What are your turn-offs when it comes to buying a house?

silvercar

Slinky said:

It's very interesting to see how many people don't want open plan. According to lots of those property programmes, it's how modern people live. Camped in their kitchens doing everything there.

Quite frankly I'd rather my dinner guests weren't watching me cooking.

Interesting that nobody has mentioned they don't want to be next to a pub. Was the compromise (along with previous subsidance) for us.

It is more sociable, though now I have room to entertain in my kitchen it is sometimes difficult when I don’t want to be watched when cooking (or cheat cooking). It is easier to be able to clear up while still talking to friends/ family, 

My adult kids when looking have both been adamant that they want open plan. Maybe the younger generation do less cooking and more entertaining. It also makes it easier for anyone in a wheelchair.

bex2012

Housing turn-offs for me are - houses that look like strip clubs, all shiny tiled floors, crushed velvet and diamantes everywhere. No space out the front so the front door is directly on the street. Refurbished houses that once had character but are now just ugly white boxes with over-large grey windows. Painted tiles. Gardens with no plants or even worse, fake plants. When we bought the must-haves were a downstairs toilet, decent off street parking, and a garage.

ThorOdinson

- terrace houses
- located in UK 
- made of brick

Only half joking. Seriously

- anything shared

It's going to become a problem eventually. Driveways, walls, guttering, anything.

RelievedSheff

Slinky said:

It's very interesting to see how many people don't want open plan. According to lots of those property programmes, it's how modern people live. Camped in their kitchens doing everything there.

Quite frankly I'd rather my dinner guests weren't watching me cooking.

Interesting that nobody has mentioned they don't want to be next to a pub. Was the compromise (along with previous subsidance) for us.

Our previous house didn't have space to eat in the kitchen it had a lounge diner instead which I hated. It felt very lonely in the kitchen when I was preparing meals.

Our current house has a kitchen diner and it is much more sociable to be able to cook while people are in the same room.

We spend most of our time at home in the kitchen.

Murphybear

There’s lots of interesting ideas/thoughts

For those who are looking for forever homes and want to plan for the future.

Downstairs cloakroom absolute must.  You never know when you, or older visitors, are going to be temporarily disabled eg sprain your ankle or need a knee or hip replacement.  It’s no fun getting a new knee/hip with  no downstairs loo as I found out when I was only 58 .  

For those who don’t want a cat flap.  They can be locked so no stray moggies can wander in.  You may like a cat when you are older, life can be funny like that.

Open plan kitchen/lounge.  We had a talk  from the local Fire Brigade a few years ago - we live in sheltered housing for over 60s.  The Chief Fire person said he’d never live in a property where the kitchen doesn’t have a fire door as it can be a major fire hazard.  

lady1964

Mine are:

Semi detached 
Mid terrace
stairs in the living room
downstairs bathroom
north facing garden
shared driveway 
not having our own drive
poky bedrooms 
no en suite (since having one in our last 2 properties, it’s something that’s a must have now)
being overlooked
rural location with no amenities within walking distance
 being right by a school
being right by a pub (we enjoy going to our local but the noise from a close by pub would disturb me)
being close to a busy main road 
being close to a station 
being close to an airport
poky kitchen with no way of extending or knocking through
no downstairs toilet

That list makes me look so fussy 😂

ThorOdinson

Combined toilet and bathroom

Kitchen joined to the lounge, try watching TV while someone does the cooking/washing up

Overhead power lines

Maahes

lady1964 said:

no en suite (since having one in our last 2 properties, it’s something that’s a must have now)

I've never had en-suite and don't see the appeal. I looked at houses with one as the second bathroom / toilet and decided I didn't want people traipsing through my bedroom to use it if the other bathroom is occupied. But then I was happy with over bath showers until I got a house with two stand-alone showers and now I wouldn't go back - I guess you never know until you try

oystercatcher

'Bungalows' with the master bedroom upstairs (we only want a bungalow)
Split level bungalows
bungalows built with steep access front or back
Only one toilet (and no space to add an extra one)
bathroom with no toilet (and no room to add one)
carpets (not a deal breaker but I would hate to rip up brand new carpet )
high gloss kitchens, especially black!
black/white/grey decor. I know it can be changed but but it just creates negative vibes and puts me off.
Titchy bedrooms
titchy kitchen
Noisy location (traffic, pub, shop etc)
Overlooked
Overshadowed by huge trees
lack of parking
Not within walking distance of town centre/ local amenities
Rooms without natural light

RelievedSheff

Maahes said:

lady1964 said:

no en suite (since having one in our last 2 properties, it’s something that’s a must have now)

I've never had en-suite and don't see the appeal. I looked at houses with one as the second bathroom / toilet and decided I didn't want people traipsing through my bedroom to use it if the other bathroom is occupied. But then I was happy with over bath showers until I got a house with two stand-alone showers and now I wouldn't go back - I guess you never know until you try

I never saw the appeal of an en-suite until we bought this house that has one. Now I wouldn't have a house that doesn't have one. We do have a second bathroom as well though.

It makes it so much easier when we have guests stay over and we all have our own bathroom space.

Certainly wouldn't entertain a house where the en-suite is the only upstairs bathroom. Who want's guests coming into their bedroom to use the loo?