To move from a detached house to a terraced house?

[Choccitystoppity]

Bought first home in an acceptable, but not ideal, area. It is a detached house with a garden. However, have come to really like the area and local amenities! Plus now have lovely friends nearby. But, schools are only OK, and that is becoming more of an issue as my kids get older, and the area is a bit deeper in the suburbs than….
….a terraced house that I like that has come up for sale closer to town. Has no garden. Our preferred schools are in the area. Better transport links. Closer to family, but would have to start over again with making local friends.
Both houses are 3 bedrooms and not hugely different in size.
WWYD?

Would you be guaranteed to get into the schools nearer the new house?
is that the main reason for the move ?

No garden? Does your family use the garden much now?
I live in a detached and would hate to go back to a terraced house.

I wouldn’t move, no. The terrace is one thing ( I only like detached houses) but the lack of garden is huge dealbreaker.

Remember they will be in school for a far shorter period than you will probably be in that house.

I would put the house over the schools any day.

Could you stand living in a house with no garden? Would your children miss it? No summer barbecues or green space to sit.

as someone who lives in a terraced house with no garden - don’t!

stay where you are.

Yes and yes 🙂

I’ve lived in a detached, now in a terrace. Prefer where we are now hands down. No garden whatsoever though? That would be a deal breaker for me. What’s behind the house if not the garden and does the house get enough light? If, however, you mean a small patio to sit out on then that would be fine for me so long as it’s sunny and not hideously overlooked.

How old are your kids? Would they not miss having a garden?

Surely other houses will come up that suit you better if you do want to move closer to town? This one won't be the only one.
I realise you may not be able to afford a detached house if the area is more expensive, but a house with a bit of garden at least!

My kids don’t play in our garden much. I wish they would, but they don’t!

The terrace does have a small deck with space for outdoor seating, but no actual garden as such.

The garden is the deal breaker as most people have said, but as you say the houses are much the same size so I'd imagine newish detached versus old terrace? Higher ceilings etc.., heating costs will be lower (possibly).
If the children are older for secondary school, then they will be out and about more, but the outside space is essential, even as a space to put one of them on time out!
The only other considerations, broadband, bins and parking....

What do you mean by bins being a consideration?

I couldn't go to back to a terrace now unless I had to for financial reasons.

I grew up in a terrace, my parents are still there. Every time I step out to the rubbish bin their neighbour is there. Small washing line and again neighbour there. Noise from both sides, kids running up their stairs on one side can be heard clearly. Even vacuuming can be heard. House is 120 years old and proper bricks but you hear everything.

What if you don't get on with the neighbour. Lots of threads on here about music, smells of weed, etc.

I'd look at the school your DC would go if you didn't move. What is the reason you are unsure? Behaviour? Learning? Something else?

The school my DC are at was Outstanding when DS went 8 years ago. My DD is still there and another ofsted required improvement and the latest one last year was good. So a rating doesn't really paint a picture. I'm not sure it deteriorated that much and improved again.

I would find it extremely hard to go back to a semi let alone a terrace!
when I s
When I stay with my DS or DD I find it very difficult and they’re both in semis!

I wouldn’t move from a detached to a terrace, especially one without a garden. I live in an end of terrace house and I’d love to have a detached with no adjacent neighbours!

I would never give up my detached house with a big garden for a terrace with no garden, especially if the house wasn’t much different in size and the only benefit is being closer to a school my kids may or may not get into!

The kids would be 8 and 12 by the time we moved. I’m really torn because as much as my kids don’t play in the garden much, in our current house, it is nice to look out at it and not feel too hemmed in.

Thank you for all your quick responses! Will maybe keep looking at other options… it will be hard to find a detached within our budget closer to better schools though. 😔

In some terraces, the bins are straight outside the front door, and if neighbours aren't very good, they get knocked over and all the associated mess etc.., With now having to have 995 bins for all sorts of rubbish/recycling it's the logistics of making it work and still have a nice space.

How old are your children? There is a big birth rate dip for current year 3s and below. Nearly every single one of our local schools has spare spaces, you may well find you don't need to move to get into schools you'd never have got in previously.

Someone asked about bins,my DD lived in a Victorian terraced house..you had to haul the bins through the house,so in the end, they were left in the front garden..I only ever lived in semis before, now detached and no way would I ever go back to being attached to anyone.

I’d definitely prioritise schools, but a terraced house with no garden can’t be your only option?
Why have you fixated on that particular one?

The garden - ie no garden - would be the deal breaker for me.

I wouldn't want to move from my detached home to adjoined neighbours ever again. But then my experience with neighbours may differ from some.

You can be lucky but id never risk it again unless I had no other choice.

Not having a garden would also put me off but it depends how much you want to move there.

And sorry to think negatively but if you move for a school- doesnt matter the school if your children suffer bullying. How they get on with other kids and friends they have at school can have a much bigger impact on their education and happiness during school years.