ᐅ Boundary Line Construction – Concealing an Unattractive Rear House Wall
Created on: 17 Aug 2020 20:32
M
moHouse
Hello everyone,
We currently have an option on a plot of land that is quite ideal for us. Well located, very friendly neighbors. The price is below the standard land value.
The plot is about 730 m² (7,850 sq ft), which is a very nice size for us, and it has a good shape. Sizes like this and prices below the standard land value are hardly available in this area anymore.
Now for the downside:
The plot is bordered on two sides by direct neighboring buildings from an old farmhouse.
The lower part is about 2.50 m (8 feet) high. The higher part is 5 m (16 feet) high.
The higher part is at the eastern edge of the plot, the lower part at the northern edge.
Now the question for you: what can be done here to at least somewhat improve the view?
The owner of the farm is apparently very easy-going. This means we can probably do whatever we want, as long as it doesn’t cost her anything
(unfortunately, demolition is not included).
We currently have an option on a plot of land that is quite ideal for us. Well located, very friendly neighbors. The price is below the standard land value.
The plot is about 730 m² (7,850 sq ft), which is a very nice size for us, and it has a good shape. Sizes like this and prices below the standard land value are hardly available in this area anymore.
Now for the downside:
The plot is bordered on two sides by direct neighboring buildings from an old farmhouse.
The lower part is about 2.50 m (8 feet) high. The higher part is 5 m (16 feet) high.
The higher part is at the eastern edge of the plot, the lower part at the northern edge.
Now the question for you: what can be done here to at least somewhat improve the view?
The owner of the farm is apparently very easy-going. This means we can probably do whatever we want, as long as it doesn’t cost her anything
(unfortunately, demolition is not included).
H
hampshire20 Aug 2020 21:17I also think you can make something of it. Much more important is that the neighborhood fits well.
SteLa33 schrieb:
Hmm, so you have the driveway to the south, the neighbor to the west, and a wall to the east.
From an orientation perspective, that’s not exactly ideal.
For me, it would also depend on what "below the standard land value" means for you.
Here, the standard land value is 850€/m² (about $90 per sq ft).
For 730m² (7,855 sq ft), that would be €620,000 ($675,000). Even half the standard land value would be too much for me for the plot. But of course, everyone has to decide that individually. Ok. The reality around Düsseldorf is as follows: There are virtually no building plots available on the open market. For new developments, each plot has up to 50 applicants—two years in advance. This means you only find out years later that you didn’t get it.
When something does come on the market, it sells for 50 to 100% above the standard land value. So a plot at standard land value would already be a bargain.
Now, of course, you could say you’ll keep looking for the perfect plot. That just means it takes 2–3 years. And in the end, you still don’t get perfection. Everyone who’s done this regrets it daily. Land prices in decent locations rise by about 10% per year here.
So, you’re lucky if you manage to find a seller through cold calling (no joke—we really spent days doing that). You have to accept that what you get won’t be perfect or flawless. Anything else would be unrealistic here.
To sum up: we’re talking about 20% below the standard land value in an area where open-market plots go for 50% above it.
SteLa33 schrieb:
Regarding trellises, I can’t really imagine it working well with ivy. My parents greened the garage wall with ivy (actually with a trellis), but the ivy still grew all over the wall. In the end, you’d be liable if anything goes wrong at their house.
I’m familiar with Japanese knotweed and bindweed for green facades, but you’d have to research thoroughly whether the facade would stay undamaged.
The safest option would be tall trees, but that takes years to develop. That's exactly my concern with climbing plants as well.
The tall tree option could be something like "mega bonsais." You can buy these already a few meters high, and they probably continue to grow well.
But the root barrier has to be 100% reliable in that case.
moHouse schrieb:
Another option for tall trees would be the giant bonsai. I actually mean bamboo.
Phyllostachys bissetii can grow about 6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 feet) tall.
HausiKlausi20 Aug 2020 23:01Build a huge climbing wall with handholds, charge an entry fee, and recoup the purchase cost. Otherwise, I agree. If that is the biggest drawback, it’s manageable. Wine isn’t without its issues, but it would be my preferred option. By the time it becomes a structural problem, demolition might be a consideration anyway.
If it looks like that, it would even be a dream.
And yes, compromises are inevitable. I can immediately think of four major drawbacks related to our plot.
Unfortunately, the budget is limited and the options are very scarce.
Is this monstrosity actually a residential building or a barn, or what is it supposed to be?
And yes, compromises are inevitable. I can immediately think of four major drawbacks related to our plot.
Unfortunately, the budget is limited and the options are very scarce.
Is this monstrosity actually a residential building or a barn, or what is it supposed to be?