House Buying Regret

mumps

We bought a 4 bed detached house, it was immaculate, nice decoration that I wasn't in a hurry to change, well kept garden. It was the 5th house I've bought so I knew what I was doing. The first night I cried and wanted to go home. That was almost 20 years ago and I wouldn't move back to where I used to live. It is a roller coaster, so much money and effort and emotional involvement. And breathe.

DaftyDuck

Iamred wrote: »

DaftyDuck - Thank you for making me smile. I needed that. Unfortunately my husband is inept at DIY. I guess that leaves it up to me.

I was inept at DIY.... some would say I still am...

Draught excluder tape.... that's cheap, easy to fit, and counts as DIY... buy hubby some "for the weekend"... then um... sing his praises...

He'll learn. I did!

Equally, in this meritocracy we now live in, you could do it all. Why not? My wife is pretty good at digging ditches too...

ManuelG

Iamred wrote: »

DaftyDuck - Thank you for making me smile. I needed that. Unfortunately my husband is inept at DIY. I guess that leaves it up to me.

I'm a bit inept too.

I have, however, developed a love of fixing shelves (got shelves coming out my ears now!) and also fitted a rather nice concertina loft ladder (admittedly it needed a neighbour to, errm... 'help' AKA do most of the work!).

It's amazing what can motivate you:)

Anyway, sat here now looking at the paint I've just unwittingly rubbed off the wall, I see the crack I found a few months ago (a crack!:eek: Must be subsidence eh!! OK, so *everybody* tells me not to be so stupid, and *most* say 'what crack?' I drew a pencil line to check what happened, and the answer was... nothing, as it was just some shoddy DIY from the previous owner. You notice it *now* because I've drawn a pencil line over it!) but, when you live somewhere yourself, you get to see things others never do. Nobody other than me would even notice the paint in the corner of the room is now an ever so slightly different colour of beige... but I do!

FWIW I like where I live. But I do have days where I panic over what would happen if something went wrong and I couldn't afford to fix it, I do have days where I look at the Rightmove adverts that still come to me from when I was looking and wonder whether I could have done better.

But rationally... I don't think I could!

The thing is, it's a bit reprogramming, but things to fix give me something to look forward to, targets to aim at. And the best thing is when they're fixed, everybody can see they're fixed and it's a treat that will keep giving:)

lush_walrus

Thankfully as others have said all of those are fixable. Are you happy with the location, the layout, the style of house. Hopefully yes and then you are away. My advice patch those bits up and then turn the house into your treat.

This is the first time something is becoming yours so make it yours. If you want purple walls get the paintbrush and make them purple. Go for a few quick fixes to get it homely. Clean the Windows sparkling Windows have a fabulous feel, get some cheap flowers get them in an old mug in the kitchen. What do you like, think of something cheap and quick to do to your house and get it done, like hanging baskets get one, always wanted a tree get one I don't know what you might like but in amongst it there will be something you can do today thSt will make you happy. You will feel much better I promise. It's a by like the day you realise the adonis you fell in love with is just human too, we nor houses are perfect but you can get it all close to your own vision of perfect.

Get out in the area of you don't know it, discover something special near you. Something you didn't know or something you can identify with. When we moved I walked a different route everyday and just looked around me, I found an amazing little oasis that first I laughed at, then I realised it brought joy to the owners it was a tiny palm tree with lights on it all year round.


I've never had that feeling but houses / buildings are my field so I know exactly what I like and what I am getting myself in for. My house would have made you cry when we first moved in. It had hard wired fire alarm everywhere we had to remove. No kitchen and I mean none just a sink and even then the waste was not connected so we could get fresh water but to wash up in the sink we needed to have a bowl underneath to collect the water. Comical we cooked on a portable electric hob and microwave but managed to get by and that was with three little girls.

