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Original poster

Can't decide whether or not to buy this cottage

78 replies

cantdecide22331 · 20/05/2024 14:35

I'm selling my house and separating from my ex.
I'm looking for a home for my child and I.
There is a cottage that I have seen that I have been to view twice. I definitely liked it more the second time around.
It is surrounded by Woodland. You can't hear a sound other than the birds. Cars don't really drive through that area unless they are living there.

The cottage is very small. But I have been looking online at Pinterest and sites like that at how to get the use out of the space and how to decorate and things like that, and I do think I can make it nice.

I made an offer that was £15,000 under the asking price and they declined it and said they will not settle for anything other than full asking price. I wanted the extra money to decorate the house more to my taste.
It was an elderly lady who lived there beforehand, so I do think it needs a bit of updating for me to feel comfortable living there.

I hate the time asking all those about this, but I'm really struggling to decide.

I've spoken with a few friends and a couple of friends have said definitely go for it because it's gorgeous area But one of my friends has said that the cottage is so tiny that I could get something else for the same price that is bigger, which is true, but the location probably wouldn't be as nice at all really

Do you know what you would do?

OP posts:
thecatsthecats · 20/05/2024 14:38

The main thing for.e would be would my child be able to play in another room without me on top of them and would they have room for a friend to stay.

If the answer to both was yes, I'd go for it!

thecatsthecats · 20/05/2024 14:39

Oh, and I'd just leave my offer on the table whilst continuing to look.

user1483387154 · 20/05/2024 14:39

Only offer what you can afford

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 20/05/2024 14:42

Could you offer the full amount, and then do it up gradually? Are you good with projects like that or will you never get anything finished?

Gladespade · 20/05/2024 14:42

I would maybe offer a bit more, but I wouldn’t be certain that they wouldn’t take say, £5k less, I think that would be worth a punt. How small is small? There is only two of you and I feel like it should be possible to keep things minimalist and the location sounds lovely. So if you love it, I would go for it and find a way to make it work.

Original poster
cantdecide22331 · 20/05/2024 14:43

I can't afford the full asking price, but it will mean I will need to save up for a bit longer to do the decorating work that I want to do. I was hoping they would accept a lower offer because that money would mean I could get the work done all at once

In answer to the question being asked, my child is only just turning two years old so she wouldn't really have friends round yet.
The small bedroom is very small and can fit a single bed in and there is a tiny bit of floor space and a cupboard but that is it.

The cottage is small. It is around 650 square-foot in total.

It's definitely the location that's making it more desirable because it's just surrounded by really tall trees everywhere and there's lots of walks right on the doorstep

OP posts:
Alittlefrustrated · 20/05/2024 14:44

Don't leave yourself with no money to decorate etc. You can guarantee you will need more than you think.

Zonder · 20/05/2024 14:44

Is it the kind of place your child will be able to walk or cycle to meet a friend as they get bigger?

LauderSyme · 20/05/2024 14:44

If it is so small that we couldn't fit our stuff in and live there comfortably I would have to say no. But I would consider whether in the future I might be able to get planning permission and afford to build an extension.

Is it very isolated or would you have at least one shop nearby to buy milk and whatnot? Again that would be a factor for me.

Woodland and no traffic does sound blissful!

lowlight · 20/05/2024 14:44

How old is your child? will the cottage be too small in a few years when they are older /need more space. Can their friends come round to play etc.
is there much storage in the house? - where will everything go?

Tiny cottages are cute but not always very practical

Original poster
cantdecide22331 · 20/05/2024 14:44

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale
It would stress me out doing it gradually. I was hoping that the day I get the keys, my DC and I would move in with my mum for a couple of weeks while I could pay people to come in and do the flooring and the shelves and things like that that need doing. It has fitted wardrobes in that I would want taking out , because they are very dated. And I also want to redo the bathroom because I don't like the style at all and it seems very dated too.

OP posts:
Peonies12 · 20/05/2024 14:45

I'd be careful if it's an older property as there could be a lot of hidden issues which you'd have to pay for. And consider transport, from what you describe, you will be reliant on driving everywhere? Will your child be able to walk to school, and how will they get around as they get older? You usually do pay more for period properties, so I agree with your friend that you might be able to get bigger place in another location or a newer property.

YourNimblePeachTraybake · 20/05/2024 14:45

It sounds lovely, and like you really love it. I would go for it - no rush to redecorate. The location sounds wonderful.

