How much to offer (next to a rubbish dump)

Bossypants

I originally posted this in the Have A Look At This thread but wanted to get some wider input.

Long story short, I am considering an offer on this property:

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/40035109#2AbQujhUu9czluCF.97

Regardless of what it looks like on streetview, the area is really quite pleasant and I think I would enjoy living there. However, the fact remains that the house is right next to a dump. I am considering it because I think I would be much less bothered by the dump than I currently am by neighbours going about their business in my converted flat in a terraced house, and this is one of very, very few detached houses in Brighton that I could even remotely afford. I also like the house, and the layout would me to take a lodger and offer them an en-suite.

I'm having a really hard time working out what I think is a reasonable price, since both the property and its location are pretty unique. Any advice would be much appreciated!

(People are of course also welcome to chime in and tell me I'm being ridiculous for even considering it. I didn't think I would consider it either, but after six months in a flat with almost constant music and impact noise, I have to move for the sake of my mental health and for those purposes this place looks potentially promising.)

HappyMJ

Bossypants wrote: »

I originally posted this in the Have A Look At This thread but wanted to get some wider input.

Long story short, I am considering an offer on this property:

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/40035109#2AbQujhUu9czluCF.97

Regardless of what it looks like on streetview, the area is really quite pleasant and I think I would enjoy living there. However, the fact remains that the house is right next to a dump. I am considering it because I think I would be much less bothered by the dump than I currently am by neighbours going about their business in my converted flat in a terraced house, and this is one of very, very few detached houses in Brighton that I could even remotely afford. I also like the house, and the layout would me to take a lodger and offer them an en-suite.

I'm having a really hard time working out what I think is a reasonable price, since both the property and its location are pretty unique. Any advice would be much appreciated!

(People are of course also welcome to chime in and tell me I'm being ridiculous for even considering it. I didn't think I would consider it either, but after six months in a flat with almost constant music and impact noise, I have to move for the sake of my mental health and for those purposes this place looks potentially promising.)

It looks more like a depot...Hollingdean depot...where the lorries are stored. They'll be moving about in the early hours so I would once day get up 4AM and drive down to the property and sit around for a few hours and see just how much noise they make.

It's actually a nice private location. I wouldn't mind it.

It doesn't mention the parking situation. Does the driveway belong to the property or not? The neighbours have a garage and maybe a driveway too so not sure.

Seanymph

I think as you have said this is the only house you could afford it has probably already been taken into consideration in the asking price - otherwise it would be priced as if it were anywhere else (which would be more).

As suggested, visit at different times of the day, and also do some research as to any future plans on the site.

In my area the local councils are falling over each other to develop land for housing! You may find that this area has future plans you don't yet know about.

Bossypants

Thanks HappyMJ, I think the official term is 'waste transferral depot' or something? It's basically where household rubbish gets taken to be sorted, as I understand it. I believe on some very hot days some smells can escape, although there is a residents association focussed on reporting them.

Good idea re: 4am, but to be honest I am less worried about that than I am about noise during the day. At 4am I would be asleep in my bedroom facing away from the depot, with double-glazed windows and my earplugs firmly inserted, as I always am. It's more during the day, so if I decide to get serious I would definitely spend some time hanging around.

I'm not sure about parking, but I don't drive and don't expect to, so that's not an issue for me.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

It's a really lovely property. The biggest problem I'd have with it is the staircase! Looks amazing, highly impractical (how would you get beds/wardrobes etc upstairs?).

To be honest, the depot/dump wouldn't bother me. It's noise from other people that I hate, rather than lorries etc. I think HappyMJ's advice is very sound. Visit the area a number of times at different times of the day to get a feel for it.

Bossypants

Seanymph wrote: »

I think as you have said this is the only house you could afford it has probably already been taken into consideration in the asking price - otherwise it would be priced as if it were anywhere else (which would be more).

As suggested, visit at different times of the day, and also do some research as to any future plans on the site.

In my area the local councils are falling over each other to develop land for housing! You may find that this area has future plans you don't yet know about.

Normally I would agree with you, but it's been on since April and come down several times since then, yet still unsold. In Brighton, particularly in areas with good commuter links like this one, that is almost unheard of.

I am prepared for the fact that the owners might not be willing to go any lower. It looks like they have been there for almost 20 years and obviously given the place a lot of love and money. I am more looking for different viewpoints to try to get an idea of what I would be willing to spend myself. Normally I can work this out from what other places have gone for but this is quite unlike anything else out there right now, both in the good and the bad.

ManuelG

I remember this one. I'd also be mildly concerned about the area to the back, which seems to be rather... less than salubrious. Have you checked that out, too?

HappyMJ

Bossypants wrote: »

Thanks HappyMJ, I think the official term is 'waste transferral depot' or something? It's basically where household rubbish gets taken to be sorted, as I understand it. I believe on some very hot days some smells can escape, although there is a residents association focussed on reporting them.

Good idea re: 4am, but to be honest I am less worried about that than I am about noise during the day. At 4am I would be asleep in my bedroom facing away from the depot, with double-glazed windows and my earplugs firmly inserted, as I always am. It's more during the day, so if I decide to get serious I would definitely spend some time hanging around.

I'm not sure about parking, but I don't drive and don't expect to, so that's not an issue for me.

It might do. You need to visit on the hottest day possible in the next few weeks and find out.

It looks very clean though. It's more a recycling sorting place than household rubbish.

http://www.veolia.co.uk/southdowns/facilities/facilities/hollingdean-materials-recovery-facility

It's not just parking for you...it's visitors. Delivery people. They cannot park on a one way road with double yellow lines on it. The double yellows extend all the way to the neighbours garage so where are your visitors going to park.

gardner1

nice house but its going to be hard to sell in later years.....and would have been snapped up if in better area

Bossypants

Lioness_Twinkletoes wrote: »

It's a really lovely property. The biggest problem I'd have with it is the staircase! Looks amazing, highly impractical (how would you get beds/wardrobes etc upstairs?).

To be honest, the depot/dump wouldn't bother me. It's noise from other people that I hate, rather than lorries etc. I think HappyMJ's advice is very sound. Visit the area a number of times at different times of the day to get a feel for it.

Agreed on all counts! Re the upstairs, I suspect that anything bigger than a chair needs to be built up there, to be honest, hence the built-in wardrobes in both bedrooms. If I were to get it, I might look at replacing the metal spiral with a more solid wooden one in due course. It would take up a bit more space, but I prefer the look and feel.

Bossypants

ManuelG wrote: »

I remember this one. I'd also be mildly concerned about the area to the back, which seems to be rather... less than salubrious. Have you checked that out, too?

The area has come on leaps and bounds since the streetview pictures, it's a rather charming little quirky area and I would happily live there.