Houses with Character or Just Being a Snob

ihbh on 06/07/2020 - 10:28

Do Ozbargainers see some houses bursting with character, while others don't have any at all? Or are you only concerned with a comfortable place to live in and that maybe I am a snob?

I was browsing the smh and got click-baited onto Domain yesterday and read these two articles. The Brighton property is lovely - high ceilings, spacious proportions, lots of light - full of character. I especially admire the Victorian features, coming from a Federation. In contrast, the Granville one is new, full of concrete and tiles, and monotonous. Interestingly the Brighton property is advertised with 3 bedrooms; the Granville one with 7 bedrooms, even though the Brighton one is much larger.

Leaving aside the price difference of probably 5-6x, do you agree with my assessment; which would you prefer to live in?

Poll Options

  • 37
    Some have character and some don't
  • 55
    Who cares
Home & Garden

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2020 - 10:35
    +5

    'Character' is code word for a tear down, idiots with money love places with character

    • ssquid on 06/07/2020 - 10:45
      +4

      Wonky floorboards that creak, doors that stick in their frames, cupboards that pop open when you close another one - they're not flaws, it's just "character"!

      • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2020 - 10:51

        My favourites are the giant cracks along the hallway and living room walls, oh the character!

  • bloom on 06/07/2020 - 10:35
    +1

    All about the feng shui

  • Euphemistic on 06/07/2020 - 10:39
    +1

    Location location location.

    Aside from that, aesthetics are relatively easy to change, you have to like the layout and size of a property.

    Our current home has loads of character, especially compared to all the ‘standard’ project homes around us but that wasn’t even on the list of wants when looking. It fit all the other criteria first.

    • ihbh on 06/07/2020 - 10:43

      I assumed but should have stated, aside from location, and other factors, …

      In reality, this isn't the case. Character houses are usually found in more expensive locations, and can have conservation orders to preserve some of their character.

  • trustnoone on 06/07/2020 - 10:41

    Yeah definitely one of those "each to their own" sort of thing. For me the Granville one feels more modern and I love the look and design way more then the Brighton one. Brighton feels old to me, though if you had to describe it I would go with "character".

    At my price range its hard because I'm poor, but if they were more 1:1 I'd go for the modern look, but thats just because of my personal preferred aesthetic.

    • CheapandUsed on 06/07/2020 - 10:55
      +7

      Yeah definitely one of those "each to their own" sort of thing

      I am the opposite to you so it really is each to their own. For me the modern Granville one feels cold and sterile, like a shop floor converted to a house. Whilst the Brighton is warm, inviting and homely - in my opinion.

      Although the Granville could easily be improved with some colour/art/decent furniture, so then it would be location (I personally wouldn't live in Granville at this time).

      • ihbh on 06/07/2020 - 13:15

        Sterile was the word I was looking for.

  • Muzeeb on 06/07/2020 - 11:09
    +1

    I thought that the ozbargain community agreed a while ago that sex appeal is the most important feature of a house.

    • bloom on 06/07/2020 - 11:39

      Haha where was that post about the guy adding a deck on his townhouse for sex appeal

      • Muzeeb on 06/07/2020 - 11:52

        I can't talk. I show off my deck to increase sex appeal.

        • Ozpit on 07/07/2020 - 10:12
          +3

          Is ‘deck’ a misspelling?

  • Ryanek on 06/07/2020 - 11:10
    +3

    As soon as I clicked on that Brighton link, my wallet burst into flames.

    • Ezekiel2320 on 06/07/2020 - 13:22

      Wallet? Oh I think that's something the maid has..? /s

    • Ozpit on 07/07/2020 - 10:14

      I think it’s spelled ‘Brayton’.

  • Hithere on 06/07/2020 - 11:12
    +1

    How's the serenity?

  • SnowDragon on 06/07/2020 - 11:20
    +3

    The Brighton one just looks better because it is actually furnished and homely. That's what I would say gives it character. It looks as though people have actually lived there.

