To be on the fence about this house

[Whaddado]

Found a house, location and outside space is 10/10, exactly what we’re looking for. Rural but 10 min walk into the most desirable town in the county, big garden with fab views. House itself is (for me) a 6/10 at a push.

Main drawback is a downstairs bathroom which you have to walk through the whole house to access and tiny living space. Could extend ground floor and convert upstairs bedroom into a bathroom but concerned about overcapitalising on what would end up being a house with one double and one single bedroom. But would be much more functional for us.

Need to submit a sealed bid tomorrow and don’t know what to do! Can anyone see anything obvious re: layout that I haven’t thought of!? It’s a bungalow so can’t go in to loft. Husband says we can change the house but we can’t replicate the location somewhere else so we should go for it!

That isn't a great deal Of living space downstairs. But I don't know your budget or what is achievable in your area with your budget.

You can put in a bid while and then mull over it? You might be wasting your time worrying over it only for someone to come in with a silly offer.

We've been in the process of moving since October- we've bid on a dozen. At the start I agonised over whether the property was right before bidding. After a while we bid straight off rather than miss out.

None of it is an easy decision or an easy process. Good luck

How many bedrooms do you need??

Assuming there’s no garage, a Ground floor extension giving extra bedroom and bathroom, then add small en-suite in larger bedroom on first floor?
That way you would have 2 beds downstairs and 2 up, or could use ground floor existing bed as small lounge as an alternative living space.

And regarding location over space. We are about to pick space/house over location. You have to compromise with most properties so it's just weighing up what's the most important to you.

What is the double doored thing between bed 1 and 3? The one over the front door, but at the top if the stairs? And if it's a bungalow, is it height reduced? Could you get a Jack&Jill shower room there?

Is the small area off the kitchen a porch?

@DancesWithDaffodils

What is the double doored thing between bed 1 and 3? The one over the front door, but at the top if the stairs? And if it's a bungalow, is it height reduced? Could you get a Jack&Jill shower room there?

It’s like a Jack and Jill cupboard with a water tank in it currently. It’s sort of sloped with the roof so wouldn’t rally work as a doorway which is a shame. I’m also not sure how it would work with waste pipe for toilet at that side of the house but I agree that would have probably been an ideal solution!

@Waterfallgirl

Is the small area off the kitchen a porch?

It’s an extension which is used as a utility currently but it’s kind of tacked on and accessed through the old back door, so no structural changes have been made to the original house. It appears to be well constructed and is a useful space.

Well, one really! we do need somewhere for MIL to stay a few times a year but that’s it. In terms of losing a bedroom, I’m more concerned about devaluing the property by doing so. Husband’s view is that it shouldn’t be a consideration and we should just do what works for us as the location is so hard to come by and if we lose money when we come to sell we will still have enjoyed the house while we were there.

Stunning garden, amazing view. Cupboard won’t work as a door unfortunately as ceiling slopes, would potentially consider removing the cupboard as it impacts headroom on staircase.

I really like it although I understand your concerns. You can squeeze in an ensuite upstairs later on.

Location, location, location ...
You can't move the right house in the wrong location.
But if you have the resources, you can change the wrong house in the right location.

Round here, there's a trend for knocking 60 year-old houses down and rebuilding in a modern style, though I agree that's a bit extreme. (I also don't understand the economics, but people do it all the same.)

This looks like an older character property to me from the plans (the thick walls either side of the stairs give that impression). I reckon it's a house with a lot of potential, given the good location, so you should just go for it. If your bid is successful then you can move in, get a feel for the place, and have an architect come in and advise you professionally - it might take a bit of lateral thinking to make the most of the space. A house with a garden in a good area is not to be sneezed at!

@zippyswife

That isn't a great deal Of living space downstairs. But I don't know your budget or what is achievable in your area with your budget.

You can put in a bid while and then mull over it? You might be wasting your time worrying over it only for someone to come in with a silly offer.

We've been in the process of moving since October- we've bid on a dozen. At the start I agonised over whether the property was right before bidding. After a while we bid straight off rather than miss out.

None of it is an easy decision or an easy process. Good luck

Thank you tbh I think it’s entirely possible we will be outbid on it. The vendor seems so lovely though, has lived there for 57 years so i’m probably giving it more thought than I otherwise would, on the chance we are successful.

Could you extend the ground floor like this and knock out some interior walls to get the living space you want? I'd then move the bathroom to the current downstairs bedroom, from the plans it looks like it would then be just at the bottom of the stairs and seat from the kitchen and living spaces.

Depends on how many kids etc
We are moving from a house that seems similar sizing because I can’t handle the living space anymore with 3 kids 🤣
We need to reception rooms at least as I’m going insane so depends what else is available in four budget.

Go for it and if you can afford it, extension the width of back of house and upwards if possible, the kitchen area is very small and leaves living area awkward shaped. I live near lots of bungalows that have been massively extended into large versatile family homes.

@KingdomScrolls

Could you extend the ground floor like this and knock out some interior walls to get the living space you want? I'd then move the bathroom to the current downstairs bedroom, from the plans it looks like it would then be just at the bottom of the stairs and seat from the kitchen and living spaces.

that's a way better plan than trying to fit the bathroom upstairs

Get MIL a little shepherd hut to stay in

I like Kingdom's plan too - was going to suggest similar. then you have have a downstairs bed 3 at the back where the bathroom was, which can double as a study. you could even have a hidden door to connect it to the bathroom if visitors need an ensuite.

@JiggeryWokery

This looks like an older character property to me from the plans (the thick walls either side of the stairs give that impression). I reckon it's a house with a lot of potential, given the good location, so you should just go for it. If your bid is successful then you can move in, get a feel for the place, and have an architect come in and advise you professionally - it might take a bit of lateral thinking to make the most of the space. A house with a garden in a good area is not to be sneezed at!

Are you my husband? it’s 1940s, so not ancient, but it is cute and cottagey. Walls either side of stairs are chimney breasts. I think you would likely take them out as the fireplaces are bricked up and they do impinge on the space quite a bit.

Well it's a bungalow, so is a bathroom upstairs really essential?

If the location is perfect then yes I would go for it.

If the location works perfectly for you and there aren't many properties coming up within the dream location, and the house could (in time) be altered to suit you.. sounds like a good buy!

The only thing that would put me off is the views, are they such that they can't be taken away? Many houses near me have sold in the past as a premium because of the views but the greenbelt is now being built on and no more view.