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Original poster

Remind me what the benefits of buying a house with a garden are please?

85 replies

pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:15

I will regret it, wont i, if i buy a family home with a courtyrard instead of a garden?

Its only that the estate agents have just sent me some fab houses which we already ruled out as garden was a courtyard, they are now hugely reduced .

OP posts:

PussinJimmyChoos · 19/06/2008 13:17

Yo Pav!!

If the houses are greatly reduced, could you use the money saved to change the courtyard into lawn?

PussinJimmyChoos · 19/06/2008 13:18

Mind you, a courtyard good in the sense that if its just rained but now sunny, the kids can still go out because it won't be a slush pit.....you could put soft play mats down under swings/slides or something?

Dragonbutter · 19/06/2008 13:19

Hi,
The advantages of a garden would be lovely if we weren't talking about devon. The grass gets so wet that's it totally unusable. I'm trying to convince DH that we should deck and pave the whole thing so we can use it year round.
For me, as long as you can hang your washing out, the kids can practise on their trikes, and there's somewhere to sit then it doesn't matter if it's a courtyard or garden.

nkf · 19/06/2008 13:19

How big is the garden? And how big the courtyard? How fab is the house?

fruitstick · 19/06/2008 13:20

We bought a house with a courtyard 3 years ago. DS1 is now 2 and a half and we are moving as I get so depressed trying to watch him play in it and am tired of having to take him to the park for a run around twice a day when I should be getting the washing on!

I'm sure dome fab houses with a garden will be greatly reduced quite soon too.

However, if you don't mind a courtyard would you like to buy ours?

MamaG · 19/06/2008 13:20

We've lived with a yard for 3 years now and just bought some land behind the house to make a garden - to be honest the kids LOVE the new garden but still play happily in the yard
not the en dof the world IMO

nkf · 19/06/2008 13:20

And when you say courtyard, are you talking concrete or York stone and handsome shrubs?

chopchopbusybusy · 19/06/2008 13:22

Our previous house was a largish 4 bedroom house with a very tiny garden. Didn't bother us greatly because we both hate gardening and the price of the house reflected the lack of garden. It was big enough to sit out in with a glass of wine. What more could I want! We wouldn't have been able to afford the same house with a proper garden in that area.

TigerFeet · 19/06/2008 13:22

If the house is within a couple of minutes' walk of some open space and/or a play area I can't see that it would be a huge problem for me if the garden/courtyard was tiny tbh.

Original poster

pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:23

Dragon - I had not thought of that you know....
pussin - waves! You will know the area - peverel. It is a sunny facing courtyard 'garden' is big enough to have a shed in, has one already, and may well be big enough for a veg patch.

It does only have two bedrooms, but they are huge, and loft extension is possible.

Has a decent sized kitchen, and utility which is great, and a dining room off the kitchen rather than seperate.

Its in a relatively good state of repair, needs refreshing rather than gutting and starting again.

I has been reduced by £25,000

OP posts:

MamaG · 19/06/2008 13:25

any chance of linking to the house...?

I think it sounds great, really I do

Original poster

pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:27

Its not just concrete, it has some small borders and patch of grass, and a shed. And it is sunny facing, so we can go out in it.

I am not a huge gardener, but only because I dont have a garden, I have a small courtyard, and its too small. Our current yard makes me long for a garden, and dream about one, a swing for DD, veg patch, wilderness section, patio with garden furniture, bbqs and birthday parties. I had good memories of my garden growing up, want the same for DD, and for other children we might have too.

I just dont want to ignore an otherwise perfect house - well to be honest there are now several) because of a small garden issue.

Its right next to Central Park - for those who know plymouth - thats great. Although traffic is shite on Argylle days.

OP posts:

Original poster

pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:28

MamaG - I will try to get link...

OP posts:

nkf · 19/06/2008 13:29

It comes down to preference really. I like the look and feel of grass but my sister prefers decking and stone. The children play quite happily in both.

PussinJimmyChoos · 19/06/2008 13:29

I love Peverell!! That would be one of my choices if moved to Plymouth and its so close to Peverell park as well so fab for long walks! Parking at a premium though so check that out before buying.

We are having our garden done soon - quite a bit of work - one tier levelled out, fence replaced, returfed etc, all to make it child friendly for DS and a place he can run around in. The quote for that was around £5k....so, in your case, I should imagine that just taking up the slabs and returfing of a courtyard would be a fraction of this price, so it all depends how much you love the house....

Or, you could move in, see how it goes with the courtyard (especially given how much it rains in Devon!) and if it does turn out to be totally impractical, then change it into garden?

I must warn you....Peverell is not far from my Mum's house.....I will stalk you if you do move and I'm next in Plymouth

ha ha!!

PussinJimmyChoos · 19/06/2008 13:33

missblythe · 19/06/2008 13:33

Our house is lovely, but the poky courtyard is making me want to move-and we're 5mins from lovely parkland, but it's not the same.

No room for DD to ride her trike; if we have the paddling pool up, there's no room for much else; can't really have a washing line because it would fill the whole garden; no grass means hauling out a sun lounger every time you want a five minute recline.

I'd hang on, other houses will come down too.

ChippyMinton · 19/06/2008 13:34

Garden toys get bigger as the DC grow. Pool, climbing frame, football goal, trampoline, nice big table & chairs, so lots of space is good. And if you can't be bothered going to the park, a big garden is a necessity. Send the DC outside whilst you get on with other stuff, or laze around on a sunlounger. Save lots of money by having a freezer full of cheap lollies. etc etc. Loads of reasons really.

Original poster

pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:34

this one is reduced by £10,000 and I know he will take offers as he has already had two sales fall through, needs some work, but its got potential and is cheap]]

I am looking for the one I really like

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FAQ · 19/06/2008 13:35

When we moved here it involved getting a much smaller garden (although admittedly we do still have one) than what we had previously.

However, having the huge park literally just round the corner (less than a minutes walk away) swayed it for me. If it's nice enough to g out in the garden, it's nice enough to go to the park - and then I don't have to feel guilty about not doing housework while they're playing

Original poster

pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:36

i love this one its so old and in need of love, I can see this being great with a new carpet lick of paint, and our furniture. Kitchen needs a tidy/jig around seems doable in the short term.

OP posts:

TheMadHouse · 19/06/2008 13:38

Oh garden everytime. Isn't courtyard, just estate agent term for back yuard.

We renting with a yard for six months between moves and I hated it.

I love my garden as the boys gan play on the grass with a ball - no chapped knees from falls
Larger - for their sand pit and toys
softer underfoot
Green

I am a garden monster and would love mine to be bigger

Original poster

pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:38

This is the one I LOVE

[http://www.falconproperty-search.com/propertydetails.aspx?propid=DFP4248&locx=24780&locy=56 00&place=peverell&sale=s&distance=20&propertytype=%25&minbeds=2&maxbeds=3&minprice=100000&maxprice=2 00000&order=desc&uo=3&new=%&everyhours=0 been dropped by £25,000]]

OP posts:

Dragonbutter · 19/06/2008 13:38

Pav, this one ivybridge has been on the market for ages. Has garden, out front is a big green and it's also near a park.

Original poster

pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:40

link did not work

I LOVE this one. But small yard.

I am being swayed with the garden tho, just mentioning all the kids things...

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