Really confused about what I want :(

danlightbulb

NinjaTune said:

You say that you don't have anyone to bounce ideas off yet one of your criteria is being close to friends who you meet up with regularly.  Surely you can bounce ideas off them, ask them to look through listings with you and give opinions etc?

Are you 100% set on a 3 bed house or would you consider a large 2 bed that could offer your other wants/needs?

We don't really talk about these sorts of things, never have And I feel somewhat embarrassed to be saying I want a house that can accommodate a piano in front of them.

Not wedded to any number of bedrooms at all, just looking for that downstairs living space really and right layout. I have however discounted bungalows after my previous activity made me realise they aren't for me.

Thrugelmir said:

New windows are far less hassle than a completely new kitchen. 

Not for me, because i can do a kitchen myself for £5k, but wouldn't want to tackle windows, which is a £15k job for a whole house.

AdrianC

danlightbulb said:

I dont feel that my objections are excuses though. I am genuinely trying to find solutions for my compromises and to challenge myself on my wants. There are just certain things I consider to be essential though and I can't let go of them.

But you HAVE to let go of at least one, because - quite simply - a property with everything you want (size, layout, price, location, etc) does not exist.

MovingForwards

All old properties are going to need building repairs at some point, if they haven't been looked after / maintained or even because something has reached end of life.

With your budget and everything you want, you are struggling to find that in a property in the area you're looking at. So increase your budget to get that modernised house or compromise on location and accept you will occasionally be driving, using a taxi or the bus to get to / from the pub, alternatively bunk down on a mates sofa after a night on the lash, return the favour by them bunking down at yours after visiting your local pub.

Salemicus

No-one thinks you are being awkward on purpose. But is it really true that all these houses have issues you genuinely couldn't live with?

You are already living with a bunch of these issues. You are comparing these houses to some imagined perfection, whereas you should be comparing them to the plausible alternatives. Your current rented house doesn't meet all the criteria that you are imposing on the house you wish to buy. If you don't buy a place, where will you be living?

Forget all these "essentials" and just rank the available houses by how much you would like to live in them for the next 5 years. Include your current rented place in the ranking! Which is top?

hazyjo

But you're disregarding things like what I posted cos of things like an integral garage or stairs in the living room, despite it having all the space you need, a driveway and a garage - as well as being detached.

Think outside the box. So you don't like the stairs in the living room, so partition them off and move that door into the lounge from the side and put it straight ahead so it faces the stairs - even if it means changing the staircase slightly. Sorted.

It may be that what you're looking for doesn't exist. It's absolutely not as simple as saying 'rubbish, I just want a house with a driveway and garage/outbuilding'. Because your 'nice to have' list is becoming an 'essentials' list.

And you're disregarding things too quickly without seeing them.

I bought a house once with a through lounge, a tiny square entrance hall, and stairs in the lounge (they'd knocked a wall down). I had been adamant I wanted a separate dining room and stairs in a hallway. I only went to see it with the intention of changing it all back if I bought it. There was a house in the adjoining street which ticked all boxes. Same price. I went to see both and just had 'the feeling' for the one I mentioned rather than the one that ticked what I wanted on paper.

It was only me buying and the one with the massive open space just felt right. I realised I would hardly use the dining room and would have confined myself to a lounge half the size (even less with the hallway reinstated). It felt lovely and roomy and I simply adored that house. (It also wasn't the prettiest - a pebble-dashed Victorian house, and the other one was brick with far more original features).

Go view 10 or so which you are iffy about. See if anything changes.

NinjaTune

Dining area could be used as a piano room and the conservatory used for dining in (or storing your bike etc.).  Bottom part of the garden look secluded and private.  Has a garage and driveway.

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/56397353?search_identifier=72d9fb7c8fb389e6d905dbe2941d876a

danlightbulb

Salemicus said:

No-one thinks you are being awkward on purpose. But is it really true that all these houses have issues you genuinely couldn't live with?

You are already living with a bunch of these issues. You are comparing these houses to some imagined perfection, whereas you should be comparing them to the plausible alternatives. Your current rented house doesn't meet all the criteria that you are imposing on the house you wish to buy. If you don't buy a place, where will you be living?

Forget all these "essentials" and just rank the available houses by how much you would like to live in them for the next 5 years. Include your current rented place in the ranking! Which is top?

Thanks.

I think the problem is that I don't really like any option. Staying here is easy, but long term very financially detrimental. Moving is stressful and financially stretching and I can't get something equivalent to what I have here.

My current rental meets all but one requirement - the space.
Whereas all the other houses I'm seeing are costing me more (albeit I'm owning not renting), and have more compromises.
But i just can't stay here much longer, or Im going to be properly financially screwed in the future.

danlightbulb

hazyjo said:

But you're disregarding things like what I posted cos of things like an integral garage or stairs in the living room, despite it having all the space you need, a driveway and a garage - as well as being detached.

The one you posted was great actually, its above my budget though at offers over 200k. I took your point about waiting to see if it sticks around for a while and then maybe they'll consider less. 

strawb_shortcake

You mention about not having to do expensive work, but I'd be concerned that you'd find your perfect house and would have complete blinkers on when it comes to assessing what jobs might actually be needed, given your list of wants and budget this seems entirely plausible. You could easily end up with a large repair bill. 

At work we are expected to walk up to 3 miles to get there in bad weather, it would take between 45-60 minutes to get to a pub so no real hardship and the walk home will help sober you up.  
Your first home doesn't have to be perfect, make a few compromises for a few years then find your forever home. And rejecting a house based on the location of the stairs seems bonkers 

danlightbulb

annabanana82 said:

 rejecting a house based on the location of the stairs seems bonkers 

Yeah you're right I just naturally gravitate towards more traditional styles. I don't particularly like walking straight in from the street into your living room.