    The Granville place is a modern cookie cutter house with nothing which looks like a family has flourished in it. It's empty and boring which is a huge turn off. In addition to that, the photographer hasn't even captured every room.

    • stratbargain on 06/07/2020 - 11:24
      +2

      The Brighton one looks better because it's 6-7X the price. Create the same house in the budget of the Granville one and you'll be left with completely different "character" or a "renovators delight"

      • ihbh on 06/07/2020 - 13:17

        Create the same house in the budget of the Granville

        You might end up with a 42-49 bedroom monstrosity!

  • RCMD11 on 06/07/2020 - 11:40
    +1

    You are firmly upper middle class if you would describe that Brighton home as "homely". To me it appears swanky and over-the-top.

    The Granville one isn't particularly nice either, seems like a bit of a blank slate.

  • pegaxs on 06/07/2020 - 11:50
    +1

    The one from Granville looks like it was used as a boarding house. And talk about sterile and clinical. The Brighton one looks like an attempt as a rural colonial homestead, but without the 10,000 acres to take care of. Just comes off as anything other than "homely" in this urban setting.

    And houses don't have "character". They are inanimate objects. What they do have is annoying characteristics. "Character" is just a marketing term for "gets old, quickly and will need fixing if you want to keep your sanity."

  • arkie0 on 06/07/2020 - 12:04
    +2

    "Character" is just real estate marketing term for old/aged. Some people prefer the Victorian look, some people prefer the modern look but purely from a value perspective the modern house is worth more assuming all build is similar.

    It is coincidental that older houses are worth more purely because they are in locations which generally have more value.

    • Ozpit on 07/07/2020 - 10:54
      +1

      Older houses are generally better built. New houses are knocked together with nail guns and as quickly as possible to meet minimum building regulations. Older houses were built by carpenters who could read house plans and knew how to skillfully use hand saws, spirit levels, wood chisels, tape measures, set squares, hammers, etc. House building is a different craft now.

  • payton on 06/07/2020 - 12:07
    +1

    You must be a rich boi, OP :P
    The Granville one is clean and proper, nothing wrong, many would be too happy to get that place.
    The Brighton one looks like Ghislaine Maxwell's home in New Hampshire
    Its something you buy when showing off one's wealth is an important criteria in the decision.

  • dandosr on 06/07/2020 - 12:29
    +1

    I have my house up for sale at the moment if anyone is interested…

    modest australian house

    • ssquid on 06/07/2020 - 13:30
      -1

      So you like wood grain huh

      (Also clean your pool, it's filthy)

  • Stewardo on 06/07/2020 - 12:34

    The two houses appeal to a different demographic.

  • netjock on 06/07/2020 - 12:48

    Cash over Character. Cash is king. The person who holds the cash calls the shorts. Unfortunately some fools end up with cash and you know the saying about fools and money that includes the words: easily and departed.

  • owli on 06/07/2020 - 14:19
    +6

    One will look timeless for another 100 years, the other will look like all other modernist buildings do in a decade or two.

    Modernism is sadism

  • zzymurgy on 06/07/2020 - 14:26
    +3

    Character doesn’t have to cost more.
    Take a look at this bargain with character coming out of its ears.

  • SydStrand on 06/07/2020 - 14:29

    The Brighton house isn't my style, but Granville looks sterile and generic. There are entire new suburbs in western Sydney filled with oversized, cookie cutter McMansions like this. I'll always have a fondness for wooden joinery and brick hearths, but people can only buy what they can afford and you're not comparing like-for-like houses here.

  • afoveht on 06/07/2020 - 14:38

    Your thoughts have already been captured in Upper Middle Bogan. The Brighton looks like the Denyer house, the Granville like the Wheeler house.

  • maroon on 06/07/2020 - 15:30
    +1

    I cannot believe people would choose modern junk over a character pre-war home if the cost factor were the same!
    If the two were similar location/land size/built up area/presentation wise, the Victorian will sell for more and cost more to maintain.

