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Awful house, great location or great house, awful location?

125 replies

morningpaper · 24/01/2014 15:38

I can't decide....

I know it's supposed to be location location location ... But can I bear to live in a fugly house?!?

Help me!!

OP posts:
RCheshire · 24/01/2014 16:14

I'd never want to be at either extreme, i.e. 'all' location or all house. Most people end up somewhere inbetween?

morningpaper · 24/01/2014 16:23

Can't afford the in between... Booo

Both good for schools

Fugly house also in town - will never need to ferry children

God it's FUGLY though

OP posts:
LexieSinclair · 24/01/2014 16:26

I live in a fugly house in a fab location. It's so fugly DH refused to view it when we were buying. 8 years on we have made it nice inside and we don't notice the exterior. But still appreciate the location.

myron · 24/01/2014 16:42

Location over space for me but it's different priorities for different people. It took 18+mths of house hunting until a house in the right location came up. Within that time span, we converted from wanting a house with minimal work to purchasing one which required complete renovation.

Lagoonablue · 24/01/2014 16:50

I think it looks fine! I quite like 70s stuff though. Not beautiful but not ugly.

Location every time btw

PancakeTuesday · 24/01/2014 16:50

Would you have some cash left over to make it less fugly?

We bought the ugliest house on the street, but the location is ace. I had sort of the same dilemma, but looking back we would have been extremely stupid not to take it.

We have almost made it as pretty as it can be, and when the front windows are replaced and the whole thing painted it will look acceptable.
Our views are great Grin

I'd always go for location again. Not having to ferry kids around is great!

puzi · 24/01/2014 16:51

Location. Just moved into a house in our preferred location after nearly moving to a much fancier place miles from anything. So, so thankful we didn't go for the fancy place...

puzi · 24/01/2014 16:53

Also, mid century design is very 'in' at the moment - just take a look at any interior design magazine. 'Fugly' 70s houses may become very desirable in future.

tethersend · 24/01/2014 16:56

You'll only see the outside of the house a few times a day.

You'll be inside the house most of the time, so view from the house is more important.

Mind you, I like 70s houses too.

Mamafratelli · 24/01/2014 16:59

Is the other house a similar size etc. how bad is the bad location. I'll be honest, that house is fugly but you already know that Grin

secretscwirrels · 24/01/2014 17:00

I have huge wonderful house in a village at the back of beyond. It's not a bad location but I would love to move the house. Been here 28 years and have done much ferrying about of children.

Lovecat · 24/01/2014 17:02

Oh my, that is truly FUGLY .

What are the room sizes like inside? If they're decently proportioned I'd go for it.

I live in a beautiful, spacious Victorian terrace in a road that was mildy rundown 24 years ago (bastard estate agents telling us it was up & coming mutter mutter) but has steadily become a BTL-ridden shithole ever since while all the 'naice' areas around it that we could also have afforded have remained 'naice' and are now financially out of our reach. I would always go for location in the future.

Creamycoolerwithcream · 24/01/2014 17:02

I'd go for the fugally house in great location mainly to avoid all the ferrying around. We just moved from somewhere where he had to drive everywhere to a place which has so much you can walk to within 5 minutes and I feel like I am getting so much more out of life. Now the DC are teenager they can meet friends easily and DH and I can walk to the pub for meal and both be able to drink.

morningpaper · 24/01/2014 17:03

The other house is a nice detected modern big house. Nice n shiny.

This is a lot cheaper. We would have money for fun interior stuff.

It is a monstrosity though

Hmmmmmmmmmm I am just not sure what to do!!!!

OP posts:
morningpaper · 24/01/2014 17:04

Detached
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OP posts:
Creamycoolerwithcream · 24/01/2014 17:05

Is the other one bigger inside or does it just look bigger from the outside?

Bunbaker · 24/01/2014 17:08

How awful is the location of the nice house?

Is it because it doesn't have great views or because the area is crime ridden, run down and has awful schools?

Usually I would say location every time, but your opinion on the houses seem to be a little extreme. The "ugly" house isn't as ugly as you make out, so I wonder if the area of the other house is as awful as you say.

You need to look into the future and decide how easy it is going to be to sell in a few years time, and what schools you want your children to go to.

fluterby · 24/01/2014 17:08

We went for awful house, good location (well in catchment). It does get me down but I guess we'll move when we don't need to be in catchment.

We used to live in a house exactly like that in an awful location. They're quite nice and spacious and cheap to run. Very little maintenance. We could hear the dad next door snoring at night, but he was so nice we didn't mind.

Bowlersarm · 24/01/2014 17:10

I would rather have a detached.over a terrace. But how bad is the bad location?

DontmindifIdo · 24/01/2014 17:11

What's the inside like? If it's nice (or could be made nice for non-ruinous amounts of money) then go for fugly house with great views - you will spend much more of your life on the inside of the house looking out or in the garden looking in the direction of the views, than looking at the front of your house.

If you go for pretty house in crap place you will be lowering the quality of your life for the majority of the time in order to improve it for the 3-5 minutes each day you drive up to your house, unload the car and walk into the house. Is a much lower quality of overall life for maximum 5 minutes improvement?

give it 12 months and you wont notice the outside of the house anymore when you pull up in the car, it will never make your heart sing, but soon it won't make it shudder. And the views might make your heart sing if the are good enough...

fussychica · 24/01/2014 17:14

Sod the house - I could never live in a lousy area. If the area is ok then fine I'd be more picky about the house.

Pumpkin567 · 24/01/2014 17:16

Did you say it was less ugly at the back? That's more important as you will look at the back when in the garden.

Location every time!

I live in a very nice house, however i have a house in view that is stunningly beautiful. I often though yes I'll buy that next. I went to view it and it looked at some ugly houses ( I can't see) I was very dissapointed! Very!

Kirsty is right.

MrsAMerrick · 24/01/2014 17:38

we live in fugly 1960s house in lovely village, beautiful lane, but close to great schools and amenities.
We have also recently built an extension and now have a beautiful kitchen at the back of the house.
Location every time for me.

LondonGirl83 · 24/01/2014 17:42

Location.

specialsubject · 24/01/2014 17:48

you live in and can't see the outside!

obvious, isn't it?