To want to move to an identical house?

[isthisbeyoncecrazy]

Name changed as potentially outing.

Love my current house but it's a bit short of space. A neighbour is selling their house, which is identical in layout.

The only major differences is that theirs is a semi, we're mid terrace. Theirs has a fancy garden office thing which would cost about £10k if we were to buy the same. Theirs has a garage.

It could potentially be a forever home with that bit of extra space. We really like the estate, near DC school, close to work etc. BUT. There's a price difference of about £30k between theirs and ours (estimated as we haven't had a valuation, but going on houses like ours which have sold, ie terrace with no garage).

Would we be mad to consider this plus all the estate agent, legal fees just for a garage and a home office, albeit on an estate we know and love?!

If it doesn't need much work and you're sure you'd want to stay, I'd do it. You're buying the advantage of knowing there are no crazy neighbours for a start!

The big plus I see on the floor plans is that it’s only the hallways, bathroom and third bedroom that is attached.
Much less neighbour noise.

It's costing me £8000 to move from a 3-bed to a 3-bed, all in, if that's any help (Scotland)

I think it would be ok for future proofing, although I know for some a forever home would be 4 or 5 bedrooms!

Have one DC at the moment, who is in bedroom 3 (through choice!). DC is 11. Further children possible but not definite, and the older DC gets, the less keen I am on the idea of another.

Bedroom 2 we currently use as a games room / office. The intention would be to use the summer house as the games room / office instead, thus freeing up the bedroom and garage in the new house as "extra" space for storage / spare room for guests / possible future child.

Take the garden room out of the practical and financial sum .... because it seems you could add that to your own garden.

What's left? Garage and being a semi.
Are they worth it? Arguably the garage is "worth it", if you'll use it as a garage and / or will convert it to living accommodation later. Which in turn is probably cheaper than moving for the extra space. But it's not really cheaper than moving in your case, because you'll have moved already to get that space.
Not an exact science though.

But, lots of house moves are based on decisions that are joint head & heart! I've we ignored the heart,none of us would move!

I would go for it. An attached garage can easily be turned into an extra room in your house for a lot less than the cost of adding an extension or a loft conversion.

What is the lifespan of the summer house - may need replacing in ten years.

@BrownTurkey that's a good point. I hadn't even considered that.