If you had a choice...................

[whichhouse]

.........would you choose:

a) new build semi, 2 ensuites, 3 floors, lovely street, reception room plus kitchen/family room, lovely development of only a few houses off a lovely road, small but flat garden, drive and garage at sidemove straight in and unpack......

b) 1970's detached, kitchen, dining room and large lounge, downstairs shower room and upstairs bathroom, tiered garden, drive and garage at back, nice street and walking distance to school (just), needs everything doing inside and out (which we would have to do mostly ourselves)......

Have 4 primary school children.....

Please help.

[SoupDragon]

I have a mental block against new builds.

[whichhouse]

It's brand new..... If the 70s one was done would prefer it but then it woud be too expensive for us. Think it's the idea of the endless work and missed family time that's worrying me.

[basingstoke]

My house was built in 1971 and the rooms are huge compared to new builds. It's not the prettiest house but it is fabulous to live in.

However, you used the word 'lovely' three times in your first description and just the word 'nice' in your second...

[whichhouse]

The rooms are huge in the 70's house esp downstairs. Not pretty but new build looks really imposing - not sure downstairs is big enough. Rambling on now!! Here's link to new one

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/new-homes/property-30506551.html

[stoppingat3]

My Opinion FWIW is space space space -

The new house you linked to looks fairly small for 4 primary school children.

We have done our house up (1920's 5 bed 3 reception rooms) slowly over the past 7 years. We made it livable in the first 6 months and then have tackled a room at a time every 6 months or so. We finished our kitchen in December and are gearing up for the last room (DS2) soon. Its not been too bad at all.

Good luck - enjoy it all if you can!

[lalalonglegs]

The doer-upper every time.

[LaGuerta]

Ditto what long legs said. Additionally, new builds tend to command a premium and so you do less well out of them when it's time to resell.

[SoupDragon]

"Soupdragon- surely 70s is a newbuild too"

That depends... Was it built before they started building them out of cardboard and squishing umpteen rooms into a small space?

[Sushiqueen]

Check the internal aspect with 4 children. We have lived in 2 new builds and can hear everything in all the rooms.

We also have 3 floors and dd can be in the lounge on the ground floor and call up to me on the top floor, and I can hear her with all the doors shut. the walls and floors have no sound insulation at all.

So personally I would go for the 1970's house.

[whichhouse]

Thanks for all your opinions. We have been to view the new build and ruled it out due to the size of the downstairs. So.......now we've started looking at semis have found another house :

So.... Would you buy:

1. 1970s as above
   

1. 1930s semi. 100ft garden, 5 bedrooms so all children could have their room or could have a playroom, ensuite. Opinions greatly received.....

[HoneyPablo]

I have a 1970s 4 bed detached that needs everything doing and I do love it, but I would swap it for the 5 bed with the huge garden.

[cakelover75]

Option 2, depending on how much work needs doing, condition of roof, central heating, windows etc.

[LaGuerta]

No 2 I think.

[Gonzo33]

Defo 2 - although being cautious with property I'd commission a full structural.

[startail]

Semis pain re noise.
Gardens - you need flat usable space!
My BF goes at our easy set pool because her garden is lovely, but it's lots of not quite level narrow terraces.

[whichhouse]

Viewed the 1930s and it was lots of tiny room and needs fair bit of work. 1970s detached it is!! Feel much better having explored all the options and really thought about the downside of small living space with 4 children! Phew will sleep better now decision has been made. Thanks for your thoughts.

[whichhouse]

Rooms not room.