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Which house would you buy?

30 replies

HouseTetralemma · 21/07/2019 21:11

Not going to post actual links as we may actually buy one of these, but we're very unsure what to prioritise. Main reasons for move are space (but we're currently in a tiny flat with no garden so all are substantially more space than we have now) and proximity to my work/ new school. DH works roughly a 40 minute drive away from all of these so not really a factor.

House 1: best all-rounder. Decent amount of space although not necessarily arranged in the way we'd like best. Two DC can each have their own comparable bedroom. Walkable to work (thereby saving on parking charge) and ten minute cycle to school so could get rid of one car. Nice garden, biggish but manageable.

Downsides: no garage as has been extended into garage. Semi-detached and probably already at the price ceiling for its road due to extension.

House 2: two minutes walk from town centre and train station, five minutes walk from school. Ten minute cycle/ 5 minute drive to work so again could get rid of one car. Detached, well-priced and likely to hold its value very well. Space downstairs is arranged pretty well for how we'd use it. Big garden.

Downsides: no garage, bit dark inside. DC would either have to share a bedroom or one go in tiny box room. Have a couple of changes we'd like to make (changing location of some internal doors/ better access to garden etc). Weird black kitchen.

House 3: Absolutely lovely inside, loads of space, perfectly arranged. Detached with a double garage.

Downsides: small garden, nothing in it currently. Just an overgrown patch of weeds. Not a particularly nice area and next to a fairly busy road. 10 minute drive to both work and school.

House 4: Random wild card. Gorgeous character cottage that's an absolute tardis inside. Needs work doing but priced accordingly. Smallish garden but not as small as house 3. Has a garage but it looks like an asbestos-ridden death trap. Potential to do a big extension and massively increase the value.

Downsides: 15 minutes drive from anywhere. Aforementioned death-trap garage. Giant overgrown conifers casting entire house and garden into permanent twilight that would need to come out. Hassle of doing extension with two small DC.

Apologies for the first-world problem. DH and I are on different pages though (and also both keep changing our minds) and struggling to make a decision, which we need to do fairly quickly. Would be grateful for any external perspectives!

OP posts:
HouseTetralemma · 21/07/2019 21:14

Oh forgot to mention, price-wise 1 and 2 are the same, 3 is substantially more expensive and at the top of our budget, 4 is substantially cheaper which would let us afford the extension.

OP posts:
WantLifeToBeBetter · 21/07/2019 21:21

1 or 2. Definitely not 3.

WantLifeToBeBetter · 21/07/2019 21:22

Re 4, would the conifers be on your property? I.e. could you get rid of them?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/07/2019 21:23

House 2 provided you can get some Off Street Parking.

In years to come you'll be glad of the Town/Station proximity

The bedroom issue will be ok for now , could you extend into the attic .

You can work round the dark with some clever lighting and paint

And the black kitchen..............erm who wouldn't love a black kitchen Wink

HouseTetralemma · 21/07/2019 21:24

WantLifeToBeBetter yes they are, and have no TPOs so we could get rid of them. They're just absolutely enormous so I don't know how easy that would be but presume a tree person could manage it.

OP posts:
Kez200 · 21/07/2019 21:25

1 or 2. Do they have dedicated parking spaces?

CurlyMango · 21/07/2019 21:27
  1. Seems to have the best f everything and even rooms for the kids o,us garden space would be handy
GemmeFatale · 21/07/2019 21:27

House 4. It’s obvious from your phrasing that’s the one you want.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 21/07/2019 21:28

House one - unless the dc are very young and you intend to move again in a couple of years, in which case house two.

AndMyBirdCanSing · 21/07/2019 21:29

1 or 2

Awrite · 21/07/2019 21:31

House 2.

House 4 might seem like the dream but once the kids are older, being 15 minutes away from anywhere (by car?) will be a total pain in the arse.

However, that's me - I like being near stuff. House 4 does sound nice so it might be right for you.

Atlasta · 21/07/2019 21:31
Good location ie. School/work easily accessible. Save on one car. Bedrooms for dc.
Tavannach · 21/07/2019 21:31

Without seeing them, house 2 I think. House 4 sounds good, but perhaps a bit too much with small children.

Xmasbaby11 · 21/07/2019 21:35

1 or 3. Not 2 due to bedroom situation. Probably 1 as it sounds like it ticks all boxes.

Teachermaths · 21/07/2019 21:39

1 or 2

House 4 is too far away from places as your kids grow. You don't want to be a taxi.

Ohhgreat · 21/07/2019 21:43

Don't move to the middle of nowhere with small kids! It's a pain in the arse and so much harder to do even little things like grab a pint of milk

ICouldBeSomebodyYouKnow · 21/07/2019 21:44

House 1.
Location, location, location.

Crunchymum · 21/07/2019 21:51

I don't understand why you haven't discounted house #3? Confused

KronksSpinachPuffs · 21/07/2019 21:51

House 1!

House 2 would be ok but seems to have more cons and I find it can be difficult to get more light into a dark property

Crunchymum · 21/07/2019 21:52

The price and area would make it a no go for me.

HouseTetralemma · 21/07/2019 22:56

Crunchymum I think because it's basically the house I would design if I was going to put together my perfect house... It's lovely and bright with big rooms and high ceilings, a bit of character but lots of nice modern features too. But realistically it's probably more space than we actually need, and like you say the area and price make it not the most sensible option.

I think I am discounting number 4. I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere, and I don't think I can be arsed to live in a building site for months; I think it's more that it's the one I feel I should want...

Kids are currently 2 and 5, and this isn't a forever house but likely to be for at least the next 5-8 years.

OP posts:
Dowser · 21/07/2019 23:07

4

Persea · 21/07/2019 23:09

1 or 2

confusedandemployed · 21/07/2019 23:10
  1. Sounds like by far the most convenient and well suited for you.
Petitprince · 21/07/2019 23:27

4 every time. Put your own stamp on it.