2-bed converted to 3-bed - does it warrant price increase?

retepetsir

The house next door has an extension on the back. Being detached I guess it would give us options to do so either at the rear or the side.

Really struggling to find any houses in the SE with bigger rooms for that kind of price. The smallest is obviously the third bedroom but that seems typical of all of the houses we've seen so far.

notanewuser

retepetsir wrote: »

The house next door has an extension on the back. Being detached I guess it would give us options to do so either at the rear or the side.

Really struggling to find any houses in the SE with bigger rooms for that kind of price. The smallest is obviously the third bedroom but that seems typical of all of the houses we've seen so far.

The smallest bedroom is the same size as our smallest bedroom, and at the moment it's fine for DD (2.5). She has a full sized single bed and a full size wardrobe in there, plus a bookcase and plenty of floor space.

If neighbours have extended it means the council are less likely not to approve it for you.

Don't assume you can do a side extension without knowing where drains/water/gas pipes run. A friend got caught out on that one.

retepetsir

Thanks. We're expecting a baby in November so would use the 3rd bedroom for the first few years at least and then the 2nd for a spare/office/gym.

We're currently in a good-sized 2-bedroom flat so ideally want something which is a decent upgrade and we're happy staying in for a few years. The garden looks to have potential, chop down all those bushes!

notanewuser

retepetsir wrote: »

Thanks. We're expecting a baby in November so would use the 3rd bedroom for the first few years at least and then the 2nd for a spare/office/gym.

We're currently in a good-sized 2-bedroom flat so ideally want something which is a decent upgrade and we're happy staying in for a few years. The garden looks to have potential, chop down all those bushes!

Probably better to use the garage as a gym - you don't know how strong your floors are until a treadmill falls through it!

We plan to keep DD in the small room for as long as possible too!!

SternMusik

retepetsir wrote: »

Thank you! I was trying to calculate the floor space myself which was difficult without the floor plan :rotfl:. Didn't see it on the EPC.

That's about 690 sqft which does seem small. Seems surprising given the room dimensions?!

Previous 3-beds we've seen have been around 750-800sqft, there's not much more around for under £250k and larger to be honest.

One of the positives I did think of was that with the garden and layout of the land, an extension in the future would be possible.

Hmmm

It is of course possible that the floor area is wrong on the EPC. From experience I find it more likely that the estate agent got the measurements wrong (or they preferred to err on the generous side...). If you go for a viewing, take a tape measure with you (or even better one of those laser gizmos).

If the house otherwise ticks most of your boxes, and it has potential to be extended it is worth viewing IMO. Make sure you'd be happy to live with the current floorspace and layout for a few years though, until your finances allow you to do major work.

retepetsir

SternMusik wrote: »

It is of course possible that the floor area is wrong on the EPC. From experience I find it more likely that the estate agent got the measurements wrong (or they preferred to err on the generous side...). If you go for a viewing, take a tape measure with you (or even better one of those laser gizmos).

If the house otherwise ticks most of your boxes, and it has potential to be extended it is worth viewing IMO. Make sure you'd be happy to live with the current floorspace and layout for a few years though, until your finances allow you to do major work.

Thank you. I've calculated it myself and it's actually closer to 775sqft which is more acceptable for a 3-bedroom.

We'd want to update the kitchen and bathroom at some point but it looks usable for now. I'm hoping to go and view it late this afternoon so we shall see what potential it has.

retepetsir

Now if it's good....should we even bother going in at anything under £250k, or straight off £250k? No doubt that's the most popular sales price.

SternMusik

If it is new to the market they are unlikely to accept below £250k. I've just noticed there is a primary school round the corner. Are the parents using this cul-de-sac as a convenient turning circle to drop off the kids? Might be worth checking the immediate area out in peak times.

retepetsir

SternMusik wrote: »

If it is new to the market they are unlikely to accept below £250k. I've just noticed there is a primary school round the corner. Are the parents using this cul-de-sac as a convenient turning circle to drop off the kids? Might be worth checking the immediate area out in peak times.

Yes I believe they do, although we wouldn't mind that too much. It's rather convenient when our child reaches school age

I'm viewing it at 2.45pm so that'll give me a chance to see what it's like at school time. As long as the driveway isn't blocked then I hope it'll be alright.

notanewuser

retepetsir wrote: »

Yes I believe they do, although we wouldn't mind that too much. It's rather convenient when our child reaches school age

I'm viewing it at 2.45pm so that'll give me a chance to see what it's like at school time. As long as the driveway isn't blocked then I hope it'll be alright.

You're not guaranteed a place at that school though.