New build houses, yeah or nah?

[Count Steer]

(What's non-standard about the bogs?)

Not the usual oval seats and small cisterns, just me being gun shy after trying to service a new trendy bog after it had been fitted for 5 or so years and struggled to find spares, and refused to pay the 5 x mark up on a new seat just because it wasn't oval.
YMMV of course, but first thing I'd do is rip 'em out and replace with regular non trendy sanitary ware, nope that's a lie, first thing I'd do is make sure there are, or install, shut offs / isolators on every water line

I take your point but, if I found a place I wanted and was chucking half a million-ish into it, the bog seats are little more than a minor irritation/background noise. (I'd also try and resist the temptation to push myself to the limit on price and keep a £stash for eliminating the niggly bits and tweaking to my/our requirements).

Having said that, I'm very much a 'Is it in the right place? Is it about right? It'll do. ' person. Fortunately my missus is too and not a 'let's redecorate/get new carpets/furniture/etc etc every 5 years' type.

[weeksy]

Liking the one with a big garage, room to park van + cars, end of a dead end road

That one would be a bit of a project really as it'd take a while to sort the kitchen, the bathroom and a few other bits... Of course you could theoretically do that over time rather than all at once, but would need as i say a chunk of work and expense. But in many ways it was pretty good.... but not fabulous.

[weeksy]

Having said that, I'm very much a 'Is it in the right place? Is it about right? It'll do. ' person.

Me too, but it's a massive step and as you say, the best part of half a million quid, so it's got to be pretty close for sure.

[Count Steer]

Having said that, I'm very much a 'Is it in the right place? Is it about right? It'll do. ' person.

Me too, but it's a massive step and as you say, the best part of half a million quid, so it's got to be pretty close for sure.

When we bought this place we'd sold our old one and agreed a hand-over date (unusual but it wasn't a typical situation) and were ready to rent if needs be. Saw this place and said 'It'll do, for now' and bought it.

20ish years later.....we're still here.

It's way off what I really want in many ways, but it's bob on location and situation-wise.

Have looked as far afield as N Wales and Shropshire, Peak District (and France) etc over the years. Found better houses (for less money) but, just sometimes, you land in your 'sweet spot'.

We probably will move again, but not far. (If I can get over the inertia ).

[Yorick]

When we bought this place, we had perfect situation

It was for sale on a rent to by scheme.
It was 3 huge apartments and we rented the top floor with huge balcony.

We got builders in to check it all over. It was just scruffy and rundown after 5 years rentals.
This reflected our first offer 40k under sale price.
This was quickly accepted.
Then the legal stuff started.

We discovered that it was only legally a 3 bed, not 5. The basement appt wasn't in the deeds.

So another 40k was knocked off our offer. Instantly accepted

If we hadn't been renting here, we'd never have known any of this.

So we got rather a good deal

[MingtheMerciless]

Do you want to be in cycling distance of the cycling centre as No.4 is 8 miles or so from it?

[weeksy]

Do you want to be in cycling distance of the cycling centre as No.4 is 8 miles or so from it?

It's not a prerquisite. It would be nice yes... but it's only a part of the list.

[Mr Moofo]

Do you want to be in cycling distance of the cycling centre as No.4 is 8 miles or so from it?

It's not a prerquisite. It would be nice yes... but it's only a part of the list.

As someone who has moved 27 times since I was 21, and twice to "the middle of nowhere". Don't - the novelty soon wear off, being woken by only the sound of cow bells was lovely for a few days. But getting a taxi to the train station, having to go out to buy milk, waiting for the one bus a day, the risk of getting snowed in, the time to a doctors or hospital all become an issue ...
At least find somewhere with a shop, a pub and a vague sense of community - it makes a great difference

[Taff]

Do you want to be in cycling distance of the cycling centre as No.4 is 8 miles or so from it?

It's not a prerquisite. It would be nice yes... but it's only a part of the list.

As you know, Cannop is home to probably about a quarter of the single-track in the forest, I go there so infrequently that I haven't bothered buying a parking pass for quite a few years.

[crust]

Do you want to be in cycling distance of the cycling centre as No.4 is 8 miles or so from it?

It's not a prerquisite. It would be nice yes... but it's only a part of the list.

As someone who has moved 27 times since I was 21, and twice to "the middle of nowhere". Don't - the novelty soon wear off, being woking by only the sound of cow bells was lovely for a few days. But getting a taxi to the train station, having to go out to buy milk, waiting for the one bus a day, the risk of getting snowed in, the time to a doctors or hospital all become an issue ...
At least find somewhere with a shop, a pub and a vague sense of community - it make sense great difference

He lives in the middle of nowhere now, there's a pub (occasionally - it goes bust every couple of years), a shop and a barbers. Doesn't get snowed in but the roads around his village flood or get closed.

Beeching took care of the station.

It's a lovely place.

[weeksy]

It's not a prerquisite. It would be nice yes... but it's only a part of the list.

