To buy this House

[TherapyRocks]

Head vs. heart issue.

I’ve fallen in love with this house but it’s on the small side for me & two teenagers.

It’s at the bottom of my price range so the alternative is a big, four bedroom new build type with all modern bells & whistles.

I’m worried that this house will suit me down to the ground but will be too cramped / too much of a compromise for two growing kids.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132915815#/?channel=RES_BUY

In the description.

Added to my other comment, a search on a soil info site on Wrexham road, Malpas shows indicates 'clayey soils with impeded drainage'. That would bother me.

It enormous compared to the house I grew up in! How big do you need it?! My worry would actually be that it seems to be in the countryside, so how easy will it be for the teens to travel about by themselves, get public transport into town, see their friends and go to hobby clubs or even part time jobs independently of you? You might be consigning yourself to permanent taxi service, and your teens to years of being cut off from where they really want to be.

No advice op but that is so lovely it has so much character . I really love the windows no idea why

Well, obviously you don't negotiate-you are the adult and it's your decision, but it does make sense to get the children's input if they are old enough.

It was on at £390k until June, after three months on the market, so the current £349k is a big chunk off the initial price, and now we're another 4 months further on. Maybe they will drop asking even more if it's failing to get interest. If this is the bottom of your budget, you'd have lots to spend on making it meet your needs better. You could put a shoffice in the back garden if you think the teens might want some more space (though I think it's plenty big enough, esp. with that den/study off the living room).

That looks pricey for a 3 bed in the area but if you love it and it works for you then why not?

Things I would think about with the kids in mind as they get older:

• transport links to school, friends and recreation and/or part-time jobs
• space when their friends caome to visit

With you in mind:

• do you work from home? Will you need the study?
• how often do you entertain or have friends/family to stay? Will there be room for them or will it put you off inviting people?
• does this leave you in a much better financial situation on a monthly basis? Will the mortgage saving enable you to do other things and have a lifestyle that you wouldn't be able to afford in a bigger house? Travel, takeaways, going out etc.

Quality of life is so much more important than the looks of the bricks and mortar around you.

Also, do not let the kids decide! They are kids and you are the adult. They can be involved but it's ultimately your decision and responsibility to get it right. Sorry - don't mean to be rude but so many people seem to let the immature humans make big decisions for them in life.

It's very quirky but just too spooky for me. I feel odd about living in former religious buildings but that's just me.

If you wanted a second bathroom would it be possible to put an ensuite in the main bedroom?

The only things that would put me off this house are the concrete out the front, I'd want a garden reinstated, and the wood burning stove because I loathe them. But you have a bedroom each and a study for your children to do homework or watch telly in.

Just a quick note! I do not know the owner, but my grandchildren are at the high school there and I have done lots of pick ups and have driven past the house. I thought, despite the 😜 it wasn’t very nice to suggest I only praised the house because I knew the owner!

Just looking at the first pic I thought, oooh no but looking at all the other pics, it's beautiful and those views are fabulous.

My only reservation would be possible building behind in coming years.

Miles better than a new build to me.

In the written descriptions of the rooms (click for 'read more' on the listing & scroll down).

oops, redundant 'for'

OP I'm a lone parent of a teen and I'd say the downstairs is good as you have the other small room as a snug / 2nd TV room if they have friends over.

Never underestimate space when you have teens.

I absolutely adore the outlook at the back. If you are relatively handy yourself in terms of DIY I'd go for it.

The kid'll move out soon enough! It's utterly wonderful!

It’s really interesting to read the floods of “Oh it’s WONDERFUL” responses on here set against the clear difficulty that the owners are having in selling it. I think that it’s very easy to gush about a place when you’re not actually having to make a real life decision about spending your own money on it, or living in that location.

Good point. Why is it not selling?

looks good imo. If the location fits you and your DC 👍

The small bedroom would be my concern as well, it looks tiny, more like a box room than a bedroom. What sizes are your dc’s bedrooms at the moment?

Ideally, you'd enjoy multi-coloured light bouncing off polished wooden floors throughout, so I'd want to know what's under all that grey carpet which currently sucks up the light.

BUY IT. Teenagers go to university. Get it.

It’s not often you see a ‘high level wc’. Upstairs bathroom can be handy and is more the norm, but there may be some way round that. It’s lovely, would look even better with characterful furniture.

Agreed. You have to put a hard nose on and look at what actually sells well. This would be a hard no for me as I explained upthread. I’m not saying a new build is the answer either. But I’d want something with decent transport links for my kids and something, where they could live into their 20s if they didn’t yet earn enough to move out. If they end up having partners over etc, that house will feel very small with the small bedroom 3.

I agree with this. How old are your teens OP? Would you rather be here with a smaller mortgage in 10 years or on a not so new build estate?

I love the house.

Only on Mumsnet is a 2.8x2.4m third bedroom ‘tiny.’ How the other half live!?