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Move or improve?

16 replies

Updatemate · 07/02/2021 15:19

Anyone guilty of accusing people of stealth boasting can just keep scrolling...

So our family size has very unexpectedly doubled overnight from 2 children to 4.

We currently have 4 large bedrooms- 1 with ensuite, smallish kitchen, lounge and dining room. Prior to the increase in family size we were planning to extend the kitchen to a family kitchen diner and downstairs loo, and at a later point convert the 2 cellar rooms in to 2 rooms and a shower room.

The current house is great, good size garden, fairly quiet road, terrible for parking but with the house has a drive for 2 cars. We also have a single garage.

We have the money to do both the kitchen extension and cellar conversions at the same time and probably also to split one of the larger bedrooms in two, making 3 similar sized double rooms (3x4 or thereabouts), a large double and a master room. We could also make the ensuite a second bathroom - I don't actually like ensuites and the current one isn't used.

Alternatively we could move. However 5 bed houses with broadly similar sized rooms are a rarity around here, so we would have to wait for one to come up. The other issue is that we currently live spitting distance from the best secondary school in the area (I can see it from the garden). So have a very high chance of getting the kids in to that.

Moving may get us a house with better parking. We'll really struggle with parking when the kids get cars and there's no way of improving that.

Having the work done will be a huge upheaval and we will have to continue living here whilst it is done (we'll move upstairs though). It'll probably be £50k cheaper to do the work than to move, possibly more, possibly less.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Fullofthejoysofspring · 07/02/2021 15:24

How old are the children?

Updatemate · 07/02/2021 15:28

Currently between 5&2

OP posts:
Fullofthejoysofspring · 07/02/2021 16:20

I think I'd stay and improve - the secondary school has influenced me massively here.

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Updatemate · 07/02/2021 16:24

That's what we're thinking. The alternative is private secondary because the other state alternatives are either Catholic (which we aren't and DH is vehemently against) or dire (bottom 100 schools in England dire).

We will not find a bigger house in our budget in gauranteed catchment area.

OP posts:
Updatemate · 07/02/2021 16:26

And the idea of paying for 4 in private for 5 years makes me feel sick!

OP posts:
alanpartridgefromtheoasthouse · 07/02/2021 16:33

I'd do the work and stay put. The benefit of a good school nearby far outweighs parking hassles. Also the kids won't be getting cars for more than a decade!

Africa2go · 07/02/2021 16:39

Stay and improve. It's probably 7 years of private education and it would be eye wateringly expensive. There is no way I'd move away from a well regarded secondary catchment unless there was literally no other option.

Updatemate · 07/02/2021 16:57

Africa2go

Yes, 7 each. I meant 5 years where all 4 are there together!

OP posts:
Mochatatts · 07/02/2021 17:12

I'd stay and improve definitely. There's nothing to say all your children will drive or won't have moved out to uni or in with friends before they have cars. The school thing just makes it an easier decision.

TheWashingMachine · 07/02/2021 17:16

Improve, plus you avoid stamp duty, (I'm not sure how long the current stamp duty holiday will last).

Updatemate · 07/02/2021 17:22

Yes, the stamp duty would be horrendous

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Imapotato · 07/02/2021 17:27

As much as I hate DIY, in your circumstances I’d stay and improve. It sounds like you have the budget to not have to do much of the work yourselves, so I’m sure that apart from a bit of disruption it’ll be fine.

73kittycat73 · 07/02/2021 18:03

Stay and improve. Your plans sound like a really nice house. Good luck with it (If you choose to improve that is! Smile ).

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 07/02/2021 18:08

We moved for an outstanding secondary school which I do feel are more important than primary schools.

Definitely improve yours. Think ahead too, what will the children need when they are older? Their own space? A lounge with another tv? Don't just think about the now.

Updatemate · 07/02/2021 20:10

Think ahead too, what will the children need when they are older?

That's why we are going to do the cellar at the same time and split the big room. It'll mean we have 5 bedrooms, the kitchen will have a sofa in. The dining room will become a play room then we'll have a lounge. The cellar will become an office (DH will be WFH exclusively u til he gets a new job) and guest bedroom but in the future could become another TV or games room.

I think we'll improve. We don't mind DIY usually it's just 4 small kids with all the upheaval that worries me currently!

OP posts:
Updatemate · 07/02/2021 20:13

When we bought the house we didn't really consider the school. We only had DC1 who was 18mo at the time. It was only when a neighbor mentioned it the other day I really considered it.

OP posts:
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