To think pricing these houses the same amount is unrealistic and which would you buy!?

[Yorkshirebornand]

So there are 2 houses in an area I’ve been looking in, they are both sides of a semi detached. One is ready to move in to, quite neutral and doesn’t appear to need much work. The other is INCREDIBLY dated, needs everything doing, the only advantage I can see is that it is the ‘end’ plot and as such would have room to extend. The estate agent has put them both on at the same price, which is actually quite high for the area anyway. Is the potential to extend worth that much money? Im torn, I don’t need to extend tbh but would probably be looking to move again in about 5 years so thinking of resale price etc. WWYD?

The “done” house looks tiny and cramped compared to the other. I find it fascinating.

Doer upper for me too. Having only neighbours on one side would be worth it alone.
The fact I’d have to redo the ‘done’ one anyway means the doer upper is the better option. The done one doesn’t have a very usable garden and the garden is a lot smaller.

The reason they are the same price is because it’s a very appealing option for a builder/developer to buy both halves and turn it into a big family home or some flats.
The one that needs doing up isn’t worth that by itself but it is when added to the other, especially as it’s got the bigger amount of land.

The first one has an amazing garden, and the decor is dated but OK. The second one is hideous, it would all need ripping out anyway.

i would buy the fixer-upper just for the plot size. Don’t mind the dates furnishings - I can replace at my own pace.

I’d prefer the fixer upper too. The decoration in the done-up one is old-fashioned so it;d be back to basics for me with that one.

The do-er upper isn’t really a do-er upper, is it? It needs redecorating. My current do-er upper needed a new roof, completely rewiring, central heating replacing before you got anywhere near decor. My previous didn’t even have a kitchen, just a sink, nor central heating, and needed immediate treatment for woodworm.

The "done" one looks straight out of the early 2000s. The fixer upper has stacks more potential (and looks like less wallpaper to strip!) both inside and out.

But if you’re moving in 5 years, there’s a lot to be said for buying something whose decoration you can live with.

I'm not keen on much of the decor in the 'done' one to be honest. I think I'd buy the do-er upper and steer well clear until it was finished and to my taste, at which point I would think it was a nice house with a really lovely garden.

I'd buy the doer -upper. It's a much larger and nicer plot.

The other house isn't "done" it's dated and needs an equal amount of work (likely needs rewiring and updated plumbing as well as the cosmetic stuff).

Oooh I love the doer upper! Such a gorgeous garden space, all that light hitting it. TBH there would be a bidding war for that in my area.

The 'done' one needs doing, IMO! It may well have more up to date electrics and plumbing (although not necessarily - they might have just done a cosmetic job), but I'd want to rip almost everything out of it. And the plot size difference is HUGE. I'd expect the end property to sell for more.

I'd pay more for a bigger garden, done up or not. Wouldn't even look at the second one although not to my taste anyway.

£250k is a decent amount of money but wouldn't even get a flat in the city I live in, so in the scheme of things fairly affordable even to renovate

I’d pick the doer-upper. Huge garden and it’s pretty much a blank canvas. I’m not particularly keen on the decor of the ‘done’ house so would still want to make it my own.

Definitely the "done" one for me, nothing needs changing, you could just move in.

I’d definitely go for the doer upper, the other one looks like it was done about 10 years ago so hardly brand new refurbished anyway.

This.

To me decoration is irrelevant. I'll change it anyway Having a larger garden is much more valuable

The done up one is dated and as boring as you like ! I’d go for doer upper , what a fantastic plot .

If you’re not nervous about a project, go for the fixer-upper! I agree that the other one is actually nothing special so you’d probably want to do work anyway. Also, do you have children or pets who will appreciate the larger garden?

Its the extra land you are paying for. It looks like a huge plot

One of the first sentences in the "done" one is "next door is also for sale".

The doer upper doesn't mention the other property at all, but does Talk a lot about how wonderful the grounds are.

I'd buy the first, because of the huge amount of land that comes with it.
What I can't understand is why it's not on for a lot more than the second.
It certainly looks worth substantially more.

Nothing horrendous, but I'd end up spending just as much to redo the "done" one as the I will spend to redo the other one anyway.

I am always wary of freshly "done"house, a quick touch a paint can hide a lot of nightmares.

I agree with above, the size of the plot is everything.

The doer upper is much better and I’m also shocked it’s not more expensive than the other (bloody awful) one.