As someone who has moved 27 times since I was 21, and twice to "the middle of nowhere". Don't - the novelty soon wear off, being woking by only the sound of cow bells was lovely for a few days. But getting a taxi to the train station, having to go out to buy milk, waiting for the one bus a day, the risk of getting snowed in, the time to a doctors or hospital all become an issue ...
At least find somewhere with a shop, a pub and a vague sense of community - it make sense great difference

He lives in the middle of nowhere now, there's a pub (occasionally - it goes bust every couple of years), a shop and a barbers. Doesn't get snowed in but the roads around his village flood or get closed.

Beeching took care of the station.

It's a lovely place.

I love the way he thinks we can get a taxi

We don't get Taxis here, we can't order take-away, Deliveroo don't know we exist.

[Rockburner]

As someone who has moved 27 times since I was 21, and twice to "the middle of nowhere". Don't - the novelty soon wear off, being woking by only the sound of cow bells was lovely for a few days. But getting a taxi to the train station, having to go out to buy milk, waiting for the one bus a day, the risk of getting snowed in, the time to a doctors or hospital all become an issue ...
At least find somewhere with a shop, a pub and a vague sense of community - it make sense great difference

He lives in the middle of nowhere now, there's a pub (occasionally - it goes bust every couple of years), a shop and a barbers. Doesn't get snowed in but the roads around his village flood or get closed.

Beeching took care of the station.

It's a lovely place.

I love the way he thinks we can get a taxi

We don't get Taxis here, we can't order take-away, Deliveroo don't know we exist.

Similar - we "can" get taxis, but only from certain firms (Uber just craps out, no-driver wil accept the job); Every restaurant we've tried with Just Eat (our app of choice) just ignores us - the first night we were here no less than 3 curry houses took the order off Just Eat's system, then cancelled after realising where we are.

Luckily have found that direct contact with local places results in better delivery services.

[Pirahna]

I moved from London to a small village in Hertfordshire. One intermittent pub, no shop, no taxis, no home delivery takeaway. I had bridleways running north, south, east and west within 200 metres of my house for p pretty much unlimited walking and cycling, miles of lanes for road cycling, and met a great bunch of people.

My nearest neighbour here in Spain is a kilometre away, but it's only five minutes down the track and another five minutes into the village. Great cycling and walking all around, I don't regret my move out of London or my move here.

It's inevitable that I won't be able to live where I do forever, before that time comes I'll have bought a house in the village and that's where I'll end my days.

[Sunny]

As someone who has moved 27 times since I was 21, and twice to "the middle of nowhere". Don't - the novelty soon wear off, being woking by only the sound of cow bells was lovely for a few days. But getting a taxi to the train station, having to go out to buy milk, waiting for the one bus a day, the risk of getting snowed in, the time to a doctors or hospital all become an issue ...
At least find somewhere with a shop, a pub and a vague sense of community - it make sense great difference

He lives in the middle of nowhere now, there's a pub (occasionally - it goes bust every couple of years), a shop and a barbers. Doesn't get snowed in but the roads around his village flood or get closed.

Beeching took care of the station.

It's a lovely place.

I love the way he thinks we can get a taxi

We don't get Taxis here, we can't order take-away, Deliveroo don't know we exist.

Same! Although, there is one curry place that will deliver to us, but they usually get lost, so we collect to save them the bother.

[Mr Moofo]

It's not a prerquisite. It would be nice yes... but it's only a part of the list.

As someone who has moved 27 times since I was 21, and twice to "the middle of nowhere". Don't - the novelty soon wear off, being woking by only the sound of cow bells was lovely for a few days. But getting a taxi to the train station, having to go out to buy milk, waiting for the one bus a day, the risk of getting snowed in, the time to a doctors or hospital all become an issue ...
At least find somewhere with a shop, a pub and a vague sense of community - it make sense great difference

He lives in the middle of nowhere now, there's a pub (occasionally - it goes bust every couple of years), a shop and a barbers. Doesn't get snowed in but the roads around his village flood or get closed.

Beeching took care of the station.

It's a lovely place.

However, he is actually never there …

[MrLongbeard]

Same, a town of 6000, 1 pub will deliver burgers, but no other food delivery places, no taxi's, no super superfast broadband, no 5G, nearest McDonalds an hour round trip, love it.

[Taipan]

Is takeaway delivery really a factor when buying a place?

[KungFooBob]

Is takeaway delivery really a factor when buying a place?

I live 260m as the crow flies from my local Curry House, they do a £13 three course meal deal. I go at least once a week, it's easier than cooking/loading the dish washer

[Sunny]

Is takeaway delivery really a factor when buying a place?

Not necessarily, but it can be a surprise when you're used to not having to think about such things

Honestly, the taxi thing is a way bigger PITA, every time we are heading to an airport.

[Mr Moofo]

Is takeaway delivery really a factor when buying a place?

Not necessarily, but it can be a surprise when you're used to not having to think about such things

Honestly, the taxi thing is a way bigger PITA, every time we are heading to an airport.

Bleeding hell, you all have odd metrics about buying a house. I never mentioned takeaway deliveries . However you lot did …
The middle of nowhere is more what happens when your car breaks down, health scares, having to take kids everywhere all the time.
But i will just let you all live in splendid isolation! And the Count is telling porkies - he lives in the most expensive village in Surrey!