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Original poster

Which house would you choose from these three?

95 replies

Flamingoose · 09/09/2022 06:44

(Rental, not buying. If we were buying it would be different.)

Maybe I should ask which should WE go for? We're a family of 5: 2 adults, 3 kids aged between 9 - 15. DH and I both work a couple of days a week at home.

House 1: Stunning house in great location but absolutely tiny.
4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, sitting room, bathroom all on one level. That's it. No study, no second living space, no laundry room, nothing. It's like a little doll's house. But beautiful and right where we need to be.

House 2: Nice house, good size, I like it and we'd be comfortable. It's not a horrible location either - near some nice parks, shops, beach. But it's not where we need to be. Would make DH's commute quite long. Teenagers would probably need a lift to school (at the moment they bus or walk). Miles from friends. My 5 minute walk to work would become a 20 minute drive.

House 3: Bit of a shitty house but big enough and where we need to be. Crappy old kitchen. 20 yr old bathrooms.

(Or, I suppose, House 4: A nice house, big enough, in our location, but over budget).

OP posts:
Eddielizzard · 09/09/2022 06:47

I would probably go with house 1. Location is huge, esp with teenagers. You don't want to be driving all the time. The lack of extra space is a real pain. Any chance of a child sharing so you can create a work space?

Original poster
Flamingoose · 09/09/2022 06:48

It's so hard to choose when we don't know how long we'll be in the house. We're only moving because our landlord wants to sell. If we knew it was for the next 20 years I'd choose the tiny one and manage, knowing that the kids would be heading off to uni in a few years and we'll have a bit more space. But if it's only for 2 years then I can cope with the shitty house and we'll move into something nicer next time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Flamingoose · 09/09/2022 06:49

Eddielizzard · 09/09/2022 06:47

I would probably go with house 1. Location is huge, esp with teenagers. You don't want to be driving all the time. The lack of extra space is a real pain. Any chance of a child sharing so you can create a work space?

I don't think sharing is an option. Wrong ages / wrong combination of girls and boys / wrong personalities for that. Would be a compromise too far I think.

OP posts:
SheWoreYellow · 09/09/2022 06:51

3 for me. We have almost the same ages of children.

SilverLiningPlaybook · 09/09/2022 06:51

House 4

tocas · 09/09/2022 06:53

House 3

Original poster
Flamingoose · 09/09/2022 06:54

SheWoreYellow · 09/09/2022 06:51

3 for me. We have almost the same ages of children.

I think this is probably the answer. God it's depressing to move out of our lovely house where we're settled, to move into a horrid house. But I think it's the practical answer :/

OP posts:
marvellousmaple · 09/09/2022 06:54

As a rental - House 3

Whowhatwherewhenwhynow · 09/09/2022 06:54

Would you have the budget to make house 3 what you want? If so I’d go for house 3 and do it up.

About option 1- have you lived somewhere that small before? I would only go for option 1 if the size wasn’t going to impact on every day life. Although it’s small would it be enough for you and the children without being on top of each other or having every room crowded.

I wouldn’t go for option 2 as communes, driving children places isn’t something I would be wanting to do. On an everyday level that would cause stress.

StamppotAndGravy · 09/09/2022 06:57

3 but try and negotiate a new kitchen? Probably won't work on this market but still. Could you afford to offer an extra 100pm if they agreed?

Lemonlemon88 · 09/09/2022 06:58

House 1. Location is key i think. We had one open plan space growing up and it was fine really except always had to watch parents tv choices. Work from home is doable if alternate days from home. Annoying but a desk in the bedroom could work if you can't work from the living space after school finishes. I just have a cheap desk from ikea with a top and trestle legs that can be packed up when not in use.

everywoman682 · 09/09/2022 06:58

Any scope for having a Garden office in house 1? If you were able to put a fairly substantial structure in the garden that might make it viable

Lemonlemon88 · 09/09/2022 06:59

If dining room and sitting room seperate in house 1 then work from dining room and kids have to stay in lounge while working?

StamppotAndGravy · 09/09/2022 06:59

You might not notice 1 being small though. The teens will be in bedroom phase for the next few years, so it's only the 9yo who needs a living room.

PaddleBoardingMomma · 09/09/2022 07:01

House 1!!! Teens will be in their bedrooms 90% of the time they’re at home anyway, and frankly this winter looks set to be a little grim so I’d rather be in the beautiful house in the great location with some comforts! Let’s not forget our ancestors often had families of 10+ in a two up two down, im sure you can manage!

Original poster
Flamingoose · 09/09/2022 07:07

I should say that in terms of convenient location, house 1 and house 3 are about the same. House 1 is closer to the shops and school, but house 3 is three streets over from where we currently live.

OP posts:
CormoranStrike · 09/09/2022 07:08

House one or house four

Screwcorona · 09/09/2022 07:13

House 1.. I moved out at 16 and lots of others move out before 20. Its possibly not many years until you can use the eldest bedroom. If the house is the nicest and has the best commute I'd go for it. Commuting is stressful

Original poster
Flamingoose · 09/09/2022 07:19

everywoman682 · 09/09/2022 06:58

Any scope for having a Garden office in house 1? If you were able to put a fairly substantial structure in the garden that might make it viable

Hmm. That's not a bad idea. Will look into that.

OP posts:
CleopatrasBeautifulNose · 09/09/2022 07:21

House 3, is best

No storage in house 1 will slowly make you go insane with a family of 5 and it might be beautiful but you'll slowly come to hate it.
House 2 will wreck your work life balance and damage your mental health accordingly (been there)
House 3 will support your family life in the most important ways, and you can turn a blind eye to crap wall paper and that kind of thing.

Only other question is are they all decent landlords, so safe bet for stability?

Augend23 · 09/09/2022 07:21

Garden offices of the official kind are outrageously expensive - I was looking at getting one put in.

I think if you were a dab hand at DIY one could build an uber-shed with insulated panels etc for not too much money though - but you'd need to ask for a long lease to make it worthwhile and/or build it with dismantling and moving it in mind.

TwoShades1 · 09/09/2022 07:28

I think house 2 is off the table. It’s a choice between 1 or 3. Unless you can revisit your budget and afford House 4. I guess it depends how your family works as to how small house 1 is. Do your teens like to spend a lot of time in their rooms or do you tend to all hang out together? Is is viable to work from somewhere else (either go to office or rent office space/hot desk?). If you all spend a lot of time together and can’t change work arrangements then house 3 is probably the best, but keep an eye for other rentals with a view to moving if possible.

Original poster
Flamingoose · 09/09/2022 07:43

In my heart, I think I know that we're not a minimalist, tiny house family. The house we're in is already a bit small for us and a smaller house would be a challenge. We have too much stuff. I currently have my work desk in a corner of my bedroom and don't like having to have it there - an office and / or an extra room for the kids would be wonderful. In fact it's the only possible silver lining to having to move.

OP posts:
MacaroniBaloney · 09/09/2022 07:49

House 1 for me. My mood is influenced by my surroundings and your description of house 3 sounds depressing.

Adversity · 09/09/2022 07:50

Go with house 3. The house I grew up in was a bit shabby but it was in an amazing location and huge. As long as it’s clean and safe what does it matter really.