Perfect House - one huge problem

KatieDee

My partner and I viewed a house at the weekend. We're in no rush to buy, but it caught our eye. It was absolutely perfect for us, in a lovely area, great condition with lots of space, close to work and around £60,000 under our budget (and the owners are open to negotiation!). I stupidly fell in love with it, and here comes the problem...

My partner is 6ft4 and as is commonly found in older houses, the door frames are quite low. He had to duck whenever he went through a door. Once he was in a room there were no issues, but walking through the house was a bit of an assault course for him!

He said he likes the area, but he couldn't consider a house where he did not fit. Fair point, but not an issue for a shorty like me

Does anybody have any experience of living in a property that is a little bit wonky or different which has caused them to have to duck, squeeze or crawl through? Is it livable, or is my partner right in his assumption that it will make life harder?

Also, is it possible to increase the height of a door frame? If we did look into purchasing this house, we would have a lot of money available for doing it up, so it might be an option!

I love older houses and this seems to be a common theme - so I might have to consider finding a shorter boyfriend if we can't compromise! :eek: Obviously if he doesn't love the house then it's a total no-go regardless, as I know we both have to be 100% happy with whatever we buy together, but this place has really stolen my heart.

Cakeguts

Which do you love more the house or your partner? Older houses were built for people who were shorter. Find an older house that has high ceilings and doorways.

Gabbs_the_Newt

It is almost certainly not livable - i recall staying in a B&B in the Cotswolds that matches this description and I couldn't wait to leave (I am 6ft3).


Regardless of this place stealing your heart, surely both occupants actually fitting in it has to be one of the criteria?

moneyistooshorttomention

Looks like you'll have to sigh heavily with regret about the house - and find another one instead.

It's not just your boyfriend to think of here - but it's surprising just how many people don't look where they're going and, if there's an obstacle there, will walk right into it (even if it's one they know very well is there and should be watching out for). So you might find visitors bashing their heads too at intervals.

There's probably a rough ratio of 6 to 1 of people who know very well "something or someone is in that space" but will try and walk into it anyway. You've only got to go to a dance class and know you're in "correct space" to see how many people can see you clearly - and won't "steer around accordingly" to go into their "correct space". Then you can figure out what the odds are of people bashing their heads on the doorframes.

Annoying I know....

G_M

Good grief! It's personal choice!

He'll either get used to ducking his head, or get used to banging his headd.

No one can predict which.

KatieDee

Cakeguts wrote: »

Which do you love more the house or your partner? Older houses were built for people who were shorter. Find an older house that has high ceilings and doorways.

Please see:

KatieDee wrote: »

Obviously if he doesn't love the house then it's a total no-go regardless, as I know we both have to be 100% happy with whatever we buy together

(although I do really love the house....)

Gabbs_the_Newt wrote: »

It is almost certainly not livable - i recall staying in a B&B in the Cotswolds that matches this description and I couldn't wait to leave (I am 6ft3).


Regardless of this place stealing your heart, surely both occupants actually fitting in it has to be one of the criteria?

Very good point. I fit, but I suppose it's relatively important that my partner can fit in there too.

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Looks like you'll have to sigh heavily with regret about the house - and find another one instead.

It's not just your boyfriend to think of here - but it's surprising just how many people don't look where they're going and, if there's an obstacle there, will walk right into it (even if it's one they know very well is there and should be watching out for). So you might find visitors bashing their heads too at intervals.

There's probably a rough ratio of 6 to 1 of people who know very well "something or someone is in that space" but will try and walk into it anyway. You've only got to go to a dance class and know you're in "correct space" to see how many people can see you clearly - and won't "steer around accordingly" to go into their "correct space".

Annoying I know....

Thank you! Yes, it is annoying but we're nowhere near stressed enough for this to become a genuine disagreement. We're very fortunate as we're in no rush to find somewhere, and I'm sure another beautiful property will come up which suits us both. It's just frustrating as I think this is the first house I've actually felt anything for

Back to the drawing board, I guess!

ForumUser

Odd replies. It really doesn’t take long to learn to duck through certain doors. I smashed my head countless times in the first week, then for the next few months only when distracted, and subsequentally, not at all.

If the ceiling heights in the rooms are sufficient then I can’t see any problem long term. (6’4” with doorways throughout the house at about 6’0”)

HWG

I'd reluctantly suggest that it's a non-starter. I'm 6'3", and my parents place has some low-ish doorframes that I have to duck under. It's nothing drastic, but if I walk from the living room to the kitchen to get a glass of water, I have to duck under three door frames each way, and I end up just slouching and carrying my head a bit low the whole way.

Whenever I stay there for a couple of days I notice it does start to affect my posture, and I get aches in my neck and shoulders. I wouldn't fancy it in the long term.

KatieDee

ForumUser wrote: »

Odd replies. It really doesn!!!8217;t take long to learn to duck through certain doors. I smashed my head countless times in the first week, then for the next few months only when distracted, and subsequentally, not at all.

If the ceiling heights in the rooms are sufficient then I can!!!8217;t see any problem long term. (6!!!8217;4!!!8221; with doorways throughout the house at about 6!!!8217;0!!!8221;)

Smashing your head "countless times" does not fill me with confidence :rotfl:

I imagine it's one hell of a learning curve...

HWG wrote: »

I'd reluctantly suggest that it's a non-starter. I'm 6'3", and my parents place has some low-ish doorframes that I have to duck under. It's nothing drastic, but if I walk from the living room to the kitchen to get a glass of water, I have to duck under three door frames each way, and I end up just slouching and carrying my head a bit low the whole way.

Whenever I stay there for a couple of days I notice it does start to affect my posture, and I get aches in my neck and shoulders. I wouldn't fancy it in the long term.

Thank you for your reply. This was another thought of mine...it might be okay for a few weeks but over the long term it might be a bit of a pain (literally!) for him.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

KatieDee wrote: »

Smashing your head "countless times" does not fill me with confidence :rotfl:

I imagine it's one hell of a learning curve...

I think the idea is that after that every blow to the head, your boyfriend will become less and less worried about things like how high the door frames are. And which feet to put his shoes on.

Doozergirl

Change the doors and raise the frames!

You'll still have plenty of change from that £60k that it's under budget by.