Bungalow

[EllieRay]

We have found a property for sale, our dream plot. Loads of space for the kids, wrap around private garden in our budget.

The catch is that it's a bungalow and not a house. We would extend the bungalow to give us a big kitchen family space but all bedrooms would stay downstairs.

Going up wouldn't be an option as it would be out of our budget/push the ceiling price of the house.

We would have plenty of space and the plot we want but we are struggling to come to terms with living in a bungalow as a young family.

Any pros and cons of bungalow living?

Our family home was a bungalow. It's a gorgeous house & my Mum still lives there. Definitely go for it

I think though if you’re one for having friends over, or the tv on late, or you’re up late, pottering, it’s best the kids are upstairs sleeping than just across the hall so they are not disturbed by someone moving about outside their rooms

Never ever found that to be a problem when we were growing up. 😊

Bungalows hold their money very well. My mum and dad live in one and its lovely. I'd happily live there.

I grew up in bungalows and wouldn't live in one now. I don't like sleeping on the ground floor, mainly during safety reasons. I remember being wary opening a window at night in case someone came in. It was good for sneaking out at night though as a teenager!

My worry would be in the summer, sleeping with the windows open I wouldn’t feel very secure, Especially the children’s bedrooms.

Our first family home was a detached bungalow.
It was fab when the kids were small. No stairs to carry them up and down, could sit in the garden whilst they napped and just look through the window. I could push the pram up a ramp in the door and into the nursery if baby was still sleeping after a walk, so flexible.
I'd prefer a bungalow to a house.
What I hate about our house is the TV noise from the lounge radiates to the bedroom directly above it, likewise the washing machine if I put it on late at night. In s bungalow the living and sleeping areas tend to be quite separate so you don't get the same level of noise. No creaky stairs or floor upstairs, the floors in our bungalow were nice and solid. No hearing the boiler fire up becsusevit was in the kitchen which didn't have a bedroom above it.
Of the kids were playing in their bedrooms it's just easy to pop and see what they're upto etc.
Honestly bungalow living for young families should come as standard.
I think our next move will be back to a bungalow. House living isn't all that imo, once you've experienced single level living.

What do bungalow owners think of security issues of all being on one level?

I know burglars can get in downstairs in a two storey house, but it is something I was always a bit wary of. Save me please!

We bought a bungalow after me initially feeling wary about it.Absolutely love it now and it’s great with the kids. I don’t worry about security any more than a normal house, and certainly feel safer in terms of fire.

I dont think security is any different. We had a burglar alarm but I think if you were a burglar type person you can usually tell which windows are living room/kitchen ones and which ones are bedrooms

No different, @saveeno. There are secure ways to ventilste bedrooms in summer, such as dedicated vents and safety catches.

In contrast, it's much easier to get out of a bungalow in a fire. The thought of being on the top floor of a townhouse, where the master suite usually is, terrifies me, in that respect.

We considered bungalows when we were house hunting but didn't find anything suitable. We've ended up on a dormer bungalow, though, which is twice as big downstairs as up. We lived entirely downstairs quite comfortably for the first few months.

We moved to our bungalow last year. Mid-30s with a baby and toddler. Love it! Works so well as a family home compared to our Beautiful old three story Victorian terrace we used to live in.
The only downside I can imagine is that when the kids grow up they’ll (and we will!) want more privacy so we’re planning to convert the loft.

Thanks for replies regarding my fear of one storey living! Appreciate it.

My first house was a bungalow, it was the choice between that or a flat and I wanted a garden. I absolutely loved it and would move to one tomorrow if I found one big enough.

Easier to clean and tidy as there's no up and down stairs with clean/dirty washing!

They don't build many so I would guess it would keep its value well too.

Love our bungalow! We've extended it twice. You get so much more land for your money so its easy to do. If we'd bought a house for the same money we'd not have ended up with the amount of space we have now. Lots of younger people have bought on our road now so it's a mix of ages.

The bedrooms are all on one side and the kitchen/family space is on the other so I think it will be perfect sounds like the same set up we have. We moved into a 4-bed detached bungalow with our two preschoolers last year and it's been brilliant. There's so much more space inside and out for them to play. We're not any more concerned about security than we were in our 3-bed semi estate house.

At night, the kids go to bed in their rooms with the doors open, and we leave the living area doors ajar so we can hear them and they know where we are if they need us. In terms of noise, our old house had the stairs in the lounge and no door at either end, so the noise in the bedrooms was far more intrusive than it is now - you can actually have a private conversation without being overheard from somewhere else in the house.

In terms of noise, our old house had the stairs in the lounge

Same set up as mine, wasn't an issue when I lived alone but hearing boyfriend snoring in bed whilst I'm watching tv downstairs gives me the rage. I need a new house!

Bungalows are great. Often detached and in good sized plots, often young enough not to have roof issues but old enough to have good sized rooms. Big windows, easily reconfigured walls and sits well with contemporary clean lines or retro furnishing.

No stairs for toddlers to fall down

@userxx you need a bungalow

I lived in a bungalow and it was great for small kids, elderly relatives and pets. All the windows and gutters were easy to reach, the garden was bigger, and I wasn’t overlooked because the windows of the neighbouring bungalows were below fence height. Then I moved to a house with lots of stairs and it’s a pain. I’d happily move back to a bungalow for my next house!

I have a bungalow with a 'under the stairs' cupboard just no stairs! Lovely room off the hall to keep hoover, ironing board etc - always referred to as the cupboard under the stairs!!

Always getting told to get rid of it alongwith the airing cupboard and the coats and shoes cupboard (all little rooms off the hall) and have a large spacious hall but why??

Currently in a two floor house - usually live in a one floor flat. Just this morning I caught myself thinking ‘bloody hell, not again’ as I went up or down the stairs YET AGAIN!
I haven’t ever slept in a ground floor bedroom and I know I’d have to do things to feel secure but pretty easy things. There are really lovely shutters etc which would help a lot.
I personally would go for it.

‘Elinor’ liver your cupboard under the stairs!
I have in my time had a ‘study’ a ‘workshop’ and an ‘airing cupBoard’ none of which were used for their given nameD purpose, ever, at all. As for anyone with a ‘withdrawing room‘ well . . .

I also think that bungalows will appreciate faster than a house. Just their scarcity and potential makes them ideal for house improvement and increasing value, packing a punch above their weight.

There's no more security issue than with a house. Why on earth would there be? Safer escaping in event of fire and and new windows have vents for ventilation.

They're a brilliant buy if you can find them and fend off the competition!

Just remembered when my friend lived in a bungalow she referred to the second bathroom as the 'downstairs toilet' 🤣

I remember Kirsty or Phil on Locations said the British are just used to two storey living. Based on some of these positive opinions I would definitely consider it myself next time!