decision overwhelm

Unless you are a younger gransnetter, choose the one easiest to look after as you get older and least needing doing and an easy manage garden. Think of what you might need when you are less able. think of what is nicest if you spend quite a bit of time in your home not abut and about.

Think - supposing I cant drive anymore, which is best. (local shop? Nice cafe? good buses? )

Good Luck with your search hazelbeech, I think that overwhelm feeling is very real.
For me, I find as I get older the location of the house becomes more important, rather than the layout or possibly having a smaller kitchen than my ideal.
Easier access to transport, doctors, shops and community could make all the difference to quality of life and independence and that would be more important to me.
Take you time searching and don't let anyone pressure you

If I have a dilemma I always find writing down the pros and cons of the situation helps.
You could rank each property according to the must haves in your new home, giving a 1/2 or 3 points to each and see which comes out tops.

Yes, check out the area first.

I'm presuming you have retired, hazelbeech as you don't mention having to be near to work.

Check out doctors, dentists, social groups too. It can take a long time but checking out an area of the new location first, then looking at properties in that area can be the best way to go about it.

I think the most important thing is location, particularly as we get older. Proximity to the GP, shops, library, restaurants, whatever else you use or are likely to use is much more important than the style of house, IMO. If you have to plan every outing with military precision it will impact much more on your life than whether you have an older or newer style house. Is there a bus stop nearby, and how likely is the route to be cut? Is there a church hall, and if so, does it have activities for older people?

Also, as Wyllow says, the ease of maintaining the house is important too, particularly in a new area where you don't know people to ask for recommendations.

Make sure you look closely at what work might need doing. This is vital. Workmen’s prices are extremely high now and costs of materials have rocketed. We are renovating our house and have blown the budget. Prices are going up and up. So don’t be afraid to make a low offer as it’s a buyer’s market at the moment.

I would say location first, then look at amount of work to be done, then ask can I manage here on my own without help and a car. I want to be independant as long as I can. . Really don't want to leave my house but it's too big and sure the garden expands each year, I love the location though.

New build (old houses will eat into your pension fund).
Small garden,
Bus route, proximity to GP Surgeries, corner shop. ,
Main Bedroom with en-suite, if possible
My friend (79) has just bought a new-build. She hardly uses the heating, because the insulation is fantastic.
If there’s any problem, she just rings the Agent because new houses carry a 10 year NHBC warranty

I had to make decisions like yours 7 mths ago and in the end went for a 5 yr old house near a market town, it needed nothing doing but we repainted anyway and it’s nice not having to worry about boilers breaking down etc. , I weighed up pros and cons and had to compromise on the garden but I at least had family to view with me and help me decide and as it turned out my eldest daughter now lives with me.
Do look at accessibility as others have said and in my opinion newer rather than older means less spendy on maintenance good luck..

I would never buy a new build. We have had two. Both were shoddily built (They were built by supposedly premium companies), We had several years of trying to get snagging problems dealt with and found the uality of the materials used to build them were a constant drain of our finances.

Ive been drawn to doer/uppers with big gardens How funny! I haven't thought about when I get (even) older so proximity to services is something I should consider. Thank you

keepcalmandcavachon

Good Luck with your search hazelbeech, I think that overwhelm feeling is very real.
For me, I find as I get older the location of the house becomes more important, rather than the layout or possibly having a smaller kitchen than my ideal.
Easier access to transport, doctors, shops and community could make all the difference to quality of life and independence and that would be more important to me.
Take you time searching and don't let anyone pressure you

Gosh you have made some very useful points here that I haven't even considered. Thank you.

M0nica

I would never buy a new build. We have had two. Both were shoddily built (They were built by supposedly premium companies), We had several years of trying to get snagging problems dealt with and found the uality of the materials used to build them were a constant drain of our finances.

Agree I'd never buy new build. I've been drawn to 1960s houses. New builds have tiny gardens which is a huge 'no'.

New builds are often on estates with lots of young families. Nothing wrong with that, and I'm not at all suggesting you want to live in an older person ghetto, but if you hope to make friends it might be better to live in a more mixed area. It's a shame you can't tell us where you are looking - if it were my home town I could tell you exactly where to look and where to avoid .

