Have the choice between a newer build and a Victorian terrace - help!

A0911

I've a bit of a dilemma. I love Victorian terraces in my area, and have tried to buy two in the last few years but the surveys came back needing more work than I could afford.

However, one has come up that looks a decent standard, ideal layout for me, perfect location. I'm deciding whether to try and take a third punt. 

The other option I have on the table is a 70s built Barratt end townhouse. It's an annoying-but-doable 25-minute walk from the station. It feels very small and quite gloomy, with small windows, and felt a bit claustrophobic when I viewed. I liked it enough, but I don't feel happy at the thought of moving in and it's £20k more expensive. The big plus is it's been very well maintained and it's warm. I could probably make it my own but I feel very meh toward it, to the point I'd only want to get a three-year mortgage fix.

I've discovered that light and spaciousness are important to me, and they're hard to find in houses in my budget that aren't Victorian terraces. The newer builds also don't feel like 'me', but I reason I can overcome that a bit with decoration/styling.

I'd appreciate thoughts. When I go see this particular terrace, is there anything you can see that I should be asking about? The immediate thing that jumps out for me is the flaking around the front door. No cement strap pointing which is good. Those chimney flashings and the downpipe at the back probably want replacing. Rightmove link here: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/152644265#/?channel=RES_BUY

The other thing to say is that if I did buy the terrace I'd have more money for works than I did previously, both in savings and a higher salary. I wouldn't want to do loads, but there is some leeway that wasn't there before.

Sarahspangles

It looks like someone has chiselled the surround and exposed a fresh face.  Woodkirk Yorkstone is grey blue when fresh cut and weathers to gold. I wonder why they did it - possibly to remove paint or fixings for grab handles.

Murphybear

Do you have the details of the Victorian terrace you’re considering so we can compare

ive always preferred older properties to more modern houses but obviously that’s personal taste 

i have a friend who lived in a lovely Victorian terrace.  It had 2 decent sized reception rooms, 2 huge and 1 medium sized bedrooms and you couldn’t hear either side neighbours which was a bonus.  She only moved when her husband sadly died.

Albermarle

The older house looks great and in good order,  much better than a Barratt home. Go with your gut.

If it is the original roof ( slate) it would be a good idea to have a good look in the loft.
Also get a Level 3 survey.

A0911

Murphybear said:

Do you have the details of the Victorian terrace you’re considering so we can compare

ive always preferred older properties to more modern houses but obviously that’s personal taste 

i have a friend who lived in a lovely Victorian terrace.  It had 2 decent sized reception rooms, 2 huge and 1 medium sized bedrooms and you couldn’t hear either side neighbours which was a bonus.  She only moved when her husband sadly died.

Rightmove listing is in the post (and Barratt in post history if of interest!). 

I do love them, they feel like 'me' in a way I can't quite put my finger on. The location of this one is great too.

ThisIsWeird

Hi AO911.
I don't see a link to the Barratt home, but I suspect I know what I'll see anyhoo.
Provided the roof is in decent order - it doesn't have to be perfect, just good for 10+ years with only light maintenance, and almost certainly it will be - then it looks as tho' all that house will demand of you is attention to the back and front walls as and when required, and these are pretty small areas in the scheme of things.

You should have your pick of highly experienced builders in your area for any repointing and making good it may require over time, and I bet they are reasonable too.

(Shame about the front window style, but I guess they'll need replacing at some point too...)

No idea how to sort that stone surround issue - perhaps Stuart will see this and comment.
Obvious drawback with the Viccy - the front door enters directly into your sitting room. Not good in winter when answering the door. But, that's the way it is!
The sitting room flooring is an interesting choice... Too frenetic to my eyes, and I think it would have a lot more character if replaced with a 'raw' wood finish, either pine (for originality) or a distressed oak. More cosy. (I'm not suggesting 'solid', but an equivalent LVT or similar.)
It shouldn't be difficult to heat that house, even tho it won't have modern insulation levels.

You are clearly doing well at your place of work, so imagine stepping off the train after a solid day, and how you'll feel the moment your toes touch the platform, and you know you'll be heading off in one of two directions to get to your new home. And how you'll feel when you insert the key in your door.
There you go - you've just decided

EssexHebridean

Buy the terrace for goodness sake - life is way too short to live in a house which, even at this stage, you have described as claustrophobic! 

caprikid1

That looks lovely. 

subjecttocontract

Presumably the running costs for a Victorian house could be much higher than a modern build because insulation will be less. Have you checked the EPCs for both......winter is coming.

Skiddaw1

Go with the terrace. We lived in one for 20 years and it was a lovely wee house. Yes, an older property always needs maintanance, but Victorian terraced houses were built to last in our experience at least, and despite a whole list of things our survey threw up everything ticked over nicely and we did what needed doing when we'd saved up enough. Honestly, OP, I really don't think you'll regret it. I think the house is gorgeous.

Sarahspangles

EssexHebridean said:

Buy the terrace for goodness sake - life is way too short to live in a house which, even at this stage, you have described as claustrophobic! 

Seconded (though at this point it’s more like tenthed)

Things I miss about an Edwardian town house I used to own:

Having a pulley airer.
You can have freestanding wardrobes and still put luggage or storage boxes on top.
There’s (possibly) an actual pantry.
If you fix something to a wall it takes forever to drill but forever is how long that thing is staying up.