How to choose between 2 properties

Doozergirl

getmore4less wrote: »

The point was did they bother getting them at the time, there probably would have been relevant work on the separation walls in the loft.

You want as much evidence as possible they tried to do a proper job(other than the access)

I agree about evidence but disagree about needing a PWA to indicate things being done correctly. It's entirely possible to have a loft conversion that doesn't invoke the PWA or even just relaxed and friendly neighbours.

Doozergirl

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Don't let the loft sway your decision. The way you describe it makes it sound like it isn't a proper conversion at all. In fact is put my life savings on any survey you have done on that property coming back and saying that loft conversion is hooky and not a useable bedroom.

There's a reason for building regulations and I think it's deplorable that the current owners would allow someone to sleep in that death trap.

If there's no room to put a staircase in now to comply with building regulations then there still won't be any space when you move in.

By all mean buy House 2 but treat the loft as storage only, not a bedroom.

It's fine to urge caution, but you can't just decide on someone's behalf that a property is a 'death trap'! OP has also stated that there is room for stairs, so you have misread somewhere.

Cisco001

House no.1

tarab1986

Thanks everyone. We placed offers on both properties, one accepted at 15k under asking price (house number 2) and the other rejected an offer a similar amount under the asking price (number 1-but 3k more than the offer we placed on number 2). After a second viewing we agreed that we preferred property 2 and decided not to increase our offer on house number 1.

Now to get a solicitor sorted and get things organised!

Pixie5740

Doozergirl wrote: »

It's fine to urge caution, but you can't just decide on someone's behalf that a property is a 'death trap'! OP has also stated that there is room for stairs, so you have misread somewhere.

Ok, so the OP who isn't DIY savvy (their words, not mine) thinks there is room for second staircase.

I still stand by my comment that the loft as it is now being used as a bedroom is a death trap. No fire doors, no proper staircase and I doubt the floor joists have been re-enforced to take the extra weight of furniture.

kinger101

Just my tuppence worth. A conservatory is not a meaningful extension. It's too cold in the winter. Too hot in the summer. Any not that useful the rest of the year. They make houses difficult to sell too because most people who have ever experienced one before knows they horrible.

Similarly, loft conversions that are not done to building regulations are equally useless. You'd never let yourself or a guest sleep in them.

I'd say a house with neither is worth more, as you don't have the expense of correcting the bodge jobs of either of these.

In general though, buy the house you want to be in long term. Buying once is expensive. Buying twice more than doubles this, as you start have to pay selling fees, additional conveyancing costs......................

tarab1986

That's everyone, I appreciate everyone's concern regarding the loft room, it's not the 3rd bedroom. It's a 3 bed house (2 doubles and a single) and additionally it has what has been advertised as a loft room that has central heating and a velux window so it's been correctly marketed.

We carefully considered the pros and cons of both properties and will be getting a full survey to investigate the loft room. Given that it's just me and my partner we are more than happy for the loft to simply be a loft however if the work has been done to the required standard for it to be used as something else in the future then it's an added bonus, we certainly would dream of using it as a bedroom without getting a proper staircase and building regs. In the end it was the larger garden for house number 2 that swung it for us, all be it at the cost of loosing the off street parking.

Davesnave

kinger101 wrote: »

Just my tuppence worth. A conservatory is not a meaningful extension. It's too cold in the winter. Too hot in the summer. Any not that useful the rest of the year. They make houses difficult to sell too because most people who have ever experienced one before knows they horrible...

Funny, I like mine. In fact, I wonder how I'd have managed without it, for although it's long due for replacement, there have been huge advantages in having it.

Yes, I will probably replace it with a hybrid garden room/conservatory, rather than another structure that's the same, but that's because I can. There would be a vast difference in price if I couldn't DIY most of it.

wiseguy80

If I were you, I would have gone for house 1. Seems at a better locations.