What would turn you off in a house for sale ?

[sunshinehighway]

Okay, I'm confused since OP said you can't build on less than 2 acres.

I doubt they had the 2 acre rule in 1770.

 

[pyrxtc]

You only need about 800-1000 square feet for the leach field. If you have a 2 acre lot, that's 87,120 square fee, minus however big the house is, you should have plenty of space of build a mansion. Or is the law just you can't change the foot print because of the age of the house? You can't even add on?

You can apply for a permit to add on but my particular lot does not have room to add unless you add up from the Master suite. I think my neighbors would fight that though as it would block the sun from their house.

 

[Kathi OD]

I know it must a Northeast thing, but an unfenced yard would be a deal killer too for me.

A fenced-in yard could be a deal killer for me...especially on a property that's as big as OP's.

 

[tvguy]

A fenced-in yard could be a deal killer for me...especially on a property that's as big as OP's.

Just got back from running an errand. Occured to me that lots that big here aren't fenced,, they are walled.!

 

[pyrxtc]

Just got back from running an errand. Occured to me that lots that big here aren't fenced,, they are walled.!

I have stone walls on two sides of my yard. They are only about 1 foot high but they are there.

 

[nhmommy]

I didn't read everything so sorry if I repeat. My friend and I were just discussing this topic this week. Is it possible to do a energy audit? If you think it will score well then I feel it would be a huge plus. In New England how an older home heats is huge and upgrading for better efficiency is a huge expense.
An energy audit costs aprox $500.
Note this will only help you if you think the house heats/cools better then would be expected.

 

[nhmommy]

I still haven't read everything but I will also suggest removing both vehicles when you take pics and when you do a showing. When someone comes to view the house they will come in separate vehicles from the realtor and possibly even a husband and wife may arrive separately you don't want them to have trouble parking.trying to park 4 vehicles in your driveway would showcase the lack of convenient parking even if it's not normally bad.

 

[North of Mouse]

Just got back from running an errand. Occured to me that lots that big here aren't fenced,, they are walled.!

If you're talking about board privacy fences - a lot of areas will not let you put those up.

 

[beaucoup]

People seem to forget that 1900 ft was a BIG house for that time period. Rooms were small. People were shorter. Beds were shorter. They didn't have closets. They usually didn't even have dressers or bureaus. They had just a couple changes of clothes. One for Sunday best. Maybe 2 for the rest of the week. There was no need for large bedrooms when you had a tiny bed & just a wash stand in it.

Has the character been removed from the home or was it always a very basic, no architecture type home? Assuming the fireplace surround, mantle & hearth was removed at some point in the past 240 yrs?

What does the tax record call the house? 5 bedrooms? then its 5 bedrooms.

My parents house in MA from 1950s was 3 bedrooms. 1 closet in entire house. Tiny rooms. All this need for closets is a more recent thing. By todays standard, the bedrooms were so small, I think some people here would say the house had 0 bedrooms, and 3 closets. lol 1 small bath too.

I am familiar with OP's part of NH & what the small towns are like in that area. Far from stores & jobs of high pay. The house is pretty typical. You often see lots of discarded items in yards compared to where I live. Its that yankee thrift spirit I think. lol Might come in handy some day so lets keep the old vehicles & non working house parts. Maybe not as much in her lake town, but many parts of the state for sure. Just something I always notice when up that way to visit family for past 3 decades.

 

[tvguy]

If you're talking about board privacy fences - a lot of areas will not let you put those up.

The CCRs in my subdivision require privacy fencing. Now, I don't think it is required by the county unless you have a dog. Dogs have to be on a leash with someone holding them, or in a fenced yard. You can't leave a dog tied up in a yard (too many dogs strangled themselves on the ropes).

 

[pyrxtc]

People seem to forget that 1900 ft was a BIG house for that time period. Rooms were small. People were shorter. Beds were shorter. They didn't have closets. They usually didn't even have dressers or bureaus. They had just a couple changes of clothes. One for Sunday best. Maybe 2 for the rest of the week. There was no need for large bedrooms when you had a tiny bed & just a wash stand in it.

Has the character been removed from the home or was it always a very basic, no architecture type home? Assuming the fireplace surround, mantle & hearth was removed at some point in the past 240 yrs?

What does the tax record call the house? 5 bedrooms? then its 5 bedrooms.

My parents house in MA from 1950s was 3 bedrooms. 1 closet in entire house. Tiny rooms. All this need for closets is a more recent thing. By todays standard, the bedrooms were so small, I think some people here would say the house had 0 bedrooms, and 3 closets. lol 1 small bath too.

I am familiar with OP's part of NH & what the small towns are like in that area. Far from stores & jobs of high pay. The house is pretty typical. You often see lots of discarded items in yards compared to where I live. Its that yankee thrift spirit I think. lol Might come in handy some day so lets keep the old vehicles & non working house parts. Maybe not as much in her lake town, but many parts of the state for sure. Just something I always notice when up that way to visit family for past 3 decades.

My Tax card says 4 beds 2.5 baths. They aren't going to call their PO a bedroom. Also, those chairs are gone, they were out there with a free sign and went fast. Some of the newer homes I've seen have small bedroom too.

yes, some places have lots of stuff outside in the yard, thankfully not my neighborhood.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Wallpaper. That is a crazy mess to get off.

