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Original poster

which house would you choose?

30 replies

DancingLady · 16/01/2018 15:33

DH and I are going round in circles. I think location and a nice street, proximity to public transport and shops is very important. He thinks the actual house is more important. Of these two houses, which would you go for? It's a huge decision as we're trying to find our 'forever home'. Two small DC, one in primary school and we don't want to move schools. Other is a toddler. No more kids planned.

House 1
3 beds, 5 mins from train station. 2 mins from shops. 25 minute walk to school, or 5 minute drive. Nice street. 100ft garden. Bit smaller than our current house but 75k cheaper than house 2.

House 2
4 beds, 15-20 min walk to station (husband commutes). 5 mins from shops. Too far to walk to school, 10 minute drive. Big house, conservation area, lovely period features. Big garden.

OP posts:
user1495451339 · 16/01/2018 15:38

House 1 - unless I was desperate for a 4th bedroom. Both sound OK but I wouldn't want to have to drive to school. Are the bedrooms all decent sizes? Is there an option of extending house 1 at a later date if you did need more space?

Original poster
DancingLady · 16/01/2018 15:55

user yes all the bedrooms are a good size, and House 1 would leave us with money to do loft conversion and/or extension. We do want a 4th bedroom as I'm self employed and work from home - it would be great to have an office, which could double as a guest room.

OP posts:
RatRolyPoly · 16/01/2018 15:57

What are your reasons for moving from your current house? I think it's important you pick a house that solves your existing issues first and foremost...

RatRolyPoly · 16/01/2018 15:57

Or are you FTB?

OldGuard · 16/01/2018 15:58

Location every time

Bluntness100 · 16/01/2018 16:00

Option 2. Are you really likely to do a fifty min round trip walk to school, or ask your kids to? If you're happy to drive the ten mins, then go for option 2.

Also look at other transport options when they are older.

grasspigeons · 16/01/2018 16:05

I think house 2

Building works are a nightmare and end up costing more than you think.

25 minute walk - you probably wont do that as often as you think as you'll not do it when it rains, your running late etc.

Where are the secondary schools though as you want your DC to be independent at that stage so that might sway me the other way.

Original poster
DancingLady · 16/01/2018 16:06

thanks all.

Rat that's a very good point. main reasons for moving: current house is spacious but layout is crap. set over 4 storeys. kitchen in basement. DD in attic bedroom. constantly running up and down stairs. street is quiet but neighbours have loud parties and smoke spliffs on their doorstep at all hours. bit of a grotty road, tbh.

bluntness DD would moan the whole time if she had to walk that far, she's only 7, so yes, we'd drive from either house.

OP posts:
RatRolyPoly · 16/01/2018 16:08

Hmm, if they're both on nice streets which has the best layout for your family and lifestyle?

user1487671808 · 16/01/2018 16:09

OP you say you don’t want to move again so what about secondary schools? By that age most kids are getting there independently so will that be a problem from either house?

VivaLeBeaver · 16/01/2018 16:09

House 2. Dh can get a bike to quicken the journey to the station. Either leave it locked there or get a Brompton.

alotalotalot · 16/01/2018 16:09

House two unless the 75k would make a significant difference to your lifestyle.

FluffyWuffy100 · 16/01/2018 16:09

House 2 as long as DH happy with walking 40 mins a day as part of his commute.

Realistically you'll be mostly driving the kids to school anyway if it is a 25 min walk.

What are secondary options? I think then it is more important to be able to walk or bus.

Original poster
DancingLady · 16/01/2018 16:10

grass secondaries in my area are pretty poor, there are a couple of good/outstanding ones but small catchment. From house 1 it'd be a short bus ride or 15 minute walk to a school currently rated 'good'. From house 2 a bus/train to secondary.

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 16/01/2018 16:11

House 2.

alotalotalot · 16/01/2018 16:11

Although if house one could be made perfect and bigger with the 75k and you prefer it, then go for that one.

Original poster
DancingLady · 16/01/2018 16:15

It's such a huge decision! Feel like it'll affect our whole entire lives for the next decade or two... The expense and hassle of moving means that we really don't want to move again for secondary, but DC still have years of primary left.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 16/01/2018 16:16

Meh, house two. It's the better house and this is your forever home. You're not planning on walking, so go for thr house you like best.

Original poster
DancingLady · 16/01/2018 16:16

alotalot that's what I think. Hopefully not too naive to think that 75k will pay for a loft conversion and a kitchen extension in London...

OP posts:
Ohyesiam · 16/01/2018 16:18

House 1. Perfect length walk to school. Loft conversion would give more space than the 4 th bedroom.

ladymelbourne1926 · 16/01/2018 16:19

House 2

glorious · 16/01/2018 16:20

Depends on size and materials but loft conversion will easily be 50k leaving you with not much for kitchen extension

TwixtCupAndLip · 16/01/2018 16:20

Hopefully not too naive to think that 75k will pay for a loft conversion and a kitchen extension in London...

Frankly, that's a pretty tight budget to do both of those properly in London. House 2 all the way!

Pootlebug · 16/01/2018 16:21

I don't think you'll get a kitchen extension and loft conversion for that in London

CardinalSin · 16/01/2018 16:22

House 1. The location is key, and there is scope for extending (you don't have to do it straight away), and then it will be a bigger house/more bedrooms but still in a better location.