1970's pre-fab bungalow - yes or no?

fleabag

Hello. I've seen a really nice house that ticks all the boxes for me - location, design, amenities - you name it, I like it. I can afford it as well, which is great as my budget wouldn't be the highest. BUT when I phoned the auctioneer to view she said 'you know it's a prefab don't you'. This house was built in the early 1970's and I just thought it was in that funny coloured brick they sometimes used back then. Added to that there are only 3 photos on the site and 2 of those are internal shots so ...

I tried to ascertain what type of pre-fab construction it was but she couldn't tell me. I still want to view the property and if I was really interested, I would get an engineer's report but I am wondering what questions I need to ask and what I need to know before I even get to that stage?

When she said pre-fab I immediately thought 'asbestos' and then I wondered about re-selling (if ever it came to that). I have no dependents and am not bothered really about having to leave it to someone but still a house is security and a 'nest egg' and how much of a nest egg is a 1970's pre-fab going to be in another 30 years?? Would I even get a mortgage on a pre-fab house?

Basically I am in the dark here and don't want to spend anymore than I can afford getting an engineer's report if it isn't worth it. On the other hand, I don't want to view and get smitten and go into denial about the problems I might be getting into.

So has anyone out there in Boards land experience of buying or living in a pre-fab house? What would be the typical construction type and how long would this be good for? Would you touch it with a bargepole or not? Thank you

Calahonda52

They wont tell you anything about it as they get sued so you are on yiur own that way.

You might want to check the planning before you go any further, it may be an illegal structure.

MicktheMan

If you post a link to the house for sale advert we might be in a better position to comment?

sydthebeat

is it a prefab concrete structure?

Selfbuilder14

We bought a 1971 rofab prefab house in 2007 and to be honest we like it!!! It is warm and dry few drafts. There are large windows and may not be an architectural gem but who cares. I am not sure but I believe you cannot get a mortgage in the UK for these,types of houses any more. We like it so much we,are extending it. There is no going up but always leaves us with a large attic space. When we bought a few of the locals did think us mad but we paid mostly for the,site.

fleabag

Here is the link, you can't really see much of the structure.

http://www.spratt.ie/spratt/web/Display/sprattproperty/8034/Lisfennell_Dungarvan.html

Selfbuilder14

Hi it looks simillar build type to ours. We had no trouble getting a mortgage here in Ireland, my brother and his partner have the same build type in Scotland there they were unable to get a mortgage, it was,said the walls are not strong enough for loading on the roof from snow etc, also I believe the,steel holding the concrete panels can fail. they love their bungalow too and have had no issues. we are building an extenision on to the side and going to dryline the house,and either plaster or paint the exterior to cover the 1970 panels. Great thing with them though is no painting so no need to cover if you like the style

sydthebeat

what i have seen done is the existing pabnel is considered teh 'inner leaf' and a new light weight block outer leaf, with cavity and insulation, is constructed out side the existing structure.