bemused by people who say that they wouldnt even consider a place that, for example, had a front door opening into the living room. rly? Srsly? So you'd never even look at a place like this?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33365992.html

That particular house is the exception to the rule.

We're discussing your average properties - not £1.5M barn conversions and the like.......

Most people don't live in houses like the one you've pulled up. We're talking the average property that fills most of the country.:)

jonewer

breadlinebetty wrote: »

Most people don't live in houses like the one you've pulled up. We're talking the average property that fills most of the country.:)

The point I was trying to make is that its silly to say "I'll never buy a house that has/hasnt got x" because the house may have something else going for it that more than outweighs any perceived deficiencies in the x department.

I guess I'm trying to say that houses are not like white goods. They are emotional and aesthetic aspects to them also, which often outweigh simple practical considerations like a downstairs bog* or stairs leading up from a reception room. I would far rather live in a Grade II listed place that oozed charm and character but with no downstairs bog, stairs from the reception room, and a door opening into the sitting room, than some soulless plywood new-build with a loo in each room, built on a ex-landfill and with as much character and charm as a happy meal.

*What is this obsession with having ablution facilities bursting out of every nook and cranny in the house? I particularly dont understand the downstairs loo dementia. I have seen people so determined to conform to this mass insanity that they have stuck toilets in broom closets, or opening into the dining room, or kitchen. Fine if it opens into a porch or hallway but I reckon the average house has a footprint of about 4 car parking spaces, which means if you go make whoopsies in your broom cupboard/utility room etc. everyone else in the house is going to know the calibre of your performance either by sight, sound or smell. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Just go upstairs for heaven's sake!

breadlinebetty

jonewer wrote: »

The point I was trying to make is that its silly to say "I'll never buy a house that has/hasnt got x" because the house may have something else going for it that more than outweighs any perceived deficiencies in the x department.

I guess I'm trying to say that houses are not like white goods. They are emotional and aesthetic aspects to them also, which often outweigh simple practical considerations like a downstairs bog* or stairs leading up from a reception room. I would far rather live in a Grade II listed place that oozed charm and character but with no downstairs bog, stairs from the reception room, and a door opening into the sitting room, than some soulless plywood new-build with a loo in each room, built on a ex-landfill and with as much character and charm as a happy meal.

*What is this obsession with having ablution facilities bursting out of every nook and cranny in the house? I particularly dont understand the downstairs loo dementia. I have seen people so determined to conform to this mass insanity that they have stuck toilets in broom closets, or opening into the dining room, or kitchen. Fine if it opens into a porch or hallway but I reckon the average house has a footprint of about 4 car parking spaces, which means if you go make whoopsies in your broom cupboard/utility room etc. everyone else in the house is going to know the calibre of your performance either by sight, sound or smell. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Just go upstairs for heaven's sake!

But you've still seemed to have missed the point : that house you've put a link up to is in the exception - we're discussing the AVERAGE house and what people find a major turn-off.

I realise we all have to compromise somewhere along the line, but there are some things that are an absolute NO-NO for many people : such as a railway line at the end of their garden, or a garden full of decking, no bath in the house (and nowhere to fit one) or no off-road parking, or living on a budy High Street or ex-council tower block - there's loads of things some people will not compromise on.

And that's the point of this thread.

You personally don't mind not having more than one loo or a downstairs cloakroom - but some people do want one - or at least space in which to fit one.

As it happens I personally too would prefer to live in a beautiful old house that oozed charm than a bland new-build with a downstairs loo, but some people would choose otherwise. For some people (the elderly/disabled etc) a downstairs loo is a necessity.....

I know someone who was smitten by a small Victorian two up/two down they viewed, but there was nowhere at all to fit a downstairs loo so they had an outdoor loo built on the back of the house. Reminded me of those houses years ago that ONLY had outdoor loos - freezing cold ones. But I have to admit it came in very very handy!

rosyw

jonewer wrote: »

The point I was trying to make is that its silly to say "I'll never buy a house that has/hasnt got x" because the house may have something else going for it that more than outweighs any perceived deficiencies in the x department.

I have to admit that reading through this has made me chuckle! and also that the vast majority of you wouldn't, without even lookijng at it, buy my house! :rotfl:

It's accessed via a shared driveway, has a north east facing garden, if fairly open plan, has the main bathroom downstairs and on looking at the details appears to be on a main road!!!

BUT, the advantage of that driveway means it's tucked away in a very private position literally surround by other peoples quite large gardens, not overlooked, and very peaceful - you wouldn't know the road was there. the garden gets plenty of sun, & it has a more than adequate en-suite to make up for the downstairs bathroom also being fairly open plan it feels larger than it actually is, if there were walls dividing the rooms it would feel very small to me. Everyone who has been here has commented on what a lovely house it is, and my best friend who lives on a houseboat and has sworn never to live in a
"proper" house again demanded that I change my will and leave it to her :rotfl:

It's all about compromise, as has been said over and over again, and I am very happy in my house that ticks all the wrong boxes!