Do you need to fall in love with a house to buy it

avenida

Hi

When searching for a house do you have to have that "feeling" that you really want it.

I have viewed a house in a really good location but it needs work done - like new kitchen and bathrooms and general decorative stuff, in a couple of the rooms there was a bit of black in the top corners but it looks like its down to condensation, the house is about 25years old. I'm having difficulty seeing past the decor and the house is at the top of our budget.

I've only viewed once and was really disappointed cause it looks worse in real life, but after 2 weeks and still really struggling to find anything else in the location we want and with our buyers wanting into our house I'm wondering is it worth going for a second viewing now that we know what to expect.

Has anyone been in this situation that can offer any advice

Thanks

Davesnave

Yes, I've fallen in love with properties and really wanted them, but unfortunately never when I was in a position to follow through on buying.

So, I just buy the best thing that I can find.

This property I'm in now was like that. It had great 'potential.' I estimated that it would take at least 5 years to sort it out, but it seems I was slightly optimistic.

However, the potential was there, and that's the main thing. Every year something gets better, which helps to spur one on to the next bit of the project.

So, I'd say that even if a property isn't immediately attractive, if it has good potential and no glaring shortcomings, it's certainly worth a second look.

ognum

Davesnave wrote: »

Yes, I've fallen in love with properties and really wanted them, but unfortunately never when I was in a position to follow through on buying.

So, I just buy the best thing that I can find.

This property I'm in now was like that. It had great 'potential.' I estimated that it would take at least 5 years to sort it out, but it seems I was slightly optimistic.

However, the potential was there, and that's the main thing. Every year something gets better, which helps to spur one on to the next bit of the project.

So, I'd say that even if a property isn't immediately attractive, if it has good potential and no glaring shortcomings, it's certainly worth a second look.

I agree with this, I have never fallen in love with a house the way it was when sold, I have always bought houses for their potential.

avenida

ognum wrote: »

I agree with this, I have never fallen in love with a house the way it was when sold, I have always bought houses for their potential.

I guess its because I fell in love with the house I'm in now but now have to move so maybe I struck lucky falling in love with my house.

moneyistooshorttomention

I think people are very lucky (or well-off) to be able to fall in love with a house.

Where I am now, my starter house is in the £170,000 price bracket. MY price bracket iyswim (which I cant afford) is £250,000-£300,000.

Houses that I fall in love with. Well, there are three on the market here currently. The cheapest is £360,000. Next up is £430,000. The highest is £700,000.

Motto being I cant even afford MY level, still less one I would "love" here.

It possibly depends a bit on the prevailing style of housing available in a location too. I am not a fan of most styles of housing available where I am currently. There is a couple of locations in the same county where there are a reasonable number of houses in styles I like, but so do a lot of other people, as there is a hefty price premium to live in those locations.

Its surprising just how much variation there is across the country.

gayleanne

I have never fallen in love with a house, I always look past the decorations and fitments, and visualise what it can be made into. Due to hubbies work we have moved quite a few times, and when the time has come to move I always feel sad, because I have spent a lot of time making it into my dream home. It all comes down to what you make of it.

Daisy70

I'm more of a practical buyer really, I look for the potential and feel of a house and whether or not I can make a profit on it when I come to sell. I did fall in love with my second house and bought it on impulse and came to regret it as the commuting to work was a nightmare. My current house has a great feel about it and needs lots of updating but it's in an up and coming area with great potential.

Buy with your head, not your heart!:D

witchy1066

no I don't think you can fall in love with a house , you can have a feeling for a house , good or bad,

the house we are hoping to buy is completely different to what i had said i wanted, but once i walked round the house and garden it just felt right and my partner felt the same ,
the only one out of 35 houses, that give me a good feeling,

i would go and view again and see how you feel
don't go for it because "it will do" that's a mistake
its got to be right for you and your family

ReadingTim

I've only bought 1 house, and at that time my first time buyer's budget wasn't going to run to the sort of place that you'd instantly fall in love with/dream home sort of property...it's a mid terrace 2 up 2 down in Reading where the front door opens straight into the living room.

However, having seen quite a number of similar places in the preceeding month or two, I got a feeling about that place that I didn't get with the others, so bought it, and 7 years later am still living there, and am still very happy with it.

But it can be hard to see past cosmetic issues, and see the potential, rather than the reality. It's also annoying when the property in real life doesn't match the online ad, and can also be a bit of a disappointment when you realise exactly what your money does (or doesn't) buy you!

I don't know if you're FTB-ers, or seasoned pros, and whether you've seen one or one hundred other places. However, I'd give it a 2nd viewing - you know what to expect, so you can concentrate on the size of the rooms, rather than the colour and condition of the wallpaper - the potential, rather than the reality. Furthermore, perfection may not be affordable, if it even exists - you might never find it, and only find something that's less bad than the rest.

ACG

It depends what your looking for.

I bought my house last year. The house isnt especially nice on the outside just an average house. The inside hadnt been touched for 20 plus years. The garden was great though and i knew i was going to gut the place so wasnt fussed about the inside (i put an offer in without actually seeing the inside).

I dont have to look at the outside, my neighbours do

The bit i fell in love with was knowing that if i spent £10k doing it up, i would earn about £20-30k profit.

Each to their own, but everything i do now is to set me up for later in life. Im 28 i dont mind living in a building site for a year or 2 if im going to earn that much money from it.

dgtazzman

I can have a 'feeling' about a house, good or bad, but I wouldn't say I'd absolutely fall in love with one, as the rational side will take over at some point. A home is something you make out of a house in time, as long as the potential is there, the rest will eventually fall in place...

I'd say, as long as the location is right, just about everything else can be changed to what you want given the time and money to do so.