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Original poster

Would you live in a main road?

106 replies

MamaDuckling · 02/03/2018 09:46

I'm about to go and see a property, perfect in every way except that it is on a busy road. Not A Road busy, but B Road busy. We are looking to extend our own place, or move for more space.

We have 2 young D.C, but I can't say the back roads are actually safe for playing in around here either, it's suburban London and no culture of playing in the streets. We're currently on one of these quieter roads and could create a similar sq. m but it's going to cost more than moving, and would feel squashed in places.

Location of house is very much the same area, good for school, station etc. maybe a few extra mins to school and playground, but about 10mins tops altogether. It's just cheap because it's on the main road.

So, do any of you live on busy roads with kids? Is it ok? Would you entertain the idea or stay on quiet side street? This one has small gated front garden so pretty safe...

OP posts:
Original poster
MamaDuckling · 05/03/2018 19:33

We lost it, went under offer this morning 😭

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johnd2 · 06/03/2018 08:36

Ask what the other offer is and decide whether to match it. Especially if ur in a better position.
Ours we spent about 3 weeks considering, offered low, eventually someone else offered so we asked what it was and matched it.
They accepted ours due to no chain then 3 months down the line it was valued at nearly back to the original offer ;)

another20 · 06/03/2018 09:36

Oh no.....put yours on the market - get it under offer and leaflet all the other houses on the street - someone might be delighted with the timing.

1 in 3 offers fall through for various reasons - so this might well come back to you - but you need to be proceedable.

Original poster
MamaDuckling · 06/03/2018 10:43

The other buyer is in a proceedable position - we weren't even on the market. It went low, so doubt others on the street will sell. It was vacant and owned by some third party underwriter.

I've told our agent we'll match the other offer should it fall through

So so so gutted. It's emotionally draining.

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Baxdream · 06/03/2018 12:15

I live on a mainish road, by no means an a road.
It doesn't bother me although I wouldn't live on a junction.

Having seen your update, you're not proceed able so personally I think you need to stop viewing houses until you're sold.
When we sold our last house I eventually stopped any viewings if they weren't proceedable as an offer is completely pointless

thecatsthecats · 06/03/2018 12:15

Oh no! I was about to chime in, but I will anyway, just in case...

I grew up in the deep countryside. As in, last house on the road, six miles from nearest village, only the sounds of tweeting birds, running water and baaing sheep.

I MUCH prefer our B road house to the quiet streets around it. Our house is set back from the road by about 10m in total, and our windows aren't always dirty etc.

The roads of terraces facing each other (some barely further apart from each other than I am from the road) and cul de sacs feel insular and claustrophobic to me. I like that the street seems lively, and I will never have a kid kicking a ball around the front of my house.

Original poster
MamaDuckling · 26/03/2018 22:21

Hiiiiii me again!

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Original poster
MamaDuckling · 26/03/2018 22:24

So, we lost that great house, as you know..... however, sharky estate agent knew I was gutted and has lined up an off market view on the same house, 2 doors up. I'm beyond excited. He said it's even bigger, and in perfect nick. Previous was a fixer upper.

What % increase do we add for a 'done' house over one that needed a lot of cosmetic work?

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thecatsthecats · 26/03/2018 22:43

I viewed two houses next door to each other. One had the full extended kitchen, but needed a new bathroom and en suite. The other had an absolutely tiny kitchen but essentially had a nice paint job. The non extended one went for just 2k less overall.

I would say not as much as the work costs by a long chalk!

Original poster
MamaDuckling · 26/03/2018 22:56

That's reassuring as I think the asking prices on the 'done' one is going to be substantially higher - it's good to know the price the other went for (quite a bit under asking)....

This one has been extended a little better, is slightly higgledy piggledy - but could move right in.

I'm trying not to get ahead of myself but I am so excited.

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JoJoSM2 · 26/03/2018 23:25

Generally, if a house is done up, the uplift will be the cost of doing the work + another 10-25% (at least for a newly and properly refurbished house). The difference won't be nearly as drastic between a slight dated house and a marginally better one with an extension.

Original poster
MamaDuckling · 26/03/2018 23:37

Ok so I reckon by the floor plan it's 5-10% bigger - not 'modernised', but sympathetically Victorian (original tiles in kitchen, cellar accessed from outside). It's got a far nicer and bigger garden.

The other was a bit of a bodged modernised thing (that I was quite happy to put right, mind).

So basically it's the dream house plus a bit more.... 😬😬😬

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Pixiedust1973 · 26/03/2018 23:55

Are you in a position to make an offer yet though now? Proceedable? If not then this is all pointless timewasting which will end in you being upset again unfortunately!