 

[North of Mouse]

The CCRs in my subdivision require privacy fencing. Now, I don't think it is required by the county unless you have a dog. Dogs have to be on a leash with someone holding them, or in a fenced yard. You can't leave a dog tied up in a yard (too many dogs strangled themselves on the ropes).[/QUOTE

Sorry OP, I know!
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a CCR?

It's true here too about the dogs, leashes, tied, etc. Most people here seem to put the invisible fences in, though I'm *not* a fan of them, or keep them inside. Some dogs have and will cross that line.

 

[tvguy]

The CCRs in my subdivision require privacy fencing. Now, I don't think it is required by the county unless you have a dog. Dogs have to be on a leash with someone holding them, or in a fenced yard. You can't leave a dog tied up in a yard (too many dogs strangled themselves on the ropes).[/QUOTE

Sorry OP, I know!
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a CCR?

It's true here too about the dogs, leashes, tied, etc. Most people here seem to put the invisible fences in, though I'm *not* a fan of them, or keep them inside. Some dogs have and will cross that line.

Covenants, conditions and restrictions. The rules of the area you live in In my case, they were drafted by the company that built my subdivision. We have almost none. Just that backyards have to be fenced. But in driving around this morning, it does make me wonder how much is regional difference versus legal requirement. I drove by an area where homes are on 5 acres, and everyone has their property fenced. If nothing else, it marks the property lines. And in watching one too many episodes of Judge Judy where there is a neighbor dispute, her first question always is, "is the property fenced, and if not, why not."

Even Mount Vernon is fenced, and that's a pretty old Northeastern home.

 

[North of Mouse]

tvguy, I've always lived in the south (but in several states, but we've never lived where it was *required* to fence your property.

 

[tvguy]

tvguy, I've always lived in the south (but in several states, but we've never lived where it was *required* to fence your property.

No way for me to know all the laws, but it certainly seems to be common practice to fence in even acres of property. But yes, like I posted, I have been places where yards were not fenced. The lack of privacy would drive me nuts.

 

[bellebud]

OP, had another thought to 'charm up' your house. If your light fixtures are modern looking, I'd change what I could to historically old looking ones.

 

[trishwal]

This has been such an intriguing thread! Especially since the OP will soon be living practically in my backyard (which, BTW if you don't know many ppl here or have any questions about the area I'd be happy to help).

When I think of living in an OLD home, it's turn of the century, not the OTHER turn of the centrury because at that time your home was built was hunters and gatherers on our property! There's an old cemetery that has stones as far back as the 1860's within walking distance of our home, but that's about all the history here in suburbia.

We see ourselves moving in the next 5-10 years, opposite of you, houses further apart yet with neighbors that are personally closer to one another. I've met everyone at our end of the block and we're all casually friendly to one another, but the one directly across the street won't even talk to us!!!

I think so many of the suggestions here are good, especially about playing up the charm. Also if there are any structural or other major problems with the house it's best to just put it out there because no one likes surprises and it will gain you major bonus points for honesty. Your price seems to already reflect that, but then again, I don't know what houses go for around there for that vintage.

 

[pyrxtc]

People seem to forget that 1900 ft was a BIG house for that time period. Rooms were small. People were shorter. Beds were shorter. They didn't have closets. They usually didn't even have dressers or bureaus. They had just a couple changes of clothes. One for Sunday best. Maybe 2 for the rest of the week. There was no need for large bedrooms when you had a tiny bed & just a wash stand in it.

Has the character been removed from the home or was it always a very basic, no architecture type home? Assuming the fireplace surround, mantle & hearth was removed at some point in the past 240 yrs?

It was always a basic, no frills house. The fireplace surround and mantles (the two that had them) are still intact as well as the bread baking oven. The living room mantle has had bookshelves built into both sides of it. And the kitchen is almost as tall as me and spans almost the whole wall.

What does the tax record call the house? 5 bedrooms? then its 5 bedrooms.

My parents house in MA from 1950s was 3 bedrooms. 1 closet in entire house. Tiny rooms. All this need for closets is a more recent thing. By todays standard, the bedrooms were so small, I think some people here would say the house had 0 bedrooms, and 3 closets. lol 1 small bath too.

This has been such an intriguing thread! Especially since the OP will soon be living practically in my backyard (which, BTW if you don't know many ppl here or have any questions about the area I'd be happy to help).

When I think of living in an OLD home, it's turn of the century, not the OTHER turn of the centrury because at that time your home was built was hunters and gatherers on our property! There's an old cemetery that has stones as far back as the 1860's within walking distance of our home, but that's about all the history here in suburbia.

We see ourselves moving in the next 5-10 years, opposite of you, houses further apart yet with neighbors that are personally closer to one another. I've met everyone at our end of the block and we're all casually friendly to one another, but the one directly across the street won't even talk to us!!!

I think so many of the suggestions here are good, especially about playing up the charm. Also if there are any structural or other major problems with the house it's best to just put it out there because no one likes surprises and it will gain you major bonus points for honesty. Your price seems to already reflect that, but then again, I don't know what houses go for around there for that vintage.

I don't know anyone there at all. The closest person I know will be 17 hours away in AZ. No structural problems that I know of. Everything that needs to be done is cosmetic, which because of the age is amazing.

 

[7165red]

the neighbors next door.