Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Help me and DH choose which property to make an offer on!

63 replies

TornLikeNatalieImbruglia · 22/10/2018 21:08

DH and I are trying to find a new place to live as we’re currently in a crappy 1-bed flat in East London which we are fed up with for too many reasons to list and we want to start a family.

We’re looking at Leigh on Sea in Essex as it’s a really lovely little town, not too far from our families, good schools and good transport links to London for work.

Our budget isn’t great- £250k at the most as I’m on a FTC so lenders won’t use my salary for a mortgage application so we’re going on DHs alone.

We’ve viewed God knows how many places over the last few weeks and have identified two front runners-

The Maisonette

£250k
629 sq. ft.

Pros:

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Really nicely set out and decorated if you ignore the tacky crap like the glittery toilet seat so wouldn’t really need anything doing to it
  • Lovely little private garden which would need minimal maintenance
  • Off-road parking round the back
  • 15 minutes walk to train station
  • Share of freehold, no ground rent or service charge

Cons:

  • It’s a maisonette, so it comes with downstairs neighbours and all the potential problems that could entail
  • There’s fuck all storage- a tiny little built in shed under the outside steps and a very shallow cupboard. No loft as it's a flat roof.
  • There’s nowhere to eat- no dining area or any real space for one or even a table, presumably the current owners eat off their laps
  • The wall in the living room has been built to frame a tv that’s 4x the size of ours so we’d have to deal with that
  • It’s on a busy main road

The House

£240k
575 sq. ft.

Pros:

  • It’s an actual house.
  • Tonnes of storage- attic, cupboard under the stairs, airing/boiler cupboard, a shed in the garden and a garage
  • Nice little garden, has a fish pond with apparently some pretty expensive fish in it
  • On a quiet cul-de-sac, no through traffic
  • 5 minutes walk from one of my best friends’ house (although that’s more of a pro for me than DH!)
  • It’s £10k cheaper than the maisonette and the vendor said he’d be prepared to wiggle a bit on the price because...

Cons

  • The garden is a bit of a state because the vendor has two dogs which just tear it up, and the patio is very uneven and would probably need to be re-laid
  • It’s got a good 20 years of wear and tear and would need redecorating
  • The bedrooms are pretty small, not room for much more than a bed and a wardrobe in either
  • Internal bathroom with no windows which could mean damp issues
  • Current owner has drilled through the wall to run a power cable to the shed where he has the tumble drier (!) which would have me worried about spiders and other creepy crawlies
  • 25 minute walk to the train station

Realistically, we’re only going to live in our next home for maybe 4 years max, to allow time for me to get a permanent job and get a few periods of mat leave out of the way and then hopefully we can get somewhere better using both our salaries.

OP posts:
alfiesmam · 22/10/2018 21:34

House .

Being near the schools will surely add value ?

BertramKibbler · 22/10/2018 21:35

I wouldn’t class that house as being in Leigh as it’s so far away. Have you actually don’t the walk to the station, I reckon it would be longer than 25 mins. Also wouldn’t want to be too close to the schools up there.

The maisonette is in a much nicer area. I’d go for that.

RedDrink · 22/10/2018 21:35

The house.

We're in a flat that lacks storage and it absolutely blows especially with our baby now. We're having to rent a storage unit to hold seasonal things and such.

RedDrink · 22/10/2018 21:37

We also don't have room for a dining table which I really don't like.

We're looking for a house now too. Grin

GU24Mum · 22/10/2018 21:37

If the lenders won't take your salary into account but presumably you've got one, could you go to the top of your budget and use some of your salary to do some work to a slightly more expensive property. We had friends who said that they put lowish offers on quite a few houses in the theory that one of the sellers would probably accept it - and one did. So, could you look at houses at, say, £275 and put in a lower offer?

Not much useful help otherwise except to say that if you want to add value (or want the person you sell your house to be able to do that), neither seem amazing. I'd try and find either a bungalow or an end of terrace/semi which is grottier in terms of decoration but has more scope.

BertramKibbler · 22/10/2018 21:38

I’m also From Leigh on Sea... interesting to note all the locals are saying maisonette!

