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 :(

Definitely prefer house 1.
It is not the better looking house from the exterior but it has a dining kitchen (the other house has ughhh lounge diner), the garden looks bigger and the bedrooms look bigger.
Not a big fan of house 2's conservatory - very old fashioned and has eaten into garden space.

House 1 is a much better size and I prefer a large kitchen. You could fairly easily get rid of the gravel in the garden and put a lawn in. House 2 second choice but really only because it's detached. The kitchen is small though and looks to be quite separate to the rest of the living area. Not keen on house 3, mainly because of how close it is to next door neighbours and overlooked at the back. Kitchen isn't the biggest either.

You need to get round all of them though. You might find the decision is easy once you've looked round them.

The first one by miles - nicer standard of decorating inside, prefer the layout, and the second house looks cheap from the outside (which is irrelevant I know, but it would bother me!)

House 1 but I don't like the grey kitchen, looks to dark but not as smart as black which would have looked okay

House 1 definitely!

And I wouldn't worry about more potential buyers, surely anyone looking in that area and budget has considered Rightmove already

Puzzled- think you're looking at the back of the house.
The front of the house is the very last photo.
So the entrance in on the side and the 2 front windows are the kitchen.

The house Barbaro found is on a massively busy road - noisy and not child friendly.

You have an angled garden in house number 2. That would put me off although I’d prefer a detached house rather than a semi. But the size of no 1 outweighs that. I assume having a garage isn’t a must.

Someone upthread mentioned adding value. Isn’t there masses of land to the side of the house no 1? That looks enough to add a pretty hefty side extension. I find it so annoying when people add a stupid little room at the back. It’s screaming to be extended all the way along and that costs not much less than doing the entire extension from scratch.

As for house no 2. You’d have to remove the conservatory - it looks quite old anyway and add a ground floor extension and get rid of the Mock Tudor.

House number 3 in comparison to the other 2 seems overpriced. It is very overlooked. What are the other 2 like? It’s difficult to see how many windows are bearing down on the garden.

You're right, Tomboytown - not for the first time I'm talking drivel, and the plan of the ground floor is turned through 90 degrees which makes sense now

It also looks like the back of number one faces south east, which could make for lots of lovely light in the living area and garden

I like House 2 .

I meant to say, the pebbles wouldn’t be a deal breaker and may even be good for a paddling pool.

Luurrrve looking at property and my family were estate agents!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73440290.html

I think this has more potential. Detached, cheaper, good size garden. It has been on the market a while. Empty houses are notoriously hard to sell. ( no lifestyle choice to persuade).

I would offer a really low price on this as a starter and use the money to refurb to your taste. You could even extend (subject to permission) to the side (garage and bedroom above) or rear to include a large living kitchen.

The current trend for modern looking houses with white render and grey windows would suit this style of house. Or even some clapper board on the outside.

Of course I don't know your area and this would also inform your decision.
A much longer term prospect.

House no1 is spacious and airy. I don’t like 2 or 3 because of the shape of rooms. The neutrals of the first house mean you can put your own stamps it. I could not live with some of the choices in house 2.

I am so jealous that you can a house like that for that price.

Prefer property number 1. Large kitchen and lovely big garden.

No1 - the rooms are bigger and the garden is much bigger.

I'd only consider No2 if it was possible to convert the garage to create a bigger space down stairs. Id move the kitchen into the garage space and have the existing kitchen space into a diner.

I also don't think a conversatory is a good use of space and how much would you actually use it.

also the 3rd bedroom in No2 is tiny.

I assume having a garage isn’t a must

house 1 has a garage, it's on the floor plans, just not shown in the photo's.

i think i may go for 1 too because it looks more open plan and spacious and that's great for small ones. If the build quality is better too as someone said, that's worth more than external aesthetics, if you plan to stay.

If you're off and moving up in 3-5 years, you may want house 2 as it has a bit more kerb appeal. Not sure if there are ways to boost house 1's curb appeal?

Option 1. Much more usable family space.

Number 1 for me. It's uglier on the outside, but much more space and bigger garden. Cosmetics can be changed reasonably easily. Space and garden size cannot.

Number 2 is prettier - I'm a sucker for a pretty house and I'm sure I'm not alone. If you wish to move on later a house which has instant kerb appeal is much easier to sell.

yeah I agree morning - and which has the sunnier garden? Kerb appeal does matter on resale speed.

Well I prefer house number 2.

And now I’m off to weep at the difference in prices between St Ives and my South Cambs location....

the first one. the other seems to small and claustrophobic as a lot of new build types are. Also the neighbours appear to be able to see into your garden taking a lot of privacy away.

House 2. Nicer area.

I Prefer house 1 actually, the room sizes are a lot more workable, house one has a lot of long narrow spaces which can be really hard to furnish and use, although it does have a more light and airy feel.

I'd also imagine the better garden would be idea for having children, imagine sitting out on the decking on a sunny day watching them play!

Also the second one has a conservatory which adds no value in my opinion, you could do it up with a roof and make it more of an orangery but they are too cold, too hot, loud and often quite damp. House one on the other hand would appear to have potential to expand?

House one is also very close to big green areas and parks which again, ideal for having a family or if you are into walking/ running.