Blackcats7 · 20/05/2024 14:45

Location is the most important thing in a house purchase. I think you should buy it if at all possible. Live with it how it is until you can afford to make it over to your taste. Homes like this aren’t available everyday.

Peonies12 · 20/05/2024 14:45

cantdecide22331 · 20/05/2024 14:44

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale
It would stress me out doing it gradually. I was hoping that the day I get the keys, my DC and I would move in with my mum for a couple of weeks while I could pay people to come in and do the flooring and the shelves and things like that that need doing. It has fitted wardrobes in that I would want taking out , because they are very dated. And I also want to redo the bathroom because I don't like the style at all and it seems very dated too.

We've just done a renovation and it took 3 months to do work similar to what you describe (including painting).

lowlight · 20/05/2024 14:46

sorry can see your child is 2yrs - this cottage sounds too tiny. Keep looking.

Original poster
cantdecide22331 · 20/05/2024 14:46

To answer some questions - my daughter is only two. By the time she's seven or eight I may have even moved onto another property by then. I'm not sure. There is a shop up the lane so that isn't so bad and it's actually very close to public transport.
But just tucked away enough that it isn't on any main roads or anything like that.

Also, for those who asked… There is no way that the property can be extended at all

OP posts:
siameselife · 20/05/2024 14:47

I wouldn't buy it.

When she is a couple of years older your dc will want to play with friends after school easily, have people over, start having sleepovers etc.
She will want space for her and herself more than a scenic location and I say this as someone who loves a scenic location.
Kids don't need a huge amount of space but they need some and being close to their friends is important.

MaggieFS · 20/05/2024 14:49

Sorry, it doesn't sound like the right place. Kids need inside space to play, you need your own space to relax, and you can't afford to do what you want to do with it, and pay what they're seeming to need to secure it.

It would have been great if they'd taken your offer, you could have done it up and then moved on as you need more space, but that hasn't happened, keep looking.

Original poster
cantdecide22331 · 20/05/2024 14:50

I don't want to over compromise myself, which is why I'm really trying to decide. I keep trying to think to myself. What would it be like if they told me someone else had made an offer and they had accepted it and I do think I would be quite gutted.

I know it is very small and it probably won't be somewhere I will be for the next 10 or 15 years as my daughter gets older. It seems the houses on that road don't lose their value.
I've spoken with a few other neighbours and they have said they always increase in price every year. I've also checked this on Zoopla

There are a couple of children on that row of houses and I spoke to the parents, who said they feel really comfortable with their children playing out on that street because it's quite remote really and no cars come down that road

It is a very idyllic little spot. I think I'm just disappointed that they didn't take a lower offer but they are adamant they will only accept full asking price

OP posts:
Makemydaypunk · 20/05/2024 14:53

It seems the houses on that road don't lose their value.
I've spoken with a few other neighbours and they have said they always increase in price every year. I've also checked this on Zoopla

So why would they accept £15,000 less if this is the case? It’s not up to the vendor to pay for your flooring and decorating. What percentage is the £15,000 of the asking price?

crowandhedgehog · 20/05/2024 17:27

You could buy it now, save up, and in 7-10 years time buy something else and rent the cottage out..?

NamingUserName · 20/05/2024 17:32

crowandhedgehog · 20/05/2024 17:27

You could buy it now, save up, and in 7-10 years time buy something else and rent the cottage out..?

Most out of touch post of the day. Yup most single parents can pay a mortgage and save up for a deposit to buy a second home in 7 years!

@cantdecide22331 it sounds like you wan to escape and heal in the woods, which sounds lovely. Is there anyway to borrow money from someone to do it up? If you’re planning on moving again in 5-10 years when need more space then go for it!

SilentSilhouette · 20/05/2024 17:41

How long has it been on the market?

If one bedroom is really small then you could always give your daughter the bigger bedroom? Or perhaps when she gets older.

Is there outdoor space for a summerhouse? A friend of mine lived in a tiny house but built a fabulous summerhouse in the garden for extra space.

Original poster
cantdecide22331 · 20/05/2024 17:43

@NamingUserName
A family member has offered to lend me money but I really hate relying on anyone for anything. I prefer to do it myself. If I borrowed the money I'd feel like I need to pay them back straight away. Even though he wouldn't want it straight away.

I think you're right that it is partly escaping and healing. I'm leaving an abusive marriage. So I just want somewhere I can make my own and do it affordably really. It probably wouldn't cost as much to decorate as it's so small!

OP posts:
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