Ideal Home Exhibition

I have often been asked what have been my favourite houses in all my years of inspections.

I reckon, on a rough brick count that I have been into about 25,000 properties to date. A few stand out amongst the generally and disappointingly majority of bland and plain examples.

There was the 17th Century Cottage which had remarkably remained virtually original in the corner of a field. I have come across a few houses built in the 1930's which have had only one owning family although passed through a few generations. These have remained in faithful and sympathetic condition and are a breath of fresh air compared to the onslaught of tasteless conformity from the pages of Hello Magazine.

I have hunted high and low in some properties to find a bathtub or a toilet. These have eventually been found under a kitchen work top or down the bottom of the garden for either.

The Sedan Chair Room in a Georgian Town House had been preserved and made a great place to keep a lawn mower. In contrast a house built in the 1970's had its own subterranean fallout shelter for its occupants in the event of a Nuclear attack.

I spent a total of 10 hours investigating a Victorian Rectory and two minutes to escape from a terraced house that someone set on fire when I was in it. It has certainly been an interesting job and promises to continue to be so on an ongoing basis given the new technologies and construction methods which are emerging from once being regarded as eccentric and mad into the mainstream.

On that theme I am eagerly anticipating the following examples of housing to emerge in my local area some time soon.

Micro-apartment. This is also known as a Crash-Pad and comprises a very compact space, no more than a walk-in cupboard which provides sleeping, eating and bathing facilities. The idea from the Far East started as a cost effective alternative to taking a hotel room if working late and with no transport to get home.

Mudhif. Sustainable building materials have included straw bale and wood. This house type is made of reeds and is found in Iraq.

Octagon House. A bit of a folly often found on larger country estates serving as a gatehouse or artisan cottage. The eight sided structure is interesting but is problematic for a carpet fitter.

Pit House, There are plenty of holes in the ground in the UK from chalk or other mineral extractions. However, a pit house may not be too popular given the propensity for flooding.

Sears Catalog Home. An off the shelf 'kit' for a house sold by the Department Store Sears Roebuck and Co. The product was sold through the catalogue and was available from 1906 to 1940. Hopefully, in one complete set and not one of those monthly collectables.

Snout House. A house where the door to an integral garage is the nearest part to the street.

Yurt. A bit of a tent for posh people 'roughing it' at an outdoor music festival