2 bedroom detached house with a garage or 3 bed terraced without?

[lookingforhome]

Hi all kind mumsnetters. We are looking for our first family home (2 adults and 2 children), and am thinking of it as forever home - I hate the stress of moving.

We have 2 options in the same area, where houses do not come up too often: 2 bedroom detached town house with a garage. Slightly cheaper.
3 bedroom terraced house without a garage. Would be slightly stretching our budget, but still within.

3 bedroom sounds fantastic, however the first thing I think about is storage! Bikes, scooters, paints, gardening tools, buckets, christmas tree, shoes, toys etc. At the moment I keep many things in the shed and although nothing is permanently damaged, it is damp and cold.

Then I think how I could convert the back of the garage to keep all this stuff and make a nice tiled mud room/utility room and get excited!

Please tell me if I am crazy or not.

I think my boys would be OK to share the room permanently, as they are now, but I may be so wrong!

Actually the lack of attic space in any of these properties would be what I'd miss.

If you feel more comfortable budget wise with the 2 bedrooms then you should go for that.

However, if You have the money I would go for the 3 bedrooms. It means you'll have more options later on- the boys can have their own rooms or you can use it for storage, or for people to stay etc. Also with the 3 bed house, the rooms are all slightly larger and the extra toilet may come in very handy.

Yes, just noticed the flat roofs, I would struggle without an attic.

I think the last one is the nicest. But they are not all a million miles apart so I'd say look at your budget and how comfortably each property sits within it.

After seeing both houses I'd also like to change my answer to the three bed. The two bed looks lovely but cramped and with four people living there it would be very tight. The three bed has an extra bathroom, too, which would be a big plus with four people.

Thanks it is nice not to boil in my own mind all the time and hear other opinions.

ILikeBirds the property in your link is virtually the same space as my 2 bed option and no balcony (not good). The 3rd bedroom is cut off from a living room space. Originally is 2 bed. I would consider if it had a balcony.

We do not use attic in our current (rented) house, and the attic would definitely become a dumping ground for me. So I am not bothered about semi-flat roof.

I have the budget for 3 bed, but thinking of monthly expenses I am worried about the extra upkeep for the garden, i.e. fencing, sheds, plants, extra security etc. On the other hand, a terraced house should be cheaper to heat.

Here is a similar 2 bed house converted to 3 bed: here
It could work for us...

I would go for the three bed. Garages can be as cold and damp as a shed. my FIL always discouraged us from buying houses with integral garages as they can encourage damp in the house (he was a planning officer for the council for many years).

Our garage was converted into a utility room and dining room. Don't miss it at all. We have a shed and an attic. Personally, I would go for more space/bedrooms.

The last one you just linked to is very nice.

I also liked the third one you linked.

Actually think I would like to change from the 2 bed to the 3 now, having seen them. Good luck with the move btw!

SchmaltzingMatilda hmrr they do congregate somewhere.... the 2 bed is probably under the garages and the 3 bed ... no idea to be honest. But they do not have guttering.

The 3 bed link is saying sold STC in the corner, btw!

I would go for the 3 bed, the second bedroom in the 2 bed house looks like a single, your boys might be ok with that now but perhaps not as teens!

I'd go for a detached every time as it can be a nightmare hearing neighbours thru the party wall. You might have to give your sons the larger of the two bedrooms as it seems on the small side. Having a garage is so handy for storage and can be a good asset/selling point later down the line.

The 3 bed seems to be sold sts so I guess if the sale falls thru it might give you the option to come in with a more comfortable price?

Yes I linked a "sold" property because couldn't manage to link the unsold one, however is it very similar to this one.

SchmaltzingMatilda thanks but I am not sure what you mean by people congregating outside and the house that you linked is in a completely different area and I am not keen on old...

Out of those two I much prefer the 3 bed house.

It says that both are terraced though?

If I'm being completely honest neither are wowing me especially aesthetically from the outside. I much prefer the others suggested. What is it about those that you like and maybe we can all help with the search? It sounds as though you're not sold on either. IMO you should love a house if you're prepared to buy it!

Within 0 miles of Shirley Croydon (I don't know the area so don't know if these are near your others)

m.rightmove.co.uk/quickPage.html?page=8&cc=html5/homepage.html?pid=35208373&goto=RESALE_PROPERTY_DETAILS#gallery

m.rightmove.co.uk/quickPage.html?page=8&cc=html5/homepage.html?pid=35208373&goto=RESALE_PROPERTY_DETAILS#gallery

m.rightmove.co.uk/quickPage.html?page=8&cc=html5/homepage.html?pid=35208373&goto=RESALE_PROPERTY_DETAILS#gallery

Apparently you can't link from right move on iPhone Urgh!