| omes tend to have character and a curious | | | | homes and sometimes even come complete with |
| feeling of being settled into their surroundings. | | | | a vegetable plot! |
| They have seen people come and go and for this | | | | In contrast, new properties tend to look stark. |
| reason people tend to be nostalgic about them. | | | | They have not yet settled into their surroundings |
| They tend to be central to villages and towns and | | | | well and the shrubbery has yet to grow up. |
| those in the country tend to offer a readymade | | | | Builders are interested in building as many |
| community. If you are considering buying one, you | | | | properties on a plot as possible and this can |
| may have an image in your mind of a little | | | | sometimes mean you are crammed in with many |
| cottage, an open fire, fresh flowers and a climbing | | | | other residents. The gardens tend to be fairly |
| shrub outside the front door. | | | | landscaped and neat although depending on the |
| The romanticism of an older home can whisk us | | | | nature of the development still have the potential |
| off our feet and before long our visions blind us | | | | to be of a decent size. With so many houses on |
| from what we should see. As magazine perfect | | | | a plot, look out for windows overlooking your |
| the house could become, chances are it will cost | | | | garden, you need your privacy. |
| you a little more than you expect. If you are | | | | Newer properties can be very well priced, |
| going to buy an older home, be sure to invest in | | | | especially for the first time buyer. They tend to |
| time to investigate its structural soundness. A | | | | be covered by the builder’s insurance for |
| property that looks sound to a lay man’s | | | | a fair few years after completion. This ensures |
| eye may look very different to a surveyor. Be | | | | that any teething problems the property may |
| prepared to take an element of risk when putting | | | | have are dealt with without the expense. They |
| an offer in on an old property, after all if you find | | | | also tend to be very energy efficient and fitted |
| it needs drastic surgery you need to be prepared | | | | with new fixtures and fittings such as kitchen |
| to pay for it. Make your enquiries while you still | | | | cabinets. If you buy off plan, you can not only |
| have the option of walking away. It is worth | | | | negotiate a good deal but you might be able to |
| mentioning that many mortgage companies will | | | | dictate the colour of your carpet. |
| not release monies until they are satisfied that the | | | | It is a matter of preference of course whether |
| more serious issues are addressed. | | | | you subscribe to rustic and old or fresh and new. |
| On the other hand, older homes tend to be more | | | | The important thing to remember is that you |
| spacious, ‘individual’ and altogether | | | | should be open-minded to viewings and choose |
| more appealing. Gardens tend to be bigger in older | | | | the one you feel most comfortable in. |