House prices, to be sure to be sure

[Francko]

IMO 90% of new houses are poorly/cheaply constructed compared to old and are never going to be in prime locations so why do they hold value so well?

I think this an urban legend. Old houses are just as poorly/cheaply constructed as the new ones. The fact that walls are thicker doesn't make them necessary better quality ones (and most of the time not even more sound-proof at all).

[Chugnut]

I think this an urban legend. Old houses are just as poorly/cheaply constructed as the new ones. The fact that walls are thicker doesn't make them necessary better quality ones (and most of the time not even more sound-proof at all).

Got to disagree with that matey. In my experience, (with the exception of Colt or Prefabs/Airey houses) older houses are generally far superior to the modern day tat.

More parking, more generous gardens, better quality of workmanship. Probably because excessive greed wasn't the principle reason in building the house, unlike modern day developments.

I've heard plenty of people complaining about their new builds, but no-one ever seems to praise them. Seems to be the general feeling in the trade too.

[gingerjedi]

I think this an urban legend. Old houses are just as poorly/cheaply constructed as the new ones. The fact that walls are thicker doesn't make them necessary better quality ones (and most of the time not even more sound-proof at all).

I beg to differ, houses built up to around 20 years ago maybe but when I was looking (7 years ago) I couldn't believe how small and noisy they were because of thin walls and ceilings, also I didn't like the idea of my front door touching the bottom of the staircase or even worse having the staircase in the lounge, I guess they do vary depending on the developer and the target buyers though.

3 story town houses (out of town ) seem to be all the rage these days, I bet the developers are kicking themselves for not thinking off that sooner.

[Bagpuss]

I beg to differ, houses built up to around 20 years ago maybe but when I was looking (7 years ago) I couldn't believe how small and noisy they were because of thin walls and ceilings, also I didn't like the idea of my front door touching the bottom of the staircase or even worse having the staircase in the lounge, I guess they do vary depending on the developer and the target buyers though.

3 story town houses (out of town ) seem to be all the rage these days, I bet the developers are kicking themselves for not thinking off that sooner.

Yes, new builds in the Sarf East tend to be poorly built and tiny, where your back garden shoud be are two other houses. On the whole though, New houses are built to be more energy efficient, my Dad lives in a new build, he used to build houses so is very exacting and quality wise he had few complaints

[cailin maith]

265k that near Dublin? That's dead cheap. I have buddies in Cork who are paid well over that for 3 beds. It's crazy over there.

Yeah it's near enough to Dublin but it's still the assh*le of nowhere...

[Maxamus]

believe me guys, older houses are far superior. New houses that are built by the likes of wimpey and bellway are cheap knock-ups!

I use to work for Sunderland council once upon a time and was sometimes asked to carry out surveys and snagging on new houses so certificates of completion can be given. What i found was that most of the quick knockups by these companys were poorly constructed using cheap materials and the workmanship was poor. They hide they poor work by a good neat looking exterior finish which a buyer sees.

Concrete slabs most of the time are not given enough curing time and would crack easily under temperature changes. Likewise for walls. You would notice cracks in as little as 2yrs!

I willl never buy a new build!

[thunderlizard]

"older houses are better built"

can we further qualify that: the older houses that are still standing today are better built. There were older houses that were worse built, but they fell down/got demolished. Stands to reason innit?

[NoddY]

Paddy is in hoc to the City boys and their Wall Street chums big time. What's worse is he can't inflate away the problem Italian style. He's left with bungalow blight and doll house estates.

[Old Greg]

"older houses are better built"

can we further qualify that: the older houses that are still standing today are better built. There were older houses that were worse built, but they fell down/got demolished. Stands to reason innit?

There is probably some truth in this. Back to back slums were largely bombed in the war or demolished subsequently in slum clearance. these houses weren't just small and pokey and unfit for human habitation but often very poorly built. George Orwell wrote about this in the '30s in Road to Wigan Pier - about housing built in mining subsidence areas with masive cracks down the walss etc. Sounds familiar. Having said that, my modest 1850s house (redbrick 2 up 2 down with modern rear extension) is lasting very well and looks good for another 200 years.