To ask which property you like more?

[PeachFam]

It's a tricky one. Trying to buy our first home after renting. I'm scared and want to make sure we make the right choice. Haven't viewed the houses yet but can't help looking at the listings.
I want your honest opinion and why you like/dislike them.
About us: couple in their late 20s/early 30s. No kids yet but potential start thinking of having kids in the next couple of years. Location wise both houses are perfect. Please MNers I need all the help this is already so bloody stressful :(

I'm so sorry I really don't want to offend anyone but from my opinion the kitchen in house 1 is awful. I couldn't live with that so that kitchen would have to be changed. I'm not loving house 2 kitchen either so new kitchen for sure ifnwe go for one of these houses.

The reasons you give for preferring detached houses are why my preference is for old terraces, thicker walls than any new build. I still don't understand. I suspect it's a status thing.

I did a double take when I clicked on the links; we’d be nearly neighbours!

House 1 is off a fairly busy road. House 2 is a bit quieter.

It’s a nice little town .

OP, your last post has blown my mind! You'd seriously rip out what looks like a brand new kitchen? If that's what you want to do, I wouldn't buy either of those houses, I'd look for a doer up so you can make it exactly what you want.

@Bluelady it's a personal preference not a status thing. I don't understand why you keep going in about it. I love this tread makes me think and consider things I didn't consider before but if I personally prefer a detached house in a small town rather than a detached or a terraced that's my decision. In London or a bigger city I'd love to have one of those Victorian terraced houses with the high ceilings and all the features, but right now in that town we would prefer a detached.

I'm another one who wouldn't necessarily see a detached as more desirable than a terraced or semi, especially if it was a relatively small new build compared with a more spacious period terraced/semi.

We used to live in a stone built Victorian back to back and due to the layout of the houses we had 4 attached neighbours and we almost never heard a peep out of any of them. Very occasionally we heard muffled stair use or alarm clocks etc, but most of the time, complete silence.

We now live in a more modern semi and the dividing wall might as well not be there at all. It doesn't help that our neighbours are shouty people, that you can hear from the next postcode, but the difference in noise surpression is astonishing.

I don't like either. One has a tiny garden, they only have one living room, neither looks good from the outside.

Peach, I wasn't criticising you or your decisions, just saying what I think about why some people make those choices.

I like the first best.

I like one. It looks bigger

One is bigger and more scope to make your own - def number 1.

Have you seen this one, Peach? Fabulous views at the back and it's crying out for a new kitchen!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54566829.html

What about this. Far nicer.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55409424.html

Seeing as you don’t like either kitchen, you should buy a house, which needs a new one. Finish adds 5-10% on the sale price so you’d effectively be paying for a kitchen twice in the ones you’ve chosen.

House 1 no brainer. The huge open living space and big garden just beats the other one in all aspects

For me it's house 2.

Nicer finish
More rooms
More space
Lovely usable garden

OP have you never watched Location Location Location? You have to go and view them all - and more besides! You cannot pick a house from RightMove alone.

Space. Get as much square footage as you can. Everything else is a lick of paint for change.

They are both nice houses. I think No 1 is marginally better.

Anyway you don't just look at two houses, you look at several!

Blimey they are cheap! You'd be lucky to buy a studio flat for those prices in Greater London.

definitely 1

As someone who lives in St Ives, I'm chiming in! I think house 2 is in a better location and I generally prefer it but I can definitely see the appeal of house 1.

House 1.

House 1:

Bigger bedrooms
Spacious downstairs area.
Family room could be used as a dining room, which would be really nice leading to the outside. Nice flow for when you are entertaining.
I happen to like the outside of the house, it is from its own period and not pretending to be something it isnt.
I'm with you OP that kitchen is the pits. Pulling down the top cupboards and replacing with shelving would be a cheaper way of decreasing the dreariness, rather than tearing the whole thing out. The sky blue paint isn't working either.
I assume the garage is to the rear so you don't need a drive? They don't list the dimensions of the garage, so worth checking. The front garden looks nice from what I can see, and the space at the back and side could be really nice.
Can't see a chimney or fireplace in this house, would that be an issue for you?

House 2:

Does have character, but it's purely down to how the current owner has decorated and styled it. You could add character to house 1 in this way.
Bedrooms are smaller.
The lounging area round the TV looks small and awkward. You are limited with how much seating you can add. I notice one chair has been removed for one of the pictures, it must haven't looked right from that angle.
Kitchen is tiny, but you could maybe use some of the garage for laundry.
No front garden.

Oh sorry forgot to add, I prefer house 1!

1 by far!

I can’t believe house prices down south tho! 👀