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Original poster

Which house would you choose?

104 replies

TheVeryHungryPreggo · 07/03/2015 01:17

House A: modern and well-thought out finish, small but neat garden, recently renovated. On top of a hill, stunning views. Parking for one car. Backs on to one of the best primary schools in London so you would never be out of catchment. A bit of a hike to the nearest stations, coming home would be a 20 minute walk uphill at this end. 2000sqft, 6 bedrooms - 4 double and 2 small singles. Slightly overpriced for the size.

House B: old and half again as large and needs some TLC, but not in need of significant work besides plumbing (new bathrooms) and wiring, the rest is paint and carpet jobs. 6 huge double bedrooms with original fireplaces in each. Large garden with pond, patio and greenhouse, end of terrace and on a corner so not really overlooked - also has parking for 3 or more cars (we only have one car btw!) Right on the edge of catchment for an excellent school - you may or may not get in - but other primary schools in the area have recently been Harris'd or had a change of leadership so there are options if a bit further away or wrong religion. Costs 150k less than House A and is closer to two stations - and on the flat!

We are torn. House A is beautiful and neat and modern and is next to a great school. We wouldn't have to touch anything, it's perfectly finished already. But House B is exciting, the exact layout we like and somewhere we could really make our own - and when we went to see it my two year old loved it and loved running around the garden. We could spend less money on it and on stamp duty and have more to do it up... DH and I really want it for ourselves! But we are supposed to be moving for primary schools and there probably isn't much point moving to a house that isn't guaranteed a good primary school close by, especially with the cost of moving.

WWYD? Either? Neither? Keep looking for one that ticks all the boxes of schools and style and space? Children are 2 and not-yet-born but due in summer... I'm also a bit of a nervous driver and worried about driving up in the hilly area, lots of narrow residential streets and sharp too-high speed bumps.

OP posts:
GettingFiggyWithIt · 07/03/2015 01:58

Either...but the second one sounds far better value for money.

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 07/03/2015 02:48

B - but then I'm a "buy with heart not head" house purchaser

poocatcherchampion · 07/03/2015 03:09

B

munchkinmaster · 07/03/2015 03:09

A. If schools your priority , that's that. It was for me we chose catchment over everything else. 6 beds for 3 or 4 sounds pretty generous.

I also bought a doer upper when pregnant and with a 2 year old . It sucks as you just can't get at it.

Blueskies80 · 07/03/2015 07:03

I think A. Or keep looking.
Projects wih kids are a nightmare! Been there and it nearly broke me!
Schools are really important too.
Re driving. We are on one of steepest hills london and ive only recently started driving regularly- its just confidence and practice with driving. Also if you're really worried get an automatic- no hill starts!

Only downside of a hill is walking up them but it saves on gym membership and views are great. Its a Pain when pregnant and tired tho!
Re garden. Big gardens are lovely but a lot of work. Smaller Outside space and using parks are also good.
Ps are you looking in f hill by any chance?!

DesperatelySeekingSanity · 07/03/2015 07:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsHooolie · 07/03/2015 07:40

B. You sound like you are leaning to that one more.
Yes the schools are important but schools can change.
Some property details might help us decide for you Wink

Original poster
TheVeryHungryPreggo · 07/03/2015 07:44

Blueskies80 yes, House A is in Forest Hill... House B is in Beckenham!

I've heard that Beckenham has some good baby groups etc, but I don't know anything about F Hill... I'm going to be pushing a pram for the next two years though so not being able to walk places from my front door without having to do that very steep hill is ruining my mood a bit.

Thank you to whoever suggested an automatic - that's a good idea, my old car is just about ready to be upgraded!

OP posts:
redcaryellowcar · 07/03/2015 07:46

I would have said b until you said you were pg, would you be able to stay where you are or stay with family/ friends for a month whilst the bathrooms were done and you paid someone to pop a fresh coat of paint on and sort flooring etc before you moved in? My second baby just turned one, and I've just about managed to get the washing done each week but diy and gardening projects are on hold until he starts sleeping properly.
I think level gardens are important for children.

sandgrown · 07/03/2015 07:47

B sounds far more fun and schools do change

PurpleWithRed · 07/03/2015 07:55

B for me personally, but only if the garden is south or west facing. I love a project and would hate walking back uphill for 20 mins after work.

Do you really need 6 bedrooms though? And all the reception rooms that will go with them? With just (presumably) you two + a couple of babies? Or are you planning a football team of kids?

