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AIBU?

To choose a detached house a mile's walk from the station instead of a semi near station?

94 replies

NotJustACigar · 08/02/2014 11:26

We are buying a house and feel we have finally had some luck after our previous purchase fell through. We have found a gorgeous detached house that's within our budget in a perfectly acceptable though less posh area than where we were originally planning to buy.

The house we now want is a mile from the station and I commute by train every day. No DCs to worry about but we are oop North (still in England though) so there will be plenty of rain, cold days etc. I have to dress fairly professionally at work so naice trousers and shoes with a button down shirt kind of thing. I plan to wear walkng shoes and leave my work shoes at work to change into while I get there. And will wear waterproof overtrousers and a raincoat with a good on rainy days.

DH uses the car and parking may be an issue as the new house is four doors down from a park with playing fields that's also popular with dog walkers. A few times we have been by the house and the drive has been blocked by another car and the street is choka with dog walkers cars. But I figure thats DH's problem as the one who will be driving to work Grin.

Do these sound like reasonable compromises for a house that would otherwise be out of our reach price wise or is the walking in the rain, parking, and kids and dogwalkers constantly passing by going to do my head in?

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Whyamihere · 08/02/2014 12:43

I walk or bus everywhere as I don't drive and a mile is nothing, I walk nearly three miles to work most days as a way of keeping fit and that includes carrying a laptop in a rucksack. It's fantastic for fitness. I've even walked into work in snow when the buses stopped - it's all about the right clothes/shoes, I've got a good waterproof pair of walking shoes and I can't believe what a difference they make to walking. (By the way my dd can easily walk a mile and has been able to since she was quite young, no car means having to walk)

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Logg1e · 08/02/2014 12:44

I'm struggling to think how a mile (or seven tenths of a mile) could be a problem.

I wouldn't use this as a deciding factor.

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BingoWingsBeGone · 08/02/2014 12:50

I have Merrell Ellenwood coat, and whilst expensive, is really smart for work, waterproof with a decent hood.

I would love a walk as part of getting to work, but only if not having to lug a laptop or files.

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squoosh · 08/02/2014 12:50

A mile? One mile? A single mile?

How is that even an issue if it's the house you love? A mile is a mere hop skip and a jump.

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InkleWinkle · 08/02/2014 12:50

My 9 year old & 3 year old walk a mile uphill to school / nursery every morning. Takes 20 mins at most.
I wouldn't discount a house because its a mile from the station in the slightest.

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Artandco · 08/02/2014 12:51

Upgrade if possible to a mac air as laptop so you have Hal the weight to carry

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curlew · 08/02/2014 12:57

A mile is a hop, a skip and a jump.

But maybe a bit more in smart work clothes and smart work hair in the pouring rain?

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squoosh · 08/02/2014 13:00

I wall three miles to work everyday, admittedly I'm not wearing heels and a power suit but during the really crappy weather I often change shoes/trousers once I get to the office.

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Finola1step · 08/02/2014 13:04

I've done the same. A mile or so walk to the station so we can have a slightly bigger, detached house. I too have to dress smartly for work as do most of the people I see on my commute. Definitely invest in some decent waterproofs, coat etc. you can change very quickly at work. Some people take waterproof trousers off on the train (with trousers on underneath of course).

The big thing for me is having a detached house and no sharing of walls with neighbours. Absolute bliss. Go for it.

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curlew · 08/02/2014 13:04

It's not the walk. It's the clothes. Which is why I suggested getting changed at work.

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WorraLiberty · 08/02/2014 13:07

The OP says And will wear waterproof overtrousers and a raincoat with a good on rainy days.

I'm honestly shocked at the amount of people who think walking a mile to the station is such a big deal.

Do your kids feel the same way about walking?

