Brick Front Only??? (for sale, 2015, house)

[NC home owner]

Unless the builder set the rule up front (and stick with it) for all houses in the neighborhood to have four-side bricks, paying so much more than other neighboring houses may not be a good investment.

Nonetheless, I do think all-brick houses are quieter and more energy efficient but I would hesitate to buy one unless all my neighbors also get that.

[objectivearch]

I would sure like to know why there were ever so many buyers that were ok with this tacky “look” before it became so common?!?! How did American homebuyers become ok with such poor taste?! My husband & I just signed on a home that will have it at the front corners at the second floor (“to keep consistency throughout the neighborhood”) & I am disgusted about it. It’s the only nice neighborhood that prevents him from having a longer commute, so we are stuck with it because the first buyers accepted it. I thought we could just buy the same brick and have it fixed ourselves after we close, but just found out they actually build the 2nd floor cantilevered out over the 1st floor brick so the 2nd floor siding above will be flush w brick at the sides of the home. We had to initial drawings with a detail that showed the framing aligned rather than cantilevered, but then found out they add “neighborhood specific redlines” afterwards. The contract has a vauge line allowing them to make changes without notice (which of course they rejected when I marked through). I don’t understand how they aren’t being given #€// by more of their buyers over this kind of practice. I’m only going along with this because my husband insists on this neighborhood for future resale value due to location. I’d prefer to be happy enough with what we are getting to stay put for the rest of our lives. This is the only thing ruining that for me 

[RedZin]

Originally Posted by objectivearch

I would sure like to know why there were ever so many buyers that were ok with this tacky “look” before it became so common?!?! How did American homebuyers become ok with such poor taste?! My husband & I just signed on a home that will have it at the front corners at the second floor (“to keep consistency throughout the neighborhood”) & I am disgusted about it. It’s the only nice neighborhood that prevents him from having a longer commute, so we are stuck with it because the first buyers accepted it. I thought we could just buy the same brick and have it fixed ourselves after we close, but just found out they actually build the 2nd floor cantilevered out over the 1st floor brick so the 2nd floor siding above will be flush w brick at the sides of the home. We had to initial drawings with a detail that showed the framing aligned rather than cantilevered, but then found out they add “neighborhood specific redlines” afterwards. The contract has a vauge line allowing them to make changes without notice (which of course they rejected when I marked through). I don’t understand how they aren’t being given #€// by more of their buyers over this kind of practice. I’m only going along with this because my husband insists on this neighborhood for future resale value due to location. I’d prefer to be happy enough with what we are getting to stay put for the rest of our lives. This is the only thing ruining that for me 

Take all the brick off and replace it with wood siding if this is a single-family home. Problem solved.

I dislike brick front homes, too. I can somewhat deal with those that are 3-sides brick and wood in back, especially if they have screened porches and so forth off the back that would generally make the brick not necessary in back. I am also fine with homes that have brick or stone accents for a combination of those with wood siding. But, just that brick front? Looks cheap.

[Dire Wolf]

Originally Posted by RedZin

Take all the brick off and replace it with wood siding if this is a single-family home. Problem solved.

If the fronts are generally all brick in the neighborhood, the HOA might not allow you to change. Seems like most HOA communities require approval to make any modifications to the exterior. Heck, our old neighbors had a horror story because they didn't match up their paint color to exactly match and were being forced to repaint the entire house by the HOA.

I rode through Preston Village recently and laughed at the expensive homes there that had the brick-on-front-only thing going on. Just horrid.

[VickiR]

If a home with all 4 sides of brick is important to you, understand that it will add about $30,000 to the cost of the home. If you are willing to pay for that, build a custom built home or find a community that will allow you to change the home to brick. Just KNOW...you will NOT get that $30,000 back when it is time to sell.

Builders would be happy to charge you another $30,000 to $40,000 for that brick. Put your money where your mouth is!

Kinda reminds me of so many people wanting a basement. Builder says pay up $60,000 for that basement and all of a sudden, no one wants that basement.

If the first buyer pays that $60,000 because they want that unfinished basement, when it is time to sell, an appraiser will give that $60,000 basement only $10,000 in resale value. So, be prepared to lose $50,000 because YOU wanted that basement.

If you finish that basement and your first 2 floors are selling for $165 per square foot, you are not going to get that $165 per square foot. An appraiser is going to give you about $50 to $75 sq. ft. for that finished basement.

Why?

Not because the appraiser is making the rules but because most people will not pay for that basement or that brick, no matter how many folks on here claim that they want a home with 4 sides brick or a full basement. This just isn't what the average buyer in the market will pay for.

[objectivearch]

I got a ballpark estimate for having a mason replace the siding at second floor on the sides with brick & it would have been around 5k including demo & working on scaffolding. I would gladly pay that. They just won’t do it.

It is correct that siding only would be even further from the “consistency” of the neighborhood. HOA would definitely not approve.

For a moment I contemplated tearing everything off at the sides after closing the purchase, pouring new brick ledge (doweling if necessary), somehow having large air space (& deep brick ties) at the first floor or adding furring to match the second floor, then bricking back over it all. Would make for deep window head/jamb/sills at the first floor, no big deal. But it would most likely cost way too much to make sense.

[Stagemomma]

I think it's so sad. I grew up in an all brick house in NC. I moved away to where brick was more expensive and houses were built with aluminum and then vinyl siding. Yuck!

Moved back to discover that all-brick houses are being painted. Yikes! So much more work to maintain!

So I guess I'll have to plan to live in older homes that are all brick and hope the one I want hasn't already been painted.

(My current home is wood siding).

[VickiR]

The current trend is stone instead of brick or painting your red brick, white. In which case, the brick then needs maintenance too.

I've shown buyers in neighborhoods that are all brick front and they say the red brick looks dated!!!

[m378]

Painting perfectly good brick? Is this a Chip and Johanna thing?

[JQ Public]

Does this impact cooling costs during the summer?