Torn between 2 houses...

[Whichhouseisbest]

We are currently torn between 2 houses. Both are listed for the same price. Both similar sizes and layouts (apart from house 1 has a utility room and conservatory extra)

House 1
Pros- has a conservatory, utility room, quite nicely decorated inside, the location is near the school we would send dd to, quite a private garden
Cons- is on quite a narrow road, dh is worried parking could be difficult. No driveway but has room to put one in, doesn't look as 'naice' as the other one

House 2-
Pros- I just love the look of it, it is up a quiet cul de sac, 5 mins away from shops, a lake with a park. Huge garden, loads of room to extend
Cons- Needs central heating putting in,a bit of wiring, bathroom and kitchen quite dated, new fireplace putting in,a bit of plastering. School a bit further away (possibly walking distance still). If I were buying it, I would want a conservatory plus new kitchen and bathroom.

House 1 is the winner on paper for sure. But I can imagine living in House 2 more. Argh how do you decide??

Can you afford to do the work to house 2?

Go with your gut feeling
If you live the steeet and look of the house others will to.
Lack of parking won’t help sell if you want to later
Conservatories are a bit outdated and people are replacing them anyway with a more stylish extension

And would it be your "forever" home?

I’d choose house 2 if you can comfortably afford to do the work and the school run wouldn’t be too difficult.

Don't under estimate the cost and inconvenience of getting all the work done to House 2. If you're ok with that, then it sounds like you would much prefer that house.

We could afford to get the work done just about but we would need to be spending so much, about 25k just to put in on a par with the other house (if that makes sense). But I do think it would be lovely when all done up. It is just so hard to know what to do for the best!

If you’re going to be living there for a long time I’d definitely go with house 2. We had a very similar dilemma and went with house 2( small cul de sac, house 1 narrow lane ) yes the work was expensive and tbh I got really fed up with having workman around but we started in September and were finished 2 weeks ago. All night storage heaters removed, new gas central heating including having the gas moled into the property , fireplace ripped out all replastered and inset fire instead. New kitchen, totally redecorated, carpets, curtains etc. The bathroom has not been done as we have now spent our budget for the time being and I also want a front extension of porch and boot room.
I’m so happy we went for number 2 as it will be our forever home.

I’d only go with house 2 if you can definitely afford all the work with a contingency fund. It’ll always cost more than you expect!

Also you don’t have to do it all at once, we’ve done a lot in a relatively short space of time but I feel we now need a break from it for at least 12 months ( although we will need to work on the garden over the summer).

we would need to be spending so much, about 25k just to put in on a par with the other house

But there are things House 2 has that house 1 doesn't and never will.

Please can we have the rightmove links?

If you can afford it go with house 2

I wouldn't bother with a conservatory, we actively discounted houses with conservatories when we were buying. So much of the time they are too cold or too hot, and in the wrong place (added to the sittingroom/dining room making it dark). If you want to extend then make a large open and bright kitchen diner (with a utility and downstairs loo squeezed in in the middle of the house). That frees up your dining room (assuming typical 3/4 bed layout) to be another sitting room/family room. Perfect for a family. Think as well about if you might want more bedrooms in which case you might want a 2 storey extension (or go into the attic later?). But all that could cost more than you have but will futureproof more than a conservatory.

Nearlyadoctor how much did all that work cost, if you that isn't too nosey a question?
I would love to post the rightmove links but I posted one before and got a lot of nasty posts saying they would be furious if they were the seller
Well we have another viewing of both properties this week, I need to look at them both with fresh eyes!

Can you PM them individually? We can give you proper feed back then

House 2, a cul de sac beats a narrow lane any day of the Week.

I would love to post the rightmove links but I posted one before and got a lot of nasty posts saying they would be furious if they were the seller

People post Right Move links all the time on here so if you want to post them, feel free to do it.

On what you've said, I would go for house 2. You obviously prefer it. If you are putting in central heating/rewiring etc, I would assume that cost is reflected in the price so although they are the same price, house 2 would probably be worth more if it were perfect. Any extension will add to the value so you will get some return on your money. As well as being the house you feel happiest with, it also makes better financial sense, if the extra money you spend is adding value. As long as you can afford it...

I'd say House 2 . Never underestimate the hassle and pain of poor parking can cause. You also might not be allowed to put in a drive if it impacts on your neighbours parking, or alternatively could alienate neighbours if you do.

All.things being equal (ish) go for ability to improve and potential for resale

House 2 because sounds like you love it. A huge garden would win me over.

I've lived somewhere with shit parking and it was a daily hassle.

It could be worse:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=w1F5BLLFAeM

(Sorry, couldn’t resist)

More seriously, house 2.

Provided you can afford to do the work over the next few years. You don’t have to do it all at once.

It’s all in your first post really: I just love the look of it

Thanks for all your advice! I do love it... but dh does not. He has no vision! He wants to move into somewhere already done and that's that, no stress. I can see the appeal of that, it is tempting me too!
I can imagine living in house 2 though. I think initially we would need central heating in, new fire (not strictly necessary but the one there atm is awful!) do the necessary plastering, new bathroom, carpets! Then leave the old kitchen in till we have the time and money to extend it.
I have spent so much time going over this, I wake in the middle of the night, looking on zoopla comparing nearby houses (and prices) and quotes for everything!

School is prob the most important decider. Is house 2 definitely in catchment of the school? Is the school oversubscribed? How far a walk is it, given you'll be doing it twice a day for years? If it's on the edge of catchment what would the alternative be if you didn't get in?

@Whichhouseisbest if you send me a pm, I’ll let you know what we spent and a rough breakdown of how it was divided up, size of our house, part of the country etc which will also have a bearing on cost. I’m just off out to Pilates but will happily do it when I get home if it would help.