Buying an unconventional passive house

mbugsy18

Hi,
I am in the process of buying a passive house in East London and I am wondering if it will hold its value or even increase as it’s been on the market for a while. It’s a modern looking house and doesn’t look like the rest of the area which are terraced Victorian houses with bay windows etc. I am assuming it’s been on the market since Jan 2020 and has been reduced several times and had several EAs marketing it. I have offered £5k under the asking price but I think this type of property is about £640-650k.
It is a 4 bed semidetached house built on a plot that housed disused garages and gardens. It was completed in May 2019.
Being a Grand Designs fan it’s something I would have built but maybe in a more rural location and it being my forever house.
Do you think I have reason to worry.

My current situation is that my house has been undervalued and I would have to reduce my price by £10k. The estate agent I am selling with wants a decision by tomorrow. 

AdrianC

The one thing you can say for sure is that either it's currently overpriced, or there's simply no demand for it...

Anything else is speculation.

As for "forever house" - the one thing that you don't seem to like about it is the one thing you can't change.

ProDave

What construction method?  you can build a passive house in many ways.

You will like the really low energy bills and the really comfortable climate inside, you will love the fact it never gets cold even at night and there is no mould or condensation anywhere.

Tell us more.

Skiddaw1

I'd never heard of passive houses before this thread- the concept sounds fascinating! I'd also love to hear more (and perhaps a link to the listing?)

AdrianC

ProDave said:

What construction method?  you can build a passive house in many ways.

That you can...

There's been a fair bit of publicity round here lately for a PassivHaus in the Malvern Hills that's recently been completed, and is opening as a B&B.

The twist?

Oak-framed.



https://www.malvernbandb.com/

mbugsy18

AdrianC what’s wrong with oak frame?

Alan2020

Why don’t you stick a link to it and you can gauge people’s reaction - if the general view is they like it then not much of an issue worrying. But if people are put off, think about resale value etc A lot of unusual buildings are sold below that of a conventional property as vast majority of people are wary of the risk of the unknown.
Cast concrete with un galvanised rebar is the standard in many countries and literally withstand a bomb strike, however these countries get little rainfall. Build this in England and the house will crumble before your eyes. 

steve866

If it had been on for almost 18 months then £5k below the £650k asking price seems like a very good offer.

AdrianC

mbugsy18 said:

AdrianC what’s wrong with oak frame?

Absolutely nothing! It's bloody gorgeous, a wonderful demo of the way that traditional building techniques can be brought up to date.

On the other hand, an awful local 1960s concrete ex-public-library is also being converted into passivhaus holiday accommodation near here...

mbugsy18

Steve866 - the asking price is £685k

Here is the link: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/54045340/?search_identifier=3f1b88d8064db166f0b8293081f6ab98

steve866

mbugsy18 said:

Steve866 - the asking price is £685k

Here is the link: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/54045340/?search_identifier=3f1b88d8064db166f0b8293081f6ab98

So you offered £680k?