Three properties - which would you buy?

[Toastingthebun]

Been to look at 3 properties - two houses, one flat. Our landlord is selling our house and we are running out of time to buy our first property. We have one child, our 4 month old and aren't planning any others for another 4/5 years once this one is in school. So a 2 bed will do.

So the properties... which would you pick?

Property A

Quiet street
Parking in allocated space
Short walk into the village (20 mins to station with trains to London)
Small garden with shed
In need of redecorating throughout but nothing more than a change of wallpaper
Good size kitchen
Tiny bathroom... had a shower but no bath and no space to put one in either... so don't know how this would work for baby???
Small bedrooms - baby would outgrow her room as soon as she graduated to a single bed (room for cot but not a bed)
Probably built 80's or 90's at a guess
Bland and a bit boring

Property B

Middle of the village location - 10 mins to station with trains to London
Parking in allocated space
No garden
BIG on the inside - kitchen, dining room, living room and excellent size bedrooms, plus a loft that could be an attic bedroom or study
Has a damp problem and needs replastering in the living room and a new kitchen. Potentially expensive repairs!
Cheaper than property A
Victorian terrace - has character
Main road and busy

Property C

Modern flat built 7 years ago - everything is new and modern
Excellent layout and loads of room
Nowhere near station - 2-3 mile drive... we'd struggle to get to London if one of us had the car
Middle of nowhere! Newly built village that is still being built
First floor with no lift - a pain with the pram!
Beautifully decorated and no work needed
Can walk to nearby park with swings
No shops nearby... you'd have to drive
Two bathrooms - one ensuite shower and one bathroom with bath
£10K cheaper than property A and roughly £5K cheaper than property B
Obviously a flat has no garden...

What would you choose and why?

I would pick B if there's access to outside space like a park relatively nearby and depending on the costs of the damp repairs.
If there was no green space nearby or the damp was likely to cost thousands and thousands then my second choice would be A.
If the only option was C I would keep looking. The lack of lift would put me off with a baby.

I couldn't buy with no garden at all. It's a deal breaker for me so would be property A. You would put a baby bath in the bottom of the shower. Can you not fit a shorty bed in the box room? That would last you until baby is up to 10..... (My kids have a short bunk bed from Argos - I can sleep in it comfortably....my husband at 6' couldn't.). If you are going for B is there a yard or some sort of outside space?

None of them sound suitable.

A you would outgrow in 3/4 years, the small second bedroom just wouldn’t work.

B you’d really need to take a builder with you and get an idea of cost to remedy. Is there scope to put in a reduced offer to take into consideration the damp? Can you afford renovations? Are you bothered by road noise? I would be but then I’ve lived in a quiet cul de sac for years and really notice road noise.
C I think if you only had one car you’d feel pretty isolated if you are at home with baby al day. The lack of garden wouldn’t concern me, hoofing shopping and peak/pushchair up and downstairs probably would

If the damp wasn’t too bad then I’d chose B. The bedroom being too small would write off A for me ... otherwise why not save money and buy a 1 bed ??

So I’d go for C if the damp was an expensive job. In all honesty though none sound great 🙄

Really tricky.

I think I would choose the one with a garden, because having two boisterous toddlers, we all live in the garden from April - September. It is the worst in terms of space/access to the station.

Definitely not C, as it is lovely being able to walk to the shops, cafe, toddler group, school etc so being in the middle of nowhere with tiny ones gets annoying. And no lift in a new build flat is just shoddy!

B sounds OK if, like a PP said, you can get out to a park or some green space easily for those loooong toddler days where you need some fresh air.

A sounds too small for you, is it a one bedroom house ?? Odd to have a room too small for a single bed termed a bedroom.
B sounds the best to me, depending on the cost of the work.
Lots of my London friends live in flats with children and take them to the park or communal space , so unless you have a dog, a garden may not be a dealbreaker for you ?

none sound suitable . buying and selling is expensive enough so you dont want to need to do this in a couple of years - get another let while you keep looking

B. The garden thing isn't that important to us

None of them! Sorry. No point if it's too small, I wouldn't not have a garden and definitely wouldn't live on a main road. I also would find it a PITA being on the first floor but obviously people make that work.

Same as pp - none. I would wait until I find the right property as it's such a pain to go through the buying process - especially when you might be doing with children in the future.

I'd go with B or keep looking. A lot of damp issues are relatively easy to remedy, especially if you can identify the source.

I'd be compromising a lot on any of them. If I had to I'd go A.

I wouldn't buy any of them. Garden is essential for me, we are out there all summer. Flat + pram will be a pain in the arse for the next 12-18 months. And bedrooms in A are too small. Where would you put all her toys and other kid stuff?

Does B have any outside space at all? Even a yard is useful. The house I lived in when my kids were little had a patio with enough space for a water & sand table, table & chairs but not grass. We had parks & beach nearby and it was absolutely fine.

I’d get a builder to give you a quote for the damp (may be something as simple as a blocked gutter) and maybe try and get the price reduced to account for the work.

A I’d discount due to size and C due to location.

I’ve just had 2 bedrooms plastered, including boarding ceiling and some patches back to brick, cost £1k. Is kitchen liveable? I’ve lived in my house for 10 years, kitchen is probably from the 80’s, perfectly serviceable and liveable.

A. You said it was bland and boring. And that is why you should not buy it. You could also be stuck with it when you come to sell because others will think the same.
B. Best location. Character property. Good price. Damp can be fixed. Potential to improve and make money.
C. In the middle of nowhere. No lift. It's a flat.

No brainer for B.

I would keep looking! I have just come from living in a flat for 2 years and the lack of garden made me crazy. (Giant clothes horse in the kitchen is not good)

id keep looking. out of any - A with the garden. i would never live in a flat with kids, absolute nightmare (for me!)

B sounds lovely but needs a garden!

id keep looking. out of any - A with the garden. i would never live in a flat with kids, absolute nightmare (for me!)

B sounds lovely but needs a garden!

A, unless you can be sure the damp is easily and cheaply dealt with.

A child can happily be in a toddler bed for years. Is it really too small for that?

B. We live in a property like that and I love it.

None of them - sorry!

None of them.

I think potentially A sounds the best because of the garden and minimal work. Are you sure there's no room for a bed though? What are the dimensions of the room?

B. A lot of damp is easy to rectify and the precious occupants may not have heated and ventilated effectively.

I'd never choose small rooms like A or the total wrong location like C.