James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Pros and cons of living in an apartment over a house?
Obviously there are some obvious ones but any that you might not think of until you live in one?
There are a few nice purpose built blocks round here but there are rumours they are full of "social housing" types so i'm not sure.
[Edited on 18-03-2009 by James]
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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I looked round a load when finding mine, most felt cramped, no outside space, shite views, often near noisy roads and with shite noise barriers between your appartment and the ones next to and above/below.
I do love living in mine though - its right in the middle of Manchester so can walk everywhere and get practically anything in walking distance, I have a decent sized balcony so have some outside space, its way off the main roads so is quiet and I actually managed to get a decent view (the main reason I bought it over others), its also fairly well (its never going to be perfect) insulated from the noises. I also benefit from being fairly high up so rarely use my heating as those below/next to me heat my place!
I do hate some things though - a lot of them are bought to be rented out so you end up having neighbours who dont look after the communial areas as most would - the amount of times Ive just seen rubbish thrown into one of the lifts or marks over the walls makes me  . Also if you get next to someone who is a really noisey fucker then it'll ruin your life - luckily the worst Ive had is a couple who lived together for a few months and used you argue a hell of a lot, but it was good fun listening to it all.
Other than that it isnt too bad. I would def miss having somewhere to sit outside if I didnt have the balcony, especially come summer.
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Yeah noise was my main fear I think.
Looking at something like this:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-20515918.html?locationIdentifier=STATION%5E10202&sortByPriceDescending=false&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=2&radius=1.0&pageNumber=1&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DSTATION%255E10202%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26minBedrooms%3D2%26maxBedrooms%3D2%26radius%3D1.0
Outside patio, views of the local canal. Within walking distance of mainline station which would save me £100 a month in parking for starters.
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dannymccann
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire
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I couldnt live in a flat due to the experiences weve had so far, mainly due to 'noise pollution', when you are looking round you can guarantee the people around that flat wont be in or wont be making the maximum noise they ever make  Which is a shame cos they are a good, modern, cool even, way of living
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Pro's - No garden.
Cons - No garden.
 
Seriously though ive been in apartments which are more spacious than a typical detached house & better set out. What would stop me having one over a house is I live in a flat just now so dont see the point in moving to something similar, I dont like having people joined on, you hear everything no matter how much insulation they claim to have used. Lack of a garage to store my junk/work on the car would be a major diadvantage for me also.
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Colin
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Registered: 4th Apr 02
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Is there no townhouse style builds near you? You get a bit of a comprimise of both with one of these.
I'd love to get one of these that are local to me - http://www.s1homes.com/newhomes/2008063011264975.shtml?development=10
4 bedrooms. Massive Lounge. No garden but does have large deck (summer bbq's  ) which doubles as a car port to the garage. I think there mint, end plot with neighbours to only one side would be ideal!!
[Edited on 18-03-2009 by Colin]
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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If there was they would be out of my budget. That flat is at the top end of my budget, anything vaguely resembling a house will be a lot more.
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Danny P
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Registered: 20th Nov 02
Location: Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire
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quote:
Originally posted by James
There are a few nice purpose built blocks round here but there are rumours they are full of "social housing" types so i'm not sure.
Thats my main concern around here.
There are a few very nice appartment blocks round here, but, the market is obviously slowing down at the moment and there are loads left unsold. Good thing for me looking, but if they dont sell then I bet the Council will snap a load up on a bulk buy to get them cheaper, then rent the out to dole scummers.
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Would love a place like this
http://www.homesonview.co.uk/Scripts/fulldetails.aspx?cid=BRANSURR&aid=BRANSURR&pid=BSP00311&src=rightmove
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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This would be perfect
http://www.seymours-estates.co.uk/Property/Residential/for-sale/Woking/Surrey/WKSEY080993
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dannymccann
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Registered: 9th Aug 06
Location: Doddington, Lincolnshire
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By the looks of the area and the cars and what not the Seymours one looks viable as a terrace as you will have respectful neighbours, dont forget a shit neighbour on one side of a terrace will ruin your experience of your home
edit - just gone through the pictures, looks really really nice Although to me its so expensive, but then im further north than you
[Edited on 19-03-2009 by dannymccann]
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neoquip
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Registered: 12th Aug 02
Location: Nottm
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quote:
Originally posted by James
This would be perfect
http://www.seymours-estates.co.uk/Property/Residential/for-sale/Woking/Surrey/WKSEY080993
eek £210k!!!!!!
didn't pay that for ours! shows how areas put the price up
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Adge
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Registered: 28th Aug 04
Location: Lancashire
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i live in a house now bt i will be buying an apartment once my fixed rate mrtage expires!
