[THE_FORCE]

Hi all ! I'm after an honest opinion from you all if that's ok ?

We're looking to move, and originally were looking to do a self build. We would like to do the self-build in a few years time, but are thinking that maybe we should situate ourselves in something mid-term before the big push ! We've been looking at properties solely on the net so far, and as far as we know, they could be wack in real life compared to their internet counterparts !

What I would like to know is, from what is shown from the following link, would this house appear to be a good deal ? I'd have to give it the modern treatment of course, but taking into account the details that are shown, do you think it is value for money ?

All comments welcome please, and thanks in advance !

Here's the gaf :

UK Estate agents with homes, houses & property for sale on rightmove.co.uk

Cheers all !

[Dony]

Beautiful looking house and grounds, but at that price, why don't you just follow your dream and do the self build now?

When I did my self build, we rented a small house near our building site for £400pm. If I were to buy a mature house like that, and then spending money on it, I'd be hard pushed ever to leave it.

I can't say whether or not it's good value for money....that depends on the location and the current market.

[la gran siete]

Nice location but I would pull the house down and build one of those Swedish kit houses with high energy efficiency as its the way to go nowdays.To me the existing house looks a bit of a money pit

[THE_FORCE]

Cheers guys. In my heart, I know it'd never be my dream house, but the location is very sought after especially with the views, and it might be worth buying just to floor it and build new from scratch. The only thing is, would we be allowed to demolish it ?

The self build is a dream, but it would have to be in this area, and land in this area is impossible to get hold of. Is this the sort of house that you would be allowed to demolish in order to build something of a more modern design ?

[Dony]

If that's how you are thinking, I'd look for something much more run down and cheaper to buy. £650k is a lot for a building site. Going on your current place (very nice too), you'll spend £1m in no time, when you might only need to spend 2/3 of that. Think of the av gear you can get for £250k

As for whether or not you could flatten that house, it all depends on the planning rules for that area. Might be worth having an informal meeting with a planning officer for the area to find out what is feasible and what's not.

[THE_FORCE]

Cheers for the reply Dony. One of the planning officers is infact my partners son in law lol ! But he's a real cantakerous son of a gun, and won't give nothing away. It would indeed be an expensive building site, but there really is no land for sale in this area with views like it has towards the sea.

Dony, we've done our place up to what we think is a good standard, but it still might not get that much on the market ?(we were thinking of selling our appartment with all furniture and av gear included?)

I don't know what my real question is here to be honest lol ?

I suppose the land is the real attraction rather than the house itself. Am I stupid for paying that sort of money for a property when all I'd want to do (one day!) is demolish it and then spend another 500k on a dream gaf ?

Maybe I'm living a pipe dream too much ?

[Mr Incredible]

Unless I could afford a gardner to look after such lovely gardens, I'd be steering well clear!

[Dony]

I know that it's impossible to compare, but my site was 1/4 of the overall spend, but from people I've spoken with who built in the last year, the site's were roughly the same as the build costs.

Just shows how much land went up in a short time in comparison to actual building costs.

[THE_FORCE]

Aye Dony, I have a feeling that the land cost will far outweigh the build cost lol ! And Mr incredible, I'm aiming for zero maintenance on a garden lol. I'm not ready for all that yet !

[SimonH]

It's hard to gauge without knowing your area but as they say , location, location , location, in my neck of the woods, that plot would run you close to what your paying.

The house itself isn't my style from an interior perspective but I'm guessing you'll get it at a great price in the current market, spend £100k on it and you would get a "perfect" home.

How far away is the nearest neighbour?

[THE_FORCE]

Originally Posted by SimonH

It's hard to gauge without knowing your area but as they say , location, location , location, in my neck of the woods, that plot would run you close to what your paying.

The house itself isn't my style from an interior perspective but I'm guessing you'll get it at a great price in the current market, spend £100k on it and you would get a "perfect" home.

How far away is the nearest neighbour?

The house is on a private road, filled with similar accomodation . It's not my style to be honest - beams, old fireplace etc. The whole lot would have to be ripped out and started again lol !

I'm thinking it may be better to wait and see if something in really bad nick comes on the market like Dony suggested, and just flooring it if it's allowed. The joys of house/land hunting !

[Razor]

Originally Posted by THE_FORCE

I'm thinking it may be better to wait and see if something in really bad nick comes on the market like Dony suggested, and just flooring it if it's allowed. (

Flattening the site will only be refused if the property is listed. Looking at the pictures and the age of the property I doubt this building is listed.

You may not have to flatten the property to get the look you want. A decent architect will be able to produce drawings and layouts to suit your needs. As the property has plenty of land and is detached so a large extension could be easily added which will help transform the look and feel of the property.

[KhalJimbo]

I agree with the others when they say do the self build thing, I know if I ended up with a place like that as nice as it is, I would still practically rip it to pieces and modernise it, if you can do the self build thing I honestly think that is the way forward, or at least hoping I will will be able to do a self build one day

[wellladida]

Wow that view is stunning

[suniil]

House, Location and external views are stunning.

I'm sure we all know your style & tastes, that means you have to rip of everything in good nick . Also I don't like the shape of kitchen, what ever you do, It may not stand out due to the shape.

Living room would be stunning, when it transformed to your tastes (again that is in good condition )

Just my thoughts: If I go for another refurb / build, it would be 80% inwall-invisible cinema / invisible high-tech style

[THE_FORCE]

Originally Posted by Razor

Flattening the site will only be refused if the property is listed. Looking at the pictures and the age of the property I doubt this building is listed.

Cheers Razor, that's a useful bit of info .

Originally Posted by jimthelegend

I would still practically rip it to pieces and modernise it,

Likewise !

Originally Posted by wellladida

Wow that view is stunning

Which is the real attraction to it, and the area it's in. Why can't it look like a Huf-Haus though and I'd be a bit happier lol ?!

Originally Posted by suniil

House, Location and external views are stunning.

I'm sure we all know your style & tastes, that means you have to rip of everything in good nick . Also I don't like the shape of kitchen, what ever you do, It may not stand out due to the shape.

Living room would be stunning, when it transformed to your tastes (again that is in good condition )

Just my thoughts: If I go for another refurb / build, it would be 80% inwall-invisible cinema / invisible high-tech style

Suniil you're alive ! lol. Yea the interior is not my style, and I'm not a fan of galley style kitchens. I'm not really into red bricked properties either. No, I hate it ! pmsl Maybe if the rooms were bigger there'd be some room for compromise, but I don't think it even offers alot of space to be honest. If we went for an extension, we might just as well floor the lot and start again ?

The next place will probably be the last (we all say that right?), so Suniil like yourself, would have to be ultra high tech, with a minimal footprint visually, and be done properly.

Cheers all for the feedback.