Choosing your country house

What sort of property are you seeking?

Homes with ‘character’, that are ‘light and airy’ and which offer ‘peace and quiet’ are frequent aspirations, but these can be interpreted in numerous ways. Sometimes it’s easier to begin with a list of what you think you don’t want, such as low ceilings or a renovation project. This ruthless interrogation of what doesn’t appeal is not scientific, but it is a starting point from which your house hunt can begin. Homes with ‘character’ are top of everybody’s list – I have yet to meet anyone who hasn’t sought it – but it’s often in the eye of the beholder. It is possible to find a new-build that is bursting with character while some period properties lack charm because their best features have been misguidedly stripped out in the past. Here are a few things to bear in mind before you begin...

1. Buying an old house

The rural property market tends to be dominated by older properties that come with no modern reassurances. It’s akin to spending several hundred-thousand pounds in a charity shop on a second-hand item that you hope will last a lifetime.

However, older properties do tend to come with the sort of history, lived-in comfort and style that most of us seek, precisely because they have evolved over time, reflecting the different needs and tastes of generations of owners. These older houses should therefore be approached with an open mind, but with some care as to what you may be taking on.

• Be ruthless. Rule out older properties if you can’t cope with the sorts of foibles you are likely to find, such as wonky walls or floors.

• Survey, survey, survey. Always have a detailed survey carried out, and make sure your budget can cope with any alterations or repairs you may wish to make. Pay particular attention to roofs, wiring, plumbing, heating – or a history of flooding.

• Thatch or not? There is plenty of good advice and expertise readily available from the nation’s thatchers. While, for many buyers, thatched cottages are the epitome of the rural dream, they are not without issues of ongoing maintenance and fire risk that you should understand. However, there are specialist insurers who will also help.

• Don’t dismiss listed buildings. These are seen by some buyers as a definite no, but if you turn your back on this swathe of the property market, you’ll be missing out on stunning homes steeped in rich architectural and social history. There are many misconceptions about the rules that govern both owning and improving listed buildings, and expert advice and reassurance can be found through The Listed Property Owners’ Club.

• Beware lack of storage. A typical cottage combines appealing architecture and character, with loads of classic features such as working fireplaces and exposed beams. However, limited storage in cottages is one of the recurring factors. We are all guilty of storing far more stuff than we can ever reasonably use. Moving to a smaller home can be a good incentive to declutter your life.

2. Renovating a wreck

There is much to be said for the huge rewards, both personal and financial, that can come from managing a successful renovation, ensuring you get exactly the home you want. However, if speed and ease of moving matters (not least if you are bringing a business with you or you have a young family), buying the finished article is often a much easier proposition. And it’s worth remembering that your first foray into the rural market doesn’t have to be your last – subsequent moves to bigger properties or those that do require a bit more TLC and imagination can always come later.

3. New build?

A new build offers a country life without the need to maintain something traditional yet tricky. New builds come in myriad shapes and sizes. I’ve seen stunning examples that have been designed to make the most of a view and their position relative to the sun. Many have also successfully combined a flavour of the traditional local architecture with inspiring modern materials and ideas.

Successful renovations result in what is effectively a brand-new home that conforms to modern standards and regulations but in a characterful, historic shell.

Building from scratch also affords the possibility of creating homes with green credentials, from solar heating and hot water, to air- and ground-source heat pumps.

4. Land and smallholdings

Veg plots, pony paddocks, a smallholding or space for glamping sites are just some of the reasons why land can dominate house searches. Renting land is cheaper than buying it, but in many parts of the country you should find a healthy budget will bring with it properties that have plenty of land for your needs.

Taking on a smallholding can be a great solution if you’re after a degree of sustainability, but without the burden and costs of working a full-scale farm. Typically between five and 40 acres, many smallholdings have returned to a classic mixed system of agriculture that can sustain a range of livestock and arable production that is reminiscent of the days when smaller family farms were commonplace. West Wales, in particular, has long been favoured by smallholders, where smaller farms and parcels of land are available, often at more affordable prices than elsewhere.

Finding a property with the right amount of land can necessitate some compromise on the quality of the house that comes with it. But diversifying what you do with your land, such as setting up glamping units or converting outbuildings into holiday lets, can be a good way of developing a sustainable business, with such options now in high demand post-lockdown.

5. Outbuildings

Outbuildings that might lend themselves to overspill domestic accommodation, office space, studios, stables or workshops are high on many buyers wish lists, especially given the increased opportunities many of us now have to work from home.

Beware of searching only for properties that already have outbuildings. If you find an existing property with enough outdoor space, you may find that designing something from scratch will give you exactly what you want. Building anything new will usually require permission, so it’s probably worth consulting with the local planning authority and conservation officers before you buy.