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Property/DIY

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Original poster

3 bed detached to a 2 bed cottage? I'm mad, aren't I? :(

37 replies

Baddz · 16/02/2015 14:35

Hello!
Have been in my current house for 3 years now.
It's 30 years old and a 3 bed detached. Garage conversion and conservatory.
Off road parking.
It's a nice house.
We have had to spend quite on it since we moved in :( and I think it's coloured my view somewhat.
I would say its worth about £30k more than we paid for it.
There is a 2 bed grade 2 listed cottage that has come up for sale.
Garden, garage, summer house, private garden.
There is no way in hell dh would agree, but I have always abated to live in a period property.
It would mean the dc sharing a bedroom which dh is very against.
Come on....give it to me....I'm mad, aren't I?
:(

OP posts:

niceandwarm · 16/02/2015 14:40

Yes you are (mad)

Lelivre · 16/02/2015 14:49

Not for me. I like space and storage and my furniture wouldn't fit. Have a week away in a cute country cottage instead.

Original poster

Baddz · 16/02/2015 14:50

I Know..I know....:(

OP posts:

MaudieDonkers · 16/02/2015 16:37

DH would never, ever buy a listed property (he's a surveyor)

LondonGirl83 · 16/02/2015 16:38

Depends. If your children are young (ie less than 10 years old), they can share with no issue. I know plenty of siblings that share out of choice even when there is additional space. If you could eventually convert the loft for a 3rd bedroom when your kids are older (i.e. its feasible despite the listing and you can afford to if you save up), then it sounds fine. Be prepared to maintain a period house financially though. Listed homes are more expensive to maintain as well but I love living in a Victorian house and would not have it any other way. As it has a garage its seems like storage would be fine. Take an honest look and see if the house provides enough living space and storage for the way you live otherwise, the move would be too stressful. Good luck!

JugglingLife · 16/02/2015 16:40

Maybe a little barmy OP. We have the house that we live in now with our DCs and then we have our dream period house, we'll buy that when the DC's have left home. We may be waiting a while.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 16/02/2015 16:42

If it would mean your kids going from having their own rooms to sharing, I think it's probably a pipe dream.

I hate new builds though, so I know where you're coming from.

thehumanjam · 16/02/2015 16:42

You are mad. You need to wait until your children have left home and then move to a period property.

I live in a period cottage with 2 children and would rather have a 3 bed detached house. We can't entertain, there just isn't enough room, ds1 is a teenager now and needs his own room, I don't like it when he drops in with friends and I'm relaxing with a glass of wine in my pj's, there is no hallway so he can't really avoid us.

You will end up resenting your picturesque cottage if you downsize, just wait until the time is right.

Original poster

Baddz · 16/02/2015 17:10

You are all right, of course.
But my youngest is only 6.... I will be too decrepit to get up the stairs by then time he leaves home :(
Thanks for the honest opinions though! :)

OP posts:

fluffygreentail · 16/02/2015 17:30

I dont think sharing will work after 10 years old - I shared with my sister until I was 14 and I got on with her well but i craved a bit of space from about 10.

We almost offered on a 2 bed cottage with a dressing room which was big enough to make into a third with some stud wall re jigging (the stud wall made it a dressing room if you get me). So glad we didn't as it would have been too cramped and like thehumanjam there was no hallway.

WingsClipped · 16/02/2015 17:40

You are mad.... But so am I it appears . We did EXACTLY this a year ago. Everyone thought it was the worst idea ever. We moved from a massive 1970s 3 bed detached with garage, front driveway and large front, rear gardens and massive lounge with 2 extensions to a teeny tiny 2 bed Victorian cottage in Surrey. Ok fair enough we didn't sell the 3 bed (keeping on as investment) but no one could understand why I wanted to downsize with a growing family.
It was the best decision we've ever made. Location wise I have a longer commute, but it is quieter, more green, we are 5mins from the river and I feel safer here. I much prefer living in a full of character tiny house than a massive soulless box. I've decluttered and chucked away so much 'stuff' we had accumulated through the years because we had the space.
Cleaning and gardening is much less of a chore. And the bills have gone down as well. I'm now pregnant with DD2 and everyone keeps saying we need to move to a bigger house but I think it will be good to have them sharing for at least a couple of years (DD1 is 3). I truly truly love our house and we are so much happier here. Sometimes what makes you happy doesn't seem the logical decision but if everyone in the family agrees and benefits then I don't see why you always have to take the sensible option.

