Buying help for older house

thread_astaire

I have seen a house i like but the property looks old & im concerned about the state of the brickwork. It has been repointed in several places. The estate agent says the house is 70s & cavity wall but to me it looks older & the roof has different coloured tiles does that mean the roof may need completely replacing. Also the price listing seems high in comparison to other properties similar in that area.
I was going to offer quite a bit less because of this but is the brick work & roof a concern?

urgh i can't post a link add www.
rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-86317655.html

SmashedAvacado

I Would want an engineer to look at those lintels.

AdrianC

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-86317655.html
Definitely looks older than 70s from here, too.


That repointing above the upstairs window suggests that the original window frames were structural. When they were replaced, the tupperwares didn't do the same job, and it all started to sag a bit. They've clearly done work to repair the issue - get some paperwork for it.

The listing's an object lesson in "needs a declutter and new photos"...

And what IS going on in this one...?

Not just all the support wiring for something (what?), but there appears to be most of a plumber's merchant's stock of drainpipe slapped all over the back of the house. Or is it electrical conduit? Whatever, it's a mess.

Owain_Moneysaver

Is it ex-council? I would guess 1950s, will be a cavity wall, those lintels are highly questionable and I would also be checking the patio doors at the rear.

Cakeguts

Looks like ex council to me. Is there any offstreet parking.

FreeBear

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Is it ex-council? I would guess 1950s, will be a cavity wall, those lintels are highly questionable and I would also be checking the patio doors at the rear.

Looking at historical OS maps for Blidworth, it was empty fields in the 1920s. The estate appears on the 1939 map, so the house was probably built mid 1930s. That would be consistent with the size of the gardens and general appearance of the area.

[Deleted User]

Yes as soon as I saw it, I thought 1930's council. Lot of building going on then, and being council, only a few design types in most boroughs. I've been around a few of them.

It will be fairly soundly build, but basic, later alterations will be the problem if done cheaply/improperly (and that includes council work unfortunately when the council still owned it). Roof was ready for replacing a while ago (going by age), might have been purchased and repaired only instead.

I'd have a good long chat with the owners, see how much they know about the place and how honest they are about work done, when, how etc. EA obviously is lying or ignorant so can't be relied upon in the slightest.

The house looks quite nice in a lot of ways (if you like the double reception design) but not being a structural expert, I'd be a bit worried about how supported the bathrooom/bedroom wall is, the dimensions aren't exactly the same as ground floor. I suspect someone wanted a bigger bedroom at some point. More knowledgeable others may come along and say no need for concern.

The good thing about them will be larger rooms and plot (as pointed out earlier). You will be living in what was originally a social housing estate but I should imagine most of them are privately owned now. But go there at varying times of day or night to check what the place is like in terms of behaviour. Speak to the neighbours.

Its worth buying, but be sceptical as far as how carefully previous work has been carried out. Look in the loft if you haven't already. Get a full survey if you decide to proceed. Look at comparable sales to see what its worth. I don't know the area, the price may already take into account any works that need doing.

If you want to strip and redecorate, DON'T use a steam wallpaper remover, any blown plaster will fall off the walls. All dealable with fairly easily but not for complete novices (had to redecorate such walls a number of times, they can be patched).

Norman_Castle

Based on the bed I'd say its late Tudor. Why is there a Stormtrooper in most of the pictures?

ciderboy2009

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Based on the bed I'd say its late Tudor. Why is there a Stormtrooper in most of the pictures?

I was just going to ask about the Stormtrooper!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

SallyDucati

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Based on the bed I'd say its late Tudor. Why is there a Stormtrooper in most of the pictures?

Including the little girls very pink bedroom? Not sure but suspect it moved from one side of the living room fireplace to the other between living room pictures.

Just bizarre!

I agree it looks ex-council.

Mardle

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Based on the bed I'd say its late Tudor. Why is there a Stormtrooper in most of the pictures?

I think it's alive!!!!!

It moved from one side of the fire to the other!