To ask which house would you buy if you were me?

[WhichHousethough]

I obviously have a budget that's on the small side-I am single and always have been. Just me and one DC. These are ones I've been sent by an estate agent. I am relocating for work but also just had a bit of a bad time and need a fresh start.

People on here seem to like looking at houses anyway! And I just felt maybe someone may give me some reasons for/against any of them that the untrained eye (mine) may not have noticed. I am getting a lot of opinions from friends but they've all just served to confuse me even more as they're all vastly different!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/wf17/monk-ings.html

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134125463#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146765312#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140501888#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146417417#/?channel=RES_BUY

Yes I've come round to the Windmill Lane house. It's got the most space and potential and - thinking long term - would be a practical house for the rest of your life.

How about this

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145647818#/floorplan?activePlan=1&channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146718995#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146394215#/floorplan?activePlan=1&channel=RES_BUY

All other things equal e.g schools, distance from work etc I would go for the second - the White House.

You can move straight in with no need to do any works. Therefore evenings and weekends are yours to relax with your child. It is so neutral that any furniture will work in it.

Then in time when you are in a better place you can decorate how you want it.

The EPG rating is quite good so should be efficient to keep warm and cosy.

Room layout and sizes are so much better than the other house.

Have you ever been to Birstall…..?

Is there a reason for Birstall? I can think of a lot of places in West Yorkshire that are nicer in the similar price region. I notice the girls high is outstanding. Is there a wish list of must haves for the area you want to relocate to?

You are definitely near lots of amenties in Birstall i.e. Ikea, Showcase Cinema, take aways, restaurants, access to Leeds....but less so countryside. It is a busy and in my opinion, congested and rough around the edges, but if you like urban it might be perfect for you.

Not often I see a location I know on here! Location is going to be the most important factor here as there are a lot of nicer areas that directly border hideous areas. As pp said is there a reason it has to be Birstall/Batley? Your budget isn’t that bad for West Yorkshire I can think of nicer places if you list requirements.

If you can comfortably afford it then I would say that the 4 bed on Craven Lane is the best overall. Everything internally looks relatively up to date so you won't really need to spend any money there and there is a nice back garden for you and DC. Total winner.

Brookroyd Lane - the white house. I would be very wary about this. If you look on the map, the house has been built in the back gardens of two other houses that face onto the street.

Backland development can be fine but, in this case, it does appear that the house is overlooked on all sides and there will certainly be little or no privacy if you are out in your small of patch of garden there.

Newley Ave - 3 bed end of terrace at the end of a very small road. Internally, it looks good and also a nice garden. Also a new roof as well. If Craven Lane were too expensive then this is the one I would pick. Newley Ave goes onto Bradford Road, I don't know how busy that gets and how easy it might be to turn right onto if needed when going to work.

South View - 2 bed end of terrace. Nice enough house but only a small patch of grass for the garden. Also, no garage or off street parking, that will increase your car insurance.

Windmill Lane - bungalow. Love a bungalow, but internally a bit dated

@CormorantStrikesBack

Yeh, I noticed your suggestions are all in Heckmondwike - what’s wrong with Birstall?

Nothing. I just put what seemed like the max budget into rightmove based round birstall and 1 mile surrounding area. The birstall ones that came up the OP had already linked but these others came up as well and seemed nice. OP hasn’t said she needs to be in birstall itself (maybe she does though), in my mind widening the search area by a mile seemed sensible

I genuinely have no idea if one is better than the other. I go to Ikea sometimes but that’s the depth of my knowledge on the area 😁

Thanks - I don’t know the area at all.

I don’t know the area at all so going purely on the house I liked the first two @CormorantStrikesBack linked to.

Are theyvpossibilities OP?

On just the houses - the bungalow, lots of garden space and i love bungalows. I dont know the area so cant comment on anything else

After my awful experience with neighbors always and forever detached!

I really like the white one. You can just move in!

You've all been really helpful thank you. I have some connections to the area but wouldn't necessarily totally rule out areas nearby.

Some very good points made about other things to consider-I am having a look at the suggestions too. I had just become overwhelmed with friend's opinions (none of them at all in agreement!) I think and had my brain had muddled (currently being assessed for ADHD which may explain a bit of that).

I do like gardening and having a garden generally. Budget is just based on what the broker has told me I can afford. Spending less could be handy for other things, but yes the white one is ready to move into without anything doing. Good point that the cheaper ones are more likely to make money too. A lot to consider.

Thanks for info. Does ADHD mean you are better off with a done house rather than a project or vice versa? What about schools? Do you need a good primary or secondary or both?

I'd go for location first, if location is good for all 4 then detached would be a preference. That having been said, this one is my favourite in terms of layout and has a little more character than the new build one: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146668271#/?channel=RES_BUY

Definitely not the white one. Hate houses without hallways where there is nowhere to put jackets, bags, not to mention shoes and boots. Can't understand how people apparently don't mind carrying that through the living room or keeping them in the living room.

Thanks again all-schools yes, (secondary) but there seem to be a view decent ones within not too far of a distance, for what I've been told/seen so far.

Good point about nowhere to put things! Storage is one important thing for me.
ADHD wise-I always seem to have some project going on, that's not too much of a problem, it more affects me in terms of brain muddlement, having to be doing ten things at once (for example my work are understanding of it thankfully but I constantly fiddle about and if I don't, I can't concentrate!
So with all different opinions given by my friends (almost every single one liked and disliked different ones!) I felt maybe strangers may be more useful (and you have been)!

Handy for IKEA
You need to go and visit- there is a reason that these houses are cheap.

They're quite reflective of the area I thought?
I've only been in an Ikea once (in Wigan? I think?) never again😂

I like the white house. All done and ready for you to put your own stamp on it.

Craven lane with the red car. I wouldn't like that weird parking. Imagine coming home to that every day. Awful.