Original poster

Baddz · 16/02/2015 17:44

Oh wow!
I'm so glad it's worked out for you. :)
Problem we have is that we wouldn't have any spare cash for extending/loft conversion Etc
Dh has refused to even look at it :(
It's just come back in the market after being stc so I do wonder if there is wriggle room on the price....

OP posts:

Boofy27 · 16/02/2015 17:49

It's always worth trying things out before you fully commit, setting fire to ten pound notes while someone wearing a hard hat pretends to be a conservation officer and shouts at you is an excellent way to get the 'owning a listed building' feeling.

Original poster

Baddz · 16/02/2015 17:55

Boofy...ouch. That sounds rough

OP posts:

IssyStark · 16/02/2015 20:19

Yes you are mad as well you know

Just think of the cost of moving now and then having to move again once it is just too much to have the kids on top of each other while they are moody teens/trying to revise for exams etc etc.

Remember rightmove is for property porn, it's not real life

Pipbin · 16/02/2015 20:26

Boofy. Ideally have a buildings regs inspector telling you that you have to do one thing while having the conservation officer telling you that you can't do it, while setting fire to £10 notes.

Original poster

Baddz · 16/02/2015 20:31

Issy...I know. I know :)
It's my usual spring madness

OP posts:

Apatite1 · 16/02/2015 20:33

No that's crazy. Crazy! I look forward to getting a cottage as a second home, but even childless me thinks it's mental to try to cram all my stuff into a cottage. And you've got kids. You need a large period house, not a small one!

Original poster

Baddz · 16/02/2015 20:36

I can't afford a large one!

And Dh hates it.
Ds1 likes it though :)

OP posts:

Original poster

Baddz · 16/02/2015 20:38

I just feel so....meh about this house.
All it's done is cost us money and I begrudge every ruddy penny.
At least if I loved the house I wouldn't feel so fed up about spending money on it.
Ideally I would love a Victorian or Edwardian period house.
But....not many of them where I live :(

OP posts:

WingsClipped · 16/02/2015 21:26

If your DH absolutely hates it then I don't think it will work for you guys to go ahead. DH thought our cottage was small but doable- it probably helps that we still have the other property to fall back on once the kids are old enough to need their own space.

Apatite1 · 16/02/2015 21:34

Really, there is no joy in living in a cramped place. I live in one and I can't wait to move. My new home will have a large master suite, my own dressing room, my own ensuite, a study and a library. I'd take that over our current flat in a period house any day (bloody place is draughty and I deeply resent the money we spend to heat it very inefficiently!)

Original poster

Baddz · 16/02/2015 22:14

A library!?
OMG.
I would love a library!

OP posts:

SmellTheGlove · 16/02/2015 22:45

I do know how you feel! We are about to move to a slightly smaller house nearby which is Victorian compared to the 1930s one we are in now. Our current house has more space but I just don't feel the love, I never have, and like you we have had to spend lots of money fixing really boring things like the gutters and windows and never had any spare to do nicer things like redecorate or get a new kitchen! BUT!!! We only have one DS, and moving to a 2 bed rather than a 3 bed won't really affect him. I have never really yearned after a massive house, it's more about location and period charm for me...I'm actually quite enjoying getting rid of loads of clutter!

Apatite1 · 16/02/2015 22:53

I insist on calling it the library even though you can only get two comfy armchairs and a few lamps in it. But it's being designed with floor to ceiling bookshelves, and by Jove, I'm calling it the library even if my husband laughs at me!!

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