which house to buy - go with head or heart?

[goodwood]

We have a choice of a house which is in a great location near school, but is a more modern house with less charm and character, or a house with character which means driving to school. Head says go for the practical, convenient choice and heart says go for the other one. What did you do?

I would be inclined to say head, but we have not done it yet.... (renting). Personally I would prefer to be able to walk dc's to school if possible. Am sure I will find myself in the same predicament

Presuming that you already have your child in the school, because if not, you may not get a place if you don't live next to the school!

Are you intending to be there for the forseable? Your child will move on to big school/college/work/uni, etc and you may be left in a house you don't particularly like.

On the other hand, I would hate to have to have driven to and from school every day.

Maybe neither is "the one"?

What about other features like the size of garden, parking, local amenities, are they similar for both houses?

What could you do to both houses? How could you make the modern house more attractive/interesting. Is the older house sound or will there be modernisation needed?

I don't know what I would do, I'm an old house lover, who has managed to find herself in a modern house - its ok. We have found ourselves 'stuck' here now for a god few years at lease so I'm starting to make the house my own, I can't make it old but I can make it luxurious and pretty and I'm starting to build a bit of excitment about the place its only taken me 4 years!

Perhaps bigTillyMint is right and neither is the one.

That would be 'good few' not 'god', and least not lease .

All depends whether it's going to be a long term house or not i.e is this the house you intend to stay in until the DC leave home? - if not, I'll go for the practical house.

Heart, every time, if you can.

We are currently trying to find a house with our heads, because there truly is bugger all on the market around here and we just can't find the "heart" house, and neither of us is happy.

We are quite close to scrapping the current shortlist and starting viewing again (again).

I would go for the one that I could walk to school. I have to drive everyday and it is a pain.

I have done both, lived near enough to the primary school to walk which I did for 4years.

Moved out to an incredible house and now have to drive, but both my children are in the primary so no lugging a pram out of the boot, or wrestling a toddler into a car seat.

Our primary has over 600 children in it, so parking is horrific. I am happy to park a distance away and walk. Other people are not.

What would it be like to drive and park? I had my youngest in nursery there 5 mornings a week so had to make 3 trips daily.

Also once you have collected your children how easy is it to get home? I am very patient so am fine to sit in the traffic created by everyone leaving by the same couple of routes.

Just a thought.

Which house not only suits you now but grows with you?

I would say if it's a 'forever house' then go with your heart but if it's a house you are going to have to sell at some point in the next 10 years then listen to your head.

We bought the head house (in village, small garden, walking distance from shop, doctors, primary and secondary schools, bus route into town but soulless 80s box) rather than the country cottage with nearly enough bedrooms, an acre of garden, 3 greenhouse, orchard but 3 miles from anywhere and the house needed some work.

Eventually we decided we wanted somewhere that the potential future dcs could have some independence like taking themselves to the shop if they wanted ice cream or being able to walk round and see friends. We also wanted walking to be a mode of transport not something that happened on a Sunday afternoon.

5 years on I'm still not in love with the house but its very practical and we're planning lord of work to it over the next year or so and I'm pleased we chose the one we did.

Good luck!

Character isn't everything in the debate between old and new. How well insulated are they? Does the old house have double glazing? Central heating? What form of fuel do the houses use?

Old houses quickly loose their charm if you are permenantly cold in winter and the fuel oil bills are ££££.

How old are DC(s)? What are the options at secondary age (walk / drive / bus from either house?)
Can you walk to shops / park / pool from either house?
How long will school run take? How bad is parking?
Quiet roads (can kids play out)?
I love old houses, but also love being able to walk to school.

Head every time.

We lived in a lovely house in a village for many years but, for me, it became a real pain to have to drive everywhere especially if you want a drink. And as children grow older I would much prefer that they are independent and can walk/cycle to their own activities.

I have a saying in my mind 'a house is only four walls' .

Heart every time! How long is the journey to school? My journey is 13 miles each way and I wouldn't recommend that to anyone. But if the journey was 2 miles each way or similar, I'd think all my christmases had come at once!

very interesting thoughts and think I need to think ahead to see what might be more useful when they are teenagers etc thanks for all your comments