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Original poster

Do you get used to road noise?

65 replies

irregularegular · 11/07/2011 10:03

I went to view a beautiful house yesterday. Truly gorgeous. The oldest part dated from 1760, with later Georgian and Victorian extensions, and it was chock full of period features from the 18th Century though to the early 20th century. Tonnes and tonnes of space too. Beautiful half acre garden and fabulous views.

It was just the right kind of a renovation job too. The elderly couple living there have done so since the early 70s and amazingly didn't impose any 70s/80s hideousness on it. Everything is still there. Yes, it's very old fashioned and needs lots of work, but they actually seem to have maintained it pretty well, so it's perfectly habitable and you could do it up bit by bit.

So far, so good. I'd buy it like a shot IF it wasn't end on to a fairly busy road. There's no denying the road noise - and I realise that is the only reason we can afford it.

Where we are now is so quiet, DH won't even contemplate this road. He didn't even come and see it with me (there were diary clashes) but once I mentioned the road noise that was it. I, on the other hand, keep wondering if the trade off would be worth it, whether you'd get used to it. But he's probably right, isn't he? Sigh it is such a perfect house, otherwise.

OP posts:

SybilBeddows · 11/07/2011 11:29

The real issue here is whether you can get your dh to change his mind.
Traffic noise can be lived with, a dh who is unhappy and always wishes he was living somewhere else can't.

HelloKlitty · 11/07/2011 11:30

Gah! Buy it! I'ts lovely! My DH woould also kick up about the road I have to say.

rocksox · 11/07/2011 11:32

"Traffic noise can be lived with, a dh who is unhappy and always wishes he was living somewhere else can't."

So true...

Original poster

irregularegular · 11/07/2011 11:35

Rocksox - really - how funny. Where did you end up, if you don't mind me asking?

It is a lot of house for the money round here, definitely. That's the trade off.

OP posts:

Original poster

irregularegular · 11/07/2011 11:37

Ephiny - you're right, it wouldn't be that bad, but at that price DH would say you shouldn't compromise on noise. And we have no road noise at all at the moment, only trains.

OP posts:

noddyholder · 11/07/2011 11:38

We viewed a house last week that would have been out of our £ if not on a main road. We loved it and spent a fair bit of time inside and even within 20 mins the noise seemed less intrusive! We only rejected it because we had an offer accepted on another.Not anything like yours though in size! I think it would probably be fine. How long have the current people had it?

rocksox · 11/07/2011 11:39

We ended up in a completely different county - same commuting time into London but even less house for your money!

Before I run, I'd also mention maintenance costs on a house that size/age. Not sure what you're moving from, so you may be aware of this, but houses that old can cost a fortune to maintain. Doesn't look like it's listed though which is a big plus.

paddypoopants · 11/07/2011 11:41

It looks like a wonderful house but if there are lorries that use the road regularly it does look very close to the house and garden- plus you are on a bend and near a junction - I know from experience that this makes the traffic noise so much worse with people accelerating away. If it's quiet where you are now it will probably bother you and your dh will not be happy. We rejected loads of lovely houses because of road noise. Our first flat was a Georgian flat in Edinburgh and there were loads of vibration when buses and lorries went past and it wasn't even on a busy road.

piprabbit · 11/07/2011 11:41

Your DH is right that it is an awful lot of money - but as you say, no house is entirely perfect.

You are already limiting your options because of your budget, the fact you want to stay in the village, the fact you want an older house.

It seems to me that there needs to be compromise somewhere along the line. Find more money, look in different villages, buy a newer house or (just possibly) agree to tolerate some road noise. You need to work with your DH to prioritise exactly what you are looking for in a house.

ivykaty44 · 11/07/2011 11:47

Noise is only one issue with a main road - there is exhaust fumes which will make the house harder to keep clean - think windows and sills, there will be occasional crashes and check what the household insurance would be and the motor insurance - as it maybe higher than other properties

OpusProSerenus · 11/07/2011 11:50

It looks gorgeous!

My brothers and I grew up in a cul-de-sac on a 60s estate so very little traffic and now all live on A roads and none of us notice it!

I did notice it at first but, as someone else said, A roads often go very quiet at night anyway and you do get used to it. The owners before us had the front garden done and immediately next to the front wall planted one row of privet hedge then right next to that a row of lilacs then the flower bed. Now the lilacs have spread and grown because I'm too lazy to cut them back I think they, and the hedges down each side, block a lot of noise.

Ephiny · 11/07/2011 11:52

Good point about exhaust fumes etc, and if you have young children (or cats/dogs) you'd have to consider the safety issues of a fast road right outside your door.

I can see why OP is torn on this, as it's such a lovely house, but personally I'd want it to be absolutely perfect for that money (which is a lot to me anyway).

ivykaty44 · 11/07/2011 11:56

what is it like sat outside the house at 7 .45am in the mor

Original poster

irregularegular · 11/07/2011 12:01

noddyholder - they have been there since the early 1970s! I imagine the road has got steadily worse over that time.

I take the point about fumes etc - safety I'm not worried about - the garden is big enough and the children old enough (9 and 7) for that not really to be an issue, I think.

OP posts:

CalamityKate · 11/07/2011 12:02

When I left my xDH, I moved into a caravan at a friend's yard. It was in the middle of nowhere and dead quiet.

