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Original poster

Help me choose between two very different houses

78 replies

reallybadidea · 14/03/2019 16:44

Our house shortlist currently has just two houses on it. It's a bit head vs heart and I'm not even sure what I'm looking for anymore!

House 1: Large barn conversion. 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Beautiful. High vaulted ceilings (presumably with accompanying huge running costs). Huge kitchen. Two (!!) utility rooms. Medium-size garden. Very rural, but other houses close by. 15 minutes to the nearest shop. 25 minute drive to work for both DH and me. Lots of ferrying kids around to friends and activities.

House 2. Very modern style townhouse, not sure whether the style will date a bit tbh. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms. Small kitchen. No utility room. Tiny garden. Very urban area, supermarkets and city centre very close by. DH and I can both cycle to work very easily. No more ferrying kids around, they can get cycle or get buses very easily. Near a train station, so opens up more job opportunities for us both.

Price-wise there's only about £20K between them. Instinctively I love house 2, however we've been living semi-rurally for almost 20 years and frankly, I'm a bit sick of commuting and driving everywhere. On the other hand most of our friends are local and would still be close by with house 1. The size of house 1 is a plus in some ways, but actually the children will (probably) have left home within 4 years, so I think DH and I would be rattling around on our own most of the time before very long.

Help!

OP posts:
ImperfectTents · 15/03/2019 06:48

High ceilings are lovely but the winters are miserable. Heating is only going to get more expensive as is driving

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/03/2019 18:36

I was going to ask about parking , but 3 spaces , yes .

I have teens (6th Form and University)
Getting from A-B and having a Rail Station nearby makes far more difference and sense than House 1 .

I say House 2 .

Original poster
reallybadidea · 16/03/2019 00:07

We went for a second viewing at house 2 today and I still can't quite make up my mind. At this rate someone else will buy it and that will be that!

OP posts:
PickAChew · 16/03/2019 00:13

Maybe the idea of the house is great, then, but not the execution. You might get what you need in an extended semi or bungalow, without the lack of living and entertaining space.

brizzlemint · 16/03/2019 00:45

House 1 without a doubt.

LikeDolphinsCanSwim · 16/03/2019 01:00

It seems clear that you need to be in town for now. That will bring huge improvements to everyone’s quality of life. If house 2 isn’t quite right, keep looking.

House 1 maybe lovely, but doesn’t solve any of your problems except a bit more space. Not being on public transport routes with older teenagers would be a deal-breaker for me. As someone said earlier, move again to a smaller version of house 1 when the DC have all left home and you have either retired or given up the overnight on-calls.

Tavannach · 16/03/2019 01:23

Aesthetics aren't everything. Just think of the time and money house 2 would save. If you can pinpoint what it is that's making you hang back about house 2 that would help.

Crabbyandproudofit · 16/03/2019 01:44

Not House 1, sadly. Although it is lovely it really isn't meeting your criteria for moving.

Re House 2 and the lack of utility room, if it's mainly to use as a laundry room then could any of the bathrooms (even an en-suite) double up if big enough? It sounds as if you are not quite won over by House 2 yet? I think that is OK, it may not be the right house for you. However, if you want to move soon you will need to buy the best house available. At this point in your life, good transport and facilities are important to all your family.

mustdrinkwaternotwine · 16/03/2019 01:46

House 1 sounds like the one you think you should buy so you can have magazine worthy moments with you all singing carols around the grand piano; house 2 sounds like the one which would just make day to day life much easier and therefore more pleasant for everyone. Not just being in town but the layout will give you more options I think for the teenagers and their friends to hang out together whilst you're in another room.

KickAssAngel · 16/03/2019 02:02

How much time will you save each time you drive in and back each night? How much time will you save not driving teens around?

Add that up per week/month. Because it sounds like the difference between House 1 and 2 is several hours per week - and sleeping hours, too.

Decide if you want to be town or country, then just look for that one type. I found an amazing house (decades ago) by walking around a city in all the areas that we'd thought about living - literally walking up and down streets - and then contacting estate agents that had boards up in streets I liked. That was before the internet, so should be fairly easy now.