Gran22boys

Make sure you look closely at what work might need doing. This is vital. Workmen’s prices are extremely high now and costs of materials have rocketed. We are renovating our house and have blown the budget. Prices are going up and up. So don’t be afraid to make a low offer as it’s a buyer’s market at the moment.

It doesn't seem to be a buyer's market where I am looking! Competition is fierce especially for those needing renovation. I need a total rethink! Thank you

I think future-proofing is the name of the game here. Make sure you will be able to live, not just exist, as you become older and less robust. That also means, if possible, being able to pay for help as it becomes desirable.
For me, being able to walk to a frequent bus has become vital. It takes me to the town centre, the railway station and the hospital.
Yes, I miss the Victorian family house with its big garden, and I rather hate my poky hall, the fake "Georgian" bits the builders tacked onto to this 1980s house. But it worked for me and DH and for now, I can manage it with occasional paid help.
Good luck. Let us know how you get on.


Write a list of must have

Simply put, in this decision, don't let your heart rule your head.
Though you do need to like the property you choose, of course!

I’ve had four brand new houses and three under 20 years old, never had more than a couple of minor problems that were sorted quickly.
I wouldn’t buy anything needing a lot of work, tradesmen now are hard to find and cost an absolute fortune !

I was like you and am now very happily living in a 1980s bungalow (which I never even considered before). I’m not good with choice but unlike you, my family were happy to come to viewings and never pushed me but were really supportive. I too would never buy a new build and would ALWAYS do a proper in-depth survey.

Can I just add that I'm currently living in a (big) Victorian terraced house. I love the beauty of it but the "long and narrow"shape is one I'd not choose again.

We moved here from a Georgian farmhouse and this is the first time I've ever lived in the long and narrow shape. Most have had a sort-of central hall (which I liked) but I have lived in all sorts of houses - and the long and narrow is my least favourite. This doesn't mean we haven't been happy here. We have, and it is stuffed with lovely details... but we too are looking to move and are considering this next move as probably the last one (or next-to last).

The proximity of at least one decent shop, of a surgery etc is important but I'dalso like to have some culture nearby - or at least accessible by a short train journey (say) - and although I hate to say it, our year in a modern (rented) flat in North America was super-easy but our hearts wouldn't let us go into one again.

Re areas, I have done a lot of research online. So much can be deduced by looking at online maps and "walking" the areas with Google,looking at statistics and so on.

Can someone spare maybe one afternoon to look at your favourite one or two - once you have found them?

As I said I bought a five year old house it’s what most would still call a new build estate it happens to be very well built and well insulated, previous owner said he had few issues about the build. I can’t tell you what a weight off my mind it is to not worry about maintenance issues as in my previous house. Don’t discount newish builds just take a look. This estate has great walks locally and I walk among fields and lanes and a local Brook which I walk along most days.

Another vote for future proofing here……..access to local amenities as well as ease of living when mobility possibly declines must surely be top of any list when looking for a new home.

Last year we sold our big old Victorian home and bought a 3 year old house, it’s not on an estate, we have a large garden overlooking a beautiful Church, the building quality is exceptional.

Our heating bills are less than a third of our previous home and we are warm!

It’s a 4 bed, 3 bathroom house with double garage, we can walk to the doctors, there is a Co op, post office and pub in the village as well as good public transport should we ever need it.

It’s the best thing we ever did.

The house we bought was one we kept dismissing online so my advice is to look at everything.

hazelbeech You haven’t told us much about your position, why are you moving, will you be working and have you sold your current home?

There is so much to consider.

How lucky are you to have such choices! When I was last house hunting I thought I was never going to find what I thought was right.

I have moved house several times in my life and for me it was always about how I felt walking through what is in effect a building you want to make your home.

Although others would say go with your head not your heart I would disagree. The minute I walked into this house I knew it was right for me. So my advice is to go with your instincts.

What you are saying to me is that you can't decide, so maybe none of these houses are right? That's just another take- maybe the right one is still waiting for you?

You need to listen to the very good advice you have been given here too- especially about location. Local services, transport links etc are really important. I wasn't looking to live in a village, but this one has shops, a PO, three pubs and good bus services so that made the difference to me. It is a great place to live.

One of my priorites was a garden, but this house doesn't have one, just a very private back yard which faces south. It is so easy to maintain.

Buying a house is a major undertaking and I wish you well in making that decision.

You have to really want a house to make it a home.