Which would you choose?

[raggedtrouseredphilanthropist]

having just asked about converting a bathroom to a bedroom, I need more mnet advice!!

I have seen 2 houses, and like both. I am tempted to put an offer in, but I dont know on which one. Both are in the city - about 25 mins walk from the centre. Both are stabdard terraces - porch entrance, front room, stairs, back room, galley kitchen, bathroom.

House no 1: near the river, near lots of little parks, near shops, closer to some of my friends. Local school is ok.

Neighbourhood is a mix of rented, bought and some council flats. It is not 'rough', but not the most desired area either. 80ft garden, long kitchen (longer than the other one by about 21/2 feet). I would rip out the upstairs bathroom to make bedroom no 3.

House no 2: near to a better school. Area is entirely terraces. Local shops are a bit further. Parks are few and far between, though there is a big one over the main road. Kitchen is smaller, and the garden is about a quarter of the size, but south facing. 3rd bedroom is ready to use as a bedroom. It just within the most desirable area of the city.

House no 2 is 10k more expensive, which I could just afford. But it would be very easy to resell if I had to. House no 1 I can imagine staying in, as the garden is nice and though the location is not such a good area, it is close to the river and parks and shops and its round the corner from where I live now, but I imagine would be harder to resell.

Apart from the garden and kitchen, and having to rip out the bathroom in house no 1, the houses are comparable. house no 2 I like, but don't know the area so well.

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh! Which would YOU go for????

[LaurieFairyCake]

I would go for neither as the garden is to small in the second one and I wouldn't put the bathroom downstairs in the first as it would be expensive (and it's slightly less desireable for resale)

Is there nothing with a loft conversation and an upstairs bathroom ?

Also if you rip out the upstairs bathroom does it mean the bedrooms become interconnecting?

[brettgirl2]

I would go for the one that isn't near the river, but then I am of a nervous disposition.

[raggedtrouseredphilanthropist]

Let me clear up a bit
House no 1 is a short walk from the river - its over a road, not backing onto it or anything. Also, it already has a downstairs bathroom, hence the ripping out the upstairs bathroom.

All the houses I can afford round here are this style, and these are the best I have seen so far. 2 bedrooms and a box room off the second bedroom. Standard terraces round here.

[LaurieFairyCake]

ooh, it's a hard one - I would normally go for the most desirable area but you already live in the less desirable area and know it well. And I'm really drawn to the larger garden.

How bad is the local school - be really specific, is it the difference between 'satisfactory' and 'good' in ofsted reports? (you can look those up online)

What's the secondary like for the future?

[raggedtrouseredphilanthropist]

the closest secondary to house no1 is appalling, while the closest to house no2 is very nice. But I do believe that in the city you can go to any secondary within the cluster - just divided by north city or south city. Both houses are south city.

bloody hell this is really difficult!!

[LaurieFairyCake]

yes, but surely even though you 'can' get into any in your area the likelihood is if you went to hse no.1 then you would get the dreadful school.

If it was 'satisfactory' or I had really bright children that would benefit from extra coaching (my dh is a teacher) then I would pick the one with the bigger garden. The fact that you have described it as 'appalling' would rule it out for me.

[raggedtrouseredphilanthropist]

yeah, I kinda agree with you there. The primaries are all good, but the nearest secondary is awful.
I do have 8 years until I will be thinking about that tho.... but then again, I really dont fancy having to move again if I dont REALLY have to...
ho hum.

[nowwearefour]

yes you will be ruing the decision to move to house no 1 however big the garden if your only option at secondary school level is an appalling school. the decision becomes easy, surely?

[ohdearwhatamess]

No 2 on the basis of schools (and ease of resale if necessary).

[raggedtrouseredphilanthropist]

ok
I rang the middle school nr house no1, and the children DONT generally go to the appalling high school. there is parental choice, and the majority of the children end up at any of 4 good high schools in the area, including the school nr house no2. very few go to the appalling school.

So, high school is now NOT an issue....

I am now leaning towards house no1, knowing that...

[newgirl]

the big garden would swing it for me

both sound good choices - lucky you!