House regret???

arrows123

I've just been through a similar thing. In the last 7 weeks I've offered on 4 houses (market is crazy!). There was a certain area I wanted to live in, but its very popular and quite pricey.

The first house was in the area and the right size, I was gutted I missed out, it went to best and final and I was outbid, in hindsight I was naive to the market and would have bid more. Second was slightly on the outskirts of the area, house was great size though, missed out on that one too going way over asking. People were telling me I was too strict on the area I needed to look a bit further afield etc.

Third one was literally a hop skip and a jump away but in a different area, offered on that, it went to best and final, I contemplated pulling out but due to circumstances put a bid in and spent the rest of the day hoping I didn't get it, I had another viewing booked that afternoon for a house at the very top end of my budget, in the exact area I wanted and the right size/space etc. Found out I lost out on third house, went to view the fourth expecting it to go for way over asking like all the others and almost didnt go... it didn't I had a few days to think about it, second viewing (luxury at the moment!) put an offer in, managed to get offer accepted. So glad I didn't get the others, and even though this is a lot more expensive it feels right. Go with your gut!

onylon

My sister bought a new build because she loved the finish and there was definitely some 'keeping up with the Jones' going on. Its a really lovely looking house but now that she's settled she's struggling with the lack of local amenities, being overlooked and the waterlogged garden. All these things were apparent when she bought the place and there's no real fix. There will always be compromises when buying a house but I think it's really short sighted to prioritise the cosmetic stuff. 

That said I've been doing a bit of DIY every weekend since I moved in and it's starting to drive me mental. Still 2 bedrooms and a bathroom to go

london21

Location is very important. If you gut feeling is telling you this is not the one then before you exchange and become legally bound you can still pull out but speak with your partner sometimes you might need a different perspective. 

Take your time, view more properties, research sold prices, ask the neigbours what it's like in the area etc.

House buying is one of the most expensive purchase, worth doing research and taking your time. 

I personally do not like new builds for example because they are sometimes overpriced, small and sometimes not built to be best quality. You have to have an idea what your non negotiables are.

Mickygg

Your reasons are plenty enough to not want the property and look elsewhere. I find it strange you are proceeding. Location, price and room sizes are 3 of the biggest things to be happy with in a house purchase. If you are unhappy with all 3 this is clearly not the house for you. 

firebubble

Go and look at other properties in your budget asap - anything at all. Each one will either make you feel better or worse about the property you're buying, and that's ok. Don't look for too similar, just anything in budget. You're just aiming to do this quickly.

Go and see your new house too, every few days. Go and see it early in the morning, drive past late at night. Book a few visits (pretend you need to measure for curtains or to get sofas in), and for each room, work out where your furniture will go. Look at what rooms are sunny in the morning, which get the sun in the evening. Is the garden in the shadow of the house (or someone else's house)? Do you still feel the same way about it?

I think some level of buyer's remorse is normal (there are other threads on this) - it's just such a lot of money. Feeling like rooms are small or the house isn't as impressive as you wanted is normal.

But feeling like there is an issue with the location, and a dread about the unadopted road sound like bigger issues for which you need to give yourself more information to consider.

Ameba

From what you've written, there are more cons than pros for you at the moment. I would trust my gut feeling. And to be honest your reasons seem like more than just gut feeling. Definitely arrange some other viewings, this gives a lot of perspective. Stamp duty is one thing but you need to feel the vibe of the house. It's like falling in love, once you find the one, you know it is the one

warby68

If you are regularly in tears and spending whole days analysing the decision then it seems fairly obvious it isn't the right one.

That sounds more than just the jitters - some strong reasons but your reaction is also on the extreme side. You need to be sure you're ready to buy and try out some more properties to understand what your choices really are and what your non negotiables are. The first one can be the one but not when you feel like this.

Also how does your husband feel and are you discussing it? There was a  lot of 'I' in your post.

deannagone

We bought a new build some years ago.  It was the largest house in the development (with a large lounge, it backed onto a protected garden area with trees. 

But it was in a horrible area, on the edge of a very nasty council estate (yobbos used to try and demand money when you drove on the only exit road - and it was a few minutes harrassing drive). The nearest train station was a good long walk away, there were no shops nearby, and traffic jams to get anywhere by car (it was in London).  The garden was tiny, and waterlogged if it rained for five mins (at the time I didn't know how to deal with that).  

I must admit, although I liked the house, and valued it, it didn't make up for the problems that living there caused.  I quite regretted moving out of my little one bed flat even though we were bursting out of it with a small child.  It was five mins from transport, big shopping centre nearby etc.  The house felt like it was in a war zone you had to get through to get anywhere.

Crashy_Time

Ameba said:

From what you've written, there are more cons than pros for you at the moment. I would trust my gut feeling. And to be honest your reasons seem like more than just gut feeling. Definitely arrange some other viewings, this gives a lot of perspective. Stamp duty is one thing but you need to feel the vibe of the house. It's like falling in love, once you find the one, you know it is the one

Can`t imagine many people feeling that for a new-build somehow, not true love.

RelievedSheff

Crashy_Time said:

Ameba said:

From what you've written, there are more cons than pros for you at the moment. I would trust my gut feeling. And to be honest your reasons seem like more than just gut feeling. Definitely arrange some other viewings, this gives a lot of perspective. Stamp duty is one thing but you need to feel the vibe of the house. It's like falling in love, once you find the one, you know it is the one

Can`t imagine many people feeling that for a new-build somehow, not true love.

We love our new build (it is 2 years old now but was new when we moved in) and really can't imagine us living anywhere else. We knew as soon as we walked through the door that this would be our home.

The house suits us and how we live in it. It is very low maintenance, has really low running costs, is as detached as you get in a new build (the nearest neighbours are 6m away across a double width driveway and 13m away in the other direction) and our garden is not over looked at all. The garden isn't massive but it is big enough and very easy to look after. Most of all it feels very much our home.

Not all new builds are the same and we have seen some that we would not be happy in.