To think this house is good for my family?

[Countrysidegirl]

We've had a really tough few years as a family. My DH is unwell, we took on a big house project which has been a huge financial and time burden. Yes we have a lovely big house in a great location but it's nearly torn us apart.

My DH was in hospital before Christmas and I had a good think about how I can improve our family life. We have 2 DC who are 5.5y & 3.5y and a dog. Moving closer to DH work to reduce his commute from 1.5hrs each way to 20 mins, get a house that needs no updating/DIY, reduce our mortgage/outgoings burden, give us some life back like family trips/holidays etc which we haven't been able to afford.

We've seen this house a few times now.

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/53157450

It ticks all those boxes. I love it but DH is resisting. He thinks it's too small inside and outside. What do you think? Catch is the garden which is only at the front and terraced. It backs on to Minchinhampton Common though so no shortage of outdoor space!

It has good schools and amenities nearby. We've seen other houses nearby but they haven't been much bigger inside and need a lot of work!

I should also add that our expensive, small (!) house has been thoroughly renovated already, so we don't anticipate doing anything to it. I hate the stress of DIY and builders, so that was one of our criteria too.

I'm not contradicting you op (oh, okay, I am really!) but Avening is closer to Nailsworth than Amberley, surely? You just drive along the valley, past the lovely pie pub, (the Weighbridge), it's only about 5 minutes, 10 minutes max. With Amberley you've got to drop down, and pull out onto, the busy A46. At least, there can't be much in it distance wise.

I live in a 2500sq foot detached house. It's spacious. I think that moving to something just over half the size would feel cramped and once all your stuff was in it would feel tiny. I know it's not tiny, but it would feel like it, unless you are very minimalist.
The kitchen is nicely done (as is the rest of the house) but there is barely any work surface. I think it would get very annoying trying to cook family meals.

Lucisky - you don't need to go via the A46 from Pinfarthings or Amberley - can go down The W or down via Watledge. It's much nearer than Avening.

This thread is an eye opener on how the other half lives if people think is house is small

Pinfarthings is a couple of miles from Nailsworth, while avening is about thee miles?

It looks poky and dark to me, but I think I've just got used to Australian houses. And half a million quid for a house with no windows in the back!

We had four DC and 2 cats in a 800 sq foot 3 bed, we had a lift that we had boarded out for storage, garden shed and a very small enclosed back garden that was paved 18ft sq I reckon?

It was fine... you just get used to what you have!

Prefer this
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-78067367.html

I'd get the builders in to put in a wall between the sitting room and the dining room, take the cupboard out of the entrance hall to have a door to the kitchen and lose the archy bit between the kitchen and the dining room. And a strong childproof fence at the bottom of the garden before the decking assuming there isn't one already.

You will quickly outgrow that house, especially as you have been living in something twice the size.

There is virtually no scope to add any value to it yourself (an en suite on the top floor??) so if you need to sell you are relying wholly on the market to at least stay still so you get what you paid. That seems precarious to me in the current circumstances

It's beautiful, but why hasn't it been snapped up already?

If you could get it for far, far less than the asking price, it might be worth it. Otherwise, hold on for the right house - rent yours out if you need to, and rent in the area?

Can you get to the open house for this cottage in Box?

I wouldn't buy it. You've already got doubts and it's a lot of money to spend on a mistake. Rent if you have to until your forever home comes up.

We would definitely rent in the area if we could but the dog is a massive blocker. The agents we've spoken to all say we'd be v unlikely to find anyone who would accept him and then it still needs to be in our 5 min radius.

Ole we've seen that Box house. It's got no parking and needs complete renovation.

Our max budget is £550k. If we had £600k we'd have a lot more options!!!

I think you are only considering it because you think it is the only option. For a house to have been on the market that long it shows its either over priced or there are some serious issues that arise once an offer has been put in.

I think renting is your best option, yes it will be hard to find a place in the area that accepts your dog but that has got to be a better option that buying an overpriced house which you will then later struggle to sell.

If it is your job that is hindering the hunt for a house then I would also consider if it is a good idea to accept the job or if it would be better to find something else. Being tied to a 5 minute radius is not leaving you much scope especially when you have already had trouble finding a property. Realistically how many houses are going to be put on the market in the very small area you are looking at?

Will accept a pet and "a child".
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-59581227.html

I honestly can't see anything wrong with it. The size looks fine to me. I'd add another toilet but otherwise. My house has an extra lounge area but is similar in size. It's just extra cleaning.
The kitchen is fine, it's the sideboard the owner has in there that makes it seem small. The window is nice and brings in light, the utility is right next to the kitchen.
The house is updated and modern but still charming. I like the garden and it seems there's another garden plus a patio area.
The rooms are a good size compared to the other houses I've seen on this thread.
It doesn't look dark at all from those photos.

When i last moved house we looked at many houses like this. We wanted an old house without too much work. Every single one had a big drawback, often poor lay out, small kitchen and never enough "facilities" You can pay nearly £500k in this area for a cottage with one downstairs bathroom. Then you get started on the gardens, many are terraced or have huge number of steps up to the front door. Parking/ Garages? usually some big drawback. Eventually we bought a new house, one of a small development of 6. WE discovered at our first drinks party that each and every one of us - 5 other couples - had viewed and rejected the same houses and bought what they really thought they didn't want - a new build. Unless you have a very generous budget of £600k+ the houses round here will always have a big compromise.

You've all given us lots of food for thought. Higgy I think that's the way were going to go now. You get a lot more for your money!

watt36

I completely agree. Charm would beat “facilities” as far as I am concerned, every time.