Do you regret buying your house?

geri1965_2

You can't control who moves in next door after you've bought it though, and as others have said initial appearances can be deceptive.

I had issues with my neighbour for a few years after I moved in but it's fine now (and he hasn't moved).

At the end of the day it's always a gamble.

Davesnave

It's not just about neighbours, though as a variable that cannot easily be influenced, they come around the top of the list.

Sometimes, one just doesn't 'bond' with a property, in almost the same way as it can take time to find friends among new people.

Initially, I didn't really like the property I have now, though I thought it a safe parking place for my money, for about five years or so.

Now those 5 years are up, I wonder why I had misgivings earlier on. It's a smashing place, but like some people, it took a while to show me its true character and all the advantages of living here.

quantic

I really regretted buying our last house, its amazing how much of an impact on your well being bad neighbors can have. Ours used to make our life pretty miserable - the funny thing is I don't even think they had a clue they were doing it, so ignorant its unreal.

I will probably get a lot of stick for this but its just my experience - of all the houses on our estate they were all privately owned bar a couple which were new build council houses, we had the unlucky fortune of buying next door to one so experience not one but 3 lots of horrible chavvy neighbors. In an estate which was otherwise very nice and friendly.

I know I know - all council tenants are not like this, I have friends who are, but 4 years of hell living next door to people who shout constantly, throw rubbish and cigarettes into our garden, come into our garden whenever they please, children throw stuff at our windows.....

Money can't buy happiness but it does provide the opportunity to minimise the risk of being near to people like this!

phoenix_w

I regret my first house purchase. It's a small starter home on a popular estate, and when we bought it in 2007 it had numerous offers made on it and our offer clenched it. We chose it over bigger homes on the same estate because it suited us as a young couple being a bit smaller. We outgrew it quickly, and have really struggled to sell it on as the FTB market in our area is flat whereas the bigger family homes on our estate seem to be selling in a short amount of time (I wouldn't say briskly, but certainly quicker than us!).

Add to that we had a dispute after we put our house onto the market due to our idiot neighbours building on our property and then, after admitting liability, refused to put it right until we threatened them with legal action.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself, I would say "save extra deposit for a detached property" and "never go for less than three bedrooms!"

flora48

warehouse wrote: »

Yep, next time I move I will check out the neighbours much more than the house. Bad neighbours can make even the best house a prison.

This is so so true! Succinct but true.

Johnnytwostep

quantic wrote: »

I really regretted buying our last house, its amazing how much of an impact on your well being bad neighbors can have. Ours used to make our life pretty miserable - the funny thing is I don't even think they had a clue they were doing it, so ignorant its unreal.

I will probably get a lot of stick for this but its just my experience - of all the houses on our estate they were all privately owned bar a couple which were new build council houses, we had the unlucky fortune of buying next door to one so experience not one but 3 lots of horrible chavvy neighbors. In an estate which was otherwise very nice and friendly.

I know I know - all council tenants are not like this, I have friends who are, but 4 years of hell living next door to people who shout constantly, throw rubbish and cigarettes into our garden, come into our garden whenever they please, children throw stuff at our windows.....

Money can't buy happiness but it does provide the opportunity to minimise the risk of being near to people like this!

never ever buy next to council house tenants, or in fact anywhere near them. Do whatever it takes to find out if there are any nearby, although you can usually tell from the look of the house.

quantic

Johnnytwostep wrote: »

never ever buy next to council house tenants, or in fact anywhere near them. Do whatever it takes to find out if there are any nearby, although you can usually tell from the look of the house.

I was under the impression, when we bought it - that everyone in the estate owned their property. I didn't realise at the time that the government keeps a small percentage of each new estate to offer them as council homes.

The first lot were absolute morons, parking infront of our garage constantly (meaning we couldn't get car out) so that they didn't block their own. Throwing cigarette buds into our garden and general rubbish like crisp packets etc. Two of their kids reached 18 so they had to move out.

We were so chuffed that they moved out. Then the next lot came, who also parked infront of our drive/garage blocking our car in. Also threw random stuff into our garden, came into our garden occasionally for no apparent reason not realising we were in. Came in one day to find 3 of them in our back garden. They also used to throw stones at our windows as garden was all graveled.

Third lot, believe it or not - they were getting new furniture, so they threw a chest of draws out of the top floor window - into the garden - BEARING IN MIND, it was a 3 story town house! We heard massive crashes and bangs one day only to look out and see a chest of draws land in the garden followed by various other items of furniture. All while their dogs were in the garden narrowly missing them by inches. Not only this but their garden was constantly full of rubbish and I'm talking like rotting food which obviously begins to attract various animals.

I think the thing that makes it so frustrating is you save up as a firs time buyer, do without things, say no when everyone you know is going on fancy holidays etc and you shop in primark for years all so that you can get a house of your own and then people like this who have never earned a thing in their life get given the same house and paid for too. But thats not good enough, they have to ruin it for everyone around them too.

Rant over

TLDR; bought a house next to chavs, they caused my life to be hellish for 4 years, moved house and 10x happier.

ben_m_g

We are lucky we love our house and live in a desirable area, although it is hardly a good indicator when we first viewed the property every other house had a new or nearly new estate car.

However I do wish I was harder with the builders during negotiation and follow up viewings, too many stupid mistakes made by builders that seem to forget that it is a family home not a production line.

lincroft1710

ben_m_g wrote: »

too many stupid mistakes made by builders that seem to forget that it is a family home not a production line.

As far as the actual bricklayers, roofers, groundworkers, electricians, plumbers and carpenters are concerned it is a production line.

Start one house, finish, move on to next one.

Newlyboughthouse

Thanks for all your responses - you have really helped me feel better and like am not the only one!!

My next house IS going to be detached. Not terraced, end terraced, semi detached with lovely looking neighbours. DETACHED and as far away from people as possible! What a vile species we humans can be! The lack of respect and consideration of some is astounding.

This is just a place to park my money. Soon as mortgage almost paid off in 5 years I am out! But oh 5 years - need to learn to live with it I guess boooo