Help me choose my new home!

[egdehsdrawkcab]

I could post links but it might out me! But which would you choose?

1. a substantial Victorian terraced property (5beds), oodles of charm and character, needs some updating but wonderful spaces (even if it doesn't flow brilliantly). Two bathrooms but no downstairs w/c. Has space to put one in mind. Has big cellar that could be great playroom. Road is okay, a little busy and parking can be tricky.

2. smaller detached Victorian 'villa' type property (3beds) that is in a very pretty and desirable street. Easy parking. Modernised and extended kitchen/dining thing at rear. Could potentially do the loft one day (most on the street have done this). One bathroom but has downstairs w/c and separate utility.

We have two young DC, so both would be big enough. They are both the same price. Both near to school and our local station.

Yep, it's London suburbs. Very few houses will have off street parking x

I live close by to the first property and I think you would be bonkers not to go for it - the area is more desirable and the house is bigger!

The one in Kingston is lovely too though (don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings )

If neither have their own parking then I’d be inclined to go for 1.

It depends what the on street parking is like. Would it be parking a few houses away or would it be parking a few streets away after driving for 20 minutes to find a space.
I’d never live in a house without parking again after spending 30 minutes searching for somewhere to park at my old house and ending up sitting there crying because I just wanted to go home. I had to wait for a local venue to kick out so I could park.

I was all ready to say number 2 without a doubt - detached, parking and nicer area seems like a no brainer to me.

But, if the parking really isn’t an issue for you and the additional space in number 1 is what you’re really after then you’ll probably end up going with your heart on this one.

Do schools influence this decision at all?

The second house without a doubt. I know someone who bought a fabulous terraced property only to have the property next door converted in flats. There was nothing she could do about it as there were others in the street, so she found her bedroom sharing a wall with next doors living room - very undesirable. Go for the detached property every time.

Well there always be definitely plenty of space in the side streets? Have you been late at night and weekends to see? If you are fighting for those spaces you could end up parking miles away.

it depends what bothers you.
parking bothers me. lots.
being detached is important to me due to experience.

egdehsdrawkcab are there decent transport links?

It's obvious to me that people posting here are much more used to relying on cars than Londoners are. They're giving you advice based on what's normal to them. I live outside London now and we've got really used to the car!

Londoners are used to parking being a nightmare / using public transport so I wouldn't worry about guests.

Personally I'd worry more about accommodating my mother in a house with enough space. But maybe a loft conversion ticks that box?

I dunno - it just seems to me that it sounded like house 1 makes your heart sing and house 2 is the safe option.

Mumsnet opinion often tends to be conservative (small c!) and favour safe options IME.

But it's you who needs to live there. If you prefer house 1 then go for it I reckon, especially if you only use the car on weekends.

The detached one! You will never run the risk of noise from neighbours.Also, a quiet road would win for me.

I am moving to a semi detached house from a detached, and even though it's halls ajoining I am a bit worried.

2 based on your description but I have no appetite for living in a building site, would find no parking annoying. Otoh my brother has bought #1 And is doing the work gradually and I can see how amazing the house will be eventually.

No 2 . I bought a house once on a busy road thinking that the fabulousness of the house would outweigh the traffic , it didn't and I would have swapped for a smaller house with easier parking and less noise in a heartbeat.

The OP started the thread and has asked for opinions. There are so many things to consider potentially when buying a house that being shown something similar isn't really much help - posters have fixated on parking and, to a lesser extent, terraced v. detached.

My brother lives in a Victorian place in Twickenham. It's gorgeous but he and his wife have spent 100 grand on updating it so far (roof was an issue)...I'd go for the second place!

We moved into a six-bed, three reception doer-upper with two small DC. It amazes me that we use every single room every single day. Both DC have hobbies that need a lot of space and so they've each got a room where their stuff is laid out, one of which doubles as a guest room. Each have their own bedrooms and DH and I each have our own studies as we both work from home. So we've used every square inch of space.

But we never got round to doing it up. We've never had the money.

If you work outside the home, don't have space consuming hobbies (music or arts and crafts) and like to Kondo, the second house would be easier to run. i dream of living in a small, well-maintained, clutter free house when DC are gone. but we are very happy in our massive, scruffy house for now.

What are the gardens like re space and privacy?

Another one for parking being an asset- but maybe it depends how bad the parking is near you. I remember trying to get 2 young children and the shopping from car to house on a dark, wet, winter afternoon when the car is parked two streets away. And I once locked myself out of the house with the baby inside the house, (In her car seat), as I unloaded the stuff from a visit to my mother. (Got the police to break in for me)

Also loading and unloading heavy stuff - IKEA furniture, or transporting food for special family gatherings or having friends to visit. I really, really value having private parking and an easy parking street. I'm lucky but I compromised on other things.

Oh and I lived in a 6 bed period house for two years. It was gorgeous but so very cold that we tended to only use a couple of the rooms anyway.

In the end though OP - it's what works for you. Your priorities won't be mine. Good luck with the process.

I know that's not the house but why so few pictures for a 5 bed house?

Any side access to house number 1? Have family living in a Victorian terrace in that area of London and every time they mow the lawn all the cuttings have to be carried through the house, the bike has to be wheeled through the kitchen to the shed, etc.

Parkings awful. Struggling with a baby, three year old, shopping and so on when parked some distance away. Double parking on road so everytime the binmen, delivery trucks, fire brigade come out the road is completely blocked.

I'd go for number 2 because of the parking which is important to me.

So, having said Number 2, my considerations would be that you say house 2 is in a better location? How much better? and how big a factor is this for you?

Bathrooms? what would you end up with in house 1? no downstairs cloakroom? what would you put in the loft space and how would the arrangements work for your family? and, this would be important for me - what aspect to the gardens? I like a garden that has late afternoon and evening sun. How do the houses compare for your preferences on light and sun?

Well well, thank you all for so much insight and helpful thoughts!

We are going with.........

House 1!!

As I see it, compromises are really only; parking/some street noise.

As mentioned prior, really only use the car at weekend, so a faff once a week is no drama. On the doorstep of great town, parks, river, and transport links (both bus and rail), so I might actively try to reduce car usage. Ocado delivery

Street noise can be managed with double glazing, and knowing the road, should be pretty quiet come the end of the rush hour.

It might not be as safe an investment, but I think we would love living there, and have the budget to put our own stamp on it.

3rd viewed house 2 this morning as I thought that's where I was going, but there's no wow factor, and I actively disliked the kitchen.

Thanks everyone!

Sounds like a lovely house. I’d origionally said house 2 but that was before you updated with more info.

Hope everything goes well 👍🏻

On the basis of the look of the interiors and extra space I'd go for 1). But the I live in a terraced Edwardian with no parking. Totally used to it - double park outside if I need to drop off shopping etc. I don't even notice any hassles.