Can't pick between houses

[Confusedhousehunter]

I've seen 2 houses on the same street and I can't choose between them.
They are both identical layouts and end of terrace.

House 1

• needs complete redecoration, woodchip paper removal, new flooring throughout.
  
• needs bathroom updating
  
• will need windows replacing within next 2-3 years.
  
• has no driveway but parking at rear.
  
• is halls adjoining with neighbour
  
• has larger rooms, ranging from 1-1.6 feet wider.
  

House two

• needs redecorating to our taste but no woodchip! Will need new flooring to replace laminate but more for personal taste reasons than necessity
  
• needs bathroom updating
  
• has driveway at front and garage at back
  
• living and sleeping space is adjoining same rooms in neighbours house
  
• has smaller rooms
  

Both are similarly priced though we could probably get house 1 slightly cheaper. I just can't decide which is the better buy.

House 1 is more of a blank canvas and is a bit bigger. I also like that its halls adjoining so noise hopefully won't be an issue. On the downside it's such a blank canvas that there's not even a plant in the garden!

House 2 is in better decorative order has a well stocked garden and a driveway and garage. On the flip side noise could be an issue and the rooms are narrower. 1.6 feet narrower in the dining room, which seems a lot.

Any advice?

[UncrushedParsley]

For me, it would be house 2. Much easier to park on the drive, instead of faffing about getting round the back. This in itself would potentially make it more attractive for re-sale. The decorating you can live with until you can afford to do it Do not underestimate cost/energy required for re-decorating an entire house. One foot six difference does not seem a lot to me, particularly if it was only in one direction.

[Waterandtea]

I would go for house 1 because it's bigger, I also like a blank canvas.

[Moreisnnogedag]

Without a great price difference I'd go for house 2. But potentially I'd make a low offer on 1 to see if they bite, but if not wouldn't raise bid.

[Mintyy]

I would always go for the bigger house but only if I had an actual budget for improvements. And prob. wouldn't go for a house needing a lot of work with small children or babies in tow.

But if you are child free or good at diy then house 1 deffo.

[MisForMumNotMaid]

House 1 bigger and more separate from neighbours with corridor on party wall.

[Confusedhousehunter]

No consensus then.
We have a toddler and are crap at DIY. We do have a budget for some work ie the bathroom, a bit of decorating. No money for adding a driveway yet though.

[RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog]

House 1.....would usually choose the larger house, especially given that it's halls adjoining. As long as there's some parking that wouldn't be an issue. DC or no DC, the bigger the project, the better in my book!

Am one room in to tackling twelve room's worth of woodchip walls/ceilings here.......

[hiccupgirl]

With a toddler and crap at DIY I'd go for house 2 unless you know there are really noisy neighbours.

Don't underestimate how much energy decorating a whole house takes and how much a toddler gets underfoot!

[SwedishEdith]

If you have the time and the budget - house 1. You can't make rooms bigger in a terraced house. So, put in a low offer to and see what happens?

But, if that's too much for you now, house 2 as long as you like it.

[Confusedhousehunter]

I think we would get people in to do much of the decorating. We hate it! We could afford to get more done at once if it was house 2 as it's just a paint job. Woodchip may reveal bad plaster so I've been led to believe.

[Pinkje]

Noise-wise adjoining halls and stairs could be equally bad if not worse than living rooms (depends where their tv is situated). Heavy feet up and down the staircase all day could be a right pain. Plus the hall area will amplify the sound ( we once lived next door to someone who fairly regularly fell down the stairs drunk).

[MoonlightandRoses]

Definitely House 1 - sounds like it has far more potential.

Woodchip can hide dodgy plaster, but not necessarily. As long as it's not on the ceilings too (yes, I have renovated one that was - think they thought it was Artex on a roll...) then it's actually not that difficult to remove.

Also, it's amazing what you can live with decoratively for a little while if you have to. In fact, if at all possible I would recommend living there for a few months without decorating - it will mean you have a much better idea of where the light falls / how you use the rooms etc., before shelling out for anything to be updated/upgraded.

[Confusedhousehunter]

We wouldn't be hanging out in the hallway though so hopefully won't hear them clomping up and down that much?
I wish I could combine the best bits from each!

[housepicturesqueclub]

1.

Or - put offers in on both, inform agents of this, see which you can get the biggest discount on.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

House 1 unless parking is an issue

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

House 1 if you can definitely afford to renovate it in a timescale you would be happy with.

House 2 if, in reality, it will be many years before you can afford to do work (or have the time to do it).

I think being realistic is the key. We were in the same situation in 1999 - almost exactly in fact. We went for the "doer-upper". And sold it on in 2007 still not renovated. We grossly underestimated the time & costs involved! With hindsight we should have gone for our easier, albeit slightly smaller, option.

[Bamaluz]

Are they both on the same side of the street?
If not, which one gets the sun in the back garden?
Otherwise I would go for the one with a driveway and garage.

[Confusedhousehunter]

We would have a budget to get the bathroom and a large proportion of the decorating done.

I'm not sure about the driveway as we'd need to get permission for a dropped kerb and removal of a public parking space.

House 1 will not accept a low offer but I would hope to get it slightly cheaper than house 2 (maybe 10k).

[PrimalLass]

House 1.

Woodchip is not that hard to remove with a steam stripper.

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

House 1, but Bamaluz raises a good point about the aspect.

If you really can't choose then you could do as suggested and offer on both and see which price attracts you more.
We're useless at DIY but you can save money doing the menial and easy jobs yourselves.

[Confusedhousehunter]

House 1 has a south east facing garden, I think house 2 is north west. Opposite sides of the street.

[EnriqueTheRingBearingLizard]

No competition for me then it'd be House 1.

[Confusedhousehunter]

I hadn't thought about the sun. I am veering more towards house 1 after seeing house 2 again.
The driveway is at an awkward angle and reversing out was precarious.

[BadgersRetreat]

house 1 - for sun and less noise and more room

[Hassled]

House 1. Having the halls adjoining will make a huge difference to noise levels.