So talk me through the pros and cons of buying a bungalow???

[VirtuousVamp]

If you are not retired or with restricted mobility, would you consider one??

It really doesn't bother me but DH is having more trouble getting his head around the idea and round here that removes a huge proportion of available properties!!

So what's the general consensus on MN. Steer clear of them as they are the last stop before heaven or do they provide light, airy, versatile rooms on a large plot.......?????

Can you tell what I think???

I would love to buy a bungalow but round here a 2 bed bungalow is double the price of a 4 bed detached its insane. There are loads of bungalows too its not like they are in short supply.

We live in a bungalow, and are a long way from retirement!

But we are in a street of mixed houses; I probably wouldn't have been so keen if it had been in a road of bungalows, because, yes, you do find the typical demographic to be a little more mature. In other words, judge the house on its own merits, location-wise.

The plus sides are (yes) big plot, and no running upstairs to loo/bedrooms etc. Easy to clean the windows too. But check the layoit, as you don't want bedrooms too close to living room/kitchen, or you'll spend every evening tiptoeing about and whispering. We have the DC's rooms on a separate corridor, which is handy.

My friend has a bungalow as she thinks not having a first floor means she's less likely to die in a fire.

I, however, can't sleep if I'm on the ground floor - I'm always scared by how easily someone could be spying in.

So, there's two weird and totally unhelpful pros and cons.

We bought a bungalow and then had a loft conversion done to give a first floor.

Plus sides to the standard bungalow was ease of access to each room if you tend to dash around before leaving.

Downsides are you soon get out of climbing stairs. It shouldn't make a difference when you are early 30s but no matter how far and fast you straight line walk there are different muscles at work.

Some people say you get more spiders in a bungalow but we haven't found that to be true.

I love our bungalow! Lovely large plot, everything close together, easy for maintenance. The only disadvantage, as someone says upthread, that the kitchen is opposite ds's bedroom door and we have to be quiet while he's dropping off. Once he's asleep it's fine. My crawling 10 month old loves it !

Bungalows often have larger plots, all round for example. Ground size wise you could be better off. Secondly, loft conversions are obviously possible, or build top floor yourselves. Equally what's different to a flat except you won't suffer some heavy footed moron you don't know moving in above you?

I like bungalows. Can be great investment.

We live in a bungalow and love it! We are late 30s with DDs 4 and 2. It's so practical and easy to live in. We have high ceilings and open-plan living area so it feels very spacious. Love not having to run up and down the stairs all the time.

I was dead set against them til we spent a Christmas at BIL and SILs when we all had small DCs. It was just so easy. From then on I was converted!

I can imagine that when the DC are teenagers that we might wish we had a bit more space in between us, but their bedrooms are situated away from the main living area so I think we'll cope!

We've got a Bungalow and love it. Echo everyone else re layout. We have had an extension so our lounge/diner is at the back and kitchen in the middle and bedrooms at the front. We are on a quiet street of mixed houses.

Plus points - Easy maintanence
Bigger plots
Kids can play in bedrooms but you can still keep an eye on them

Negatives - Toys seem to get everywhere (but this happened in my house with stairs)

In addition to points above.

Hoover doesn't need to be lugged up stairs. All lugging easier!
Deliveries to all rooms easy.
Repairs/painting/window cleaning to house easy.

I live overseas where bungalows are the norm. I was also a bit anti them but now having lived in one I love it.

The layout works brilliantly with young kids, no rushing up and down stairs and we get more use out of the bedrooms as they are so accessible. I'm happy for my now DS4 to sit and watch TV in the lounge whilst I have a lie in as he can call us easily and we can hear him. It feels more spacious as we have a hallway that runs sat the bedroom and opens up into the open plan lounge area.

Gardens also tend to be larger as the run the width of the bungalow. We do have a big roof which seems to always be leaking somewhere.

I think when our kids are a bit older we may move to a house as they are likely to want friends over and we may want to get away from them. Our lounge is next door to one of the bedrooms currently.

I'm not sure we could easily convert it as we'd have lose a bedroom to get a staircase in which kind of defeats the purpose somewhat so bear that in mind.

You can make them amazing with a bit of imagination.

Love ours- easy to extend too - either up or along. Usually have a big hall which is great for indoor football with a foam ball, or for Nerf gun wars!

I grew up in a country of bungalows-it is bizarre to read the things people say about them! It meant I always longed to live in a house with stairs though (exotic). Have now had stairs for years and think I'd prefer to be in a bungalow again, for all the reasons mentioned.

My parents looked at a bungalow but all of the windows had a tiny opening - not a fire-escape in the whole place. It wasn;t the deciding 'No' but they'd have had to replace them all the first week in, and then redecorate/repair every room.

Balance between fire escape windows, especially bedrooms, and small aperture/trickle vent for hot summer nights. It can be done of course.

Thank you everyone

Some good points!!

Not heard the spiders one!! But the fire and downstairs bedrooms I have considered!

Pleased to hear there are other youngish ones who like bungalow living! The one we've seen needs bringing into the 21at century but I loved it. Need to convinced DH now.....!

MIL has conkers in the corners of the rooms in her bungalow as apparently that deters them. You can even buy conker spray but since you can pick up new conkers for free...

*for spiders

Love our bungalow, large plot, easy maintenance, can clean the windows myself, large walkabout loft.

Would definately get a bungalow again.

I put conkers by all my doors but the squirrels ate them! Have them in in my 'twig and stuff' bowl now. I though we got giant spiders as we live facing farm fields.

To be fair our current semi detached house has a huge amount of spiders so can't really envisage there being many more possible......!

Our first home bought in our 20s was a bungalow and we've had several since, including our current home. DS lived in a house for the first time at Uni. If they're detached, as all ours have been, it means a lovely wide garden.

We love them - bedrooms can be dining rooms/playrooms/reception rooms, whatever you want. Highly recommended for all the reasons given already. Not heard about the spider thing - never had an issue.

Oooh good point about not having an upstairs to hide away clutter but that may be good for me!!

Oooh I really want this house but DH won't make a decision as there is too much unknown in our life at mo.......!

Crystal ball anyone???

My sister lives in a bungalow for 12 years she loves it though my neice had to get used to doing stairs when she went high school

Yes the losing stair climbing muscles is an interesting one I hadn't considered???

Perhaps a tree house in the garden with steps up would work as an alternative....?

Thanks again all

Do we get to see this bungalow?
I would have been more than willing to live in one last time we were house hunting but it was not to be.