Rainbowqueeen · 16/03/2019 02:11

House 1 sounds like it will suck time and money from your life. Is that really worth it for something that looks nice? Does it really have any major benefits?

I would go for house 2 or Lee looking but with the criteria of only looking in town

Susannach · 16/03/2019 02:33

House 2 for the next decade or so, then reassess. Agree that time, money and effort saved on a daily basis trumps aesthetics any day, plus it sounds like the rest of the family is keen for this option. Also, two bathrooms for a family of six, including two working parents and four teenagers, is not a lot!

Myfoolishboatisleaning · 16/03/2019 02:46
  1. Without a shadow of a doubt. It’s all about location and the ferrying the kids about only gets worse. Also don’t you want an easier social life?
MissWimpyDimple · 16/03/2019 03:56

House 2 sounds perfect. Your teens will be far more present in your lives living in town. They will have friends round and be a lot safer with a base to return to.

House 1 sounds lovely but unsuitable for your needs.

I grew up semi rurally and got into all sorts of scrapes because I couldn't get home. Plus I left home as soon as I could. At least in house 2 your teens will be less inclined to get out ASAP!

No brainer for me.

Monty27 · 16/03/2019 04:19

Hrtht
House 2 is not what you want. House 1 is but in the wrong place.
Wait. And good luck Smile

Cafeculture · 16/03/2019 09:05

To me the only downside of house 2 is the small kitchen but it depends how small.
I'm not keen on a tiny garden but it's what I have myself and at least it's little work and has enough space to sit outside so that's ok.
Otherwise it sounds ideal for your needs. Of course if you really don't like the feel of it you should find something else.

I wouldn't entertain house 1 with all that driving and ferrying around. It's the kind of house I'd love for a holiday but not for every day.

dancemom · 16/03/2019 09:31

Would you be willing to move again in 5 years?

If so, House 1 for now then House 2 or similar in 5 years to be your forever home

dancemom · 16/03/2019 09:31

No other way! House 2 for now 🙈

pinkdelight · 16/03/2019 10:06

House 2, no question. House 1 sounds like fantasy - grand piano etc. Ain't gonna happen. House 2 makes way more sense for your family. Separate living spaces is really helpful as is being able to go places independently. Madness to be driving around that much just to have a high ceiling.

BlueMerchant · 16/03/2019 10:14

House 2. Suits your family better imo

raeray · 16/03/2019 10:15

As beautiful as house 1 sounds, I also agree I think house 2 is the one for you all for now.

Can we see right move links to really give you our opinion? We might see what's making you hesitate then? (Also I love right move looking so no worries if you don't want to put them on here!)

Springisallaround · 16/03/2019 10:22

To me, this isn't about houses, it's about your lifestyle and your children's lifestyles. There's a lot of freedom for teens in being able to have friends over, go out by themselves, go into town/city and go to events, voluntary work and so on.

OliviaBenson · 16/03/2019 10:51

Neither- I think you need a house in town but that house 2 isn't right for you. I would see what else is in town.

WFTisgoingoninmyhead · 16/03/2019 10:59

I moved from a rural property to a new build surrounded by people in the centre of an industrial town. They were worlds apart Three years on my DH has just about got used to it, we only have 1 car, the kids soon pissed off as the neighbours were too close and “looking at them”!!!! And they had to use a bus to get anywhere as I refused to take them anywhere as public transport was so good. I absolutely love it, last night we walked to one of 10 pubs within a mile, got chips on the way home and never once needed a fucking torch to see where we were going.

Just not having to ferry kids about will save you at least 10 hours a week, believe me you won’t regret it.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/03/2019 11:37

I grew up in 'rural' and it hacked me off as a teenager and even now when I go to see my DParents.
You need a car to get anywhere easily , there are buses but two of the services stop early evening, the remaining one is every 50 minutes !

You can't really rely on your teenagers driving themselves there will be times they cannot go by car (Parking, no car available, party )

I notice the Grand Piano and the Christmas Tree as a plus Grin I look on RightMove and think "Oh my tree would go there " but that's only one month out of twelve .
And I don;t want a piano.

If another buyer gets House 2 , how will you feel? Gutted or relieved ?

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