Moving from a quiet London street to a house on a very busy A road in the country ...... advice please am in a dilemna!

[2Earlgreysplease]

Would you do it? We have seen a fabulous family house but it is situated on a long stretch of fast and straight A road. I am having serious doubts about whether I (who will be the one there most of the time - children at school and husband away a lot) will be able to cope with the constant woosh of cash and thundering trucks etc going past the house. My gut says no. However, this is an amazing house which otherwise woudn't be affordable to us. It has been on the market for a year for obvious reasons and I am also worried about resale value.
This is going to be our 'forever home' and I do not want to buy in haste and repent at leisure.
Any thoughts would be so welcome. I am the bad guy in all of this as my husband has fallen for the house and the whole set up and my children are desperate for the lovely big garden.....

No. Don’t do it. We moved from posh central area out to the far-suburbs in hope of better lifestyle, garden, off street parking etc... totally failed to consider the impact of living on a through road out to the countryside - 30mph but moderate amounts of traffic constantly passing, and also under a flight path. We didn’t realise how valuable living on our quiet terrace was. Traffic noise is SO intrusive. We’re selling as soon as life allows.

Obvious Pros - you get a lovely house you couldn't otherwise afford.

Obvious Cons - Depending on how busy the road is, obviously safety and noise.

I think moving to the country from London is a fab idea (although I am biased!)

When I was younger we moved from a city to a small countryside town and my parents never regretted it.

You could keep looking for a home in the country that isn't on such a busy road?

I would agree with Specialsubject and MyWaterButtisEmpty (someone please teach me how to tag haha)

If you are going to make such a big move (and investment) to move to the country, you will want to enjoy all the benefits that come with it.

Where I grew up (Petersfield) I was able to walk to school and back - even to the town and back on my own and safely. And surrounded by lovely countryside - although Petersfield is a bit more developed now!

There are however things you can do to help with the acoustics. Are the windows double glazed? You might need to re-do the windows for better acoustics and this will obviously be at extra cost.

You can get a quote for windows online to help figure out a rough cost here: www.doubleglazingontheweb.co.uk/double-glazing-quote/

I've used it and it's fairly simple to do.

Posted on your other thread earlier. Go with your gut feeling OP. If you're the one who's going to be there most of the time, you'll be the one noticing the noise, not DH.

And it has been on the market for a year, so you're going to have the same problem when you resell.

This just isn't your forever home, even if it's everyone else's.

Although "the constant woosh of cash" sounds good.

Thanks posters, I had lost my post ! So hadn't replied - am not a usual MN so not well versed in how to remember where I posted!!
Still not made a decision.....think that says it all :-(

I put an offer in on my dream house 6 months ago and it was rejected. I was gutted. Thinking about it now, I say to myself - "Thank goodness". There was so much about it that wasn't right. Houses are like relationships that end - you think you'll never find love again but you will.

Thanks everyone for your in-put, I think on reflection, we have decided against it. Gutted to let go of that house, but a weight off my shoulders makes me suspect it's the right decision.

I think you have made the right choice!

Fingers and toes crossed you can find your dream home in the Countryside soon. (And then you'll be very glad you passed on this one!)

thank you sooooo much to all those who posted here, we did not buy the house but instead have eventually found a more beautiful house in a more beautiful and quieter spot. It was worth the
wait!

We did exactly this, and don't regret it. There are a number of positives, mostly the house was nearly half the price of one not on the A road so we have been able to keep a smaller property in London and rent it out in case we ever wanted to move back. We have new double glazing, a bank of trees (and are adding more) between us and the road and for a rural property it means our children can catch (hourly) buses to the nearest town from the road rather than need to be driven around. 3 months and I hardly hear the road and when I do notice it, I am surprised that I don't really hear it anymore. However, I do accept that it will be off putting for a lot of buyers when/if we come to sell, but everything sells for the right price. You really need to work out what you are prepared to compromise on. I feel very positive about our choice.

I didn't see the update! Glad you have found your house!!

It's so great to have an update I wish more people did that. Thank you!

Excellent update, OP.

The right decision. Your children will have so much more freedom and independence as they get older if you are happy with them cycling on your road.

Glad it all worked out, and for a better house!

Another no here lm afraid. The noise and dirt would be a massive issue. Plus we have pets and you have children so it sounds too dangerous to me. As others have said it’s priced that way for a reason

Aaaah just noticed it’s an update thread! Glad it’s all sorted itself out and you have found somewhere