BertramKibbler · 22/10/2018 21:39

The market in the area is pretty strong at the moment. My mother has just sold a house just off the Leigh Road which went for asking price after 2 days on the market.

Original poster
TornLikeNatalieImbruglia · 22/10/2018 21:40

Yeah the maisonette layout is a bit nuts. The master bedroom has two doors, which makes for easy access to the other rooms and the bathroom I guess.

I walked from the house to the train station today, was somewhere between 20-25 mins although I am a very quick walker!

We don’t have kids yet, but yes the pond would be a concern eventually. I’d probably just erect a little fence around it.

I thought the Westcliff grammars were meant to be fantastic?

OP posts:
Daisymay2 · 22/10/2018 21:43

Flat roof would put me off too, also you would need to look at the arrangements regarding the freehold very carefully. What happens if the roof needs repair. Is it all don to you- and what happens if downstairs don't agree it needs repair. It would worry me.
House seems much better and you would be able to increase the value by sorting the garden, the patio and updating.
Have you looked at Canvey- it seems popular with people moving out of London

Original poster
TornLikeNatalieImbruglia · 22/10/2018 21:44

@BertramKibbler the end terrace two doors down from the house went on the market last Wednesday and they accepted an offer this afternoon 40 minutes before I was meant to view it when I was already on the train, the bastards

OP posts:
mintyfresh00 · 22/10/2018 21:55

It's next to westcliff high for school which is great, but they're still loud and rowdy when they come out after school, and opposite the boys catholic school. So you end up with about 2 hours of them hanging around flirting to make up for hours missed in their single sex school Grin

Ariela · 22/10/2018 21:59

Could you go for something slightly more & make an offer eg www.onthemarket.com/details/5645631/

Ariela · 22/10/2018 22:02

Or this: www.onthemarket.com/details/4437833/

Needs some redecoration, but a lot more spacious & room to extend

Original poster
TornLikeNatalieImbruglia · 22/10/2018 22:06

They’re both a bit too far from the stations unfortch

OP posts:
millimat · 22/10/2018 22:15

Ooh I love this sort of thread!
House for me - more potential to add value.

TheABC · 22/10/2018 22:18

The house, every time. The schools are actually a bonus if you end up selling in 4 years, especially if you have done the house up to appeal to families. You need storage space with young kids (IKEA is your friend!) and you will appreciate the dinning room. We moved to a house in similar circumstances near 3 schools with an appalling garden that had not been touched in years. The school run is only a problem if you are driving during that period and a lot can be done with a practical mindset and elbow grease!

PaintingOwls · 22/10/2018 22:18

Always a house.

happypoobum · 22/10/2018 22:19

Neither.

Having lived in a cul de sac I would never do it again. Bloody parking wars!!! Kids playing out noisily until late at night.

Wait a little longer until the perfect house comes along. Honestly, if either of them was "the one" you wouldn't be on here asking us to help you choose!

Ceecee18 · 22/10/2018 22:23

The house! You're mention may leave so obviously planning on having kids. We lived in an upstairs flat when DD was born, we moved when she was 3 months old. Was a total pain in the arse carrying pushchair/car seat up the stairs, along with shopping. Also, it didn't have that much storage so the spare bedroom just became a junk room.

mrspink27 · 22/10/2018 22:32

or this one?

BertramKibbler · 23/10/2018 08:41

Some what outing but I used to live next door to that one ^ good sized rooms in those flats and much closer to chalkwell station/ Leigh broadway etc

SushiMonster · 23/10/2018 08:49

That is only really big enough for a couple plus a baby so might not be a good long term but. Nice though.

HarrySnotter · 23/10/2018 09:01

Maisonette is lovely but I'd 100% go for the house.

AJPTaylor · 23/10/2018 09:24

For 4 years?
House.
Dont buy anything that might be tricky to sell in your position.
A nice little house that will just track the market up or down is just the ticket in your position. Just enough space for a baby and toddler if needs be.

CitySnicker · 23/10/2018 09:42

Look into how much building insurance would be on a flat roof. From experience could be up to 3x more expensive.