What's more important in family home upstairs of downstairs space?

[crazymumofthree]

We currently have two houses we like, one has a front room, big galley kitchen with an extension on the end but only three bedrooms upstairs.

The other has 5 bedrooms, a front room, dining's room and small kitchen similar to what we have now. It also has a massive garage (in garden detached from house) that will be a utility/games room.

Our children are 4,6 and 8 and we are hoping to stay here for a while.

What do you think is more important? More space upstairs of down?

We can't afford a house that offers both at the moment really (renting in south west London)

For me, downstairs space is important but only because no Dc at home anymore. I think having a bedroom each would be better if I had 3 at home.

I have four dc and I would say downstairs space is more important. We are in a three bed house but have extra space downstairs added by an extension. It is nice everyone having seperate bedrooms but the living space where you actually do things is more important imo.

I think the actual plot on which the house is on is the most important. Your needs as a family change as it grows, as do financial situations.

I would get the house on the better/bigger plot with scope to extend etc.

I think it changes as your kids get older. When they're young, downstairs space is more important but as they get older kids like their own personal space and spend more time in their rooms. So I'd choose the 5 bed in your shoes. Plus a games room sounds amazing!

I’d definitely go for the one with more bedrooms. As your children get a little older having their own space will become increasingly important for them.
Would it be possible to knock the dining room and smaller kitchen into one bigger kitchen/family room? That wouldn’t be an expensive extension but would give the feeling of more space.

I’d be tempted to go with the more bedrooms house provided it has enough downstairs room for having a family dinner or enough space for the entire family (and hopefully) some guests to sit in the sitting room.

We are renting not buying,so we can't take down walls or extend! Wish we could afford to buy!! House is just as it comes! To be fair thinking about it house with five bedrooms space isn't that much smaller downstairs than the other overall, as although the kitchen in bigger you couldn't fit a dining table in so that will still have to go in back extension just we could fit a sofa in there too probably as it runs across the back of the house and has lovely bifold doors! Plus utility is inside not out to the garage! But I think you are all right that's extra two bedrooms (one we will not need) will make a difference! The boys are quite crammed in sharing and although it's not a problem now I think like you said as they get older they will need their own space!

mine are 10, 13 and 15 and they use their rooms a lot now, that only really kicked in with secondary school, befire that we needed more downstairs space.

Don't forget, if you have an extra room upstairs, you can use it as you like - study, x-box room, craft room, ironging room, kids TV room, music room.

Many of those things usually happen downstairs, so putting one function upstairs would free up space downstairs.

On the other hand, for me a family table to eat round in a convenient place is pretty essential. (fo me that has to be kitchen)

The advantage of renting over buying is that you can choose what suits you now, then move when it doesn't.
I'd have gone for bigger downstairs space when I had little kids.

I'd go for bigger downstairs space for now

Without a doubt the 5 bedroom house.

If you’re renting then you could always change in 2 or 5 years or whenever you feel your needs have changed. So best to go with what you need now.

I am thinking 5 bedroom house, there is space in dining room for table and it's joined to the kitchen so can see all the way through. Like I said it's not as big and open as the other house but it's the same as what we have now which is fine just with an added bathroom and two bedrooms on the second floor. Not to mention 5 bed house is £200 a month cheaper and also has a driveway! However is a 15 minute drive from school! Not walkable! Other house is walkable to school but no driveway!

Ideally we are trying to not keep moving since it ends up costing us about £5k everytime in deposits and agents fees etc! We have only been in current house 2 years and don't want to keep moving round especially since DS's settles in school and looking at secondary's also in the next couple of years we are sort of tied down and prices seem to be risin very quickly £1700pm

Are your kids sharing at the moment? Does it work well? If so, and you and DH really prefer the 3 bed house then I'd go for that. Otherwise, and maybe especially if you see yourselves staying there for a loooong time, then I'd go for the 5 bed so they can each have their own space.

Sounds like the five bed house is the better choice.

5k in fees every house move is extortionate!

I know!! It's ridiculous! To be fair we will get the £3k deposit back from our current house but not until after we've moved out so we still have to have it beforehand again, plus estate agent fees and holding deposits etc! It's been a nightmare

If areas are equal then I would say the 5 bed. We have a 3 bed with dc aged 4 and 6. It's spacious downstairs but uneven upstairs and teeny bathroom. The extra bathroom will be worth it's weight in gold when yours get a bit older! And like pp said, the extra bedroom can be a multi use room. And a driveway is essential for us!