I saved up and bought my first flat on a busy road and didn't sleep for a week.

Then I got used to it.

You do get used to it.

CointreauVersial · 11/07/2011 12:03

Ooh, beautiful house.

That isn't what I'd call a "busy road". I agree with the poster who suggested you stand outside it in the evening to see how busy it is then.

Also, there must be some plusses with being near a busy road. Transport links? Accessibility to shops/village centre?? Being in the middle of nowhere is not always great if you have older kids.

We lived for several years about 200metres from a busy dual carriageway - you could only hear the hum if you listened out for it, and not at all in the house, and after a while I became totally immune to it.

I always said that the next house would be somewhere silent, but, guess what? We found our current place, absolutely perfect, loads of room, nice village, but you can hear the M25! It was a compromise, but we would never have been able to afford this house if it were anywhere else, and we needed the space.

Drag your DH along to see it.

noddyholder · 11/07/2011 12:03

I think men are worse about this tbh. My dp was most put off whereas all the fireplaces and quirky bits of the house we were looking at and its over all style wooed me and the noise became less of an issue. Whereas dp spent most of the viewing with his ears pricked up! What is the difference between that and a similar priced house in a quieter location in terms of size etc and meeting your needs?

Butterbur · 11/07/2011 12:09

It's a lovely house, but I wouldn't buy it. For that money, surely you can find something that meets both your requirements.

Imagine not being able to open windows on a boiling hot day because of traffic noise. Or never having peace and quiet in your lovely garden, free from the roar of engines. It's not just cars, but lorries, emergency vehicles and their sirens, motor bikes, road works...

You might find the house hard to sell too.

I've lived in London, and you put up with it there, but one of the joys of moving to the country is getting some quiet.

poppyandsneeze · 11/07/2011 12:15

I didn't get used to the road noise, when I was younger we lived in really rural area. I was used to the peace and quiet. We purchased out of town, where road noise wasn't really a problem and had good window.

Then when we moved from Wales to England, we purchased in what we thought was a semi rural area to have a main road just at the back of garden. Couldn't stand the constant truck noise and constant stream of traffic. It only got quiet on Sunday morning or late in the evening and was worst in the wet weather.

We sold quickly and rented in a quiet rural area and purchased our new house in a really quiet area. I couldn't cope with the noise !!! I was the one home all day long with the children and it really irritated me in the garden with them.

Fizzylemonade · 11/07/2011 12:20

We live next to a park and you want to hear the racket birds make at 3am with their dawn chorus

Used to wake us up for weeks! Now we don't notice it.

With road noise I think I would be wondering what time it starts and what time it finishes. Is it a route lorries take, does the house rumble and shake when they go past?

Noise per se isn't a concern, and to be honest you would get used to it. Looked on google street view and there are lots of houses on the road edge so you wouldn't be alone.

When we stay at our friends in London, I can't help but notice the planes going overhead to Heathrow, but after a couple of days I don't notice it.

Original poster

irregularegular · 11/07/2011 12:21

Cointreau - sadly, it's further away from the village centre (school/trains/shops) than we are now, but I think it's close enough, that's not really the sticking point.

Noddyholder - the estate agent say they would market our current house at the same price (though I think they are being optimistic to persuade us...). Our house is quite a bit smaller - not much more than 2000 square feet (not sure exactly). To be fair though, we don't really need that much extra space. The issue is more the layout - 2 beds upstairs, 2 downstairs (with no bathroom upstairs). It's pretty, very individual - it was a small Victorian staff cottage, but gained a very large, striking oak/glass extension. So it has charm but nowhere near the depth of period character. It's also quite challenging to extend as it is already such an odd shape! The garden is just slightly smaller, but there is a shared drive and little parking. It's in more up to date decorative order!

So we'd be giving up quiet (and more central location) and all in basically good order for a lot bigger, more character, better layout.

OP posts:

PinkSpottyBag · 11/07/2011 12:24

Is this a forever home or a fixer upper to make some cash? If you are planning on spending 30 years there raising your family definately with some thoughtful planting you could bounce the noise and who knows what diversions or road redirections would be put into place over the course of the next 30 or so years.

As a fixer upper to turn and make a profit I would give it a lot more thought as a lot of people are put off by road noise.

Original poster

irregularegular · 11/07/2011 12:25

PinkSpotty - forever home, definitely.

On the other hand, it could get worse...

OP posts:

PinkSpottyBag · 11/07/2011 12:42

Has it been on the market for a bit or just come on?

If it has been on for a bit then surely dear couple are looking to downsize to something smaller so how about a swap with yours as you mentioned I think you had 2 downstairs bedrooms so maybe perfect for an older couple ?

Or Asking price - £how much it would cost to do some effective soft landscaping to bounce the road noise.

Road noise for me would be a deal breaker, we have looked at a couple of houses recently and rejected 2 on the basis of road alone and they were glorious.

Although I have found the dream house with land but just need to perform some massive hoop jumping to get it.

I am not really coming up with anything concrete just bouncing ideas, sorry!

Original poster

irregularegular · 11/07/2011 12:49

Hello again Pink - bouncing ideas is good!

Just on the market - they have had an offer accepted in a smaller, modern house if the village, quite a bit cheaper than ours, so I think that's a non-starter, sadly.

I don't really know what kind of soft landscaping to bounce road noise you mean, please expand...

Good luck with your hoop jumping!

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