HOUSES THAT ARE UNTOUCHED FOR DECADES

When we moved into our Edwardian house 50+ years ago we were glad some brown furniture had been left for us. Since then we have gradually done what was was needed. But we didn't think we immediately NEEDED to rip.out the bathroom or kitchen as they were perfectly serviceable at the.time, even if quite old. Yet that is what happens round here, people move in and rip everything out as a matter of course even if the previous owner has done the same thing not long before. Such a waste.

I don’t think it’s selfish - in fact it’s more selfish to sell something, take the money then think you have a moral right to be upset if the new owner changes things. I wouldn’t want previous owners of my house being bothered about what we do with it. Planning laws are there to preserve the nature of areas where necessary.

Soulless renovation for the sake of it is chilling.

I’m another one who doesn’t feel attached to a house ( or anything really) that I’ve let go. I don’t understand that sense of ongoing ownership. After all, I didn’t want it any more and I don’t still own it in any way.

If I wanted to retain any sense of control then I should have kept it. Why on earth should I have any say in what someone does with the house they have bought. I don’t expect them to have any say in how I spend what was once their money😬

Stamp duty. Nuff said.

Nobody's business except the house owners'. Can't understand why you're so invested in other people's homes and finance. Each to their own and you have no idea of the personal circumstances or priorities of these people.

We moved into this house,, newly built, in mid 70s. Have always maintained it well but still have original kitchen and bathroom (avocado suite). Did have shower installed over bath, and folding screen fitted, about 20 years ago. Our original lounge carpet was relaid by us in bedroom 20 years ago and is looking a bit threadbare in places but can’t be bothered to hi thru the upheaval if replacing it now we’re in our 80s. Most of our furniture was bought new gradually tho other pieces handed to us by relatives. Why change for the sake if it? Would mention our adult children and spouses live differently🤣

I think the idea of renovation when you're older & maybe physically challenged is just not important.There are far more significant things in life to spend energy on .Each to their own.

What Bluebell and Petra said - 100% !

Lavk of energy one reason. We've needed new kitchen flooring for years. No energy to even buy it, never mind moving the fridge freezer, washing machine etc to put it down. It's difficult when you're older.

Cariad - have you considered taking up a hobby?

It's nobody"s business what people do with their money or how they decorate their house. If you are happy with it that"s all that matters. Can't believe the audacity of the original post

Ha, ha. The more I think about it the funnier it gets.

Buyer: “I gave you £200,000. You’ve spent it on a new car? I wouldn’t have bought that 4 x4. I don’t approve of them. You could have managed with a smaller one like mine.
‘And a trip to Disney! What a rubbish thing to have spent my money on. What do mean it’s not my money any more. When I bought this house and gave you the money for it I thought you would spend it on a new house, just like I did……..

I have completely renovated two flats that were honestly hellholes - you’d hardly leave a dog in them overnight. It was extremely satisfying to turn them both into really nice places to live. We sold the first, the 2nd has been rented out for over 10 years, still looks great.

But as I said to one of the current tenants when they were viewing (she remarked on what a lovely kitchen it was) - ‘It’s an awful lot nicer than mine!’ .

Mine is now over 35 years old and frankly looking very tired. But until I actually have to do it (because e.g. the ancient combi microwave has finally packed up - and they don’t make them the same size to fit the units any more) - I just can’t be bothered with all the faff and hassle.
And as long as it still produces meals, dh honestly couldn’t give a monkey’s.

When house hunting recently online I saw many dated homes, you could often see and understand that a lot of money had been spent in the 70’s/80’s on kitchens, fitted wardrobes etc.
I fully understand someone living with their choices, why change so if you loved it once and it still works.

Personally I never want to live in a home that looks tired/dated but that may change as I age.

One thing that struck me were some agents photographs……just move the commode, put the loo seat down and straighten the curtains!

I must admit that I'm not keen on the furniture aspect unless it's really comfy. Nothing that a good clean and steam won't care. But the kitchen and bathroom? Some people like an older look, also, if it works and isn't broke why try and 'fix' it? I lived in my house with it's avocado green and brown kitchen for almost 25 years before I could afford to change it. As for my kitchen, it was fitted about 20 years ago. It's looking a bit worse for wear now, but I will paint the units as I can't justify spending £10k on cupboards. Each to their own.

