Pros and cons of buying a cottage?

Davesnave

G_M wrote: »

They need more work and money to maintain them (just as with an older car!)

Maybe, though my 'older cars' don't seem any worse than my friends' newer ones, and older cars depreciate much less.

With houses, it's the other way around. To get my land, together with a cute old cottage, I'd need another £250k!

Loopy28

Thanks so much for all your replies, certainly given me lots to think about!

I should've given the link for the property so hopefully this will work

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-27691401.html

jamesperrett

Looks late Victorian or Edwardian to me and probably not what I'd call a cottage. I've lived in houses from that age and, provided they've been properly maintained, they don't give too many problems. If you go for it, get a decent survey done so that you know about any real issues.

princeofpounds

Looks to be of brick construction. If it has a cavity then the walls are fairly modern in design already. Thermal performance is likely to be ok but medicore, which the EPC backs up.

Do make sure there aren't any single-skin walls - the ground floor 'extension' looks like it is double-skinned judging by the depth of the windowsills but hard to tell.

Also it mentions a 'lean-to' - often code for badly-constructed! Esp. as no photo presented...

The choice of whether to insulate such cavities is not straightforward. It can improve thermal properties but you also hear stories of it forming a damp bridge.

Also check to see if there is a damp proof course. Probably there is, as these started coming in around the time of wall cavities.

Roof appears to be modern.

Can't see obvious cracks.

In the first picture, there is staining on the wall facing the road. What is that?

Open stairs may be an issue for you if you have children over. I am not sure that staircase is building regs compliant if it has been done recently (although it's not dangerous as such)

Note the ROW the neighbour has over the front garden. Gold star to the EA for noting such things in the description and not wasting people's time before finding out.

That garden is steep!

fairy_lights

Out of curiosity, what is the difference between a house and a cottage? Is it down to size or age? I always thought a cottage was just a small house but reading this thread has made me wonder.

SG27

fairy_lights wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what is the difference between a house and a cottage? Is it down to size or age? I always thought a cottage was just a small house but reading this thread has made me wonder.

Originally cottages were small dwellings typically 1 room and attic bedroom. Lived in by poor people, farm labourers and the like. Now days almost anything is described as a cottage. Especially by estate agents.

Mrs_pbradley936

fairy_lights wrote: »

Out of curiosity, what is the difference between a house and a cottage? Is it down to size or age? I always thought a cottage was just a small house but reading this thread has made me wonder.

I always thought they had to be thatched or weatherboard but I had a Google because I was curious too:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage

PlymouthMaid

Look slike a really nice house but I know begger all about construction etc. I would call it a house not a cottage too.

davidmcn

I agree with the above advice - and that it isn't a cottage! (unless there is some odd regional definition going on)

princeofpounds

These are 'cottages', according to Russian developers anyway!

Always amused me, the way that the US and Russia use the word.