Is this house worth it?

Davesnave

My bungalow comes with 5.5 acres, a huge barn and a lot of physical work, so not very suitable for an old person.

Luckily, I'm only 70.

I don't intensely dislike any style of building, but having lived in most sorts at some time or another, I know about buildings and some of the advantages/disadvantages that go with them. None is perfect for everyone, of course.


I don't think it's unreasonable to point out some of the disadvantages of a building type that's known well, especially when they'd require investment to overcome. It all comes within the remit of 'what a house is worth.'

StumpyPumpy

Something that I don't think anyone has mentioned yet is the new development at Besford House.

What used to be a children's home has now become 11 three and four bedroom residential units. The only way to reach them is down the narrow one way street straight past this house (must have been a nightmare when the site traffic was using it.)

Now that it is complete, it raises the potential of quite a bit of extra traffic squeezing past the door on what was already a highly congested street. To make matters worse, reading between the lines of some of the objections to the development, it would appear that a number of residents used to park around the children's home. These cars will now be vying for the limited street parking which already has to cater for the houses on the street and also the terrace of Besford Square (which also only has access via Trinity Street) and any parking the pub generates.

Obviously, mum may not have a car but having such restricted parking without even anywhere nearby to park can make it difficult for visitors as well as other services. With such a large number of houses having that road as their only access it would be interesting to see how tolerant everyone is about supermarket home delivery vans blocking it every day.

Finally, if mum does become infirm and has mobility issues, it is unlikely that she would be able to socialise in the Local two doors down as it does not appear to have a wheelchair accessible entrance!

SP

gozaimasu

Here's what I don't like about it:

* main road
* double yellow lines (no parking)
* terraced
* door opens straight into the front room
* fences too low at back, can look over fence and see neighbours


These things might not bother your mother.

Crashy_Time

Davesnave wrote: »

It's my daughter's house, but not as spacious; indeed it's poky. The stairs won't be kind to an older person.

The EPC is way too optimistic, as houses of that era could never reach the figures shown without extensive works, which that one hasn't had. The kitchen & bathroom will be naturally colder than other rooms and condensation/damp will be something to continually combat. Running the CH longer and at a higher level is what DD does, but she can afford it.

The back of the house and garden face north east; not the best aspect for sunshine, and the pub a couple of doors away isn't something I'd want either.

Parking looks to be a total nightmare.

Frankly, it's not what I would have wanted for my Mum. She was older than yours when making her last move and she had a handy husband too, but they sensibly purchased a modern bungalow, which Dad was able to remain in until he was 95. Yes, no 'character' whatsoever, but be honest, this is just a typical Victorian worker's house, not anything special, or even desirable, for those who know their down-sides.


P.S. ignore Crashy; he's been waiting for the right moment to buy for more than ten years now. Let's hope he isn't of pension age!

In the interest rate/political climate we are now in this house is going to be cheaper in future IMO. I would say ignore people who have big mortgages or bought years ago and don`t want house prices to fall.

Davesnave

Crashy_Time wrote: »

In the interest rate/political climate we are now in this house is going to be cheaper in future IMO. I would say ignore people who have big mortgages or bought years ago and don`t want house prices to fall.

So people should follow your example: sell, rent, then wait a decade or more for this huge fall in the market?



Great advice which has put you where you are today....


But hang on, why are you still where you are? I sold up and rented in the last Crash, completing exactly nine years ago this month. Yes, it worked for me. Where were you then?

_CC_

Crashy_Time wrote: »

In the interest rate/political climate we are now in this house is going to be cheaper in future IMO. I would say ignore people who have big mortgages or bought years ago and don`t want house prices to fall.

Great advice from TrashyClown IMO.


He's renting a bedsit in his 50's so clearly knows how to win at life, follow his advice IMO.

victoriavictorious

Does *every* flipping thread have to get hijacked by Crashy?

Crashy_Time

Davesnave wrote: »

So people should follow your example: sell, rent, then wait a decade or more for this huge fall in the market?



Great advice which has put you where you are today....


But hang on, why are you still where you are? I sold up and rented in the last Crash, completing exactly nine years ago this month. Yes, it worked for me. Where were you then?

What are you going to do in the next crash?

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Crashy_Time wrote: »

What are you going to do in the next crash?

Panic and sell his place to someone off HPC for £25. I know that's what I'm going to do.

Davesnave

Crashy_Time wrote: »

What are you going to do in the next crash?

Nothing in particular. I'm content with the property I own. Having worked on it for nearly a decade, it's in good shape now.


So, there's nothing that would make me move, other than an inability to manage a few fields+ a big garden, or some external factor impossible to predict.

I suspect many people are like me; they only care about house prices when they come to sell, but even then they're of limited importance. My last property was a better bet as an investment, but life is more than about how much money one can make.