A place that ticks the boxes but you just don't 'feel' it?

NameUnavailable

I'm going to see a property I viewed some weeks back.

It ticks a lot of boxes on paper for me (location, outside space, garage, additional parking, etc), but I just felt a bit cold when I viewed it last time.

It's not sold yet which I'm a bit surprised about to be honest given where it is, but I think the asking price is a tad high and I'm thinking if I feel it could work to go in with a realistic offer/cheeky offer depending how you view it!

It was a BTL propoerty and the vendors now want to sell. It's extremely plain inside (magnolia heaven) and lacks proper heating, just a couple of old storage heaters in the lounge and hallway.

I'm usually good at looking past decor etc. but just wonder if others have 'fallen in love' with places they initially thought were not what they really wanted?

Thrugelmir

Viewed a property once 4 times. Was empty so more difficult to picture as a home. Decor etc was terrible. Purple and black walls in some rooms.  In the end something didn't click and walked away. 

hazyjo

I've bought very empty unloved properties and knew they were "the one". Have also viewed lived in properties which on paper I thought would be perfect but they were just missing that something. I couldn't have bought them.

Go with your heart if you don't feel it.

GaleSF63

I've bought 5 places in total. In 4, there was something about the place that "clicked" as soon as I walked in. And never regretted buying.  In the case of the 5th, there was nothing wrong with it; never was, all the time we were there, including having lovely neighbours, but I didn't fall in love with it when we viewed and never did when we lived there. 

Davesnave

NameUnavailable said:

I'm usually good at looking past decor etc. but just wonder if others have 'fallen in love' with places they initially thought were not what they really wanted?

The one I'm living in. Bought as a stop-gap bargain, the situation on a brow between two valleys wasn't the 'cosy' sort of location we'd envisaged for a long-term country home. The property itself was ugly, the interior had been altered very strangely and the exterior had been left to nature for many years. All in all, it was a pig's ear but it had bags of potential (or potential hard work, depending on your view!).

I'm not saying we've made it visually special, but it's no longer ugly or weirdly arranged inside. A 1970s bungalow will never be  cute like a country cottage, but it was easy and cheap to fix, held no nasty surprises and  the situation being flood proof, with sunshine and views, has proved great.

So, we're still here nearly 12 years later. I hated it at first, but all the things that were wrong were fixable, which is the key I think.

We walked away from many properties because there was something that couldn't be fixed, like the wrong aspect, a neighbour's huge trees blocking the light, or conversely, total isolation. Having the ability to make things right is half the battle, even if they have to stay wrong for a while due to other constraints.

niceguyed

Davesnave said:

NameUnavailable said:

I'm usually good at looking past decor etc. but just wonder if others have 'fallen in love' with places they initially thought were not what they really wanted?

The one I'm living in. Bought as a stop-gap bargain, the situation on a brow between two valleys wasn't the 'cosy' sort of location we'd envisaged for a long-term country home. The property itself was ugly, the interior had been altered very strangely and the exterior had been left to nature for many years. All in all, it was a pig's ear but it had bags of potential (or potential hard work, depending on your view!).

I'm not saying we've made it visually special, but it's no longer ugly or weirdly arranged inside. A 1970s bungalow will never be  cute like a country cottage, but it was easy and cheap to fix, held no nasty surprises and  the situation being flood proof, with sunshine and views, has proved great.

So, we're still here nearly 12 years later. I hated it at first, but all the things that were wrong were fixable, which is the key I think.

We walked away from many properties because there was something that couldn't be fixed, like the wrong aspect, a neighbour's huge trees blocking the light, or conversely, total isolation. Having the ability to make things right is half the battle, even if they have to stay wrong for a while due to other constraints.

