curb appeal

catoutthebag

If a house or flat is not very attractive to look at outside but Is very nice inside and in a nice area generally. ..would this play a part in your decision to purchase. ..at right price of course.

Is curb appeal important in this scenario?

Annisele

It would play a part, yes. If all else was equal (which it never is) I'd choose the house that looked nicest.

Whether I'd trade off "ugly house with sensible layout" against "beautiful house with odd layout" would depend on just how ugly the first house was, and just how odd the second house's layout was.

nubbins

Buy the ugliest house in the best street and make money.

Brallaqueen

I spend far more time inside, than outside looking in, so the layout is more important to me personally.

catoutthebag

If i'm being more specific. ..it's one of a number purpose built flats. ..3 floors total in a leafy affluent area...quite bland or even retro from the outside. ..but very nice inside and all are well decorated plus let out/sell swiftly.

Dan-Dan

*Kerb :D

catoutthebag

Dan-Dan wrote: »

*Kerb :D

You could say ugly places are curbing appeal.



"If i'm being more specific. ..it's one of a number purpose built flats. ..3 floors total in a leafy affluent area...quite bland or even retro from the outside. ..but very nice inside and all are well decorated plus let out/sell swiftly"

phoebe1989seb

We - being of a pretty materialistic nature - have always tended to choose houses with kerb appeal over those that lack it.

However, when buying our current house in 2014 we could be accused of bucking our own trend as from the road (in other words, the elevation that's visible to any passers by) our house could be described as *!!!!!!* as it appears to be just a rather long wall rendered grey with a low roof and a door in the wall, butting straight onto the lane. Despite the length of the house there are only three tiny windows facing out to the lane.

Once through that door though, and heading round to the garden frontage (at the back, lol!) you are confronted by a very quirky (and pretty IMHO), characterful house with loads of windows and arguably the world's largest wisteria

Most of our (garden-facing) windows take advantage of the views over the countryside and nearby cityscape, as well as over our very private garden.

I would guess that many people would rule our house out because it doesn't appear attractive from the roadside. I know that if I had walked by and seen it was for sale I would have been unsure whether to go for a viewing, although liking a challenge (and if I'd realised it dated from our preferred architectural period) I think we still would have.

Internally it has a great layout, loads of space and character features - perfect for us - but the front elevation would definitely be a turn-off for those seeking kerb appeal.

I think as long as the area is good - which you say it is - and internally it works for you, it wouldn't necessarily deter *me*......but it would have to tick all my other boxes, so that external appearance was the only compromise

moneyistooshorttomention

Kerb appeal isn't the be-all-and-end-all to me personally BUT I am someone who is pretty aesthetically conscious, so it definitely does matter.

If I can possibly get a place with kerb appeal I will. I chose my last place when I saw it outside. My current house is irritating me looking at the outside - as its such obvious bogstandard old person like appearance at the moment that its going to be quite a challenge to get it to look nice:(. Am working on it though....

Brallaqueen

I live in a flat very similar to what you describe. Three storey block in nice area. Its not pretty. I could not afford pretty unless I compromised on the size of a second bedroom. I decided space was what I wanted over aesthetics because my budget did not allow me to have both. Your budget may give you more options.

ognum

I own a flat that I would not describe as lovely looking from the outside but it's in arrest location, the block is not overlooked, has fantastic gardens and is really private. Inside its a lovely place that I would be happy to live in and the sunshines in, the gardens look lovely no ones looks in at you.

I think you can have lovely homes that don't look fab from the outside