Original poster
MamaDuckling · 27/03/2018 07:07

We've had particulars drawn up and ready to go to market. They aren't even on the market.... agent has arranged it all off the market so less pressure on both sides

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JoJoSM2 · 27/03/2018 07:54

Period features, like those tiles attract a hefty premium. You also mentioned it's in perfect nick - do you mean things like electrics, boiler, walls etc are up to date? If it's a bit bigger, done up, with period features and a good layout, the it might cost a pretty penny.

Does the agent know what your budget is? Hopefully, they wouldn't show you a house you can't afford.

Original poster
MamaDuckling · 27/03/2018 10:50

Yes, agent knows the budget, I said I don't want to waste anyone's time and they assure me it's worth exploring..... the asking price is def higher than we can afford (think approx £100K higher than the other house, which in turn went well under)....

I hate this! How cheeky can an offer be these days?!

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Feezles · 27/03/2018 13:43

I've often been surprised how much less of a discount you seem to get for fixer-uppers. I think it is because lots of people like a project and the chance to make things exactly as you like, and also because competition from developers pushes prices up too. So you might (I hope!) be pleasantly surprised. Don't let the road bother you - I lived on a similar road in a big city, that wasn't even double glazed. It bothered me for a about a week, then I never noticed it again.

Good luck!

thecatsthecats · 27/03/2018 15:18

Feezles - yeah, I can see that. Our house was a 'done' one, that only cost a little more than a doer-upper. However the beautiful kitchen and bathroom etc are not quite what I would have chosen. I would have loved to have pick it all out for myself.

DairyisClosed · 27/03/2018 15:27

I would be more concerned about noise carrying on into the night. But then again I've got my heart of living in the middle of nowhere. Would settle for village life if I had to.

Original poster
MamaDuckling · 27/03/2018 16:11

It's a busy road by day, quiet by night.... I'm ready to make the compromise for these lovely big houses!

So.... 5%, 10% below asking??

The house we lost out on was priced 10% less than this one - subsequently sold for 20% less. It needed work and was a little smaller - but 20% is a lot....

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trixymalixy · 27/03/2018 16:35

I live on a very busy road. When we first moved in I thought we had made a massive mistake. It didn't bother me very much inside the house, but when we sat in the back garden it seemed very intrusive.

We've been in just over a year now and I can honestly say that the road doesn't bother me at all.

i think we were sitting out in the garden much earlier last year and there were no leaves on the trees yet. Once they'd all grown it made a huge difference.

Pixiedust1973 · 27/03/2018 16:47

Id express an interest with the agent but wait until you have an offer on your own house before considering making an offer on this or any other property. Afer all, until you know how much money you're getting for yours you're not in a position to know how much you can afford to offer elsewhere, particularly on a house that is already over budget.

PrincessScarlett · 27/03/2018 16:57

I grew up in a house on a main road. It was fantastic in terms of being able to get buses, particularly as mum didn't drive. There was easy access to shops, school, the road was always clear in snowy conditions, I was able to feel independent as a teenager.

Agree with PP though that net curtains and windows at the front were filthy from pollution and we never actually opened the windows at the front. The house used to vibrate when lorries and buses went by. There was usually rubbish in the front garden and on Friday and Saturday nights there was usually late night noise from revellers.

You get used to the noise so you don't really notice it. Although when I stay at my mum's now I never sleep as the noise is horrendous now I've moved to the country.

Original poster
MamaDuckling · 27/03/2018 17:36

You're right Pixie, luckily we have savings so can make up the shortfall - just depends how much. It's over budget but I'm not averse to borrowing a bit more if need be. The agent has driven this (and has valued our place too, which we could price to sell quickly). Ours is smaller but in a very popular road - of course no one knows how long it would take to sell but I can't imagine too long.

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Squirreltamer · 27/03/2018 17:51

Im hoping to exchange on a lovely Victorian house with all original features on a main b road. Bidding war on the property put up the price by 13% but then never seen another like it in all the cities I’ve visited.

House would be an easy 30% (original price) more on a side street. But most of the nice old large houses in my city are on A and B roads.

Currently live on a quiet B Road in an 1930s house which is around 20% cheaper than similar on side streets. But i paid 20% less for it

Good luck :)

Ps: I put the offer and got accepted on this house without being proceedable. But my current house is in a good desirable area, and put the sweetener in to the vendor estate agent I would sell with them. They in turn told the vendor they would have no issues selling mine.

7months down the line still waiting for the vendors to exchange.... I’ve been ready for 4 months.... so worried my side will collapse now... doh!

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