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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy a house with no parking when I have a 3 month old baby

77 replies

Surprisedmom · 20/05/2019 12:09

So, as the title says really. I’m a single mom without a huge budget so I know I need to compromise. I’m considering buying a house that is ideal except for the fact that there is no parking in front of the house. There’s parking about 20metres away on the road then you walk up a little path (about 10 metres) to the front garden. I really just want advice from anyone who has done something similar with a little one. My feeling is that I could do it and it’s no worse than being on a busy street where you might end up parking far away from your front door anyway. So, wise people of mumsnet, do you think this is a compromise worth taking for the biggest house I can offord in a decent area?

OP posts:
Chippychipsforme · 20/05/2019 12:37

We have on street parking but no guarantee you'll get near your house. If we're taking the buggy, I strap him in that to walk to the car. If we're going food shopping I usually carry the cold stuff in to sort then go back for the rest while he's napping/asleep (taking the baby monitor with me). Before he was on the move/always looking for danger/massive fan of electric sockets I would just leave him somewhere safe and fetch the shopping in. I am now dead strong.

Noloudnoises · 20/05/2019 12:37

*dropped curb (kerb?), and a create a parking space off your road in your front garden.

kb1992 · 20/05/2019 12:41

Definitely not, my son is two and a half and we've lived in a flat with no parking since I was pregnant with him and it's so difficult. If I'm ever out and about and need to get some shopping I can't get more than one or two bags because I can't manage them and him from the car up to the flat. If I ever want to a do a tip run I have to get someone round to help me because I can't leave him unattended to fill the car up etc. It's a lot more difficult than you would think

WorriedMami · 20/05/2019 12:43

When you say there's parking 20m away, are you guaranteed a parking space there?
If yes, then without a doubt. It's no different to e.g. a block of flats with underground parking and passages, doors and lifts to get through and that's fine to manage with a baby.
I'd be more hesitant if there is no guaranteed space and it's first come first served street parking.

Fishywife · 20/05/2019 12:50

What PPs have said - designated space then yes, no problem; no guaranteed space, I would be inclined to keep looking.

Bear2014 · 20/05/2019 12:55

We don't have parking with our house, we just have to park on the road wherever we can and it isn't always close. It's fine really, and we have had 2 babies since living here. We get all our shopping delivered, which we probably would have done regardless as shopping with young kids is a pain. IMO it's not that big a sacrifice for the house you want.

Bluntness100 · 20/05/2019 13:01

We did it, and I'd not be keen to live some place with no parking again if I'm honest. It really was a ball ache at times and one of the key reasons for us to move.

christmasgeek · 20/05/2019 13:02

We did it 6 years ago when we had no children. We now have 2, and have to park a lot further away than you will!

Other than the parking issue, our house is great for us, we would never normally be able to afford something in this particular area had we not bought this house (complete wreck, still doing it up etc)

Honestly, it’s a PITA, for example when you do a big shop, Childs asleep in the car, when it’s raining, when you are in a hurry etc, and it will probably be the main reason we eventually move. HOWEVER, it’s totally manageable.

And on the plus side, our house has more than doubled in value from what we paid for it, so it was a good investment (assuming we can sell it when we do!)

DareIAdmit · 20/05/2019 13:14

How much parking is available? I live in a terraced area with no off street parking in the whole neighbourhood, parking is a struggle at all times as during the day people park and walk into the centre rather than pay and then once the day parkers have gone the residents fight for the limited spaces. Once I finally get a good spot I'm reluctant to use the car as when I get back the only space may be two streets over. Worse than that is the inconsiderate parkers, I've been boxed in before where I couldn't even walk around my car, the people who had parked after me had practically parked on my bumpers. The other thing is people have more cars nowadays, where my parents live there never used to be any cars parked on the road as every house has at least one off-road space, now with families having 2 or more cars there's a fair number on the street.

Original poster
Surprisedmom · 20/05/2019 13:16

Thanks all, lots of great advice. The road is very quiet and is a culdesac with ample parking (given that most of the houses have their own drives but a few don’t as they’re set back up this path that connects through to the next culdesac). I try to be an organised person and will definitely be doing an online food shop so hopefully wouldn’t have too many bags to bring in on a regular basis, but I do realise it will be a PITA in the pouring rain or when I do have a lot of bags.

OP posts:
JaneEyre07 · 20/05/2019 13:17

We lived in a flat above DHs business with no parking for 2 years.

