Ooh I've just seen two lovely flats today! Flat 1 is very modern, and needs nothing doing to it, smaller flat (1300sq ft) and a small garden but 10 minute walk to school with nice-ish shops surrounding. It's a nicer part of town. Has 1 big room and 2 smaller rooms which works well when kids outgrow sharing but they will be cramped till then. It's share of freehold.
Flat 2 doesn't need loads of work doing, just a few bits, but was last refurbished about 15 years ago. It's still in decent condition. Has an amazingly mahoozive garden with an orchard and has lots more character than flat 1. But 25 minute walk to school (slightly less on public transport) and is in a very nice street in a not so nice part of town. Also the garden back onto train tracks, and you can hear the trains from the living room and kids room, but not master room. Has 2 big rooms and 1 small room so may be an issue when kids outgrow sharing... And it's leasehold (100y left)
I fell in love with flat 2 because of its character but wonder if the distance from school and train noise will be issues? And of course divvying up rooms will be tough as kids get older..