Help me decide what to do - take the house or not

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

I live in a 4 bed semi in a niceish area, good schools etc. The house is modern but still in need a of a bit of work, nothing major really, just decorating. It is owned by a housing association.

I have been looking for a swap for some time for a few reasons, but the main being that my xp lives in the block behind me and is always in my business. Secondly in august of this year I was physically assualted by a neighbour who lives 2 doors away.

Today I went to see a house which is in my ideal location. It is in a quiet street 5 min walk away from the town centre (small not large), and within spitting distance from a very good junior school and a very good secondary school. It is however still close enough to my eldests secondary for them to stay there if they wished. I have wanted to move ds from his primary for a while now as he is having problems, and the junior school by this house has a very good rep. Living so close to the town would be fab for the kids, especially the dd's as they could meet friends in town easily, walk to cinema, swimming baths etc.

Now the house it'self is the actual problem. Without wishing to be unkind, it was dirty, tidyish but dirty and I would have to redecorate and recarpet every room. It is only 3 bed, but my girls are happy to share. The other thing is that it doesn't seem to have anywhere for a dining table. There is no room in the kitchen for one and fitting one in the lviing room would be a bit of a squash although it is doable i suppose. The kitchen and bathroom were livable, but would need replacing sooner rather than later. Also the only loo in the house is downstairs off the kitchen.
The other thing was that upstairs smelt damp, but i didn't actuallhy see any damp. I think it might have just been that they had quite alot of stuff crammed into small spaces.
The garden was lovely and there is a nature reserve at the end of the road.

So, given what I have said, what do you think I should do ??

[HettyAmaretti]

What does your gut say?

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Hmmm my gut says it is too much work, but my heart says i love the location.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Forgot to say, my current home doesn't have double gazing but the swap one does. Both have central heating.

[HettyAmaretti]

Do you mean, your heart (aka gut) says yes and your head say too much work.

I think I'd go with it in your situation, I'm pretty sure I would. How old is oldest DC?

[HettyAmaretti]

Smaller and double glazing = lower bills = bit of budget to tart it up. Sounds good.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Eldest dc is 13, youngest is 8.

I feel constantly stressed living where we are, and to get my hall, stairs and landing decent it does need replastering, for which i have been quoted £500. I could probably decorate all of the rooms in the swap house for that.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Yes sorry, heart/gut says yes and head says no.

I think i am going to ask if i can view again and take a friend with me.

[ASuitableGirl]

I think I would go for it.

Have you talked about it with your DC at all?

[cece]

I think if would be worth it to get away from the XP and abusive neighbour.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

I spoke to them about it tonight but they didn't say much really, although they liked the sound of the garden and dd1 loves the location.

[HerdOfTinyElephants]

I'd take it, definitely, based on what you've said here.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

I am actually glad that you have all said take it, so that must mean something.

I think i am going to see if i have go and view it again, and then make a final decision.

Thank's for the help

[photoretoucher]

Ask yourself, how would you feel, if tomorrow you heard that this house had been given to someone else.

That's what I would do. Best of luck :)

[HansieMom]

Can you figure out why the upstairs smells damp? Leaky roof or window? Not getting enough airflow from furnace?

Dining tablemaybe a drop leaf table or a 29" x 5' panel attached to wall with hinges? I think tables are 30" high. Kind of a crazy ideabut you could hang simple wooden chairs on wall as Shakers used to do. Definitely unusual--but fun.

For the time being you could paint the cupboards. Maybe even paint the counter.

You sound up for a big project. Very rewarding planning, executing and enjoying what you have accomplished.

But I can't help but wonder if there is a similar property in that area?

[HansieMom]

How did it go today? I hope it works out!

[SpringHeeledJack]

take it! take it! take it!

I think in your case location wins out over the property itself

the damp smell may just be condensation/general mustiness

if it's proper penetrating damp then the HA will have to sort it, not you

[Ormirian]

Is there a way you could use the loft space for anything? Even just as a chill-out room for the kids so they won't have to be on top of you all the time?

it sounds like a goer to me!

[GreenBlueRed]

What is the likelihood of another coming up in such a good location? If it's not likely, take this one. You could always move again if something better did come up. To get away from your ex and your neighbour it seems worth compromising a bit.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Well i went back and had another good look, and took a friend with me.

Basically, every room in the house needs doing, all the walls need skimming, new kitchen and bathroom, new flooring throughout and god knows what else. The only loo, which is downstairs didn't even have a sink, and no room for one either.

I had pretty much already made my mind up not to take it, and then my friend said i'd be absolulty stark raving mad to swap my current house for that one.

So, i have said thanks but no thanks. In the end even the location didn't make up for how bad then house was.