aside from "the feeling", how do you know you've found the right house?

[JumpingJackSprat]

We have viewed all the houses in the town we are aiming to move to and have found one we like. We both came out saying "wow we love it" but aside from that. .. It doesn't tick all the boxes in that is near a school and looks like parking might be an issue as it's on a pretty busy Road. On the plus side its a few minutes walk from the town, the school is a good one and the house is gorgeous. I was having some wobbles today though on what we can compromise on.

Just wondering really how did you know which house to buy? !

It's rare that a house ticks all the boxes. Have a hard think about what is possible in your area. Where we live, the houses near the best schools and near the park (both high up on our priority list) all have small gardens. Even with an unlimited budget our dream house didn't actual exist in our preferred micro location.

Make a list and see if everything you want can actually exist in one house. Then ask if you can get everything for your budget. Think about what else you could buy in budget and if the compromise you'd have to make for this house makes you sadder than what else you could buy and potentially compromise on.

It's always hard to know what compromise you can live with but most people compromise on something.

Good luck!

I viewed a few times, with head, with heart and at different times of day. You have to be able to see yourself living there doing your day to day business and knowing 6 months down the line you'll still be ok with the compromises you may have made.

We started to mentally furnish it on our first viewing! Thats how we knew. 2 years on and everything it where I saw it in my own mind

My house ticked all boxes but I did not fell for it.
5 years on, it still ticks boxes, but still there is no "forever house" feeling (otherwise it could be a forever house).

I guess I have discovered that I love awkward architecture, and this one is just not "me". But when I bought it was important to be able to sell it quick, so just bought what I thought would sell quick.

Parking is important, but see if you could get that elsewhere and within your budget. If you love it, that is one major plus already.

We had some key criteria (school catchment etc) but saw a couple of houses that met all the important criteria.

The house we have gone for isn't as freshly decorated as some we saw but it just felt perfect - we fell in love with it straight away and it just felt like we were supposed to live there. Standing at the kitchen sink looking out the window was the moment when I knew we had to go for it! It just felt like a lovely family home.

Yes we need to do some painting, and the kitchen isn't as new as my current kitchen, but in every other way it is perfect.

Can't wait until we can finally move in!!

Some interesting points to consider Thanks everyone. Ithink we might have made a mistake offering on this one as I'm not feeling excited about getting the call saying the offer is accepted and am still trawling right move and have seen another one I've missed that isn't as polished or lovely as the one we have offered on but I think I should still see it. I guess if I having doubts now we should probably withdraw the offer but the trouble is dp absolutely loves it.

my take on it is that there mustn't be a but, as in 'great house, but...'

also if you would prefer it to be the one down the road, it isn't the place for you.

if in doubt, don't - there will always be another house.

We had a list of priorities - things that were absolutely non-negotiable, strong preferences, and things we could do without if the other things were ticked. On top of that there also has to be some sort of excitement about the place, it worries me a little that you already feel you've made a mistake. Definitely keep looking & chat with your DP to work out why you each feel so differently about it.

I think you both have to love it.
We are 3 months into our new forever house. We first put an offer in on another house but for me doubts started to set in quite quickly. I really tried to overcome them as DH was so excited but eventually a few weeks down the line we had a heart to heart and pulled out. I felt awful that we had messed someone around.
However we went on to find "the one" and we are so happy here, both of us.

We only put the offer in a couple of days ago. I spoke to him today and I think dp is disappointed but he agreed to us withdrawing the offer. The vendor hasn't accepted - he was trying to squeeze some more money out of us as our offer was narrowly better than a cash buyer so we thought we are probably better off out of it anyway. Ive got two more to look at thanks for helping me focus everyone.

Our offer on a house was accepted & then the vendor changed the price! Instead of being disappointed I found myself relieved! I had some niggling doubts which I couldn't put a finger on but I was glad to be out of it anyways. You got to listen to your gut feel & go with it.

Thanks artistic - we went with my gut in the end and withdrew the offer - and the next day i viewed our perfect house and we have had an offer accepted. If he hadn't messed about with us on the first place we wouldn't have looked at any more so it's his loss and definitely our gain.

Jumping - that's great! I hope this works out quickly for you.