New build estates - why?

[Stu999]

You haven't got much choice about service charges these days for new estates. I looked at one I liked recently and it was only £80/year (for grass cutting basically). That seemed ok but would have to scrutinise the contract in terms of increases in amount.

As the post immediately above says I've looked at existing houses and they need a ton of money spent on them because they've never been updated versus the new house I liked, which could be the way I want from the get go.

This estate wasn't too crammed in and not too big so that was a positive.

 

[Mercenary Keyboard Warrior]

Most old houses also still need a huge amount spending on them to bring them up to a good standard for an old house.

Successive owners don’t spend that money because ‘I only plan to live here for 5 years’ and eventually they get to the point they require so much spent on them it becomes prohibitively expensive.

People look at things like solar panels the same way and they never get installed.

Other things as well. Lead paint (looking back I was very blase about this in my 1890s house which would have been guaranteed to have had it used during its lifetime), asbestos.
Shockingly bad old wiring etc etc etc

Its 100% house dependant which is part of the issue.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

Other things as well. Lead paint (looking back I was very blase about this in my 1890s house which would have been guaranteed to have had it used during its lifetime), asbestos.
Shockingly bad old wiring etc etc etc

Its 100% house dependant which is part of the issue.

Wiring is one of those things which no one wants to spend any money on and if you are the one holding the can when it finally gives up the ghost, or worse, burns down your house, its not a pleasant experience or cheap to deal with. It's not just the age and lack of safety devices etc, its also quality of life stuff.

A relative of mine lives in a house and I kid you not, there are only 4 single plug sockets on the entire upper floor and unsurprisingly every single one has at least a 4 gang extension lead plugged into it. I've already fixed loads of bodged DIY but re-wiring the place is a bit much of an ask.

Its also a Dorma bungalow and there there is no insulation in the sloped celling and nothing on on any of the external stud walls upstairs. I spent a day topping up all the accessible loft areas to 300mm and but all the ceilings and stud walls need ripping down, insulating and rebuilding. The place is probably full of asbestos anyway given its age so it would be a nightmare to dismantle it all and dispose of properly.

The relative is an OAP and they can't themselves nor can they afford to pay someone to pull down every ceiling and every stud wall upstairs to insulate it all properly. I could do it, I know how and I have the equipment but also work full time and I don't have that kind of time to do a job of that scale in another house, it would take weeks if not months. It would be fine if it was my own house as I could do it in the evenings and weekends over the summer as many have documented on there but its not and they live hours away.

 

[jpaul]

[ yes Insulation standards & consequent energy bills carry a lot of weight in decision for a newer build too.

ht
a 1985 build would suggest you are optimistic on walls/windows

]