Help me choose a house please

[squeezysparklyballs]

House 1: three bed, ex council. Separate dining room, living room and kitchen. Needs new bathroom and garden needs a lot of work- rotten decking etc. Very Small kitchen. Wooden Garage. can buy this outright, no mortgage. Would have lots of cash to do up.

House 2: 30's three bed semi. Lots of original features. Bigger rooms. Dining, living room and again separate. Needs new bathroom (tho useable) kitchen is old but useable and huge. Lovely garden with shed and greenhouse. Built in garage, conservatory. Would require small mortgage (payments would be 15% of our income). Little cash to do up.

They're on the same street.

We have one toddler and planning DC2.

House 2, sounds like you’ll be able to stay there longer with the bigger rooms and it costs a lot to move.

House 2, the very small kitchen in house 1 would put me off.
You would want to change it after a while and end up spending a lot of money on it, and putting up with building work and disruption.

House 2 without a doubt.

House 2.

I'm currently in your House 1 and constantly daydreaming about my escape to House 2!

I would pick house 2 too

House 2. I've lived in 2 1930s semis and they have both been great houses - solid, decent ceiling height but not too high, good sized rooms (apart from the 3rd bedroom which is often a box room, some bigger than others)

Hands down house 2

House 2

DH is also a fan of house two.

So, toddler proofing a green house, anyone?

Put a lowish picket fence round it with the catch on the other side. It will still get light and heat. Or any open weave fence.

I would also say House 2, however I bought House 1 myself and have since added a 2 storey extension, creating as nice big bright kitchen diner, separate lounge, 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. But if House 2 is affordable and you have scope to make it your own, then go for it. Round here the non ex-LA semis are worth a hell of a lot more despite our ex-LA being a lovely, bright and warm place to live now.

Incidentally we also have a greenhouse and have been looking at replacing the glass with perspex - not a cheap task! I'm terried DD will run into it this summer. No room for a fence but lots of pots around the outside will help.

I don't have a greenhouse but I'm sure I've heard before that you can replace the glass with plastic type stuff (can't think of the name!) So that may be an option?

What risk do you think there is from a greenhouse? Is it in case they don't see it or that they might throw something at it?

If you don't want the greenhouse you could just remove the glass or offer it up on freecycle for someone to come and dismantle. To make it more visible you could put garden netting around it up to toddler head height.

We got rid of our greenhouse on Freecycle and replaced it with a shed.

House 2

Also would go with house two. With an integral garage you have the means to use that as another room (bedroom/play room etc) later on down the line if needed.

House 2 if your looking for a long term family home. House 1 if your looking for a project and would move again.

Both will be “well built” but house 2, will be a better family home. Prioritise the jobs, maybe start with the bathroom. In time maybe remove the conservatory, and create a large open plan living / kitchen / dining space to the rear.
Either sell the greenhouse, or replace the glass.

House 2.

Those style of houses hold value a bit better too.

I’m for house 2 .. better for a long plan family home

House two is winning... it's just I would remain mortgage free with house one.

£80k difference in asking price

House 2 but no mortgage does sound great. Get rid of the green house.

House 2 - we live in a 4 bed 1930s. Still have not extended - but we did a small renovation to the house. Love it. We kept the greenhouse then had DC no 3 - he never bothered about it and boy is he a busy boy - but the only thing he does with the greenhouse is help his dad plant tomatoes and water them!
My older DS was more of a problem - he and his friends have managed to break 4 windows - but we had old replacement ones which DH replaced them with, it is easy to get them on free cycle.
However, if we could we would remove it now, it is more hassle than it is worth so we plan to remove this summer or next.

House 2 for sure!

I just can't get over the £80k price difference...

Can't decide if it's worth it.

House 2.
We bought a doer upper, with small kids (youngest 6 months when we moved) and also big kids. Even with the money to do up, it’s hard work and messy. I almost can’t see dust anymore, it’s part of the features. Maybe negotiate house 2 down a little, see what other houses on the street sold for. I love my house, but I completely underestimated the time it takes to decorate (inc plastering and carpets) when we got work and have kids to look after.
Good luck