What to compromise on....

[MightyMeerkat]

I've been house hunting for 2 or 3 months now but it feels much longer! I've seen around 10 houses in that time (there really isn't much available in my preferred locations) and all of them would have involved several compromises of one sort or another (and I'm not being picky!). I thought more would come on to the market after Easter but it's doesn't seem to be happening so I have two options - compromise or go into rented. I'd be interested in other's experiences - was it worth holding out for something that was 80% right or is it better to just buy something that will do for now? And if the latter, what would you compromise on? Location, off road parking, space, condition?

So confused....

Location first (knowing what's available in the area helps)

Space - can you add more/afford more?

Off road parking - only of parking is an issue in that area - if you can park reasonably outside your property it's not an issue

Decorating - you do it all eventually anyway -

Wouldn't compromise on location at all. That was pretty much written in stone for us.

All the rest is up for debate - space depends on whether you can add it at a later date (i.e. potential to extend), condition (as long as its not structural) is not an issue - kitchen / bathrooms and décor can all be tackled as you can afford it.
Not too bothered about off street parking - depending on the location. We had 2 years without off street parking but we were in the village centre, walked to school etc so it wasn't an issue.

Thanks Cody. I think you're right - I will probably end up decorating the whole house anyway so location is key. And parking is a close second because it's dire in my preferred location! The only problem is that all of the houses in the right location need tens of thousands of pounds spent them - which I won't have. My heart sinks a bit at the thought of living in it in the meantime!

Maybe I need to expand my location slightly. How long do people walk to the railway station each day? If thought 10 minutes each way but maybe further is the norm and I'm being lazy....!

We extended our location and found a great house in an area we had never considered. Only a further ten minute drive from where we originally wanted and actually better than original area. I think every house comes with compromise.

I have bought 5 properties. Every single one I was happy with, but every single one had a compromise. I think unless you are very rich there will always be something that is not quite right.

The only thing I'd compromise on is size/layout as those things can be changed.

You can't change location or style of house. You will never be able to increase the size of most gardens or turn the house round to face the sun.

I suppose it's depends what's important to you really.

In terms of how far from the station is OK for you, you need to think about walking home in that kind of freezing rain that drives straight into your face after a very long day at work when you're feeling crap. Or the difference that needing to leave 10+ minutes earlier in the morning will make. A longer walk may be lovely on a nice day, but it may be something you come to dread and wish you'd bought closer to the station.

I wouldn't compromise on location and it sounds like parking is a big issue for you too. Decoration is always going to be a compromise in any house, or you'll just redecorate anyway. Beyond that I agree that you need to make a list of your priorities and think about where you might be able to compromise.

For us we needed to find a house that met our combined no compromise lists. DH's no compromise area was: a detached house (ideally as far from the neighbours as possible). Left up to him we'd be moving to the international space station. My no compromise areas are to do with a sensible location where we can all get to school and work (because DH doesn't seem to understand that this matters) and some aspects of the house (size of bedrooms and kitchen predominantly) that mean that the boys and I don't have to move from a house we like living in to one that in no way suits our needs but fulfils DH's insistence on being hermetically sealed from any neighbours.

(note: our current neighbours are perfectly nice and not in any way a problem; its DH and his complete lack of acquaintance with reality that's the issue).

I agree, We can't advise what points to compromise on, that depends on the OP and her lifestyle.
Walkable to schools/ bus stop close. size of garden/dog walking nearby are all personal to each family.

Are we married to the same man StepAway ? Must be detached and no thought to the logistics of how the DC will get to school. I would agree about being very careful with compromising on location, if you buy a lovely house in a less great area you may find your property harder to sell later as it's the odd one out - i.e. a detached house where it's mostly terraces.

I'd have to agree - we are drivable to junior school - but brought walkable to seniors -

We also brought in the "2nd" best location due to first location having very small bedrooms - and only one sitting room for the same money -

Ours is also closer to shops and bus stops (for the kids)

Layout and decoration were lower down the list

cheminotte: if we are, you can have him. He's driving me nuts at the moment!

We are a (easy) 10 mins walk to the station and I think of it as short. I'd happily walk a bit further - though it was much further I would cycle. Couldn't you do that? That would increase your radius a lot.

Generally though I think location/plot/outlook are most important as you can't change those.

I was happy to live up to 1 mile from the station. I walked this distance several times from our rental flat and I ended up loving that walk. Ok sometimes it was stormy but in general I only got caught out in storms about 4 times in 2yrs and 3 of those were when I was walking home so not too bad. But then my walk involved a pub halfway down the the road so I ducked in for a drink and waited the storm out a couple of times . So not all bad.

Thank you everyone. You've reaffirmed what I was thinking. Location can't be changed. Most everything else can!

Like irregularegular, was going to mention cycling. Even a leisurely cycle (i.e.slowly enough that you won't sweat lots and need special clothing) will probably triple your speed. Need to allow a little extra time for parking bike, unless you get a folding one to take on the train.

It's so much personal circs. We did compromise on being further from the station for a garden, and a 3 bed house with garden rather than 2 bed flat with no outdoor space. We were planning to start a family and this was "futureproofing" so we wouldn't outgrow the home while in the early years of mortgage, when negative equity was a possibility.

It also depends how long you plan to stay. Location and ORP we could compromise on for a few years but not forever. There are always compromises unless you have an infinite budget, it's just which ones are the easiest for you to bear. One person's compromising on space is another's more room than they need.

We compromised on location slightly - we bought something marginally further from the station than I would've liked (12-13 min rather than 10 min) and also on a slightly noisier road. Still a very nice location though.

We didn't compromise on space.

Off street parking and condition weren't especially important to us so I guess we compromised on those from the outset!