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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:
mazzystar · 19/06/2008 13:41

very pretty houses

how near to open space to run about?

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:43

Several fundamental things wrong with that Dragon - it has stairs into the front room. Cant do it. Tiny weany kitchen, and its in Ivybridge which is too far to commute for me!

I am really into the victorian/georgian type properties, which is typical us as so is everyone else! And why I think we might have to compromise on garden if we want the house. Or on the house if we want the garden.

But keep em going you can help me find one with a garden.

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 19/06/2008 13:43

we've got a big patio area and a smallish lawn but it's big enough for what we need. we were going to get it all patioed (a) cos we can't be bothered to spend ages mowing it and b) cos it gets all muddy in the rain) but decided to keep a bit of lawn because all kids like rolling around and lying on the grass and that's not very comfortable on the patio slabs.

i wouldn't rule out a lawnless garden as long as it was a biggish one with room for a swing, slide, see saw, trampoline, paddling pool, ride on toys, ball pit etc. if you wanted you could put some turf down, but i wouldn't like a small garden at all whether it be a courtyard or lawned one.

Dragonbutter · 19/06/2008 13:44

shame

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:45

Mazzy the end of the road. Literally right by an ENORMOUS park, with several children's play areas, wide open space, swimming pool, leisure centre. Oh and Plymouth Argylle football club which is the drawback - parking will be a nightmare on sat afternoons. But I can live with that.

OP posts:
MamaG · 19/06/2008 13:45

i like the old one in need of work

lovely looking house

nappyaddict · 19/06/2008 13:46

pavlov the last one you linked to looks like it is quite large. i reckon there'd be enough room for a bit of grass and patio area.

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:48

distance from house to park is nothing at all.

OP posts:
mazzystar · 19/06/2008 13:48

sounds great
houses v pretty and could be made v special
yards cvuld definitely be maximised
and the fovtie - i quite liked living near fovte grounds - bit of atmosphere - its fun

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:49

Mama - first or second one? Second one looks great, full of clutter and tasteless decoration - could get my teeth into it!

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 19/06/2008 13:50

not sure what sort of price you are looking at but what about this

MamaG · 19/06/2008 13:51

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.

that one!

noddyholder · 19/06/2008 13:51

I only had courtyards when ds was little and by the time we had a house with a decent garden he didn't want to play in it and had progressed to the park.I am now keen to look for a house with a courtyard type garden although dp is very keen on country style garden but seems a lot of work to me!

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:52

Nappy -well, that is gorgeous! Too much tho. Our top is around £160k Shame

OP posts:
Dragonbutter · 19/06/2008 13:54

What happened to the south hams plans?

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 13:57

You know that one I love....I did not look at the roof before. I am just looking at the roof now in the photo and it does not fab.

How much is a new roof? What if we are extending into the loft, can it be redone at the same time?

Noddy - how was your DS in a courtyard, did he have enough room, did you long for a bigger garden for him?

keep reminding myself, I hardly have an outside space at all at the moment, so something is better than nothing!

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 19/06/2008 13:58

this?

this?

looks really spacious

bingo!! it has a garden

nappyaddict · 19/06/2008 13:59

oops that first link is wrong. it should be this

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 14:01

Dragonbutter - the south hams place was too small. It was great, I loved it, and we went back three times to look at it, but it was cramped, and we just could not figure out how to make it bigger.

Could not extend into the loft space, no dining room, no eating area in the kitchen. Shame as it had front and back gardens and was in fab location. Its still on our reserve list as not sold yet!

Mama - the second one does look good. I would move kitchen into the breakfast room, and make the kitchen an utility room, open the rooms between kitchen ad dining room.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 19/06/2008 14:04

He never mentioned it and we had lots of kids to play and parties etc.Brighton is full of courtyard gardens though so common.There was always the park for ball games etc.I loved the courtyard easy to keep a ral suntrap and a lovely feel.I don't think children care half as much as people think about the actual garden more concerned with friends etc.We had a sand pit and pool and he played in it loads.\Don't be put off because if you plan to stay in the house foryears they will grow up and you will get more use out of it

kaz33 · 19/06/2008 14:05

Astroturf - my friend is having there garden astroturfed as it is always a muddy hole with two football mad boys. I felt a sample it really is just like grass - astroturf has moved on a lot. It is expensive however.

Original poster
pavlovthecat · 19/06/2008 14:08

Nappy -

first one - same as our flat, need more space.
Second one - seen already - has no garden whatsoever, and a badly converted attic!
Third one - one of the ones I mentioned earlier as liking. Have a viewing on Sat, small garden/courtyard, and no potential to extend into loft as has turned it into two sections and put a skylight in the roof to brighten the hallway! But is a good sized, and will possibly take an even lower offer as has two sales fall through already.
Fourth one - We were very very close to offering on this previously, but, it needs a LOT of work. New kitchen, needs moving into dining room, new bathroom, no double glazing, no central heating, new carpets. DH had a fit. But, I LOVED this one. And you know, I might go back for another look, seeing as it is still here!

Nappy - I think I love you! [mwah!]

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 19/06/2008 14:08

that sounds fab and you'd never have to mow it!

NomDePlume · 19/06/2008 14:13

We almost bought a house with a small courtyard (albeit a very pretty one) last time we were on the hunt.

I wasn't at all bothered about losing a garden, the house we were moving from had a medium garden that we rarely used. The kids weren't bothered either, they were 14, 12 & 3.5 at the time, as there was an enormous public green space in front of the house.

However, we ended up buying this place which does have a garden, a very good sized garden (nice and level too, which helps!). Ok, the garden was nothing more than scrubby grass from wall to wall with a large patio area (no plants at ALL), but over the last 2 years I have made it into a gorgeous (modest!), usable space.

The first thing we did was buy a huge trampoline for the kids and we use it and the garden every day during dry weather.

I do think that we would have been absolutely fine had we moved into the courtyard house, but having spent the last 2 summers with a large garden I am so glad we didn't go for the other place.

Ryobi · 19/06/2008 14:19

depends what the advantages are of the house and its position tbh

a house without a garden opossite open spaces/the beach/the park etc is fine. A house with no garden in the middle of a concrete jungle is not so fine