Original poster
TheVeryHungryPreggo · 07/03/2015 07:59

Redcaryellowcar Yes, I wouldn't want to be in there while any whole-house wiring/plumbing work is done. I would be on Mat leave by then (I've got 3 months to go and we haven't had an offer on ours yet, but it's early days, only been on a couple of weeks, so conveyancing will take a while) so me going to stay with my parents with the kids would be fine. They live in Ireland and have lots of space, and would welcome the chance to spend more time with their only grandchildren. Older child would have to be moved from his nursery and there'll be a waiting period until a space comes up locally, so he'd be with me anyway. DH can stay with friends and we can kennel the cats.

Bathrooms don't have to be done straightaway, and the whole downstairs is fine - wood floors, open plan, not much to change. We would not be doing those right up front.

OP posts:
BellMcEnd · 07/03/2015 08:01

I know it's a long way off but as either of these houses sound like forever homes, itay be worth considering secondary schools. One of my closest friends lives on Beckenham and from what she says, state secondary options aren't great. FH is loads better. That said, it is a long way off for you and things do change. I know and like both areas! Can you post a link to the houses?

wobblebobblehat · 07/03/2015 08:05

B but only if you have the time and inclination to do the work. FWIW you sound far more excited about the second one...

Original poster
TheVeryHungryPreggo · 07/03/2015 08:10

No, we don't really need 6 bedrooms. But part of the attraction is that both of our families are in Ireland - and now we could finally host Christmas for everybody!! And they could stay more often without being on top of us.

Other thinking is 1 bedroom each for us, DS and soon-to-be DD, and one for guests; the other two to be playroom and study. I'll be doing some work from home on occasion and so will DH.

House A has a garage we could turn into a small study, but has 3 floors already and the downstairs isn't huge as the garage and front hall take up a lot of space, plus the kitchen and dining room are separate as kitchen is quite small so there's really just the living room as entertaining/family space. House B is all open plan kitchen/diner/living - although it is huge, so there aren't a great many rooms downstairs in either.

One of the things about House B is that the topmost bedroom has an ensuite and a small kitchenette - which could be used for an au pair at a later stage to walk children to schools, if they are further away and out of our commute.

OP posts:
Choccywoccydodah · 07/03/2015 08:11

B, sounds very similar to ours. Can't stand new houses, we lived in one for a change before this one (we've always been old house peeps) and hated it with a passion! No character cardboard boxes.
Old all the way :)
We have 6 bedrooms, there were 7 but we now have a master suite.
2 beds for the dcs, one office and 2 guest rooms. We have a mahoosive kitchen diner, a snug/family room (former dining room which we don't use), and front adult lounge (no tv), a conservatory, and a feller which we've made into an amazing man cave bar. Just to throw some ideas around to what you could so too :). This is our forever house. We've moved 9 times in 12 years (bought and sold).
Needs a bit of work, but totally livable, that's really what you need if you have dc about :)

Choccywoccydodah · 07/03/2015 08:12

*cellar

Original poster
TheVeryHungryPreggo · 07/03/2015 08:17

The first house is lovely and ticks all the boxes. Anyone would love to live there. The second house is scruffy but has potential to be breathtaking and I already feel envious of somebody else buying it even though it doesn't tick all the boxes.

There are no property details yet for House A, and while there are some for House B but they aren't great and since it's in need of some repairs, are mostly close-up shots of the original feature fireplaces, stained glass, coving etc.

We have moved four times in ten years, so I don't know how long we will stay but at the moment we are prepared to stay put for the primary years and move again for secondary if need be. That's at least 9 years down the line anyway...

OP posts:
Jackieharris · 07/03/2015 08:17

'One bedroom for each of us' oh you're one of those couples.

Thousands of children are living out of foodbanks and your biggest worry is what ridiculously large house to buy. Talk about first world problems!

Original poster
TheVeryHungryPreggo · 07/03/2015 08:19

Ha, Choccywoccydoodah, I was wondering what the feller was!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheVeryHungryPreggo · 07/03/2015 08:23

Thanks Jackie, but we don't sleep separately. It's one for us and each of the children, I phrased it wrongly.

We live in a flat with three cats, a hyper toddler and no outside space but have been lucky in choosing the location for this one so we can now afford to move to a family home. Forgive me for getting excited about a bit of space!

OP posts:
MrsHooolie · 07/03/2015 08:26

I think it's time for the links OP!Smile

Choccywoccydodah · 07/03/2015 08:27

There's always one!

TheWindowDonkey · 07/03/2015 08:29

Err Jackie, if you read it correctly Op actually says one bedroom for her and Dh togethr, one for each child and onefor guests. If you did it the way you suggested there would be 7 bedrooms.
Your foodbanks cmment is ridiculous. There are many kids living in awful circumstances but how can you possibly know that the op doesnt already do loads to help? Just because she has a choice between two properties doesnt mean she's morrally bankrupt.
Op fwiw I would go with house B, it shines out from your OP that its the one you love the most.

TheWindowDonkey · 07/03/2015 08:30

Doh, morally.