Son looking at house but I'm not sure its a good buy.

Hoploz

If it's listed then make him aware he will be restricted if he wishes to make improvements to modernise (eg the EPC rating)

Davesnave

Sunny_Intervals wrote: »

You're starting to strike me as one of those people who buys a garden that happens to have a house attached.

:rotfl: I know exactly what you mean; people with acres of immaculate garden that opens regularly for the NGS every summer, but when you go into their house it's not had a thing done since 1968. We were friends with two couples like that, now sadly deceased.

And yes, we bought acres attached to a horrible bungalow, but the bungalow's been re-worked and we're on the finishing bits.

Primrose

The parking issue may not be important to your son but he needs to think longer term and whether it will be a major issue in trying to resell the property in a few years time if he plans to move on. More people are buying cars all the time
And if he ever buys an electric car when the government introduces compulsory electric cars, how will he be able to charge it at home if there,s nowhere to park.

davidmcn

Primrose wrote: »

And if he ever buys an electric car when the government introduces compulsory electric cars, how will he be able to charge it at home if there,s nowhere to park.

By one of the methods which will be found for the 40+% of UK households which don't have off-street parking (charging points combined with lampposts, that sort of thing).

ProDave

Sunny_Intervals wrote: »

You're starting to strike me as one of those people who buys a garden that happens to have a house attached.

Good plan. Buy a nice plot with a rubbish house and fix the house up.

You can't so it the other way by buying a lovely house in a lousy location with a tiny garden with no access and then expecting to magic up a better plot.

StumpyPumpy

Hoploz wrote: »

If it's listed then make him aware he will be restricted if he wishes to make improvements to modernise (eg the EPC rating)

It isn't listed but number 6 (the attached thatch) is. Can't say I've seen many connected houses where only one was listed. More often than not the whole block is listed "in support" of the actual house with perceived merit. It still has an impact on anything you might want to do to this cottage though as it is in a conservation area so more things will need planning consents which will be more likely to be refused due to the impact on No. 6.

SP

goodwithsaving

I have read the thread, and I can see that your son says he is okay with you posting this, but I just wanted to say.....


My friend bought a 1 bed cottage and I find it too small but it doesn't matter what I think, he likes it and he bought it for him, not for anybody else.

My parents didn't like the last 3 places I bought. Funnily enough, they liked them when I sold at profit after doing them up.

When I picked up the keys to each, they made their feelings clear and it really hurt. As a result, I never liked each of those three properties and couldn't settle because I always saw the flaws that my parents had pointed out.
I never had financial help, so to tell me I should have bought a bigger one down the road, or a house which isn't a project wasn't well received.

My point is; by all means guide him, but try not to inflict an opinion. Let him make his own decision on a house. I suspect you are younger than my parents but when they bought the world was different. Buying as a couple is also different. It's really daunting taking somewhere on yourself. Be helpful but be careful what you say with regards to inflicting any judgement on a property he (may) buy.

datlex

OP your son could always ask the estate agent where the previous owner used to park. It looks to me from google maps that there might be parking round the back.

davidwood681

I own a new build and a cottage from the 19th century. Lived in both over the years and I've got to say the new build was so dull. You're stuck on estates with loads of people who all have the same style house.

The cottage wasn't as practical but it was just a nicer place to live.

Smodlet

When we were looking last there were some properties I could barely get OH into as all he cared about was the garden. I had to labour the point that we cannot live in a garden and that there are whole months of the year when hanging out in one is, to say the least, impractical. We ended up with the one with the smallest garden... But the best house.