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1930s semi on outskirts of nice market town or 300 year old 3 story townhouse in nice market town?

39 replies

Crikeyblimey · 01/12/2013 22:16

We are looking to move from our small 1950's end terrace in a village early next year.

To get more house for our budget we need to move to the nearby nice market town (where ds will be going to high school in sept).

Our choices are mainly either 1930s semis on the periphery of the town or there is one 300 year old mid terraced townhouse in a quiet street in the middle of town.

This house could be beautiful - it has a fairly small kitchen but this could be extended into the current dining room. There are 4 bedrooms (all good sized) over the 1st and 2nd floors. We could extend the kitchen into the dining room and put double doors through to the current lounge to make a dining / family room in there. We could then relocate the sitting room to one of the big 1st floor bedrooms (chimneys run the full height of the house, so lovely fireplace on 1st floor not a problem).

This house, however, has no off road parking - but is down a quiet street and there is free parking v near.

It would be at the top of our budget and we'd have to save up to move the kitchen etc.

So - wwyd? Move to somewhere we could just spend out savings on furniture and finishings or buy the huge, old but beautiful terraced no parking house?

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ineedanexcuse · 01/12/2013 22:21

I think ,judging only on your post, that you have already made your mind up and moved into the town house Grin

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Crikeyblimey · 01/12/2013 22:25

:)

I'm probably being overly romantic though. I've also probably spent a lot more money than we have and decorated it already too!! :)

I lived with a "not quite finished" house for 13 bloody years and I'd dearly love to just live somewhere that was done.

However - the thought of a beautiful 3 storey house (oh - did I say it has a full cellar too?? No? Well it does)...

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JugglingChaotically · 01/12/2013 22:26

If 300 years old do check planning restrictions!
Both options sound good though

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Parietal · 01/12/2013 22:29

i'm a city person, so I'd always go for the townhouse. which is better for commuting / shopping / daily life outside the house? having a short commute and a walk to school/shops makes a BIG BIG difference to your quality of life.

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TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 01/12/2013 22:30

Would any of the 30s semis have anywhere near as much space inside? I assume they would have more garden?

The townhouse does sound lovely, but no off-road parking can be a real PITA. We have none; we are quite close to market town centre, plus a big 6th form college with lots of affluent kids who drive, & coming home with small children &/or a boot full of groceries can be infuriating.

Have you checked out the town centre street/free parking on different days & at different times?

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ihatethecold · 01/12/2013 22:32

What about a garden?
Does either have one. ?
Do you want one?

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VivaLeBeaver · 01/12/2013 22:32

The no off road parking would be a right turn off for me. Can you unload your shopping, will the nearby free parking always be there, what if its not free in ten years?

You may struggle to sell it down the line.

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Crikeyblimey · 01/12/2013 22:38

Both have gardens - the townhouse garden is larger and less overlooked.

One of the reasons I hate this house is lack of off road parking so I keep slapping myself to remember that.

I get my shopping delivered so that's not a problem but I need to remember when we pack the car up to go camping (and to wash the darn thing) it is a pain.

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TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 01/12/2013 22:41

Does the townhouse have rear access? Ours does at least have that, for car washing/holiday packing/emergency parking when street full of new cars of sodding entitled 17-yr-olds

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ihatethecold · 01/12/2013 22:42

Are there any other houses you could look at.
Sounds like your not keen on the 1930's house.
The townhouse sounds lovely. But no parking will drive you nuts.
What if the interest rates goes up? Can you still afford it?

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peggyundercrackers · 01/12/2013 22:42

I couldn't have live in a house with no parking, wouldn't even entertain it. also don't think I could live in a terraced house with people on either side of me, I guess I like my own space.

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ReluctantBeing · 01/12/2013 22:43

I'd go for the semi.

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TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 01/12/2013 22:45

How far from the centre are the semis? An easy 5-10 minute stroll or a 30-minute march?

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Soldierskittle · 01/12/2013 22:46

300 yrs old? It's very likely to be listed so any plans to knock through walls might not be able to happen

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Crikeyblimey · 01/12/2013 22:48

The back garden backs onto a small council owned free car park. We could put a back gate in at the bottom of the garden to allow access from there.

My sister also suggested asking the council for one of their spaces and putting a gate wide enough for a car, so we could park at the bottom of the garden.

It is a quiet street (not a through road) with a very pretty parish church at the bottom so can be busy on Sundays and when there are weddings / funerals.

I'd have to go down there at various times.

There are likely to be other houses for sale after Christmas, so we need to keep looking - I just think we could get a lot of characterful space in this one.

Apparently, it used to be a school!

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Crikeyblimey · 01/12/2013 22:49

It's not listed. I know the builder who is currently renovating it.

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Crikeyblimey · 01/12/2013 22:49

The semis are 10 mins from the centre.

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GobbySadcase · 01/12/2013 22:52

Won't the 300 year old place be cold/draughty?

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GobbySadcase · 01/12/2013 22:54

I'm wondering if this is where I think it is...

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Crikeyblimey · 01/12/2013 22:55

I wondered that too but it has all new double glazed windows and doors (full gas ch - that's newly fitted) and apparently the walls are about a mile thick - but then the builder told me that and, whilst I know him well, he's bound to say that if he thinks we might want to buy it off him!

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peggyundercrackers · 01/12/2013 22:55

I think you would need to ask the council about putting a gate in your wall giving you access to their land.

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Crikeyblimey · 01/12/2013 22:56

Oooh! Gobby, where do you think it is?

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TheOneWithTheNicestSmile · 01/12/2013 22:56

Ask the council ASAP about the possibility of adding gates at the rear & a parking space at the end of the garden - that would make a huge difference

(But I suspect it may not be possible; have any neighbouring houses done it?)

Street busy only for churchy events not so bad!

If no urgency to move, maybe better to wait & see (& this is a quiet time for property market I think? There may be lots more possibilities in spring)

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Helpyourself · 01/12/2013 22:57

300 to place sounds gorgeous. Parking really is no big deal, but gate from the garden would solve that anyway.

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peggyundercrackers · 01/12/2013 22:57

thick walls don't matter, old houses are still cold. ours is only 150 yrs old but its cold - it isn't drafty though, we too care of that during the renovation. gas CH does heat it but it gets cold quickly once the heating is off.

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