Which house would you buy?

Mutton_Geoff

gab3x said:

Which would be cheaper in the end, assuming both need different levels of reno?

How much do you value your time? Do you have the skills/experience/state of mind to see it through?

gab3x

Mutton_Geoff said:

gab3x said:

Which would be cheaper in the end, assuming both need different levels of reno?

How much do you value your time? Do you have the skills/experience/state of mind to see it through?

I've done a few renos in my life but nothing professional. My worry now would be the market for builders - high demand, lack of workforce, raised cost of materials. Everything is more expensive than few years back when I did work on a flat.

Stamp duty is £12.5k
New kitchen £10k
New bathroom + lavatory upstairs £8k
New electricity £3k
New central heating/water £4k
Extending back by 3m, no side extension £20k
Decorating £15k 
New windows £20k
Total £87.5k

But then we get unforeseen stuff - so add another 20% or £105k or £605k in total.

Cakeguts

I wouldn't actually buy either of them because I have an electric car on order and I want to charge it at home.  You can't do that if you don't have offstreet parking next to your house as you cannot trail the lead across the pavement.

zagubov

Our first house was built like that. Cracking good place to live in, surprisingly spacious on the inside. In that area, it's a 15 minute walk to the train station for regular fast trains to London; schools include some of the best in London.
Parking might be a bit difficult, not close to many big shops. You're also probably far enough from the sewage farm to not notice the smell. Maybe visit the road on a hot day!

paulj2021

gab3x said:

RelievedSheff said:

What is lurking at the bottom of the garden with the cheaper one?

There is a stream at the end of the garden and then behind it some business building.

If the stream floods regularly that might be a factor in the price… also if there’s something going on in that business premises that might make life unpleasant (if you want a humorous example search “Bill Bailey foghorn factory” on YouTube)

gab3x

Cakeguts said:

I wouldn't actually buy either of them because I have an electric car on order and I want to charge it at home.  You can't do that if you don't have offstreet parking next to your house as you cannot trail the lead across the pavement.

You could park in the front garden but that doesn't look so good

jimbog

Cakeguts said:

I wouldn't actually buy either of them because I have an electric car on order and I want to charge it at home.  You can't do that if you don't have offstreet parking next to your house as you cannot trail the lead across the pavement.

I was thinking about this today. Properties with off road parking will be in greater demand in years to come as electric charging from home becomes a necessity 

hazyjo

jimbog said:

Cakeguts said:

I wouldn't actually buy either of them because I have an electric car on order and I want to charge it at home.  You can't do that if you don't have offstreet parking next to your house as you cannot trail the lead across the pavement.

I was thinking about this today. Properties with off road parking will be in greater demand in years to come as electric charging from home becomes a necessity 

I really need to get my drive done and it's something I've been thinking about. I've not got an electric car, but will prob have a charging point included to make it future-proof.

Depends how long people plan/ hope to stay in their houses, but it's something to consider for those planning on being there long term.

user1977

hazyjo said:

jimbog said:

Cakeguts said:

I wouldn't actually buy either of them because I have an electric car on order and I want to charge it at home.  You can't do that if you don't have offstreet parking next to your house as you cannot trail the lead across the pavement.

I was thinking about this today. Properties with off road parking will be in greater demand in years to come as electric charging from home becomes a necessity 

I really need to get my drive done and it's something I've been thinking about. I've not got an electric car, but will prob have a charging point included to make it future-proof.

Depends how long people plan/ hope to stay in their houses, but it's something to consider for those planning on being there long term.

Though in the long term, is charging on your own driveway going to be all that important? Availability of other charging places (e.g. built into lamp posts) will improve, ranges will increase, etc.

user1977

gab3x said:

Two prototypical Victorian cottages in same street, two doors down from each other.

One is in OK shape at £580k (currently under offer) https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106850816#/
The other needs work but is £500k https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/109411865#/

In what way is either of them a "cottage"?