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Original poster

Which would you choose..........(sorry long)

56 replies

nutcracker · 24/02/2004 20:13

I'll apologise in advance for the fact that i'm on here moaning about housing probs again, I'm sure you are all sick of hearing about it now, i know i am

Anyway what i want to know is this :

Imagine you have to choose between these two properties.
Property 1 is a masionette above a row of shops. It has all the room that you need, but no central heating, double glazing or garden. However, although on a council estate the local schools (just off the estate) are excellant, especially the secondary schools. People frequently move to the area just to get in to the schools.

Property 2 is a 3 bed house on another slightly more dodgy council estate, with double glazing, central heating and a garden. The primary school results are o.k but the secondary school is crap.

If you had to choose which would you pick. Basically you are choosing between having a garden or being able to send your kids to a very good secondary school.

Meant to add that Property 1 is in the area that you live in now, so kids wouldn't have to move schools and would still be near to relatives and friends.
Property 2 is about 4 mile from property 1 but kids would need to move schools and be bus ride away from family and friends.

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stupidgirl · 24/02/2004 20:16

Once you move, is that it, or is there a chance of moving again in a few years (if school is the issue)?

spacemonkey · 24/02/2004 20:18

Nutty, I have to say I'd definitely pick Property 1 - more for the proximity to friends and family than the school issue. Just my opinion though!

Original poster
nutcracker · 24/02/2004 20:18

Well judging by the fact that where i am now we are very overcrowded and have medical probs because of property and still can't get moved, then i'm thinking that once we were there that would be it. Plus i really want somewhere that i feel will be home forever. I'm sick of living in Limbo.

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Original poster
nutcracker · 24/02/2004 20:24

Also meant to say that I would feel so guilty if we didn't have a garden as i've lost count of the times i've siad "when we get a garden " to my dd's.
Oh help, i don't know what to do. If i make the wrong desicion i'll hate myself forever

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popsycal · 24/02/2004 20:25

i would go for property 1

kiwisbird · 24/02/2004 20:28

I live in a maisonette above shops, we have loads of space, just no garden and obv noise issues re the shops and deliveries but local amenities are good and the area is very very good as are teh schools.
We have not yet seen a house we like ,we would not go to a dodgy area, we'd rather stay here - BUT for the most part we have more than enough space here for us, if we were short of space I would go to anywhere available, honestly as my marriage would suffer and my kids!!
Good luck xx

misdee · 24/02/2004 20:30

is there a green area or park nearby at the masionette?

mez75 · 24/02/2004 20:32

Someone once said to me "it's better to buy a c*p house on a brilliant road, rather than a brilliant house on a c*p road" I think it makes sense!

wobblyknicks · 24/02/2004 20:32

I'd be tempted to move to number 1, although the place itself hasn't got as many facilities, the other benefits are quite big

mez75 · 24/02/2004 20:33

Think it would be the same for renting! I'd go for property 1.

Original poster
nutcracker · 24/02/2004 20:34

Misdee - There are a couple of play areas near by, but i probably wouldn't use those. There is a park not far from dd's school too. It's just that if we had our own garden then i could just open the back door and kick the kids out. They would also get all of their garden things, back from their grandads and i could buy them all of the outdoor things i've been promising them.

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kaz33 · 24/02/2004 20:35

How old are your kids ?
Are both council properties ?

spacemonkey · 24/02/2004 20:37

Just wanted to sympathise with the limbo feeling - it's horrible isn't it. The council put us in a horrible grotty flat until a suitable house came up for us to move into - I didn't like the location of the house at all but couldn't stand the thought of moving yet again. However we did eventually get a mutual exchange, and got a place we really love and I don't intend on moving again for a long, long time.

What I'm trying to say is if you chose Property 1, you could move again if you wanted to when a more suitable place comes up? And if it's in a better area near better schools you'd be more likely to get an exchange I would think.

misdee · 24/02/2004 20:38

well i had a lovely 2bed flat on a new estate, but no facilities nearby, nearest shop was 45mins way, no school nearby again 45-60mins to waslk dd1 to nursery, no play areas.
but moved to a 3bed masionette, winthin 5mins from shops, 10min wlak to nursery, park over the rd, leisure centre nearby. might not be the best part of town but was a good chioce for me to make. this place also needs a lot of TLC. if i'm here for 5-10 years b4 getting a house that will be fine with me.

Janh · 24/02/2004 20:38

nutty, you really want that garden, don't you?

Would your kids have to go the crap secondary school or might they be able to bus to a better one further away? Your eldest is still in the infants, isn't she? It's still a few years off?

GeorginaA · 24/02/2004 20:38

Property number 1 definitely. Having to use parks/open space rather than your garden is a pain, but the nicer neighbourhood would be a winner for me as would not being too far away from relatives and friends.

If a council property, isn't there a chance that they'd add central heating & double glazing at a later date? I certainly remember the council back in Croydon were doing the "rounds" on their properties fitting double glazing at one point.

Original poster
nutcracker · 24/02/2004 20:42

My dd's are 6 and 4 and ds is 14mths, so yes secondary school is a long way off, but i want them to go to the best school poss.
I am almost posotive that the kids would have to go to the school nearest as the good schools are about 4 miles away and are oversubscribed already.

Oh and yes they are both council (well actually property 2 is H/A at the mo, but due to go back under council control)

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Original poster
nutcracker · 24/02/2004 20:44

Sorry, also should of said that my friend lives in one of the masionetts over the shops (has done for 5 yrs) and she is convinced that they will eventually knock the masionetts down. May just be wishful thinking on her part though, but if they did then we would get rehoused in a house.

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GeorginaA · 24/02/2004 20:47

I would also say to consider in what way the school is crap. For me, if it was just poor results that wouldn't worry me quite as much because I know that I'd put the effort in at home to encourage my kids in their schooling. If it was crap because there's bullying/absenteeism/drugs/violence issues, then I would avoid it like the plague even if they did suddenly have a huge academic turn around.

Original poster
nutcracker · 24/02/2004 20:50

Right, before i do anything else i'm going to go and compare league table results and things.

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GeorginaA · 24/02/2004 20:52

The Ofsted Page is a good place to visit too, nutcracker. (Apologies if you already know about it!)

stupidgirl · 24/02/2004 20:55

Hmmm, I don't know. My garden is pretty important to me and I'd hate to be without one. I don't know what the answer is. Why is there always a compromise?

stupidgirl · 24/02/2004 20:57

Should have said that my view is a little coloured as schools aren't relevant. So perhaps I'm not the best person to comment.

Original poster
nutcracker · 24/02/2004 21:05

Right, just had a look (thanks for the link GA )

The results for the 2 secondary schools by property 1 are : Grades A-C 52% and A-C 67%

The results for school near to property 2 are :

A-C 40 %.

Also have to say that i agree with you GA. I am not the type of person to send my kids to school and then not take an interest, so if they did go to the worse school i would still think that they would do o.k IYKWIM

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GeorginaA · 24/02/2004 21:10

Hmm... on grades alone, I wouldn't say there was significant difference to worry overly much about school near property 2 (again, I would check out the ofsteds to do a proper comparison - there may be other underlying issues) - so much could change in that school over the next 5-6 years.

You may find the lower grades school is improving from year to year while the better one is sliding - it's not unknown!

The parts on the Ofsted reports I find most interesting is how involved the parents are at an individual school, general classroom behaviour, kids' attitude towards the school, whether there's bullying issues, absenteeism etc.