I think it is dependent on age and energy, I moved into this house 40 years ago, the kitchen was tiny, we knocked through into the dining room, to make a kitchen/family room, put in french doors to the garden, and a downstairs cloakroom in the hall. We couldn't afford to do the bathroom, and just made do with installing an over bath shower. 20 years on, we divorced, so money was again tight for me left in the house. I met my second husband and we did some work on the kitchen, velux windows to make it lighter, new units , lighting. Also had a shower fitted in the bedroom, as we were sharing the house temporarily with my son and his small family. Then my husband died a few years ago, and although I have a little money put aside for emergencies and could improve the still waiting bathroom, I just haven't got the energy or inclination to start.

Cariadagain, I find it odd too. There are people I know who haven't changed their house for 40 years, living with dark old carpets, old furniture and aertex walls. I couldn't bear it. Now we can I afford it, I like to keep mine light and modern. One reason being that I think people judge you by your house, and I don't want to be treated as an 'old person ' just because my house looks like an old person's house!
But also that 70s to 90s look is for my parents, not for me.

Rather a lot of judgemental posts here! I found it hard to find a buyer for my 1970s house until it was reduced and bought by a fixer-upper. I’d put in a new kitchen and bathroom, but we’d never decorated otherwise over 25 years, just kept it clean. We didn’t mind the way it was, and we had better things to spend our money on.

Fashion goes out of fashion but style doesn't!

Turning houses into fashion statements was a fantastic financial move by DIY shop owners, driven also by
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen etc, etc.
Think of decking in gardens in Ground Force!!

Think about Stately Homes, Palaces, even the old Royal Yacht Britannia (or so I have read!). They all keep the original style and decorations. I read guests on the royal yacht were confronted with fairly basic plumbing!

I think the OP may have fallen into the DIY money trap? That's fine if they like and can afford all mod cons.

Watching Homes Under The Hammer it's so often 'rip it out, start again, paint it white and grey, install bifold doors ... result is, they all look the same and in 10 years will look very outdated. Queue new owners who will spend 1000s all over again!

Alvin Hall, a sort of Martin Lewis from 1990s, said spending money on interior decoration / renovation is a waste of investment. (It's OK to do what you like of course it is.)
But the next person probably won't like your taste and will rip it all out and start again.
So DIY shops get richer and people get poorer.

Every does what thy want to make their home, their home. I am not going to make judgements on anyone else, just cheerfully go my way and do our house up the way we want it.

Cost must always come into it, although, as downsizers, this is not a consideration where our downsized house is concerned because we have sold for more than we have bought.

We can we not just share our preferences and choices without any of the virtue signalling or passive aggression this thread has attracted.

I love my little AGA we inherited. We still have the Roman blinds that we bought with the house. All our furniture is 2nd hand including the Tetrad sofas, we did clean them though. All we did was add to the house and retain the quirkiness. I personally don't like that modern live laugh love vibe. I like old lamps and comfy beds and decent water pressure in the shower.

RillaofIngleside

Cariadagain, I find it odd too. There are people I know who haven't changed their house for 40 years, living with dark old carpets, old furniture and aertex walls. I couldn't bear it. Now we can I afford it, I like to keep mine light and modern. One reason being that I think people judge you by your house, and I don't want to be treated as an 'old person ' just because my house looks like an old person's house!
But also that 70s to 90s look is for my parents, not for me.

Do people really judge you by your house?

When we were running our online business, we had a few wealthy male collectors that came to our house to meet my husband. For example a bloke who works as an investment banker from Luxembourg and one of the collectors could well be the richest man in Midlands.

So far, none of them have gagged at the sight of our swirly 1960s carpet in our living room, our second hand 1960s display cabinets, dining table and chairs or our plain net curtains.

Our house is a 1960s house and I love vintage.

Wow, CariadAgain

I can't believe what you've written, I am convinced it has been said in jest just to provoke a reaction, if that is not the case it's a blinkered opinion that I don't share

There's a world of difference between "full of original features" and what the estate agents would term "in need of modernisation". I agree with CariadAgain, I like a decent kitchen and bathroom. They don't have to be ultra modern but have to be properly planned and installed. I'm currently living in what would be termed a mid-century flat and, although I've renovated throughout, I've tried to keep the original feel and style of the place - though not the orange and brown colour schemes of the time.
A great many older properties also need a thorough update of the electrical and plumbing systems which usually involves a fair amount of replastering and mess. I can appreciate that many people don't want to take this on, but personally I wouldn't feel safe unless this had been done.