AIBU to turn down developer’s offer of £££ and keep our garden?

[Emelene]

Hi MN. I would appreciate some opinions. We have very recently moved to a village, with an outstanding school, village green out the front and a garden in excess of 100 ft out the back. Our kids are almost 3 and 1 and we see ourselves living here for at least a decade.

The thing is the last owner was intending to sell 60% of the garden to developers, along with the next 3 neighbours along (we are the end plot on the plans). She lost patience and sold the lot to us. Planning permission has finally been granted after previous appeals were turned down.

Under the plans, there would be a house and a half built on our land, so we would be overlooked and lose 60 percent of the garden. We don’t have to sell, but the developers have offered a final offer of £100k. That would pay off about a third of our mortgage. They are pressuring us to make a decision ASAP.

Obviously it’s a huge amount of money and a privileged position to be in … it’s very hard to say no. But. Losing the garden is a high price. We’d planned chickens, Wendy house etc. The house currently feels so peaceful, trees out the back (that would be cut down) and birdsong. So I think it would change the whole feel of our home. But there will be a house built in the neighbour’s garden, so there will be a small element of overlooking…

I’m scared we will regret turning down the money. But our kids are so young and we moved here to give them a wonderful childhood (with a garden!)

So AIBU to turn the developers down and keep the garden? WWYD?

I wouldn’t. You’ll be overlooked. There will be disruption, both for the build and ongoing. And most importantly your home will be very, very different to the one you bought.

Turn it down.

In the pro column you’ve got a bit of money.

In the cons column you’ve got smaller garden, cutting down trees, noise from building work – and associated dust and disruption, potential destruction of what garden you’ve got left, overlooking, detrimental effect on your house price…

Unless you really really need the money no way should you sell over half of your garden. Outside space is extra living space and such a lovely thing to have at any age, not just for small children.

Sell the land and then sell the house. Move somewhere you're not overlooked.

Keep the garden! You’ll be so glad you did. Enjoy it, OP

All that inconvenience for £100k…

Nah I’d not be doing that

100k isn't that much if it knots £££off your house value.

I'd turn it down. Presumably you could afford the house without it, and you bought it because you love it.

Obviously I'm not sure of the layout ect, but keep in mind that it might be possible for you to sell your garden at al later stage if it suits you (though probably for one house, not 1.5!)

I would turn it down for all the reasons you've mentioned. It's so peaceful there now. Money can't buy that.

No, I wouldn’t. You bought the house for the right reasons and you’d be selling your land for the wrong reasons.

How old are you? If you're young a large garden is easy to keep on top of, the kids will absolutely love the extra space...
If you've even half a mind to sell then ask for double and let it be known you won't accept any offers

No , the only bonus is the money and really for what you're going to loose not a great sum.

You weren't expecting nor are you dependent on that money, so you can continue to live without it.

If you sold your garden and changed the whole feel of your lovely house, you'd regret it bitterly forever.

Knocks. I'd talk to the local property people about the diminution in value. I would not buy a heavily overlooked house, so also discuss saleability.

@Wombat49

100k isn't that much if it knots £££off your house value.

Exactly

It’s tempting as it’s such a lot of money. But is the money worth the amount in the loss column?

I'd sell the land and then sell the house. Evne if you don't take the money you'll have to endure months of building work and you'll possibly end up overlooked regardless.

Personally I wouldn't have brought the house given you knew it would become a building site although I realise that's not much help now.

We are in this position, or similar. We sold the land and we are now moving. Gutted as it was a gorgeous garden but if there is going to be a housing estate next door then it won't be the same anyway. Apparently the sale won't affect the value of the house, but might affect the rush to buy it.

I think we made the right decision but we didn't really want to go there at all!

Say no. Think of the added value of having a much bigger garden than all the neighbours down the line.

If you sell and you then dislike your home/garden and feel you need to move, how would you feel?

You'll lose more than that off the value of your house. If you don't sell the development might not happen.

No way. Keep the garden and your dream home.

Be prepared they may offer more.

No bloody way would I sell the garden!!

How much do you reckon it will knock off the value of your house? If you're even tempted to sell then it has to more than cover that.

If you don't sell, will that mean the whole thing is cancelled and you're neighbours will be pissed off forever?

If it's a house and a half is there an option to sell the 20% that would be the half a house but keep the rest?

But generally, with two young kids I wouldn't. You say you'll be there a decade but unless secondary schools locally are crap, I suspect it will be longer as teens will love the space.

Could you buy something better with an extra £60k (reduction in value of house plus fees) or something similar (large garden) and some money in the bank?

I'd be inclined to take the offer and look to move but it depends how much you love the house and expect to with the houses over the back