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AIBU?

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Original poster

to not want to buy a house on a busy road

18 replies

ajuba · 10/04/2011 18:20

we have been house-hunting for ages and feel pressurised as prices seem to be rising in our area. We've seen a house that we like but its on a busy road. i can't get my head around this although DH doesn't seem to mind and has had enough of house-hunting. Do I give in or carry on the search? bearing in mind that not much seems to be coming on the market and anything decent seems to be overpriced?

OP posts:
Cattleprod · 10/04/2011 18:24

If it's traffic noise you're worried about, you'll barely notice it. I don't.

Unless the house is right on the M25, of course!

bibbitybobbityhat · 10/04/2011 18:25

No! don't give in to pressure. Don't buy a house you don't want to live in.

ExpatAgain · 10/04/2011 18:26

oh but it might be awful, each to their own. i couldn't do it, hate noisy roads whereas some people hardly notice,follow yr instinct, if you're noise-sensitive,it's not a good idea!

GiddyPickle · 10/04/2011 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DorcasBouvier · 10/04/2011 18:29

I couldn't live on a busy road either. If you have children and/or pets it would be a constant worry.

transferbalance · 10/04/2011 18:29

you're house will get covered in sooty black traffic fume crap

you won't be able to leave a window open

people on the top deck of the bus WILL look into your windows

Bunbaker · 10/04/2011 18:31

I wouldn't eant to live on a busy road for all the reasons already stated, plus it might be difficult to sell when you want to move again.

onceamai · 10/04/2011 18:32

Depends how busy the road is. Is it an A road, is it a motorway, is it a high street, how far back is the house, is there OSP, can you gate the front so children are safe, what sort of traffic passes, etc., etc.. We once saw a beautiful house when we were thinking of moving out of London - on a not too main road but it was a rat run between motorways and huge lorries thundered past. It was the most beautiful house but it was set close to the road in acres of grounds - had it been set back a hundred feet we would undoubtedly have bought it.

stoatie · 10/04/2011 18:34

depends on the road - we are on quiet street but near hospital handy as OH works there) and a train line. When we first moved in I heard trains/sirens all time, now I don't even notice them. That said, we go onto the main road and getting car out is nightmare - would never want to live on that road - even though it is tree lined, single lane traffic etc as it is a nightmare at all times of day getting out

Ohforfoxsake · 10/04/2011 18:35

Depends on what you call a busy road - I recently moved from a very busy road, heavy traffic, always, always sirens as it was on the main route to the hospital. Couldn't park outside, couldn't get into the drive half the time. Traffic lights on either end of the road meant there was always traffic outside.

But, we didn't really notice it that much. We still sold it on fairly quickly.

Now we live on the corner of what some people around here think is a busy road, and to me it really, really isn't.

There's always a compromise to make. You have to decide if this house is worth the compromise. If you don't love the house then it probably isn't.

Have you tried leafleting houses on streets you do like?

tiredfeet · 10/04/2011 18:35

We lived by a busy road for one year and it was awful, never again. And it probably wasn't even that busy by many standards (only one lane each way, albeit quite heavily used at rush hour and 2 buses an hour).

Merlotmonster · 10/04/2011 19:04

I always feel you know straight away if a house is right for you....dont do it is you have to ponder this much- you will never feel 100% settled and will be forever on Rightmove ! i still feel it is a buyers market too, so house prices should stay pretty static (you say house prices are going up, but how many are actually selling at these prices) good luck with your search

Lizcat · 10/04/2011 19:14

I live on a main trunk road which although it only has a 30mph limit when are the route from the 3 large depots nearby to the motorway so regular lorries. My kitchen is at the back of the house and you can never hear the road noise there and to be honest we don't really hear it in the garden.
It was a to be honest massive house 4 double bedrooms with 190 foot garden which at the time we bought would have been an extra £200K any where else. We choose to have some road noise which is not that noticeable after 5 years with a much bigger house. I don't have any problems with dirt really I have to say.
Every house is a compromise it just depends which one you are prepared to make.

balia · 10/04/2011 19:21

Maybe the idea of a perfect house is a bit of a myth? I think I'd agree with your DH if you like the house itself. I lived on a busy road for about 10 years and it didn't bother me, but it was set back a bit and had a lovely big back garden. I used the rooms at the back of the house for the DC's bedroom (upstairs) and living room (downstairs) so as to minimise the impact, but TBH apart from the odd ambulance siren during the night the noise level wasn't intrusive.

However, if you have cats they are much more at risk.

Original poster
ajuba · 10/04/2011 19:37

Thanks for the replies. I think i will have to say no but the thought of being back to square one is really depressing! Also, I just hope I don't regret it six months down the line as I have with other properties we have seen and decided not to go for.

OP posts:
HerHissyness · 10/04/2011 19:49

May be a little bit woo, but IME You don't find houses, they come to you.

The house you do end up buying will be perfect for you. Have faith, everything really does happen for a reason.

fastedwina · 10/04/2011 19:56

we regret buying on a busy road. It's the main road into a residential area so gets regular cars and buses going by though it's only 30 mph and 2 lanes. There is some noise but the house also shakes a little (you can feel it in bed when the buses start in the morning). Can't let the kids out to play though which is a pain now they are getting older. I'd much rather be on a quiet road.

microserf · 10/04/2011 20:42

no, because it will be difficult to sell when you come to that point in the future. there's always a discount for being on a really busy road.

it's the thought of my (small) dcs running out and under a bus that gives me nightmares.

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