Beautiful cottage without garden to buy or not to buy????????

[strictlovingmum]

Posting this on behalf of a good friend.
My very good friends saw this stunning cottage, beautifully extended and refurbished, masses of space, gorgeous huge bathroom, massive three bedrooms, all of it amazing and all done up to very high standard.
No garden, house is situated in beautiful and very affluent area with fantastic schools, but is it no garden situation a deal breaker?
Open fires, whole house is very much so in keeping with period, amazing place I went and saw it with her, and I loved it.
It is in a village location with a lovely park/playground 2 min. walk away, lot of green spaces in vicinity?
Would you even consider buying it??????

[SybilBeddows]

no, I wouldn't. But not everyone wants a garden.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Depends - if it's extended does it mean there was once a garden? Is there a driveway or a yard of any kind?

[thestringpeople]

No I wouldn't and I imagine it would be hard to sell on.

Its great that at it has parks closeby but that you would mean that you would have to accompany a small child, no paddling pool on a nice day, you wouldn't be able to enjoy a glass of wine on a summers day...

[SybilBeddows]

If you were retired and went on cruises for half the year it might be nice, just like lots of people are happy in gardenless flats because they don't have to worry about maintenance. But with dcs it is different.

[strictlovingmum]

There children are 9 and 14, the cottage fronts onto the pedestrian alley way and look directly onto the neighbours cottage garden, you could have table and chairs or bench and table in the front seeing its pedestrian only.
It truly is beautiful and very reasonably priced, other cottages with post stamp size garden are going for a lot more in the area, I don't know, she did ask me what would you do?
I would buy it, because I loved it, but is that enough of a reason?
What should rule head or hart?

[thestringpeople]

Well if it really doesn't bother her than she should go for it but accept that when she comes to sell it may be on the market for a while and will go for considerably less than a property with its own garden.

[naturalbaby]

head should rule. i saw a gorgeous chocolate box cottage when house hunting last year then we bought one that needed decorating, new kitchen, central heating because it had a massive, massive garden. my kids are much younger and i love gardening but it was too tempting to get the one with more land. when we needed to sell the garden was the thing that got it signed sealed and completed without the buyers stepping foot in the house. not joking.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I'm a teeny bit confused - you can't put chairs in an alleyway if it's a public right of way - someone will either nick them or fall over them

If there's room for table a chairs round the front door can it be sectioned off so it becomes a very small garden?

[strictlovingmum]

L.F.C. I would imagine it would be a possibility, if they decide to go for it, I will keep you posted.
She did tell me yesterday that a bit of the flat roof which is situated above the vaulted hall would perfect, her DH words( for roof terrace).
Hands down it's a very unusual and beautiful property, nothing about it is "run of the mill", and knowing two of them, they might go for it.

[Bumpsadaisie]

We were in a similar situation and did decide to buy as the house itself was so fantastic. However there is a lane at the back into the woods so there is some outside space with no traffic - our garage is down there and we can take DD down there on her trike. Once she is old enough she will be able to go off and play out in the woods on her own.

That said in high summer we do miss having our own private space to sit out. Then again we are in the Lakes so there are only about 4 summers' days a year anyway!

[She says, contemplating the driving rain knocking the wisteria to bits!]

[Fimbo]

I have a thirteen year old who hardly ever plays in the garden. She prefers to go to the park with friends. Ds is 7 and plays on the trampoline occasionally but prefers playing out on his bike. I had a postage sized garden before this house and much preferred it. No garden at all would be heaven, especially if you could make a roof garden somewhere.

The house does sound fabulous from your description and I demand you link it for us to drool over

[irregularegular]

I wouldn't, no - with children I'd want a proper garden, as a couple I might make do with a small terrace. You can extend, refurbish, redecorate all you like, but you can't change location and plot, so they really are the two essential things.

But I'm not them - and I can see that with slightly older children it becomes less important.

[minipie]

If there is a place for a roof terrace (and it would actually be permitted - many local authorities come down hard on roof terraces) then that could be a solution.

but if there is no outside space at all - I wouldn't. No-one will buy it.

I don't think the alley counts - you can't let small DCs out into an alleyway.

[Karbea]

No I wouldn't I'd imagine it would be very hard to resell.

[strictlovingmum]

Dear fimbo, private sale, advertised in the true village fashion handwritten board in the front, and I think once in the local paper.

[rocksox]

Quite apart from the garden, I would worry about maintenance if there's only an alleyway outside.

You don't say how old the cottage is but "period cottage" says quite a bit of maintenance to me so your friend should think about access to windows, roof (eg. chimneys) etc. when needed. Also, I would talk to the council about a roof terrace before making any decision as I suspect chances of getting approval are slim for a period cottage, particularly if the roof terrace would be visible from the street.

[rocksox]

Ooh, just seen your last post. I love villages like that - on the upside it may make it easier to sell on if property is that tightly held around there. You often find people will let you know if they're interested in your property (should you ever want to sell of course...)

Would love to see it...

[Fimbo]

Drat . Oh well you will just need to pop round there right now and take a picture for me

[strictlovingmum]

rocksox yes I did say to her they better make enquire about permission for roof terrace with a local council, cottage is 1780 ish, maintenance wise at the moment there is nothing to do, it has been done up during the course of last year, new windows, new front door, new bathroom etc.
Rewired and re plumed and insulated four years ago.

[rocksox]

Hmmm, 1780 ish. Is it listed? If not, then I might just consider it. If it's listed then I would probably walk away now I'm afraid.

[strictlovingmum]

And yes conservation area, she did say, so it may be difficult for that roof terrace.

[strictlovingmum]

I honestly don't know if it's listed, I will ask.

[SybilBeddows]

not everyone would walk away from a listed building; if it's already perfect and you don't want to do anything to it, it's not necessarily a problem, though you will need to get permission for any work you do.
If it is listed the thing to do is to have a look at the listing on the British Listed Buildings website so you know what it is about it that is considered special.

[strictlovingmum]

OK, yes listed grade 2, house of great interest, in the past it has been;
Tea room,
Art shop,
Antique store,
They have spoken to listed building officer, who sounded positive, enthusiastic, and tried to assure them that with proper plans they would certainly consider granting permission for the roof garden.
Listed building people also did seem sympathetic to the fact that roof terrace would greatly enhance already lovely house.
So good news so far.

[thisisyesterday]

nope, there is no way i wouold. would hate not having a garden