Which house do you prefer?

[Hisashiburi]

We are looking for our family home for the next 15 or so years and I'm torn.

Which one do you prefer? Both are very different and very different to our new build. Both close to good schools and transport.

Property #1
www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/81834209

Property #2

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/82668125

House number 1

They’re both lovely houses, but my heart would go with no.1. It’s gorgeous and the space is lovely.

number 1, don't like 2 at all

I prefer 2. It looks more spacious and the garden is nicer, although I appreciate you’d be looking at spending a fair bit to modernise.

I think it's an army cadet base behind no 1

Location always, Sawbridgeworth is generally considered nicer than Harlow.

Wow! Thanks all..
Some really good things to mull over.

To answer peoples questions as best I can.

The building in property #1 is the air cadets who meet once per week.
The road for property #1 is nicer and in a conservation area. Road isn't a through road so not too busy.
I do like property #2 but as you say, needs a lot of work but at least liveable with some new carpets from day 1.
I agree about the price. They stand to make a lot given that they have only given it a lick of paint and added an orangery.
I keep umming and ahhing about how much hassle we would want, especially with full time jobs in London and two little ones but the thought of making a property all of our own sounds good!

Oh my god I’m in love with number one.DH too if you don’t we might

Detached
Off street parking / set back
2 upstairs bathrooms (five beds and one combined toilet / bathroom upstairs is a downside of no. 1)
Better garden
Nicer place

Kitchen can be re-worked.

Number 2. It’s detached with a lovely big drive. Loads of potential too. The first one is lovely but I don’t like that big warehouse-type building at the back.

Yes, we would need to add a second shower room on top floor on property #1 whereas #2 already has one.

What’s going on with the kitchen ceiling in 1? Also it’s essentially a very narrow, small kitchen that’s just open at one end

Number 2 but with the caveat that I don't know the areas. I'd go detached every time

And that building is an infrequently used one now, no idea what it will be in 5 years time...

Sawbridgeworth is much nicer than Harlow isn't it?

And detached house. I'd go for 2 although I see house 1 is more attractive

I much prefer house 1 but I wouldn't live in Harlow, although granted it may have changed, Sawbridgeworth is a much nicer area. Tricky.

1 is beautiful, but 2 is detached with off street parking and is a winner for me.

1. No question. Detached, parking, bigger reception rooms 2 upstairs bathrooms. would be a lovely family home. Number 1 seduces but nah

Both fab properties.
house 1
pros
aesthetics
'done'
5th bedroom

cons
mLack of parking
less living space compared to bedroom space
no utility

house 2
pros
massive downstairs
scope to 'make it your own' but ok to live in in meantime
parking
4 really good bedrooms

cons
less aesthetic in conventional terms
ideally needs some modernisation

For me location would probably be the deciding factor, but never underestimate parking. You might not use the car much now, but might that change? you never know!

Do you have any idea as to how much no 2
Would be valued at if updated/modernised?

Number one for sure, it’s gorgeous. The second house is nice too but but would take a lot of work to get it anywhere near the first one!

What is the building at the bottom of the garden in number 1

I would go for number 2
I prefer the outside space
It has a drive
It’s detached

In time you could make that house a forever home.
Number one is initially the one that impresses but the garden is a bit sterile and the building at the end bothers me.

I would never buy a house without a drive and a utility ever again. They keep me from writing parking threads. And Valium

I've not read the thread but house 1. In fact so much house 1 that I only looked at half the house 2 pics.

House one.

1. Detached and would look lovely once done. Just do a room at a time. I wouldn’t want to look at that brick wall at the end of the garden of 1 and the kitchen is very narrow. The photos make it look almost like an island but that is a wall between kitchen &dining area.

I'll stick my neck out and say that while no.1 is very nice, I don't like the kitchen. It looks like they took the cheap way out & instead of putting another steel or two in the ceiling void they left a wedge of wall between the kitchen/diner. I'd want that knocking out. No.2 is a bit more of a blank canvas but from my previous experience looks like it'd sink 1 or 200k to bring it up to scratch inside & out. How much have you got in savings op?