Would you be put off buying a house with a bulge in a wall?

gordonbennet

Sounds like it's probably OK structurally, but you need an adequate compensation in the purchase price to make up for the number of people who will potentially be put off buying the house from you one day. 3k reduction doesn't sound much, but it very much depends how many other buyers they have lined up (probably not as many as they would have without a &%$£$ bulge in the wall!)

Might it be worth asking a builder how much it would cost to correct? You don't NEED to get that work done, but it at least gives you a figure for putting the deformity right.

noisla

We've been quoted £10-12k to rebuild the entire wall, by a builder who's previously worked on the house. I reckon we're getting the house at around £7k under-value so then presumably taking a £5k "hit" (and note that we'd need to fork out another £2kish on fees if we started from scratch buying another place). However, given the current market and the intention to own the place for 5-10 years I think it is likely to be a case of reducing the capital gain, rather than losing money.

I think overall I'm reassured. Sounds like it wouldn't put everyone off, and I'd just need to be prepared for it taking a while to sell. I've been trying to buy a house for 5 years, can't bear the thought of starting again... being lied to by estate agents again, diddled by non-serious vendors again, and now the market is ripe for gazumping... no wonder they say it's more stressful than divorce!

noisla

knightstyle wrote: »

So is there a concave wall inside to match?

Just to answer your query - yes there is, but partly hidden behind plasterboard. There is no structural cracking between the wall and ceiling. And no cavity wall / ties - the house is almost 200 years old.

DKLS

If the bulge is visible on Google maps, I wouldn't book a viewing.

noisla

DKLS wrote: »

If the bulge is visible on Google maps, I wouldn't book a viewing.

I can't see it on Google maps. (We were counting pixels on the 1960s photo we found online i.e. it is not noticeable in that photo). On Google maps you're looking at the house straight on and pictures are old so the render is faded/discoloured and tired looking all over. Since the re-render, it looks much more visually impressive, but I guess it might make the bulge visible, but only by a cm or so.

An added fact - according to the builder, there was apparently 5 tonnes of render on the property before it was re-done - every time it needed doing, people just put another coat on it seems (i.e. it has been rendered a few times in 200 years, not repeatedly to cover cracks). Perhaps the weight of this had some effect.

Arthritic_Toe

I wouldn't be put off at all. All old houses have quirks. If its old movement, and structurally sound, its irrelevant. People who want geometrically perfect walls will buy a new house. Personally I'd prefer one with character.

Prothet_of_Doom

End terrace? You could put some of that 3 inch thick insulation with rendering on it, and nobody would ever know. and the house would be warmer.

knightstyle

Well done for not letting it put you off and enjoy living in your dream house. If it is that old I wouldn't worry whilst living there but think about having it sorted sometime when money is available.
Enjoy!

robatwork

What is the bulge?

If 2 people moved into the house and only 1 is moving out, I'd probably avoid.....

Jenniefour

OP, sounds like a reasonable deal. No, don't be put off - you like the house and this is an issue that is solvable. And, as Bristol is an area where prospective buyers are competing with each other and prices are going up then the money you spend on getting the wall rebuilt (which is what I would do) will easily be recouped in the next couple of years or so. I would recommend not following the suggestion to disguise it - this might raise more problematic questions in a future sale. Your money will be well spent on rebuilding it, IMHO, and if you can afford to do it sooner rather than later you avoid the increased building costs. Sort it our once and for all.

Hope it all goes through OK!