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 don't like any of them.

The first one looks awful from the outside, got a dingy feel to it. Kitchen is awful and the decking in the garden will take a lot to maintain and be a pain. No proper garden for kids.

Second one is a bit better, but the kitchen is too small and fairly useless, not much counter space. The ensuite is kind of pathetic too.

Third one is too small. The box room is useless if you want more than one child.

1 - feels more spacious and love the garden area.

I know those houses. No 1 in Hill Rise is older and a lot more solid. 2 is a new build and is virtually made of cardboard.

I like them both - however if you have children you may want to check out the catchment areas re school.

I think 1 is lovely, 2 is too small and only one bathroom.

First one. Hate the kitchen and built in wardrobes in the second.

Out of all 3 - number 1 wins my vote,. Enjoy your viewings

House 1 for me

Looks more spacious
Garden looks less overlooked
Has a front garden
Yes it is older/less smart , but number two looks cheap and as if it will age badly.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55290081.html

I'm off sick from work so decided to have a look for you.

This one is oddly laid out at the moment but hear me out. There is space upstairs to renovate and add on a bathroom, maybe even an ensuite if you build above the kitchen that currently doesn't have an upstairs above it. The rooms look big and the garden isn't bad, plus it's under what seems to be your budget. So with the leftover money, you could possibly do the renovation.

No 1, looks bigger.

Looking ahead a few years but... I like house 1 because you could have a table in the kitchen which is so, so useful when you have young children. You can have your highchair in the kitchen when weaning.

We had a lounge diner and I found it such a pain having to carry stuff through from the kitchen with children under my feet and then someone would always ask for ketchup or whatever and I'd be back and forth!

We eventually moved and had room for the table in the kitchen and it was so much easier.

I like the 'family room' in house 1, although it's just an extension of the lounge, it would be a good area for toys and child related stuff - once they are in bed, shove everything over there and your main lounge area is a bit more peaceful for the adults.

Also, the third bedroom in house 1 looks a decent size.

I like the first one more - looks brighter and bigger even though it is a semi. Also prefer the outlook from the garden - lots of trees and green rather than other houses. Colour of tiles in bathroom in house 2 would really put me off.

House 1, the garden and rooms are bigger.

I prefer 2.

That one looks like it might be ex-local authority, don't know if that would factor into the decision. They are usually decent sized and have generous gardens.

Did anyone else gasp at the black living room in house 3?

I think I'd go for house 1 and change the garden, OP. However, detached houses do hold their value much more. In house 3 you could extend over the garage.

I like number 3, but then it's very similar layout to my house. It has the better garden, esp for potential children.

I like the layout of house one, but the garden isn't very child friendly and it is only a semi (mines detached and I would struggle going back to a semi now.)

House number 2 I'm not keen on the layout it doesn't seem to flow very well, but you could potentially knock a few walls down to make the kitchen bigger or into a kitchen/diner.

House number 1 is more spacious. You could put doors across the extra are in the lounge to make a study or snug or extra room if needed so making it 4 bed rooms again if needed.

House number 2 the conservatory looks like it could be a pita - too hot in summer and too cold in winter and it has a crap roof. Hate the cross hatched windows/mock tudor styling

But it depends when you are in the house and walking the street - which speaks to your heart. Check the street out a different times of the day and evening and ask about the neighbours

Option 1 is better if you want a bit of space from each other, or your teens want to bring mates in and you don't want them all upstairs etc.

You can do so much with the garden as well.

No.3 is vile.

I would go for No.2, I'd always pick a detached over a semi.

House no 1

I love the kitchen and garden in 1 but overall I think I prefer 2

I think look a bit more. This is what ideally you want in a house:
A kitchen that is attached to a diner or has proper room for a table and chairs.
A utility room or garage for stuff or a large cupboard for ironing board, hoover etc.
A second reception room downstairs.
Good storage space upstairs.
Room for a clothes horse. Room for a Cot. Room for a highchair. Room for wardrobes.
The East facing side will always be dark and cold.
A south or west facing garden will have more sun most of the day.
Some houses on show, the wardrobes etc are removed to make it look spacious. Check each bedroom for storage.
You will know when it's the right one. If you have a feeling it's not then keep looking.

I think the first one all day long!!

Is it just me, then, who thought there's a mismatch between the photos and the floorplan of number 1? If nobody else thinks so, guess I should book a trip to Specsavers!!

Barbaro that other one you found looks lovely, but I'm wondering if it's ex local authority? Not necessarily an issue in itself, but perhaps something to be aware of