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Original poster

Am I mad? My heart says yes but head says no!

35 replies

Bagger288 · 01/11/2019 12:12

Currently live in a 2-bed Victorian terrace. It's me, DH and a 1 year old, plus dog and cat.

We've seen the most gorgeous country cottage. Idyllic location. Commutable to our work, just outside of the city so 15 minutes and you're in a place with proper shops etc. It's just been totally re-wired, new boiler put in, etc... it has a gorgeous garden, newly-turfed, a stream running alongside. Quiet but not too quiet. Lovely community. So picturesque. We both love it. I've got butterflies.

However... there are some massive downsides.

It's only a two-bed. If we had another baby, they could share for a while, but what about when the eldest is a teenager? It has room for an extension, but still...
The rooms are a bit pokey; large enough but low-ceilinged.
No hallway - the front door opens straight onto the living room.
No mains gas, only oil.
It's on a flood plain. The last time it flooded was in 1968 when a dam burst, but it would still factor into insurance.
The gardens are lovely but neither of us have 'gardened' properly before, so the learning curve would be massive.

Are we mad to be taking something like this on when starting a family? Should we be looking to upsize massively instead?

It's a real 'head vs heart' dilemma...

OP posts:

NonUrinatInVentum · 01/11/2019 12:15

It sounds gorgeous but YABU for not posting a link

I've lived city, suburbs and semi rural. By far my lovely little semi rural house was my favourite and I'd go back in heartbeat if I could. We emigrated so had to leave. We had oil heating, a well, and were 15 minutes from the nearest shop but my heart singing every time I came into the drive made it worth it.

Original poster

Bagger288 · 01/11/2019 12:17

Ooo sorry! This one here :) www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-85141301.html

Oh that's really reassuring. I can imagine my heart singing too. A well!!

OP posts:

Kitsmummy · 01/11/2019 12:25

Ah, pensford, I drive through it frequently! Are you sure it's on a flood plain? Most of Pensford is on a hill!

I take it you're currently in Bristol? I would absolutely move, as long as it's not actually on a flood plain??

Be aware though that Wells road traffic is hideous if you need to get into Bristol in the morning, but I expect you probably know this if you live in Bris!

FindMeInTheSunshine · 01/11/2019 12:34

It certainly looks interesting and a nice location to live in. It seems to be a "back to back" cottage, which would make me worry about noise from the neighbours, as you can't get away from it in any room. Would you be happy with the parking? If you often have friends visiting is there somewhere for them to park? Also, I don't think the estate agent understands what "dual aspect" means!

TheGirlFromStoryville · 01/11/2019 12:36

It's lovely op.
Would it be possible to convert the cellar perhaps?
Price is very reasonable.
I know what you mean about heart ruling head. I fell in love with our current house (Georgian terrace) and it's been a complete money pit plus it's now too big for us. I still love it but the amount of work and restoration has been horrendous.

What does your DH think?

Mosaic123 · 01/11/2019 12:37

Could you adults sleep in the cellar (I see it has a bathroom, and put 2nd child in the 2nd bedroom? Is there any way to excavate and make a window in the cellar? Might be cheaper than an extension.

JoJoSM2 · 01/11/2019 12:44

Personally, I wouldn’t consider it. For family life, I’d want amenities, parks, playgrounds, a leisure centre etc within walking distance. If your budget affords you a 3-bed, I’d definitely get one.

longearedbat · 01/11/2019 12:51

It's lovely, but - I would be very wary of buying something so close to a river. Not so much on a flood plain but just liable to flood. I would do a lot of research about historic flooding in the area.
The pattern of rainfall has changed so much. We get such torrential downpours now. There was no chance of our house flooding when we bought it, for example, but we had problems in 2007, and the EA has since redrawn the flood map to include our area as a potentially floodable place. If we were to ever move, I would make damn sure we lived at the top of a hill!

longearedbat · 01/11/2019 12:58

Just to add if you look at the EA map for that property it is just outside the area prone to bad flooding, but I still wouldn't risk it.

UpToonGirl · 01/11/2019 16:00

Have you looked at schools? If it's rural often there are limited options.

Original poster

Bagger288 · 01/11/2019 16:29

Thank you all for your responses. Yes, the cellar may be an option to extend into. It's big enough to stand up in so could be an extra spare bedroom or even a sort of games room for the kid(s). Or an extra bedroom, definitely.

