To think that time losing sun *is* a good reason?

[PaddingtonTheAngelofDeath]

We are looking to move, it is for 'wants' rather than 'needs'.

My parents have suggested that they buy our smaller house, and we theirs, financially it would make sense for both and it has everything we are looking for, except;

the sun is gone from their garden by 18.30-40 this time of year, my garden keeps the sun until it sets.

No one else in my household really cares (dd a little) but I don't want to move somewhere where I can't sit in the garden in the sun. I sit out every possible night, I am sat now writing this with the sun still uninterrupted.

I don't get home until 6-6.15 and I work indoors with only artificial light, I'm not fussed about anything else, I am happy to move as the only thing I love is the garden but equally I am happy here.

DH says IABU but he gets all he wants (double garage, workshop, office and gym) whereas I lose the only think I want.

I lose the sun in my garden at 6pm ish and while it feels a bit like a first world problem, I can't pretend it doesn't bother me a bit!

Could you make space to sit out the front?

All those outbuildings, can they be moved somewhere else, do they get the sun on them in the evenings?

We don't have the sun in the evening and it doesn't bother me at all, actually I quite like it! It's still light and enjoyable to sit in the garden without the full glare or heat of the sun. Instead, we have that in the morning meaning it's so nice to just spend a few minutes out there before going to work and, when the DC were younger, it was always inviting for them to play out there of a morning

Can you get everything you both want for your budget? If so, then I would find something else

If you can't, then there has to be a compromise somewhere

It most definitely is a first world problem. To have somewhere safe to sit that is yours is a privilege, but like you it would bother me.

To answer other questions, there is no way to change the sun situation, it is geography that is causing the issue, no sun in front or side garden either.

Are you my husband? 😁
@thehousewiththesagegreensofa

Yes we can.

This would have financial savings for both being a family sell but we could afford something that has nearly everything - we've all made lists of what we want, but all I want is the sun, so it looks as if I'm not compromising but I would compromise everything else (as in I would like a period Victorian house, wooden staircase, larder, built in closets everything my parents house has, but I still don't want to move there because of the sun)

I think as that’s your only want it needs to be taken in to consideration.

is there any outdoor space in that property that you get the sun in the evening?

I totally get you. Our previous house lost the sun around midday and it was freezing in the back garden so sitting outside was not an option. We moved about nine years ago to a house that has the sun out back from midday to setting and it's made such a difference. The kitchen is at the back so is sunny and bright all afternoon and evening so we can sit out all night if we like! The children use the garden so much more too and my washing line gets a lot more use.

We moved from somewhere that lost the sun around 7pm to a house that usually has it until it goes down two years ago. I love it. I am sat out here now, after doing bedtime, it’s beautiful.

I would not give it up.

How is there no sun front or back? What is blocking it? The sun has to be somewhere!

Moving basically for the evening sun reason (are other factors but that one is major). No front garden and straight onto the road and no sun in the back from 6.30pm ish. Am really looking forward to being able to sit out in the sun. Don't compromise on that as it is the most important thing to you

Can you not sit in the front garden during the evening? I totally get what you mean! I would hate to live in a house with a shady garden, unless I could get the sun in the front garden at other times!

I feel you. We want to move somewhere bigger. But we have made improvements to our current house. So while we want to gain some things, we don't want to lose anything. One of those being a south facing garden. We went to look at a house on a street we had earmarked as the right location with bigger houses. But a North facing garden. And an awkward one at that. We were there on a sunny day but no sun till right down the back of the garden. My husband looked so sad! Came home and sat in the sun with a coffee on our patio. So much nicer!

Sounds like it's a compromise too far. I personally wouldn't buy a house with no sun. Don't discount north facing gardens though. I have one, but is 40m long and not overlooked. Get sun in at least 3/4 of it right up to 9-9.30pm in the height of summer.

Sorry for not being clear. Sun is def there but not in the garden in the evening. Garden is south facing but the ground behind rises quite steeply and with trees the sun is lost behind it.
The front garden is in shadow even earlier because of the house.
For my DH and his family and all his friends it isn't a problem, it is a lovely garden a lovely house.

I would not give that up. 5+ years ago we left a house a south-west aspect which had amazing evening sun. We moved to a house with what seemed like a very similar aspect, just more south than South-west. But it's very different. Not only do we get less of the lovely late evening sun, but the surrounding houses/features mean that evening sun is cut off even earlier.

I didn't realise how important it was to me, and I really miss it. You already know exactly how important it is to you, so there's no way I would compromise if I were you.

And def for future moves, an unobstructed south-west aspect will be a non-negotiable for me.

I think sun people really need their sun!

It sounds the same as mine. Everyone needs to change out of shorts at around 5pm at the moment because it gets too chilly. The shaded area attracts gnats in the height of summer. We gradually move up the garden until we’re up against the fence 😆

I totally get you. My parents house was the same and I passed it over when they were selling for the same reason. Our garden is a south facing suntrap and I have comfortable seating spots for every time of day. The cat and I follow the sun round as the day passes. It's my only criteria for a house as well.

Thanks, will show this to DH, @OriginalUsername2 that is a good phrase. He is a shade person and they need their shade. He wouldn't like it if there was no shade (our first flat had a small balcony with no shade in the afternoons and he hated it)

@CampervanKween seems crazy in one way to pass it over but I know I won't be happy there. Helpful that it isn't just me.

How would there be savings? Are your parents looking to sell to you at below market value?

if the sun means that much to you and it can’t be solved then it’s not the right house for you

This is precisely why people shouldn't just reject houses because of their north facing gardens! On paper, many people would have snapped up your (potential) house because of the aspect, but clearly that's not always better.

I have a north facing garden and refused to put an offer on the house until the agent would let me see the garden in the evening. As it happens, it has loads of sun.

I'd be with you - sun in the garden is important to me too. But I hope all the 'must have s facing garden' people clock that there's more to it than aspect.

This isn’t a necessary move so it’s perfectly valid. Stick to your guns.

This is really important to me too. I've had gardens with no sun and ones with sun and as a family we live to eat outside in the summer and this would ruin it for me. It's one of the first things I look at when buying a house

I am not a garden person at all, don't sit out in it and have a west southwest facing rear garden.

We have the sun all day starting at the front and setting in the back and it's lovely to see it out there.