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

Can't comment on location.

Number 1is gorgeous, but detached and parking would make number 2 the winner for me, assuming you have the capacity to do it up (finances and time). We had a similar amount of work to do (albeit on a 1970s house), I'd recommend doing as much as possible before you move in if you can.

Property 2. The old-fashioned furniture isn't doing the house any justice, but it is a much better property. Detached, garden and plenty of private parking, plus never having to deal with neighbours!

2

#2 by far. The house is detached and has potential, the garden is much nicer.

#1 has that building at the end of a not very interesting garden.

No 2. It looks like a forever home. I'd choose detached any day. A bit of work done over time and it's a beauty.
No 1. is lovely but doesn't scream live here and love me.

I agree the furniture is making no 2 look much older.

Don't move to Harlow! I prefer the house but sawbridgeworth is so much nicer. I've lived in Harlow until 18, I got out, would never go back

Is location not that important to you?

Just from the photos I prefer house 1. Love the Edwardian rooms/features For ME house 2 has a lot of potential, but so much I would want to change, but you said you don’t mind waiting to do it, so no big deal I guess.

The Air Cadets building would put me off number 1 as would the area, but you’ve already said YOU like the area so 🤷🏻‍♀️

I would keep looking!

Do you want to put a link to your current house, we might be able to make some suggestions that’ll help you sell it?!

I have had another look:

House 2.

It has the potential for a loft conversion.

Closer to a park / green.

Imagine it without all that old fashioned furniture in it.

Lovely airy house.

Much better for bathrooms.

#2 it will future proof you

#1 has a crap layout, shit kitchen and you’ll waste money putting it right.

House number 1 is to die for!

But house number 1 is always going to be in HARLOW

2 definitely

Testing

Right sorry all. I wrote a massive reply yesterday but because I tried to attach a photo, it didn't post!!

Thanks all for your input. I've been delaying responding until we had chance to view the property (#2) which we now have.

The location is absolutely perfect as is the setting for the house. The inside is very dated as you can imagine and obviously needs rewiring , new doors, flooring etc. I like the room set up. The owners are quite particular who they want it go to (family I think which we are) and apparently they already have 3 offers but all below.asking price. We like it enough to make an offer but will have to stand back if it starts a bidding war bearing in mind we have no spare money to anything but rewiring at this stage.

There were also some cracks on the wall so would obviously need a full survey to check for subsidence. I did try and upload some photos of the cracks but mumsnet wouldn't let me post them for some reason.

To answer some of the other questions (I'm sorry if I miss any out)

Good point about the air cadet place...it.could obviously change hands at any point and then would be difficult to sell. Also the parking situation may get old.
Yes, I've looked at crime stats and flooding reports...neither property appears to be too damning.
I do actually like old harlow. I know many don't.like it.l, from reputation or experience, I don't know but wouldn't mind living there.
The new gilston development shouldn't directly impact the eyeline of the property at this stage
Although property 1 is.ready and property 2.needs a lot of work, I find myself thinking that any new place we'd move into would need a lot of work over the next 20 years but maybe I'm romanticising things!

I do think we will be outbid on the property but que sera sera. We had a pregnant couple view our own house today and made the right noises but who knows!!

Ps. A massive apology for the lack of paragraphs too.... I promise that I wrote that below essay in paragraphs but mumsnet changed the format!

Oo good luck.

Were the cracks external? were there also cracks on the inside in the same place? where they straight down or diagonal?
top or bottom?

Sorry just thought if you can't do pics yoi might be able to describe them.

I once bought a house with cracks on an external wall, the survey came back fine and turn out something had expanded,(can't remember what as it was a long time ago) and it was just a case of repointing, the seller had it done for me before I moved in.

2 Sawbridgeworth is so much better area for safety etc. Also schools there are amazing. I think it also has more potential.

You seem to get more for the money with house 2.
House 1 is lovely in a lot of respects but the kitchen diner is awful.

@moobaamoobaa

The cracks go from top to bottom and near the window frame (not too wide) Couldn't see any obvious ones on the outside but to be fair didn't spend much time at the property.

To PP, yes the schools are amazing!!

Re the cadet building behind #1, that particular building is unlikely to be sold. Joint cadet centres, which that is, are what the MOD likes. It appears to have good facilities as well. The only way I can see it being sold is if it is in disrepair., which it doesn't seem to be.

It is a hireable venue, but that is usually used for filiming, photography etc. It isn't going to be hired for raves, so you can sleep easy on that one.

So glad you went for number two, property one looks lovely on the surface but it’s all fur coat and no knickers. That extension is really poorly planned and the space would end up doing your head in. No parking and unknown situation in the future with the air cadets are nails in the coffin.

Detached all the way, if you’ll be in it for the next 15 take your time and do it up as you go. It’ll be stunning.

Good luck with the bidding!

1

The sawbridgeworth one

Don't know either area, but I think number 2 is a better bit. Number 1 is beautifully done up, but you are at the whim of the market as to whether it increases in value. You could work on number 2 for the next 5-10 years and increase the value enormously. Number 2 can be transformed, but number one can't be made detached or given a drive.