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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:
SingingTunelessly · 26/05/2011 20:59

House B. Definitely. It's detached so no worrying about noise to/from the neighbours when indoors which let's face it, in the UK is where we spend most of the time. Also it looks nicer from the photographs.

thisisyesterday · 26/05/2011 21:00

it's a massive decision to make.
I have to say, you do sound now like your gunning for house B cos I'm throwing all these negatives at you and you STILL like it Grin

and maaaaybe, just maybe, house A is taking so long to complete on because house B was just round the corner and it's the one you should have?

if you believe in fate and that kinda thang

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 21:00

I'm pretty set on House B, there's just a niggle that house A is on THE road that everyone wants to live on and the garden thing. But I think I am just polarising because DH is so certain that House B is the right one.

Also, I lusted after house A for so long, waiting for it to complete, it's taking some time to realise that it might not be the one after all

OP posts:
Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 21:01

Oooh, thisis I like it, the fate thing

OP posts:
Knofje · 26/05/2011 21:02

Forever house? Well then there's no question, B it is.

Knofje · 26/05/2011 21:02

yy fate. Clearly.

TheBolter · 26/05/2011 21:03

Location location location... you'll never have any trouble selling house A...

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 21:03
Blush
OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 26/05/2011 21:06

dp says house A

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 21:08

Is that because of my penis comment? Grin

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 26/05/2011 21:10

lol no, I just showed him the pics and a brief outline of pros and cons

i think he'd be quite worried about a detached penis though! pmsl

Tsil · 26/05/2011 21:15

If it is a forever house then house B definitely.

House A may have nice neighbours now but if they move you may get nightmare neighbours and bad neighbours can make life he'll. House B doesn't have that issue and is lovely.

I also agree with the fate thing. Everything happens for a reason Smile

Tsil · 26/05/2011 21:16

Hell - not he'll, frigging iPad

PfftTheMagicDragon · 26/05/2011 21:18

House A.

I would not want to be without a fair sized rear garden. A large front one is all well and good, but it isn't the same.

thisisyesterday · 26/05/2011 21:20

i think you could still have neighbours from hell in a detached house though

BehindLockNumberNine · 26/05/2011 21:22

When you first showed House A back in October I was very very envious. It was my dream house.

But now I prefer house B. [fickle emoticon]

Good luck, not an easy decision. (B, B, go for B!)

lazydog · 26/05/2011 21:27

"House A may have nice neighbours now but if they move you may get nightmare neighbours and bad neighbours can make life he'll."

This x1,000,000!

That's the exact reason for my comment that I'd pay the extra 25k for the detached property, even if they were the same size...and the reason why I'm never going to buy a semi, ever again, if I have any say in the matter!

I really don't get the comments about whether a garden is front or back or side making any difference, either...as long as it's enclosed and visible from the house? The "garden" of our property wraps around in all directions - the kids play wherever they happen to feel like - not favouring one side, and you would have the smaller back garden area to stick any ugly play structures if you didn't want them making the front look untidy.

lazydog · 26/05/2011 21:28

"i think you could still have neighbours from hell in a detached house though"

Believe me - they cannot have the same impact on your day to day quality of life as they can if you're sharing a dividing wall :(

NetworkGuy · 26/05/2011 21:32

If there was no lodger in house B, it would be my suggestion, but if lodger is to stay would make things different, and someone one knows would be more awkward in case of a falling out...

You confused me with "House B is about 100m from the main road and House A is about 150m" when the original post set out small drive for A and huge drive for B... But as B is in cul-de-sac the traffic worries are obsolete really.

Would the removals use the back door at A for furniture... those steps to the "main entrance" are a hazard IMO... but then again I may be quite a bit older and remember a nasty incident on slippery steps where I ended up face down with busted glasses...

The solar panels and being detached would make B more attractive for me, too, but you have indicated A would need work and money regarding carpets and wallpaper etc...

Like another poster, I love floorplans, too, partly to see how other people decide to create features and to know what I'd want to do when my business makes 5 million a year

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 21:50

Networkguy - we don't HAVE to keep the lodger, we just thought we might (for a wee while). He'd be handy for feeding the cat when we're away Grin

Not sure why the confusion about the driveways/distance from road - the distances are as the crow flies. Both are on quiet residential roads.

DH's business will make 3.5m this year, so it could be closer than you think Wink

OP posts:
Gandalfthedyed · 26/05/2011 21:56

Not even a stealth boast there, ploppy [ wink]

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 22:03

Too right!

OP posts:
Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 22:03

If it were true...

OP posts:
lazydog · 26/05/2011 22:14

Found A on Rightmove... I can see the redecorating wouldn't exactly be a minor task! Shock

...and that's an awful lot of money for a semi... Grin

Original poster
mistressploppy · 26/05/2011 22:26

Tell me about it. It's ridiculous round here

OP posts: