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Original poster

Two completely different houses - please help me choose!

94 replies

CocoNutter · 02/03/2013 21:29

I'm going round in circles.... DH and I finally viewed the houses we've been drooling over on Rightmove today. Narrowed our three down to two because DH refused point blank to live in one which is a shame as it was the biggest . Both are detached.

House 1: on at £190k. 1960s 3 bed, lounge, dining kitchen, study, garage, reasonable garden. Bedrooms roughly same size as our current ones, kitchen a bit smaller, lounge bigger. Would want to extend (though planning office says no to two storeys). Lovely condition. Very practical and could move in straight away though would need some sort of extension or move in long run.

House 2: on at £250k. 1930s 3 bed, lounge diner, galley kitchen, downstairs wc, sun room. 3rd bedroom smaller than our current 3rd bedroom. Lovely views and stunning, huge garden. Lounge a bit smaller than ours. Planning permission for rear extension to give big kitchen (expires soon but could get it again I imagine). We'd want to make this a two-storey extension as we'd need an extra bedroom. Could be our forever house with work. Wouldn't be able to afford extension for some years though.

DH has fallen head over heels for house 2. I am so confused!! Please give me your opinions! Can link later if that helps (on phone now).

OP posts:
Tangfasticlady · 02/03/2013 22:59

Another vote for house number 2.

Dillydollydaydream · 02/03/2013 23:00

Really like house 2

Talkinpeace · 02/03/2013 23:01

2 : not decorated to my taste, but has potential and character and that garden

1 : soulless and zilch garden

ElizaBecca · 02/03/2013 23:04

Number 2, so much more potential, lovely outdoor private space and loads of character

Viviennemary · 02/03/2013 23:04

I think on the whole house number 2 is a better buy in the long run. But house one seems to be really good value for money. But house 2 much better garden and will increase more when house prices do eventually increase. And more character too.

Blu · 02/03/2013 23:07

If money is a big issue and will be for the next few years, House 1 offers the cheapy possibility of turning the garage into your extension / extra bed. It seems a very expensive use of prime space within the house to have that garage. I'm not sure where else you would extend it if they won't allow 2 stories. But the space is good, open and airy - I like 60s houses.

But houe 2 is better, really, for a long term investment. The garden is lovely, it is in a better plot. Nice house.

chocolatemuffintop · 02/03/2013 23:10

Number 2.

Looks like the house I grew up in... Smile

MmeLindor · 02/03/2013 23:12

No 2. Without a doubt.

North facing garden would put me off No 1

ivykaty44 · 02/03/2013 23:13

See I like both houses but house number 1 would win me over. House 2 has not got a garage and the garden is to big (equals far to much work mowing lawn)

StoicButStressed · 02/03/2013 23:14

What they all said re DEF house 2Smile

ivykaty44 · 02/03/2013 23:15

Plus fuel bills will be lower in house number 1

Roseformeplease · 02/03/2013 23:16

2 as 1 is ugly! Sorry.

Bluelightsandsirens · 02/03/2013 23:17

I like number one but the north facing garden would put me off we have this

Number 2 is lovely and has a lot more potential with such a lovely garden.

TerraNotSoFirma · 02/03/2013 23:22

I like house 1.
But I love house 2.

bran · 02/03/2013 23:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Faxthatpam · 02/03/2013 23:32

I would definitely choose 2 if it were me. More potential and much prettier.

MoonlightandRoses · 02/03/2013 23:33

House number 2 - far more potential, can be worked on over time, and, as someone said upthread, the orientation is better too.

Devora · 02/03/2013 23:50

House 2. I like Sixties houses too, but not this one really. House 2 is a house to love, and the long term potential is better.

Original poster
CocoNutter · 02/03/2013 23:53

It's looking like 2 has it... I did always want a white house (yes, really!), and a big garden, and a view of the sea. I suppose if we got all of that and nice big rooms, it'd be way out of our price range. Have told DH I want to really update the interior though (without losing period features)... Hey, it might be nice to do a bit of a project even though I said I never wanted to see another paintbrush again.

Will ring the planning office and see what they say about extension likelihood, then try to work out how much it'd cost. Then make final decision. (I feel I must add in house one's defence that it is really lovely inside and has been very well cared for!)

Thanks for all your replies!

OP posts:
member · 03/03/2013 00:08

2 for me if I could still afford the extension / loft conversion. North facing garden would put me off. Whilst 1 you could live in as it is, there just seems less option for extension

Chippychop · 03/03/2013 00:22

2!!!!! It's so much nicer. There is a reason it's more expensive it's a quality property with great aspect, and room to extend- no contest. Think of the long term investment.

piprabbit · 03/03/2013 00:26

Umm - I might be being really dozy but there seem to be quite a lot of 4 bed homes in your are and price range where someone has already done the extension, is there a reason why you aren't looking at these?

SquinkiesRule · 03/03/2013 00:33

I like the look of house 2 better than 1 but one is a better value if you can extend. I think the outside is a bit ugly compared to house 2

Original poster
CocoNutter · 03/03/2013 00:41

Pip are they detached?

OP posts:
googlenut · 03/03/2013 08:11

House 2 looks better but if you can't do the extension for a while that tiny kitchen would drive me mad!