What helped you decide on which house to buy?

We are currently in our first home and are looking to buy or build (so are looking at sites to buy also) our next home in the next while. Can I ask what aspects of a house helped you to know it was a forever home? Our current home is technically perfect (fairly big, good location, etc) but I have never felt it was our forever house all the same. I want to make sure if we move then that house will be our forever home but I suppose I cannot even put my finger on what is missing in our current home. Anyone ever find themselves in a similar situation?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

We built in a location we both loved. The house is quite 'normal' but was our forever home from day one. A house is a home but is only four walls. It was the peace and quiet and the loving family within those walls that made us content here.

corner of hells

Hmmm , I had no input , she decided.
Easy enough .

corner of hells

Demi Deafening Nitrogen wrote: »

We built in a location we both loved. The house is quite 'normal' but was our forever home from day one. A house is a home but is only four walls. It was the peace and quiet and the loving family within those walls that made us content here.

That's a nice post of a Monday.

theteal

Close to what we need to be close to. Enough rooms. Back garden pointing in the direction we wanted - gots to have the sunshine for the evening glass of wine

In saying all that, we do plan on moving back to Ireland at some stage but if Brexit really wrecks the place we'd be very happy "stuck" with this house.

RiderOnTheStorm

One part of those (stupid) ads on tv for some mortgage co always struck me as quite telling .... When the owner said that they can tell you the story of every mark on the floor.

To me thats what makes a house a home. There is a life lived in it. I guess thats when I knew my current house would be a home, when I could imagine this happening in the future.

Outlaw Pete

My bank balance.






One day I'll buy that beach house in Malibu though. You'll see.

Sultan_of_Ping

Location and garden.

I wanted somewhere near a golf course, the sea, and a decent town.......she wanted a chunk of land she could turn into a garden.

garbo speaks

When me and my girlfriend were looking at houses, we both knew instantly as soon as we entered it, it was the house we needed to buy, even though it was a struggle getting the mortgage. When we entered the living room where the previous owner and his family were butchered, on the wall was written in blood the words "I'll be back". We bought it instantly and can't wait for that trickster's return.

SpannerMonkey

looked at loads of houses before we bought and you will just instantly know when you see it. ours wasnt in a location that we originally wanted but the view around it and the feel of the area was beautiful .
. dont limit yourself too much ,be open to more locations you may be surprised .

hairyslug

We had picked the area (due to a mix of budget, closeness to schools and work and what the area was link)
But what really pushed us was that we had gone sale agreed on our own house, the house we were gonna buy fell through and there was only 1 alternative in the area. We have been extremely lucky as the estate we were looking at has gone to **** in the last year.

Galwayguy35

It's the area I grew up in, a small village where I know all the people around me and was able to have a 4 bed house for the price of an apartment in Galway city.

I like the peace and quiet here so it suits me to a tee.

Also having nice neighbours is an important factor.

NIMAN

Location and price.

looksee

I think you just know when you have found the right house, and it isn't always what you thought you wanted.

Why you would not buy a particular house though? We had a choice of two, for various reasons, when we bought this house. Not much to pick between them really but what put me off one house was that I noticed the kitchen presses had been covered with Fablon. Very tidily done but I noticed, and thought that if they could do a cover up like that in the kitchen, what else had been disguised. At least the other one, the one we bought, was an in your face mess!

Shenshen

The only thing you can never change about a house is the location.

We weren't that picky about location when we were looking. As long as it was a relatively easy commute to work for both of us, and public transport available, we considered it. But we wanted to have a house not on a big estate, and with a bit of privacy in the garden.

We got that, and since moving in have been changing little bits whenever we have the time and the money. Changed the layout of the kitchen, re-floored one of the bedrooms, added a wall and gate to the front garden, landscaped the back garden. And there's lots more on the list.
And with every bit we're changing, it becomes a little more "home".

diomed

I was returning from the supermarket on my motorbike and i saw a sign "House for sale".

TheValeyard

1) house for family, not upgrade n flip
2) close yo necessary bus, rail abd amenities
3)good neighbours
4) affordable mortgage

So location seems to be a big factor. I’m not sure if when we move I will still be unsure as our location is very suitable, it is more that I’m not sure if the house is where I want to be indefinitely.

Mint Sauce

Price/budget, and no boarded up windows on the surrounding houses.

ThinkProgress

Close enough to the things I need... far enough away from the things I don't.

blindside88

In a similar position to yourself OP. We’re looking at moving next year from our “first home” to a “forever home”. The big thing we want out of our forever home is a second downstairs sitting room that can be converted into a downstairs bedroom and shower room if needs be when we get older. Currently looking at properties with a garage attached that can be converted but would rather something already converted.

blindside88

blindside88 wrote: »

In a similar position to yourself OP. We’re looking at moving next year from our “first home” to a “forever home”. The big thing we want out of our forever home is a second downstairs sitting room that can be converted into a downstairs bedroom and shower room if needs be when we get older. Currently looking at properties with a garage attached that can be converted but would rather something already converted.

Glad to see I’m not the only one! We have all rooms we need technically including 2 sitting rooms and a downstairs bedroom with ensuite. Just cannot shake that I want a “better” house as our forever home. Maybe I’m getting notions from Room to Improve etc!

blindside88

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Glad to see I’m not the only one! We have all rooms we need technically including 2 sitting rooms and a downstairs bedroom with ensuite. Just cannot shake that I want a “better” house as our forever home. Maybe I’m getting notions from Room to Improve etc!

If you like the location your currently in would you consider speaking to an architect about changing the layout of your existing property?

The Backwards Man

The buck selling it was getting into bother with the bank so I got it cheap. Wouldn't live in it though, too urban.

blindside88

blindside88 wrote: »

If you like the location your currently in would you consider speaking to an architect about changing the layout of your existing property?

Yes thank you we have debated this and I think it would be a good idea. The only fear I have is that if we spend too much on it then it is gone past the price we would get back for it if we did need to sell. If we could buy a site that would be ideal but nothing any better (or near as good) site wise has come in the the last year. It is a good house no doubt but just not my ideal house.

blindside88

We looked at building when we bought our house and still have the site (may build in the future). One piece of advise I’ll give you that was given to me by a QS friend of mine when putting out the tender.
Spec the house with everything you want and have the builders price like for like. Along with that have them all price for some extras that you might choose to add (things like extra insulation, flooring the attic etc) then if you decide to add these extras as the build goes on you know what the extra is and won’t get roasted by the contractor. On programs like room to improve you often see them add things mid process, there’s no reason for the builder to go easy on pricing these when he already has the job. Best of luck with what ever you decide

pickarooney

Location, the fact it was a direct sale with no agency, price and it was just a nice place to finally call our own after 20 years of renting.

Broke up about 3 months later. Back renting now and not sure what the next move is.

notsoyoungwan

General location first of all, I was looking at houses in that particular area. When I went to view this one I did not have high hopes, based on the photos on daft.ie. I was right about the house itself however the photos did not do justice to the view from the back garden, which I fell in love with. It overlooks green fields which slope down to a river and is truly heavenly. I decided to buy and renovate as that was a view I wanted to see every day.

Dravokivich

Oh I just can't make up my mind really.