The flood risk is a bit worrying I have to say, although you're quite right @longearedbat - it's just outside the danger zone. (Funnily enough the river would mean we might get bats!)

Husband was very very enthusiastic straight after viewing but has now cooled off slightly.

It's the only house we've looked at that we've really REALLY wanted. It was under offer but that fell through and it came back on the market - the woman pulled out due to the work needed according to the survey (e.g. chimney needs lining, render apparently needs doing although it was only done last year and has a ten-year guarantee)! - so I feel like we need to grab this opportunity. He feels rushed into it, and I totally understand why. I don't want to make any rash decisions but equally if we lost the place I'd be devastated...!

The Primary school is fine (I may even homeschool but that's another topic), it looks like there are a couple of decent state secondaries in the area too.

My brother and sister have raised children in a very rural setting (no parks, leisure centres, or shops nearby at all) and the kids love it and have really thrived. They make their own fun. (When they're teenagers it may be a different story though...)

OP posts:

notangelinajolie · 01/11/2019 16:37

Yes, do it . If the option to extend is there then I think you should seriously consider this house. It is lovely.

DillyDilly · 01/11/2019 18:10

How near to your garden is the stream - I would be constantly on edge with young children if there was flowing water nearby, if they were in the garden by themselves could they easily access the stream?

Children are drawn to water.

cakeandchampagne · 01/11/2019 18:16

“.....low-ceilinged” alone made me think no.
It is really nice, but I’d keep looking.

scaryteacher · 01/11/2019 18:24

Having just moved out from a house where the washing machine was in the cellar, I can tell you it is a PITA having to drag washing up and down the cellar stairs. I am glad to be back in my house with a utility room at the end of the hall.

senua · 01/11/2019 18:29

I'm not totally convinced. The rooms seem a bit white-box bland (take out the fireplace in the sitting room and the inglenook in the kitchen and what features are left?). Some of the upper floor rooms have sloping ceilings. The lane, lined with stone walls, seems narrow and parking looks cramped.

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 01/11/2019 18:42

I’m not really impressed with the property in all honesty OP, it’s not chocolate box pretty like I was expecting although if that is the outlook from your window, that in itself is very pretty, the back to back would put me off as well, it’s just not that characterful for a cottage.

Mummyshark2018 · 01/11/2019 18:42

I think the village setting is more attractive than the house. But it's very lovely.

ListeningQuietly · 01/11/2019 19:01

If you were able to put a BIG sunroom / conservatory / extension onto it
OR
Build a BIG "home office" / playroom / den in the garden
then do it

If not, keep looking

katycb · 01/11/2019 19:06

It's about the same size as the house we have just moved out of and our twins are 6. So i reckon even with 2 you would have at least 5 or 6 years without having to worry about space. You could do something with the celar or put a playroom/downstairs bedroom in.

Thewixxx · 01/11/2019 19:09

That last photo, the one with the lovely river and the bridge in it...... I can just imagine a BBC news reporter standing next to it, reporting on the latest flooding in the area.

So it's a no from me.

And a cellar next to a flood zone. That's called an indoor pond.

fruitypancake · 01/11/2019 19:17

It does look lovely but you might end up regretting not going for more space. Also, you have to consider the re-sale later on

parrotonthesofa · 01/11/2019 19:22

Looks amazing. Do it!

Rivergreen · 02/11/2019 00:05

Dangerous move posting on here OP! There is no perfect house and every house is subject to personal taste and has significant drawbacks for different people. I think any house you posted, people could come up with many different reasons why it's a terrible buy!

If you love it and can see how it would work for your family (plus can afford it and understand the risks) then go for it.

(Although if flood risk does concern you, then a bedroom in the cellar doesn't sound sensible: the cellar would be a great place to allow water to go if needs be. Doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it, just think about it's necessary to manage water ingress or whether the risk is so low as to not be an issue)

Appletreehouse · 02/11/2019 07:31

The second bedroom looks small with sloping ceiling, will be tight getting two kids in there in future. Is there even room for a dining table in the kitchen? The renovation looks quite basic, and it's overlooked in the garden, I would be constantly nervous of children near water. It really wouldn't be my choice but we're all different.. . . .Village looks nice though.

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