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Original poster

Which house would you prefer?

39 replies

Beaverfeaver2 · 18/04/2014 19:17

They are both the same price
House number 1:
Is a detached thatched cottage
3 bed
77 sqm
Big garden
Needs work and a general tidy up
Has potential though
Is in a village location

House number 2:
Same town we currently live in which we like very much
House is a Georgian 3 bed town house
Terraced
113 sqm
Doesn't need work

What would you buy?

OP posts:
sundaysmiles · 18/04/2014 19:18

Definitely no.2. Wouldn't want to live in a village, and having work done is stressful and expensive, especially with a thatched roof.

ChippyMinton · 18/04/2014 19:20
Rats in the roof, no thanks
Wishfulmakeupping · 18/04/2014 19:21

I'm a sucker for Georgian houses so vote no 2 but if it wasn't Georgian then detached village location sounds good

Yama · 18/04/2014 19:22

If number 2 has a decent garden then I'd go for that. Nice town and size over village and small for me.

Original poster
Beaverfeaver2 · 18/04/2014 19:22

Thanks.
I prefer the inside of house 2. It's a lot more for our money.

House 2 is very chocolate boxy, but I'm scared of the costs that come with it, even if nothing needs doing the house insurance will be much bigger.

Would it change if I told you that house 1 has off road parking but house 2 doesn't?

OP posts:
QueenOfThorns · 18/04/2014 19:22

2, but just because I prefer that style to the chocolate box cottage type. Does it have any garden at all?

Flywheel · 18/04/2014 19:23

1 sounds too small and high maintenance. Definitely 2

Sparkles23 · 18/04/2014 19:24

House number 2 without a doubt! Thatched rood sounds nice in theory but the maintenance costs are very high, that would totally put me off!

NinetyNinePercentTroll · 18/04/2014 19:25

2 for me. Even with the trickier parking and the possible increased maintenance costs of the house.

antimatter · 18/04/2014 19:40
  1. Garden and more light inside.
Any cost of work to be done on 1. is going to be higher than insurance rates on no2.
HaveToWearHeels · 18/04/2014 22:50

House two, love Georgian and hate thatched. Plus it's bigger.

Original poster
Beaverfeaver2 · 18/04/2014 22:50

Wow, I never thought it would be so unanimous!

We see them both tomorrow morning so will let you know what the feel is after we see them.

Fingers crossed!

OP posts:
livingatheendofthewall · 19/04/2014 03:30

2 sounds lovely, let us know what they're like post-viewings...

MrsJohnDeere · 19/04/2014 10:47

Tricky. I live in a Georgian house and love them BUT mine is a bugger to heat (because of the high ceilings and big windows). What about the neighbour issue? Being detached will always win out over having neighbours for me.

Original poster
Beaverfeaver2 · 19/04/2014 11:28

We have seen the thatched cottage so far and about to go to the Georgian town house.

The cottage was oh so pretty.
Needs new kitchen, new boiler, new bathroom, the thatched ridge to be re-done, and the garden is a tip.

Oh so much potential but the ammoubt of work is concerning.

DH is quite happy that he could do most of the work himself.

I have a feeling if we offered what we would want to pay for it at the most that it might not be enough.
But you could spend £20k in a heartbeat just to get it looking tidy.
The garden over looks fields.
The house overlooks a village green. All the other houses down the street are large detached cottages (this one being the smallest of the lot),
The village is pretty, and large enough to have a few corner shops, butchers, bakers, chip shop, curry house, Chinese, and about 3 pubs.

Will report back once we have seen the next place.

OP posts:
MothershipG · 19/04/2014 11:43

How much does it cost to get a house thatched? And how often does it need doing? Does it also put the kibosh on loft conversions?

Village location, does that mean you'll spend half your life ferrying DC about?

I'd go with no.2

HappySunflower · 19/04/2014 11:46

I love the sound of 1... But then I've always wanted to live within a village location.
The upkeep of and insurance on the thatch with ref to fire risk would be worth checking out though.

Original poster
Beaverfeaver2 · 19/04/2014 13:37

The Georgian town house is gorgeous.

It is so large and specious.
Garden is a bit smaller, but still plenty of space for running around and to put a shed hidden away at the end.

It's very 'us', and although it was a town house it is set back a few meters from the road and was generally very quiet and peaceful when we were there.

Still needs work- new kitchen, but other than that just a general neaten up.

No parking but in centre of town. No need to have two cars (DH likely to work from home )

It's an open house today and there were 4 other families looking at it while we were there.

Think we will sleep on it and call the agent on Tuesday.

OP posts:
antimatter · 19/04/2014 15:41

it may be sold by Tuesday....

ParkingFred · 19/04/2014 15:44

I live in 1. and even I would go for 2!

FairyPenguin · 19/04/2014 15:45

Georgian townhouse for me if you can walk everywhere. As the children get older they can then go out independently. I love high ceilings too. The walks should be thick enough so that neighbour noise isn't an issue. Sounds lovely!

AlpacaYourThings · 19/04/2014 15:47

I would go for house two, but the lack of parking would be a concern.

Original poster
Beaverfeaver2 · 19/04/2014 19:06

Parking is an issue, but we currently live in a much smaller (by half the size) Victorian cottage on the high street without any parking.

It's the only downside.

We couldn't afford house of this size and character that has parking

OP posts:
mootime · 19/04/2014 19:17

No.2 for me too. Grew up in a tiny thatched cottage, couldn't wait to leave it! Sorry!

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 19/04/2014 19:27

Well I love the sound of 1 but I have to say 2 sounds far more practical.