You can do this and as others have said you will grow to love it. It's yours, pay your bills and no one can ever choose that you need to move again, just have a sit on your bed or in the kitchen or wherever and think about that...feels lovely doesn't it.

onlyroz

How about you ask around for details of a local handyman (or handywoman) and tackle the house one room at a time. Once you've got a few rooms sorted out exactly how you want things'll start to seem much better.

megaginge

The first day me and my now fiancee entered the property after a 6 month !!! very protracted buying process, as we are approaching the building, our upstairs neighbour (it's a maisonette) opens her window to vomit out of the window down the walls of the house, all over our lounge windows and onto the street.

Talk about !!!! on my parade. We were both just sat in a totally empty house thinking what he f*ck have we moved into?

Since then - we've had water pressure issues meaning our electric shower doesn't work, and more than one argument with the landlord.

However I still don't regret the purchase. The neighbour was a friend of the actual owner and was locked out the bathroom, nothing like that ever happened since!! And we have made our house a home room by room. 2 years on it's still not totally decorated, but we're happy there.

You're not alone... But on the other hand try and think positively. You're not throwing your money away, you're buying a little bit more of your property every month. Most of those issues are easy to fix with not much cash. A new boiler the biggest possible expense, but boiler failures happen and all home owners should expect to deal with that at some point.

If you finally say enough is enough and sell, you'll still find yourself better off than today most likely (in this market), and can put that into the next place. You're on the ladder!

goodwithsaving

You're not alone. 8 months and it still doesn't feel like home. We've also constantly argued since buying a house too. All passes in time (apparently). Painting the place helped though. All takes time - I'm hoping new carpets and curtains etc. help

Prothet_of_Doom

Some years back, I took a promotion at work which moved my wife and I and our toddler some 160 miles to the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, to a brand new house, with no issues. It had a view, was surrounded by countryside, there was a shop, a church, a mums and toddler group, a primary school, 2 pubs and a Rohan shop in the village, along with a small town about 4 miles away and a larger town 12 miles away. We had a lovely garden, and nice neighbours.
It was like being on holiday.

But sting in the tail. I hated my new job, and my wife was desperately lonely, despite that she made some friends. i hated the fact that in the winter there was NOTHING to do, and the fact that if you needed something like a car battery on a Sunday, you'd need to travel for 2 hours to get one. We stuck it out for 3 years, and after the birth of our second child, we took a hit, sold it for much less than we paid, and moved 60 miles to be near her family.
The house we bought was a bit shabby, but we applied TLC and we are happy.

My point? Get it fixed. Decorate in YOUR style, add value, and in a couple of years time see how you feel.

Penny49

Oh gosh you are certainly not alone! You have already had this advice from others. But you can't expect to move into what was effectively someone else's house, and because you now have they keys it becomes you're home. It is your job to start making it your home now, it's hard work but once it's done you will either fall in love with it or decided it's not for you and move on. Trying to make a house a home is never a bad decision x

kinger101

Iamred wrote: »

The previous owners broke the light fitting in the bathroom.

Easy DIY job.

The radiator in the living room began leaking in the very first week.

Call a plumber. Shouldn't be an expensive job

The boiler randomly looses pressure.

Might be related to the radiator. Otherwise, it's probably an expansion vessel. Get plumber to investigate.

The shower room has major issues with condensation because there is no ventilation at all.

Fitting a fan would probably cost less than £250. Not really a DIY job as bathroom electrics require part P certification.

The back door isn't fitted properly and the droughts are maddening.

Again, not an expensive job

There is evidence that the previous owners used to grow cannabis in the attic.

Not a problem. Sounds like you need a spliff to relax.

THERE IS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR OF OUR BEDROOM.
and finally... The roof has begun leaking in both the main house and kitchen extension. :mad:

Floorboards is an easy DIY job. If it's just a few tiles or flashing on the roof, it will be a few hundred to fix.

I hate it and I want to leave. Please tell me I'm not the only one to feel this way after having bought a house.

Once you've got stuff fixed, you'll be fine. There are always a few niggles and stuff surveyors miss (because they're generally inept). Unless it's something major on the roof, it will come in well under £1K.