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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to let MN decide which house we buy?

142 replies

mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 19:33

To cut a long boring story short, we are now stuck deciding between two houses. DH knows which one he wants; I need more opinions...

House A is on the road we currently live on, the Nicest in the Villaaage, all leafy etc
House B is on the second nicest road, nearer the Main Road

House A is a 4 bed semi
House B is detached, 5 bed

House A has a big back garden and a small drive
House B has a very big front garden (because it's a southfacing plot) and a huge drive

House A is pretty and Victorian
House B is a bit less pretty and Edwardian

House A would mean keeping our lovely neighbours
House B may well have lovely new neighbours

House A costs x
House B costs x plus £25k

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
cerealqueen · 26/05/2011 20:23

I'd live in both...! Have just skimmed the thread but does the house with a front garden have a back garden too? I think it'll be harder to live with a front garden only, there is a lack of seclusion if it opens to the road, no matter how quiet it is or surrounded with trees. Is is safe for the kids? My sister has a front garden only on a very very quiet road but misses having a garden opening out from the back of the house.

minipie · 26/05/2011 20:25

Can we see House B's floorplan please?

Does House A have a convertable loft - looks like it might?

How many DC do you have/intend to have?

Do you ever want to have the option of a live in nanny/parent/lodger?

You said House B is closer to main road - but where would your bedroom be in each house? Road side or not road side?

Detached generally likely to increase in value more than semi (rarity value). Though the wrong-way-round garden might possibly detract from that (depends on the layout of the house really... hence need floorplan...)

Fiddledee · 26/05/2011 20:28

House B just for a house swap as it will be so easy. How big is the back garden. My front garden is bigger than the back and is totally secluded and safe for the kids. Kids play in all the garden, but trampoline etc... at the back as looks a bit weird at the front. I would also go for detached over semi.

Where do the rooms lead out to especially the kitchen - back or front garden?

MorningCoffee · 26/05/2011 20:29

House B

HeadfirstForHalos · 26/05/2011 20:30

House B. The garden looks very enclosed, and so long as it is secure at the front it shouldn't be a problem. House B looks fab, and the larder and 2nd staircase swing it Grin

MarshaBrady · 26/05/2011 20:31

The detached one, aerial shot.

JaydensYummyMummy · 26/05/2011 20:32

I like A. It looks more 'modern'...:)

Good luck with the choice.

PS : I'm glad everyone ignored the poster who said something about stealth boast.....makes me wonder if they are that deprived or dying of Envy

fivegomadindorset · 26/05/2011 20:33

B

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 20:34

No floorplan for House b, I wish I had one. Both houses have convertable lofts.

Kitchen in house A doesn't have a back door, but the adjoining 'day room' opens onto back garden
Kitchen in house B opens out to the side, west facing patio bit

We have one DS but hope to have one other DC at least. We probably don't need 5 beds but were hoping to turn bed 5 into a dressing room as it is off one of the other bedrooms

OP posts:
L8rAllig8r · 26/05/2011 20:35

B, if the extra 25k isn't a big issue. Looks lovely, am very very very jealous!

lazydog · 26/05/2011 20:36

House B - without a shadow of a doubt.

Even if it weren't bigger than A, I'd pay an additional 25k for the detached aspect alone...

thisisyesterday · 26/05/2011 20:38

seriously, house a

unless you're planning on having triplets! lol

the problem with a front garden (and i say this as someone with a tiny back garden and large front garden) is that it IS exposed to a certain extent, and it's less safe for children unless you fence the whole thing in. we've had to fence round the garden bit and put a gate in just so the babies don't run off into the road.

IMO a garden is no good unless you can chuck the kids out there and know they are safe and sound

house B is detached, but it's bloody close to the next door house. and think of the extra cleaning :-P

FabbyChic · 26/05/2011 20:38

House B going by the pictures.

skybluepearl · 26/05/2011 20:42

have you done the points thing? ie one point to the house with sunny garden, one point to the house with max space, most attractive, best layout, least amount of work needed, most private and so on. The house with the most points is the best option.

both houses look fab by the way.

CoffeeIsMyFriend · 26/05/2011 20:42

B is my favourite house. And with the 'swap' situation it is a fantastic offer, however, I would be checking and double checking neighbours, roads and gen up on anything else that could potentially be off putting.

LOTCM I will buy your house. Grin

Is payment in installments ok with you?

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 20:43

That's my main worry about house b, thisis, but the whole garden is totally secure if you close the gate. Also, the house is on a cul de sac so there's no through traffic anyway.

Don't joke about the triplets, btw - they run in the family and I'm sh*tting myself about ending up with 4 DC if I get pregnant again....

OP posts:
TheRhubarb · 26/05/2011 20:45

Mumsnetters viewed some of the houses I was thinking of getting for me! This was because we lived too far to look at them so some kindly agreed to view them for us. It helped enormously! It also helps to have an insiders guide as to the area.

thisisyesterday · 26/05/2011 20:45

ok

go NOW and talk to DH

say "ok i've decided, let's go for house B"

if you both feel super happy and pleased with your decision then that's it! if you get that horrible feeling that you're making a huge mistake then go with house A

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 20:49

DH is out, thisis, but that's VERY good advice, I will do it when he gets in. Am a big believer in gut instincts

Also, House B has solar panels and would need nothing doing (unless we convert bedroom to dressing room etc)

House A would need decorating (ancient carpets, old lady floral wallpaper etc)

OP posts:
TheBolter · 26/05/2011 20:50

You can list all the practical reasons until your head starts ringing... but the actual answer is the one that your gut instinct tells you to choose. Remember, you are buying a home not just a house.

Which one made you feel happier and more welcomed? Which one do you feel suits you, your family and your lifestyle - in other words, which on do you picture yourselves living in? Which one gives you a warm giddy feeling of loveliness when you picture your dcs playing in the garden, and you entertaining in the kitchen?

Only you can make that distinction! It's not about size and practicality, it's also about happiness.

TheBolter · 26/05/2011 20:52

yy, agree with thisis. Make your decision and if it niggles you, choose the other. If that niggles you too, find somewhere else. If you kind find anywhere else, go with the practical choice.

TheBolter · 26/05/2011 20:53

can't find, damnit.

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 20:54

The thing is, I love them both! I really do! But then I'm a bit Pollyanna and tend to love everything. It's just.....this is the Forever House. I want to do it right

OP posts:
TheBolter · 26/05/2011 20:56

Write a list of pros and cons and base your decision purely on the totals.

TheBolter · 26/05/2011 20:57

Actually... one question... house 2 seems to be the more 'sensible' choice (detached, fifth bedroom, money off etc...) so what is stopping you from going for that one? It sounds like you are more in love with house 1.