We have started the long search….

Good advice Farnorth . Keep an open mind. We missed opportunities by not doing so.

It could be worth looking at a few houses that only one of you likes, rather than rule them out straight away.
The other might come over to that point of view.
If not, there's no loss.

Good luck nada!

tickingbird
I would happily have a new build but DP really wants an older house.
He would like to move further out, but I am still working and don’t want to be any further away from work than we are now.
So we have agreed to respect each other’s decisions on both criteria.
However, that means we have ruled out a lot of the market immediately!
I can’t see this being an easy search

I moved into a new build 2 yrs ago having lived in older character properties. So much easier. Heating bills are much, much lower, so much easier to clean and more secure. I feel safer and still in a good area with countryside around the corner.

We will be looking for a bungalow in the new year. Too early yet to look I think.

Good idea germanshepherdsmum!
Thanks

When we were looking to move we saved a LOT of wasted trips by doing two things:

1. Set up an account with the Land Registry and you can then view the title of any registered property (the vast majority are registered now) - £3 for the title plan showing the extent of the property and £3 for the title registers which will show if there are any restrictions (they may not be set out in full but you can apply for a copy of the document imposing them). This is for properties in England and Wales only. Looking at the title plan would have shown the separated garden and shared drive.

2. Look at the property on Google Earth to see what’s nearby.

Good luck!

Hi shady, yes there is a floor plan.
There wasn’t, however, mention of a house set back behind it (not visible from the photo). This part we assumed would be the parking and garden, but you had to walk past said house to get to the garden. And parking would have been so limited as the drive was shared access.
I wish estate agents were upfront about these things . It would save everyone a lot of wasted time.
That’s the first house we have viewed seriously since I sold mine and moved into DP’s at the end of September.

On the way back we stopped outside a previously run down cottage that we viewed a couple of years ago before either of us were in any position to buy (but was being nosey ?) Unfortunately, I don’t really have any vision when I look at places and this one was in such a state, there were flies and dead birds everywhere. It has obviously been bought by a property developer and has been resold (STC).
When we got home we looked online and it’s unrecognisable! It’s stunning!
But not only is it too late now, it would also be out of our price range.
I know what you mean a place feeling like home. Hopefully it’s not too long until we get that feeling!

Out of interest Flaxseed had the vendor paid to have a floor plan? Mine hadn't, I engaged someone to do it when I completed. Really helps when you are planning where to put your furniture as it shows chimney breasts etc. How many houses have you seen so far? I must have seen at least twenty and none felt like 'home'. Do make a list of must haves, nice to haves, and definitely don't wants.

Well, the house was not right for either of us. Too dark, no scope to renovate to our liking, no parking and the garden was detached from the house which was very odd.

Roll on the new year when more properties should appear on the market.

Sorry to hear that Shady57

I am on a Frenchic Fan Forum on Facebook, and several people have 'lightened' their beams to good effect. Hard work though, do you want to have to do work?

I'm 64 and I wish I'd bought a new build now. I sold my 1847 house and bought this small 1930's bungalow, it has wet rot and damp problems that couldn't be seen by the surveyor because of the fitted carpets. I didn't expect to have to do such intrusive work and am fed up.

Have a happy Christmas, more properties will be on the market in the New Year.

We’re house hunting too! Somewhere in Wales between Cardigan and Llandudno says DH ?
Nothing coming up yet but fingers crossed!
Good luck everyone.

I hope you manage to find a compromise somehow.

I had always lived in older properties with character until I moved into a new-build semi earlier this year. I could never have envisaged doing that, but it is so convenient - it hardly needs any heating as it retains heat so well; and the sound-proofing is brilliant - I have not heard a peep from the adjoining neighbours. And it has wonderful views too.

Just seen a post further down from coolgran65 on the same journey.

coolgran65 - you are not alone!