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Original poster

Big house with tiny garden - would you buy?

59 replies

hattyyellow · 23/12/2013 16:04

We are rapidly running out of space in current home. Have seen a house in a nearby village, just in our price range, with so much space. But a tiny garden, half of which is filled with driveway (although it's a really quiet rural village, off street parking really not an issue so you could lawn it a bit more..)

DH grew up with small house and big garden - we grew up with bigger house and small garden - never bothered me as we had open land nearby to run around on. How do you reconcile these different things? We have a good relationship, but this is starting to strain it a bit - as we are squished in to our current place and can't afford a bigger place with a big garden..I work from home which currently means sitting at kitchen table when kids are at school and then sitting on our bed when they're at home as we can't fit a table in our bedroom!

Sorry this is two questions in one! But really interested to hear any views. I've booked a viewing for this one, hoping it might win him over...

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 23/12/2013 16:16

I've got a house with a massive garden. To be honest its a pita and we only use a fraction of it. A third of it is taken over by veg plots and a massive chicken run. I came over all The Good Life when we moved in but the last few years the veg plots have been full of weeds and I won't be replacing the chickens.

So then we have loads of grass that just needs mowing. We do have a large trampoline for dd which she uses a lot but apart from the trampoline she's never really used the garden.

Maybe different if you have footie mad DC? But I reckon as long as you can sit outside there's enough space.

magpieC · 23/12/2013 16:17

How old are the kids and what kind of other outdoor space is there nearby?

noddyholder · 23/12/2013 16:18

It would be my ideal!

JRmumma · 23/12/2013 16:19

Yes, we hardly ever use the garden anyway. If i lived somewhere warmer id want outside space though

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 23/12/2013 16:20

yup

Floralnomad · 23/12/2013 16:20

When you say small garden ,how small is small ( sizes please) ,the other issue might be resale .

Bowlersarm · 23/12/2013 16:21

How tiny is tiny, and are your DC's outdoorsy children?

We have a huge garden, and I swear that two of my DSes haven't been in half of it as they just aren't interested in playing out there. DH and I have discovered after moving from our house with a postage stamp garden that neither of us are remotely interested in gardening.

A tiny garden sounds quite appealing to me!

Original poster
hattyyellow · 23/12/2013 16:24

Thanks all, DC are 5-8 years. They are outdoorsy but there is a playground 5 mins walk away and then fields and footpaths leading on from that..

Don't have measurements on property details - but you could fit one big car on the gravelled driveway bit and then there is a grass area about the same size which is covered by a large garden shed. At the moment we have a much bigger outdoor space, but of course not enough indoors!

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mistlethrush · 23/12/2013 16:25

Also, the orientation of the garden is important to think about - would you be able to chase the sun (or the shad) with a chair and table at the right times of day? (I can breakfast on the patio near our back door and move so a small patio near the bottom for late afternoon)

Floralnomad · 23/12/2013 16:27

I wouldn't then if its that small , what about if the kids want a trampoline . Playgrounds and footpaths are ok but you do have to commit to going with them .

Original poster
hattyyellow · 23/12/2013 16:29

Good point mistlethrush, will try and figure out where sun sets and how much sun it gets at the viewing - I think it's to the side the garden bit, not quite clear from the details..

OP posts:
Kikibee · 23/12/2013 16:30

Don't forget hanging out washing in the summer, have you got space and privacy to do that?

biryani · 23/12/2013 16:34

I never go in my garden. If you've got enough for a trampoline and somewhere to put out your washing perhaps that's enough? If you've got youngish kids check out the local parks before making a decision.

Original poster
hattyyellow · 23/12/2013 16:34

Hmm, good point. Although the inside is probably big enough to have a ceiling clothes airer thing..

can you easily take down and put up those spin around outside washing things?

OP posts:
Lottie4 · 23/12/2013 16:37

Might depend on whether you have boys or girls, but my daughter is 12 now and hasn't been interested in the garden for a good couple of years, so if it's the house for you long term then perhaps you don't need to worry about the garden as the children may soon outgrow it. As long as you have some space for sitting outside in the summer if you would want to do that. As you say there's a play area closeby and you can go for walks/play over the fields.

One thing I personally would be more concerned about, if it's a village, what facilities are closeby as the children grow up. If there's not a guaranteed regular bus service, will you be happy to drive them everywhere to met up with friends, also think about school buses to comprehensive schools which will be on the council's website.

mistlethrush · 23/12/2013 16:38

'easily' is an 'interesting' word. You can certainly collapse them and put a cover on them so that they're just a vertical post...

Original poster
hattyyellow · 23/12/2013 16:40

Village has much better facilities than our current one which has err nothing but houses. New village has pub, school, playground, doctors, shop etc. Much more going on. DH's concern is that he grew up with huge fields around their house and he wants to be able do gardening as DC get older - so garden size is as much about him wanting outdoor space as about DC needing it..

OP posts:
FuckyNell · 23/12/2013 16:41

Attach one of these to the side of the house. Sorted!

Original poster
hattyyellow · 23/12/2013 16:42

Ooh. Very clever!

OP posts:
MrsCampbellBlack · 23/12/2013 16:44

I wouldn't want an enormous garden but do like a reasonable size space. That garden does sound pretty tiny and it would put me off.

Original poster
hattyyellow · 23/12/2013 16:48

I think that's why it hasn't sold..but so much space inside! .

OP posts:
lade · 23/12/2013 16:50

If it is a safe village, and children can go to the park, then a small garden wouldn't necessarily bother me.

I have a small garden (but big enough for a rotary washing line and 8ft trampoline + bit of grass). But my children (10 and 7) never go into the back garden, because when they are home (and it is dry), they're out playing in the street / at the park with friends. They've been doing that for at least a year now (that is the norm around here, nice safe rural village).

But only you can decide whether it would bother you. If your DH wants to garden, are there allotments in your village? I know lots of people round here have them, and that seems a good compromise to me.

Certainly, it would put some people off your house, but I dare say the small garden is reflected in the price, and others (including myself) would be put off by a large garden. I personally, would never buy a house with a big garden, so I don't think it's one of those things that universally puts people off (like living on a main road say).

SantasPelvicFloor · 23/12/2013 16:53

I read vivalebeavers post and thought she was me. Big gardens are great...but I spend too much time working in it rather than enjoying it. When I say working I don't mean pleasant gardening. I mean back breaking hedge cutting, hour long lawn mow

I'd actively choose a small but sunny one now

SootikinAndSweep · 23/12/2013 16:56

If there is some outside space I'd go for it. We have a garden that's an OK size but we don't do anything in it except BBQs in good weather.

YoungBritishPissArtist · 23/12/2013 17:03

Enough space in your house is far more important than a sizeable garden. If you did move, I assume you'd stay there for a few years?

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