Disillusioned with home search.

sunset1983

I am becoming increasing disillusioned with my search for a new home, I currently own a 1 bed flat which is finished beautifully. I love the location and the flat itself. The problem is the time has come for more space I want a garden and at least one spare room.

I have a budget which just about gets me a 3 bed in the Cheltenham area, I have discounted new build after some research and have looked at 3 beds, the problem is they are at the very top of what I can go too and none match the finish in my flat, I have viewed 10 properties and all have left me feeling deflated and not wanting to leave my current flat. I am having sleepless nights over this.

I want more space but I can't find anything I like and I would not have the budget to re do a house to my taste. I am caught between a pillar and a post.

I am due to get the Estate Agent round on Friday to sign on the dotted line to put my place on the market and I know it will sell quickly based on others in my development. I just can't see anything I like....

aliby21

At the risk of stating the obvious, if three beds are at the top of your budget why not look at 2 beds? A step up from a one bed flat, more likely to leave you something over to tart the place up to your liking.

sunset1983

All the 2 beds I have looked at are very small in the area and if I bought a 2 bed I would be looking to move in a few years where as a 3 bed would be more long term. The problem is not one three bed has given me the this feels like home feeling.

Moving costs a fortune with legal fees, stamp duty and I can't stomach it for a property I dont love.

00ec25

i would like a yacht on the Med, but I know all I can afford is a dingy on a reservoir, so what is your point?

ThePants999

If a 3 bed would be long term, then in the long term, you'll be able to re-do it to your taste, right?

If you're not happy to live in a house unless it's done to your taste, and you can't afford to buy one that's already done that way, the matter is simple. All you have to decide is whether to live in a beautifully finished 1-bed until you can afford a beautifully finished 3-bed, or to live in a sub-standard 3-bed until you can afford to beautifully finish it.

glasgowdan

The finish is easy to improve with a couple thousand quid or a decent bit of diy. It's the location, structural condition, size and layout you should really be focusing on.

Car1980

Few people buy a house and do it up the next day. They have garden furniture in the front room for 6 months and gradually do everything up over the next few years!

Thrugelmir

sunset1983 wrote: »

I want more space but I can't find anything I like and I would not have the budget to re do a house to my taste. I am caught between a pillar and a post.

Then park the idea and focus on building equity\savings. Why trade up when you don't actually need to. Might not be a perfect solution but not always possible to get what we want immediately.

Davesnave

Many people have an idea about what they want from their next property, have a look around and discover they're too poor to make the jump to what they desire.

They then either build equity or juggle with the variables.

I don't know what other strategies there could be, other than robbing a bank.

trix-a-belle

What ThePants999 said.

sunset1983 wrote: »

*snip* a 3 bed would be more long term.

You acknowledge you want the long term so remember its a marathon not a sprint to get a place to how you want in terms of its feel and decor, you didn't just have the end result of comfort and familiarity in your current flat you worked up to that and it has to be worked up to again.
You are never going to find somewhere done to your taste and standard immediately as it wasn't yours, all you need to look for is somewhere that has the potential to be done to that in the long term,

Get back to basics; Does the location work for you? Does it give the outside space you need or flexibility to create it? Does the inside layout work for you or can you do a bit of work to create it from what is there? (eg knock down a wall)
A preowned house has been lived in, its not going to be immaculate (i'm guessing your flat was new build as you mention the finish several times) it will have its quirks and imperfections and changes that the owners have made, thats why they appeal to me.

I am moving as I need a home workshop rather than working in my dining room, I looked at places that had a house that I could live in only with space to build a workshop or convert something to a workshop not just places that already had a workshop or extra garage and thought outside the box of my requirements otherwise I never would have found somewhere.

Also just because they are at the top end of your budget doesn't mean thats what you have to spend there might be room to negotiate a slightly lower offer if they have been on the market a little while. & if this is giving you sleepless nights can you cope with the tenterhooks that you have while waiting to exchange and complete once the chain is formed.

ReadingTim

• The location you want
• The price you want
• The features you want

Pick two....