Was there anything you didn't notice as quite common until looking to buy?

ibizafan_2

This thread has made me smile. I live in a 1977 built Bryant house, and every house on my estate and on another built at around the same time in another part of town has fake beams in the lounge, irrespective of the size of house. Some people have taken them out, some have left them and some have painted them white. Mind you, one good thing about the house is that there is a lounge and separate kitchen diner. I hate lounge diners.

Slinky

ReadingTim wrote: »

Personally I'm amazed by the number of people who seem to think that an open planning kitchen/dining living area is the height of sophistication.

You see it on the TV house hunting shows where apparently the sophisticated cook (who always does all their cooking from scratch) loves talking to their many friends whilst cooking dinner.

When I'm having my crises in the kitchen I'd rather do it out of sight

moneyistooshorttomention

Horses for courses I guess. Personally, I would like an open-plan kitchen/dining room. As long as the sitting room is separate - then I'm a happy bunny.

Having more space in the vicinity of the kitchen equals more room for the cooking from scratch I like to do and...yep....for having friends help out too. Admitted - that's what I was used to from parents' house when growing up - so I've got used to seeing them as an advantage.

As for writing on the walls - not my thing - but I would welcome it as a sign of house-owner "keeping up with the times" to some extent and my interpretation of that would be "Naff stuff - but at least everything should function and be relatively modern in this house". Hates with a passion an old-fashioned number of powerpoints (ie not nearly enough), old-fashioned or non-existent central heating, artex on ceilings, etc - and I expect the one thing you can say about those "poets" is there shouldn't be any of that sort of malarkey in their house.

Jhoney_2

1. Filth
2. Bad smells
3. Bad smelling filth
4. 70s bathroom suites - just suprise, not disgust:)
5. Carpet in bathroom/kitchen:eek:

I think the lack of books around most properties is due to many vendors take on what is meant by de-cluttering/de personalising?Somehow... many miss rule 1. - CLEAN!


It is possible the property owner is not resident, however in my experience they have been owner occupied and just as bad.

moneyistooshorttomention

I don't think lack of books means very zealous decluttering personally - to me its one of those things that does seem to carry a very clear message.

Will admit to not quite understanding why a house wouldn't have multiple bookshelves personally....

silvercar

I miss the fact that our house doesn't have an airing cupboard. Inspected 3 times before purchase but never realised it was missing.

Brown_Eyed_Girl

"Double Bedroom" - Meaning a room that contain exactly one double bed and no other space. Seen a couple i'm not sure how you actually would get into the room beyond just diving on the bed from the door way.

Red-Squirrel_2

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I don't think lack of books means very zealous decluttering personally

Of course it does! Loads of books definitely make a room look smaller and are really personal to the current owner.

I got rid of all mine to sell, they're in packing boxes at my mum and dad's house waiting for the move along with a few other bits. I told them it would only be a couple of months, that was back in April.

Most viewers (especially FTBs) only notice what's there, not what isn't there. I bet they didn't realise I had no books, no DVDs, no tea towels visible, no toaster, no kettle, no deodorant/talc/shaving cream or anywhere to store it in the bathroom etc. They'll have just realised that the place looks spacious and bright!

moneyistooshorttomention

Hmmm...not convinced...I know what conclusion I came to about vendor of my current house from the absolute total absence of so much as one single book - and....errrm...it wasn't "How decluttered". It was a rather different one - that turned out to be accurate in the event (ie he isn't very bright....).

The reverse side of that being - I decluttered books (permanently - ie to the charity shop) when selling my last house - but deliberately left all the ones I was keeping on the shelves and I do have to say none of my viewers tried treating me as "not very bright" in any respect and were all quite "well behaved" basically. So either it worked - or I got lucky...

Red-Squirrel_2

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Hmmm...not convinced...I know what conclusion I came to about vendor of my current house from the absolute total absence of so much as one single book - and....errrm...it wasn't "How decluttered". It was a rather different one - that turned out to be accurate in the event (ie he isn't very bright....).

Well I'll try not to take that personally! :rotfl:

I don't think having books on display means anything about a person's intelligence, in fact, it doesn't even tell you that they can read, really!