Essential Guides & Advice How To Buy A House – Advice & Tips

Date Published:

09/09/2008

What Type Of Property Should You Buy?

Buying the right period or style of house could make all the difference to both how quickly you can sell it on, and how much you can do to it in terms of expansion and improvements. However, what you choose may also need more spending on it than a property of another age - here's what to look out for.

Georgian Housing

The Georgian era gave us beautiful buildings. Properties described as Georgian were built roughly 1700 to 1837 says property conservationist The Georgian Group. Homes are typically grand affairs but you will also come across small terraced examples.

Typical Georgian Features

Mainly large town houses but small terraces exist
Elegant classical styles of Ancient Greece and Rome
A hipped roof
Sash windows
Chimneys on both sides of the house
Thick walls particularly between terraces to prevent spread of fire
Simple exterior
Large windows
High ceilings
Larger rooms

Developing A Georgian Property

Kevin Hill of eserve chartered surveyors advises: ‘From a property development point of view, the problem with Georgian houses is that most are listed buildings with original features which will limit what you can do. Stucco rendering, complex roof formations and drainage are the key problem areas to watch out for. The solid walls are also prone to dry rot. It’s likely you’ll have to pay through the nose to get a property to a good standard.’

Is A Georgian Home A Good Buy?

Obviously, as in all cases, you need to find out if the property you are looking at is in a desirable or up and coming location. Assuming it is, this style of property tends to hold its value, even in a tricky market. However, its upkeep can outweigh any profit you might squeeze out of a stagnant market – so choose wisely and go into the deal with your eyes open to all its potential costs.

What To Watch For

Find out early on about whether the property you’re interested in has any conservation issues – these will be tricky and costlier to get round than a property without them. Bear in mind too, that the generous window sizes make for expensive upkeep, both in terms of replacement, maintenance and insulation. Also, it’s worth remembering that any old property that you develop will have to conform to current building regulations, so you might find you are forced to remove the original doors and replace them with replica fire doors. This might be a shame aesthetically, but it’s a costly business, too.

For more about Georgian housing, click here >>

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