We nearly divorced over it. With 3 DC under 5 it wasn't fun. I'd never ever buy a place without parking again.

Original poster
Surprisedmom · 20/05/2019 13:17

Oh also regarding buying something else, this house is under my budget but I went to see something else today in the same area at the top of my budget. It’s loads smaller and needs lots of work as it’s been a rental.

OP posts:
Teddybear45 · 20/05/2019 13:19

It wouldn’t bother me but that’s because I walk everywhere and it wouldn’t be a bigger deal with a 3 yo. If the place is nice otherwise then go for it.

Goodenough06 · 20/05/2019 13:19

I've managed to do with with a baby, and I shop in Aldi who don't deliver! Currently pregnant again and yes it is sometimes a bit of a faff putting toddler in house then going back to collect shopping, but it's doable and not forever. The positives of living in a lovely house, which is bigger than I could afford if had its own parking, outweigh the negatives.

Kokapetl · 20/05/2019 13:23

We have this kind of set up and moved when the youngest was about 16 months old. Although the parking space is not guaranteed, it is usually available. It is a lot better than our previous house which was on-road parking outside a long row of terraces and really hard to get a space. There we'd sometimes end up on the next road!

It is nice to be away from the road as it is more peaceful and the kids play in the front garden without worrying about balls going into the traffic etc.

Original poster
Surprisedmom · 20/05/2019 13:30

@Kokapetl I am thinking the same regarding playing out. Also the house backs onto fields that can’t be built on so it’s a lovely view behind (a view wasn’t a priority given my budget but is a real bonus).

OP posts:
waterrat · 20/05/2019 13:36

I live in London and don't know anyone who has their own parking space! What an odd thing to say no to a house for. I live in a 3 bed terrace and just park nearby on street.

HJWT · 20/05/2019 13:39

@Surprisedmom we have lived in out house for nearly 3 years there is a car park but its to the side of the houses not in front so have to walk to the car! It really isn't the end of the world the way people are making out! Unless your on a busy road then if say no as it can be dangerous if DC runs of x

Sissy79 · 20/05/2019 13:41

I also had all our shopping delivered, I would only buy last minute things like if we had run out of milk etc, the deliveries were always late as there was no where to park and the people going up and down our road would beep and make a huge fuss while they were delivering. 😂

I think if I’d had no car at all I’d have been happier because I wouldn’t have had the hassle of caring about where to put it. Numerous times it got hit out there just while being parked. The fact that yours is a cul De sac is better, are the n ifhbors drives big enough to accomate more than one car? Because when teenagers grow up they also get a car and suddenly all the street spots are taken!

Hearthside · 20/05/2019 13:45

Lived in my house 20+ years with village on street parking and never found it issue with DC's .I loved the house so that out weighed the no guaranteed parking and my two DC's are close together in age so it is doable .

Stuckforthefourthtime · 20/05/2019 13:52

We had this setup with 2 small DCs, and I didn't drive at all. It was totally manageable. Maybe outside of a city/town it would be tricky, but it really wasn't a huge hardship.

When they're little I used the buggy as a shopping trolley/transporter when needed, and because our lift was often broken also relied a lot on a good sling plus one of those granny trolley things.

When you say it's in a decent area, does that mean good public transport and a school close by? If so, then I'd definitely go ahead.

ifCakesHappens · 20/05/2019 13:54

I would NEVER buy a property without a guaranteed parking space.

I don't mind walking a bit so much, it's not ideal but it's manageable.
Put baby in buggy, and take everything in it up to the house.
Take baby first, put in his cot or playpen whilst you walk back and forth, it's not an issue.

Not finding a parking space when you need one is a nightmare, I would never do that.

Everanewbie · 20/05/2019 13:58

Good question. It is really down to how much you value parking, and whether its absence will cause you grief. As long as you accept that you have no right above anyone else to park outside your house on the street and cannot 'bagsy' a space if you were to make that compromise.

Rezie · 20/05/2019 13:59

So it's 20-30meters and you have parking that is practically guaranteed? That distance is not much. Sometimes the garage is that distance form the front door. As long as there is parking available within reasonable distance, I don't really see the need to have the car in front of the front door.

SmellMySmellbow · 20/05/2019 14:00

I'm baffled it's sucha big deal to so many. I've never had parking - just in street and sometimes there's no space and I need to go to the next street. Not that big a deal for me. Even with a toddler.