  • TheBilly on 06/07/2020 - 22:26
    -1

    I think character unfortunately clogs up the good locations. If only you could knock character down and build whatever you want with a blank slate and it wasnt so protected.

  • miwahni on 06/07/2020 - 22:36
    +1

    I much prefer the Brighton house, even if maintenance would be a drag. Shame they couldn't replicate the ceilings and cornices in the addition but it still blends in reasonably well.

    The Granville house reminds me of every single "modern" home valuation I've seen over the last six years or so, right down to the brownish shades in the bathroom. Only thing missing is the vertical row of feature tiles going up over the bath. I'm just not a fan of this style of home. YMMV.

  • lainey13 on 07/07/2020 - 00:13

    The Granville is not great because the design is atrocious and the fixtures etc are really bad. Not because it's new. You just happen to like a certain character that is more prevalent in older properties perhaps? You can certainly build a new place with the features you like but it will cost you quite a bit. Also consider that older places with character don't have some characteristics of newer builds eg environmental rating, built in appliances etc

  • jacross on 07/07/2020 - 07:44

    I like the Brighton but I overall prefer modernist designs. I dont think the Granville is a particularly nice example.

    If there is a 6x price difference I dont think they are particularly equivalent anyway. Leaving that aside makes the claim meaningless.

  • seabombs on 07/07/2020 - 08:25

    Granville looks like a house designed by a spreadsheet. Cheap fittings, bland/inoffensive design, ticks as many focus-group derived boxes as possible. It looks like someone took the plans to my 15 yo apartment, fed them into an AI and made it design a house. The balcony, railings and bathroom in particular.

    Brighton looks more pleasant, but I imagine would be expensive to maintain.

  • saltypete on 07/07/2020 - 08:35

    Real Estate talk ‘character’ and actual character are often different things. Ignore the sales talk and really think about what works for you and what you like. The cost need not be more.
    If you know what you like in a house and are prepared to put the time and effort in you can find a home you really like, or can see the possibilities in a place you can alter.
    If you don’t really care, don’t waste your time.
    I would not live in a poorly built box that does not have the right aspect, and uncaring design irritates me, but that is personal. Getting something you like is a time thing rather than a cost thing.

    Looking at the 2, Brighton aspect is better and has many of the features I like. The other one has aspect and design problems and looks ugly, but probably liveable.

  • Bob Svargis on 07/07/2020 - 08:36
    +1

    I own and live in a house with "character", a 130 year old timber cottage. I'm over it! It's a maintenance headache. Interesting to look at, but not particularly practical. Floors that creak, minimal ground clearance, wonky walls, doors that don't close properly aaargh!!!

    If I had the opportunity, I'd go with a modern house with minimal maintenance headaches to deal with.

  • typistinahurry on 07/07/2020 - 10:46
    +1

    I consider purchasing a home to be more than just a financial investment. It's meant to be a shelter, a haven from the world, a place that is a reflection of yourself and your character. Brighton would win for me hands down. Beautiful house and if it were in my price range, I'd certainly purchase it over the Granville any day, and I'd do so with the knowledge that with "character" housing always comes the inevitable maintenance of owning such a beautiful, distinctive home. For many it's a financial decision, particularly when it comes to resell potential later and perhaps a wider market to resell the Granville to later on and ideally (but no guarantees, depending on the build), less maintenance but if you were to buy a once-in-a-lifetime or "forever home", I'd buy the Brighton without a second thought.

  • 82norm on 07/07/2020 - 12:54

    Brighton hands down, no brainer, not even a contest…..

    Granville, no-one aspires to live in Granville.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2020 - 10:28
    +1

    Yuck, that Granville building is the definition of a McMansion. SEVEN bedrooms?!? Jaysus.

    The Brighton one is a little overdone as well in my opinion, but it is nice at least.

    I would say character probably refers to either heritage or high quality design. I'm not sure either of these have either of those, but certainly Brighton house is more likely to fit the criteria.

    I'd take something less practical with character over a cookie cutter out of a catalogue set on a postage stamp any day.

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