That's very good advice and completely agree. It's separating what's fixable (in time) to what can never be fixed. Although in this case OP it sounds like many boxes are ticked and it still isn't working for you. Empty and unloved properties require more imagination and a slight leap of faith. Does love at first sight exist? Sure. Can love develop over time?. Sure and not just for property (wink). I am of the firm view that something will always come up that you feel is the one both on paper and gut instinct. As long as you're not being unreasonable. Obviously time/budget can mean compromises. We've been in our property 11 years and our kids have grown up in the house. It was a compromise in many ways but ticked most of the bigger boxes. We've been happy here but were very pushed for time when buying. If you're not pushed for time I'd say keep looking as it doesn't sound like you are missing out on your dream home.  

Jeepers_Creepers

That's a tougie, no-name.

I think, usually, you get a feeling good or bad when you view the first time. A subsequent viewing(s) tends to reinforce the first (unless something completely unexpected crops up).

There are always boxes to the ticked - the essentials, like the ones you mentioned - but more is always needed - the feel - and this could even be based on the road it's on.

In the 'not really sure about this' scenario you are in, it might be worth bringing in other factors more, such as what is the purpose of this home? How long do you expect you'll live there for? How quickly could you move again should you want to? And will it be a good investment for that time - it clearly needs some modernising, but with the cost of this repay you and more?

Are you a DIYer, even partially? If so, I think you can lean away a bit more from 'feel' and edge towards 'a good next step'.

More than anything, tho', run that house through your head and compare it directly with others you have viewed; nail down, if you can, what is causing the lack of feel. There has to be 'something'. "It's very similar to X house, so why do I like X better?" Go down the road in your mind, parking up outside or on the drive - what do they call it? - the street appeal? Then go 'in' to each house in your mind (if not in reality). If you reckon you can look past the decor and work required - if you've done this before and have managed to - then I bet you can with this house too. Some folks can some cannot. I think you can?

Like the others above, every house we've bought (only 3...) has required extensive updating and more - pretty much gutting internally. But in each case there was no hesitation - we knew as soon as we looked. Mind you, it was helped by the fact that we were actively looking for projects each time, so the poor decoration was largely a 'plus'! But still, the 'feel' was there each time.

It doesn't have to be, tho'. You can consider this house from other viewpoints, even if only as a good investment. A step-up. For this, tho', you need to do your sums and know what's involved.

Direct comparison with the most similar house with 'feel' - what, what, what is the difference? Try and nail it down.

skm1981

We've recently moved and I didn't get that feeling with any of the houses we viewed.  I remember when my brother was house hunting and I went with him and viewed 5 properties in one morning.  There was one where I remember we were both thinking that that house could work for him and was a definite possibility, but then we went to view the last house and as soon as we walked in, I just had that feeling that that house was the one for him and he had that feeling as well.  So I kind of expected it when we were house hunting but I didn't get it with any of the houses.

The first house we viewed and were actually going to buy, I knew I'd love it, which I did but I didn't get that feeling.  We ended up having to pull out of that one and then put an offer in on another house that we'd viewed twice.  I definitely didn't get that feeling with this house, but we've only been here a couple of months, and I absolutely love it now we've redecorated.  

lookstraightahead

I think sometimes there are too many expectations placed on 'transient' situations. I've lived in rented and owned and felt more homely in rented sometimes. The house of my dreams (as people call them) was lovely but I ended up getting divorced and the house became a financial noose around my neck.
if it gives you 'the life you want now' including what's going on outside of the actual building, then that's a good start. 

RelievedSheff

We viewed going on for 100 houses when we bought our first house before we found the one that just felt right. We knew as soon as we walked through the door.

When we moved a couple of years ago we only viewed the one new build house. Again we walked through the door and instantly it felt like home.

I don't think we would be happy buying a house that didn't have that instant appeal for us even if on paper it ticked all of the boxes. Buying a home is more emotive than a tick box exercise. It has to feel right.

MFWannabe

It really depends on your reason for buying, is it going to be long term home? Or stop gap? 

It may be because the house feels unloved? 

Go with an open mind on second viewing; you’ll either have a change of heart or will cement the no feel