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Twiggy
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Registered: 15th Oct 04
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The North house prices FTW!
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BYRON
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Registered: 1st Jun 04
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Consider any monthly service and maintenance charges too.
I looked at plenty of apartments, and the house won for me purely on outside space. Cosmo touched on a few things aswell which added to my decision.
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Ian W
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Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
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quote:
Originally posted by James
Yeah noise was my main fear I think.
Looking at something like this:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-20515918.html?locationIdentifier=STATION%5E10202&sortByPriceDescending=false&minBedrooms=2&maxBedrooms=2&radius=1.0&pageNumber=1&backToListURL=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DSTATION%255E10202%26sortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26minBedrooms%3D2%26maxBedrooms%3D2%26radius%3D1.0
Outside patio, views of the local canal. Within walking distance of mainline station which would save me £100 a month in parking for starters.
Thats the type of thing im looking for, luckily there no where near that pricey up here, I love the North
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Danny P
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Registered: 20th Nov 02
Location: Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire
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quote:
Originally posted by James
This would be perfect
http://www.seymours-estates.co.uk/Property/Residential/for-sale/Woking/Surrey/WKSEY080993
I'm so glad I live up North.
One about the same size as that down the road from me currently sitting at 85K 
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--DAN--
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Registered: 3rd Feb 03
Location: Bottesford. Drives;3 Series
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quote:
Originally posted by James
This would be perfect
http://www.seymours-estates.co.uk/Property/Residential/for-sale/Woking/Surrey/WKSEY080993
@ the price.
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
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Fucking northerners 
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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Pros - it's cheaper, more modern and requires less maintenance than an older house. It also has less rooms, which means each room is bigger. My bedroom and living room are a very good size but I've no dining room and only two bedrooms. Which on my own is OK.
BTL and investment means there's also loads empty at the moment, which is good for peace and free parking.
Cons - BTL means you get neighbours who don't care and drop litter and make a mess of communal areas. I hate hate hate hate that when junk mail is delivered to everyone some other people in the block just drop it by the mailboxes by the front door like that's a bin. The bin is over the car park 30ft away. Just lazy.
Plus there's the issue of noise although if I'm being honest that's probably more a complaint which my neighbours have against me!! Having said that the flat whose bedroom butts up to mine have a new baby and although I have heard her cry it's very quiet indeed, like you wouldn't even notice if if you had a bit of music on. They're well built.
And my view is shit. But I don't look out of the window.
If I was thinking financially I wouldn't make the same decision again. I would rent one. But hindsight is a wonderful thing.
If I didn't worry about the finance too much I would definitely do it again. It's a nice place.
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by Ian
Cons - BTL means you get neighbours who don't care and drop litter and make a mess of communal areas. I hate hate hate hate that when junk mail is delivered to everyone some other people in the block just drop it by the mailboxes by the front door like that's a bin. The bin is over the car park 30ft away. Just lazy.
You think that is bad, our mailboxes have a bin right next to it as we had the same problem with people sorting their mail and just dumping the junk on the floor...and they still do it even though the bin is right there If I ever catch anyone doing it I'll collect all the junk for a week and put it under their door!
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Aaron
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Registered: 9th Aug 04
Location: Cottingham, East Riding
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My two cents (I live in an apartment btw)
Pro's - No garden to look after, easier to maintain, easier and quicker to clean, cheaper to run (in terms of heating etc), nice view from balcony.
I live on the top floor of my building. I love living here....but I’d never live on a floor other then the top one, because I wouldn’t like people above me.
Cons - No personal garden for the summer, no personal drive way (although I have a car park with a reserved space), noise from other people in my building really does my head in (banging doors etc)...so much so that I’ve on a few occasions ramped my music right up to get my own back (and one of the cunts who bangs doors had the cheek to knock on my door to ask me to turn it down ), you generally have to be more considerate in terms of making noise.
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Tom
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
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Pro's, easy to look after, will look nice outisde, should have decent people living there but not necessarily.
Cons, cramped, thin walls, communal areas are a bit pointless cos' you feel stupid using them etc.
I used to live in a new build apartment and it was ok but expensive for what it actually was and I would choose a less 'shiney' house over an apartment any day.
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Doug
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Registered: 8th Oct 03
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Flats are for renting and houses are for buying.
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Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
Location: Im the real one!
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quote:
Originally posted by Doug
Flats are for renting and houses are for buying.
Depends on the apartment/flat.
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