- Victoria Louise, 29, from Cheshire, says the issues were hidden during viewings
A first-time buyer ‘instantly regretted’ buying her first home after moving in to find mouldy walls, a hole in the roof and the persistent smell of cat urine.
When Victoria Louise, 29, received the keys to her first home after saving for five years, she was overjoyed – but soon realised it was a big mistake.
The social media marketing manager, from Cheshire, claims that a lot of issues, such as mould and holes, had been hidden when viewing the house twice before purchasing.
As she entered the home, she immediately felt as though she had ‘wasted’ her hard-earned money on the property.
Now, she’s warning others of the signs to look out for when buying a home – and says that she plans to fix all the problems and turn it into her dream abode.
‘I was shocked when I entered the house after picking up the keys and I instantly regretted the sale,’ Ms Louise said.
‘I couldn’t believe what I had walked into – there were cat wee-soaked carpets, with the smell hidden by scented candles being burned during viewings.
‘All I could see was mould on the walls and a hole in the roof, which had been hidden in a cupboard.
‘I knew that work was needed on the house, but I didn’t know the extent of all the problems.
‘I was so excited when I viewed it, as I could clearly see the potential and was so optimistic – but that was all gone in an instant.’
Ms Louise, who had concerns about the overall cost of buying a home, regularly contributed to her Help-To-Buy ISA and Lifetime ISA in a bid to save the deposit.
With the help of the ISAs the property fit within her budget, so she went ahead and locked it in.
But now, while she’s feeling more positive after ripping up the carpets, throwing out old furniture, and stripping the walls, she hopes to warn others to be careful when making the life-changing purchase.
In a clip posted on TikTok, which has racked up 2.1 million views and over 76,000 likes, she takes viewers on a tour around the home.
She begins by showing the extension, before going into the utility room.
Then, she reveals the kitchen area – but notes that the layout starts to get ‘quite strange’ as the worktops, including the oven, appear to carry over into another room.
Other parts of the home include the stairs, hallway, and living room, with Victoria claiming that people have said the flooring is laden with ‘asbestos’.
Finally, she shows the bedrooms, where the walls are covered in green dust, which she says could be mould, along with the bathroom – and a hole in the ceiling hidden within a cupboard.
Users have flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with viewers left with mixed views.
‘The potential this house has is literally mind-blowing,’ one person responded.
One said: ‘Looks like a money pit.’
‘So funny that the house is entirely bizarre but the garden is show home immaculate,’ another commented.
A fourth said: ‘Spacious house, downstairs layout is just a bit unusual.’
While she’s still got a long road ahead before she can move in, Ms Louise is starting to feel more optimistic about her new home.
She added: ‘It’ll be a while until I can live there, but it was so reassuring to know I’m not the only one to experience this.
‘I’ve only ever seen positive experiences of first home buying on social media – champagne and cute pictures with the keys in front of the door – not anything like this.
‘It’s actually very common and also the amount of knowledge I’ve received since has been incredible.
‘I’m excited, but worried about the costs.
‘My advice is to start saving as soon as possible, make sure to look in every cupboard and every corner of the house too – especially before exchanging contracts.
‘I’m feeling better about everything now and I can see the potential of the house once again.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
