House vs bungalow?

[aliteralAIBUforonce]

We have one toddler and hoping for another.

We've narrowed or choices down to two properties- one a semi and one a bungalow. Both three bed, both thirties build, same estate.

I've never lived in a bungalow. Pros and cons? It does have a bigger garden.

With a bungalow you tend to get a bigger plot. Layout is everything - where are the bedrooms in relation to the kitchen and living rooms? Is there just the bathroom or a additional toilet?

Also what is the loft space like - if you wanted to extend upwards could you and where would the stairs go?

What about parking? Is there a garage and how is the back garden divided from the front and are there gates to a drive - thinking about your children playing out.

Bungalows tend to be more expensive as the plot is usually bigger.

The bungalows round by me are all owned by pensioners, which means the gardens are all immaculate and everyone is in bed by 7 (yes I know, nothing like a bit of social stereotyping), and up at 6am.

As a PP said, it's all about layout. Don't forget that when you dc are in bed, you'll still want to potter around the house, watch telly etc, nightmare territory if you've got a light sleeper or bedroom next to the kitchen or living room.

I lived in a bungalow when I had my first DD. It was lovely! No need to keep running g up and down stairs to settle her. More floor space for her to play within my eyesight. She spent hours riding round the path outside on her tricycle!
Second DD we moved to a house with lots of Stairs! Less play area downstairs, less outdoor space. I'd go with the bungalow any day.

Oh, and the retired couple next door loved babysitting, and they always took my wShing in off the line if it was raining (and dried and ironed it!)
And mowed the lawns, cleaned my car, popped in with cakes every Thursday. Maybe it was the neighbours rather than the bungalow that I loved 🤣🤣🤣

Bungalows do tend to sell on really really well even in quiet areas.

I would choose the bungalow. There are alot of bungalows where I live and they are very popular with families.

I’m not British and don’t get the obsession with stairs. I think bungalows are fab and you aren’t forever running up and down.
As pp said, though, the layout needs to be right to separate living areas from bedrooms.

The bungalow does have a much bigger garden.

The second bedroom is right next to the sitting room which worries me about noise. Also only one loo. Two in the house.

I'm in a bungalow, due to where I have lived and now disability I have been on the ground floor for most of my adult life (in flats) and I now don't see the attraction of stairs.

I think sound is a bit of a red herring as a child I could hear the TV in the room below me. And I don't mean know the TV was on but being able to listen to the programme.

But I don't have children, I imagine potty training is a bit easier, I do remember my brother's children having a potty in the kitchen which I was a bit, well, not keen on.

You would not need stair gates in a bungalow, my living room opens directly onto the garden which is nice in summer.

Is the loft converted and is it detached? Bungalows are fantastic for family living. Plot sizes tend to be great.

We’re currently in a bungalow, purely because we live in bungalow land and if you decide against a bungalow here you are cutting your options by half.
We’re now thinking of moving to a house just because we’ve seen it and we like it.

I will miss my bungalow so much, easy to clean, no stairs to worry about with dd, stuff gets tidied away better than when we lived in a house, great for when dd is having an unsettled evening -no climbing the stairs multiple times.

On the other hand we’ve found noise levels harder in a bungalow, for example dh will boil kettle and it feels so noisy, especially if I’m still in bed. We do close doors to minimise this.

I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another bungalow, unfortunately what we want from our next home isn’t available within our price range.

I love a bungalow. Everything feels bigger yet closer. It's difficult to describe but I feel far more comfortable in a bungalow and I've lived in all sorts of properties from a council flat to a huge Manor House!

It's even better for toddlers because you can let the have free reign if you want but you're still close enough to know what they're up to in their bedroom playing because it's just a quick wander down a corridor.

We moved from a house to a bungalow when DC was 12 months and haven't looked back. I feel safer with him toddling around the house, no stairs to worry about, can always hear what he's doing.
Downside is noise - at night we can generally potter around, watch tv etc but I'm careful with toilet flushing (as its next to his room) and sudden loud noises.

I would just make sure you double check the layout and make sure there is nothing near your DCs room that could be too noisy. Other than that, bungalow life is brill!

I also agree with others that noise isn't necessarily reduced with stairs. In SIL's house we can hear the telly and people talking in the living room so loudly in the bedroom above it but in our bungalow it's much quieter in the bedrooms.

Where I grew up bungalows were the norm. I can’t say it’s any different to a multi story house. Maybe a bit easier to keep an eye on children and more flexible for extensions.

Just noted your other house was a semi. I would definitely say a bungalow then. Semis can be grim.

Bungalow every time without question.

All that wasted energy traipsing up & down the stairs for forgotten items, all that heavy laundry etc is now put into much better activities!!

I am the most time-saving efficient person with a gazillion life-hacks and a bungalow is at the top of the list 😂👍

I deliberately chose one with a layout that enabled all ‘properly’ lived-in rooms not to be seen when I opened the front door to people.

We are unable to raise the roof on ours solely due to cost but it’s a substantial one so don’t ever see that we’d need to.

The only issue I have is the insecurity of having windows open overnight. Having said that, we have a front gate which makes me feel a little safer.

Often in countries where space isn’t limited people choose to build bungalows (Australia, St Africa, NZ etc).

The second loo is only necessary so that there is one downstairs - only one in a bungalow is less of an issue.

The site, setting, gardens and privacy are important considerations.

Post both links!

Obsession with stairs? Nope - just more crowded so buildings tend to go upwards more than one storey.

I've lived in a bungalow before, my child loved being able to forward roll from his bedroom straight into the living room He likes feeling close to us I think.

The part I didn't like was the bedrooms being beside the front door, any visitors coming in could see into your room if you forgot to shut the doors

If the bungalow is detached go for that if not and the bedrooms side on to the neighbours living room you are likely to be able to hear their TV. As a serial bungalow liver now over 60 I can tell you that I go to bed at midnight and have my TV on loud but I'm detached so it doesn't disturb anyone.
The layout can also make a difference re your own household noise. The bungalow we had when DS was growing up was great as the bedrooms were a long way from the lounge so he wasn't disturbed at night. In our current property both bedrooms joint the lounge so not so good from that point of view.
Two loos, especially with a family is a big plus.
A silly point but some people don't settle in bungalows as they like to go upstairs to bed!

The bungalow is a semi.

I now live in my first bungalow. The layout of DS's bedroom next to the kitchen and mine near the kitchen and next to the hall and front door mean that the kitchen is out of bounds after his bed-time, and I get woken early whether I like it or not. At least if you're upstairs there can be dishwasher noise/quiet conversation early or late downstairs without disturbing everyone else.

Your situation sounds a bit different - how much noise from the living room will DS hear? I bet it'll be fine. Ask the current owners, or ask if you can go round and put their TV on and see what you can hear next door. I have done this kind of thing before and the owners were fine about it because it clinched the sale.

Sometimes bungalows have less storage - no understairs for the hoover!

I hated living in a bungalow. Noise & didn't feel happy with windows open at night in the summer. And when your DC are teenagers it's great for them (and you!) to be able to have a bit of separation. Running up & down the stairs is good exercise!

Yes storage can be a big issue especially if there isn't a garage. I have a hall cupboard for the hoover etc but that's it inside. We are pretty minimalist but still have plenty in the garage and loft. As pp said open windows can also be an issue, I once woke up to next doors cat sitting on my chest looking into my eyes. Still love single storey living though.