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OhOneOhTwoOhThree · 08/02/2014 13:12

We moved last year and instead of a central London bus ride to work (and a bus stop a hop skip and jump from my front door) I am now a mile or so from a mainline station. After a few weeks of walking each way (which I did find tiring, although some of that was also getting used to the commute/longer days out of the house) I invested in a bike Smile. I keep smart shoes at work, and cycle in trainers. I lock my helmet up with my bike instead of carrying it on the train/tube. I don't cycle fast enough to work up a sweat or need to change Smile

There are some mornings when I wish it was closer and resent having to do it (e.g. when I'm leaving in the dark and cold and rain wearing over-trousers and a waterproof jacket), but I promised myself that I would make my bike pay for itself in saved car park fees Smile

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NotJustACigar · 08/02/2014 13:52

I'm afraid I don't really do "smart work hair" as my hair always looks a mess walk or no walk Grin. I would consider changing at work but that seems a bit of a faff carrying my clothes, trying to to get them wrinkled and making sure not to forget anything.

We have fallen in love with the house. It's strange as it had been on the market over a year and the vendor dropped the price twice. I think it didn't sell as the rightmove photos were awful and dark and didn't even show or mention the best features of the house (original Victorian features)! But now I keep wondering why no one else wanted the house and its probably the parking issue.

Anyway I do have a bike so that could work I stead of walking but even though the street is supposedly a suggested cycle route it's busy with no cycle lane or anything. Will give it a go though and see.

Thanks again, all, seems that the are some positives to the walk at least. I think there will be compromises with any house but as we are quite noise sensitive detached is a huge bonus.

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Tailtwister · 08/02/2014 13:58

The OP didn't say the other house was in a better area, she said this one is in a less posh area and those are two different things

Indeed...still worth checking the school catchment areas though, don't you think?

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SomethingOnce · 08/02/2014 13:58

Isn't a mile about 15 minutes average? So the difference would only be about seven.

And you get 30 mins of exercise built in to your day?

Excellent Smile

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NotJustACigar · 08/02/2014 14:04

I checked the catchment for secondaries and the local school has apparently just gone from ofsted good to excellent! We don't have or plan to have DCs but that should help with resale value I suppose. I also found out there is a new development going in on the other side of the fields. It's massive with 700 new homes! But at least that should maybe bring some amenities like bus services and shops across the playing fields and I don't think it will make parking worse.

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AwkwardSquad · 08/02/2014 14:12

Oh God if you've the chance of a detached house go for it! The walk will be fine - I walk 1.5 miles each way to the station for work and I miss the walk if I don't do it, even tho sometimes it's hard if the weather is rough. Do kit yourself out with a decent coat and boots for winter walks, though. Also recommend gloves, umbrella, iPod, small backpack.

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MrsKoala · 08/02/2014 14:35

To us it also depends on how long the train journey is and how long you walk the other side. An extra 20 min walk on an hours train ride and then 10 mins walk the other side makes a long commute. 20 min walk and a 6 min train ride, not so much.

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NotJustACigar · 08/02/2014 14:40

It's about a 35 minute train ride each way but I don't mind that, I just read on the train. And hardly any walk the other end to get to work- maybe about a minute.

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Preciousbane · 08/02/2014 15:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cherry219 · 08/02/2014 15:29

Preciousbane I'm with you on the amazement - I walk to school with 2 DCs in tow, it's a mile each way, up a steep hill. It takes 20 minutes dead on to get there, less than 15 minutes to get back. DS has been doing the walk twice daily since he was 3 in all weathers, and all other parents of children in his class seem to view us as the local nutters for doing so.

I'd definitely go for the house OP - I'd love to have a detached! You have to show us a link now ;)

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Sleepingbunnies · 08/02/2014 15:32

I walk to the station that is a mile down the road every day. Takes me 11 mins max. :)

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PhallicGiraffe · 08/02/2014 15:32

Two miles a day is nothing! First world problem....

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ImperialBlether · 08/02/2014 15:33

Could your husband drive you to the station if it's pouring with rain? Could he pick you up if you were knackered?

I'd rather have a house in a nicer area, though, tbh.

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holidaysarenice · 08/02/2014 15:35

Clean black wool trousers in your work drawer, go with everything and solve the problem of getting wet/waterproofs! Or a bike?

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