A new vs old debate...

[StatisticallyChallenged]

We've just gone under offer with our current house, a period property in the middle of Edinburgh which we love but we want more space, a garden etc and a bit of a change so we're looking at 2 houses and can't decide what to buy!

We have 2 kids, 10 and 20 months (a total tornado of a child). I work full time, and we run our own business too. We've now basically got a choice of 2 houses...

1. older bungalow, same floor area, big (1/2 acre plot) garden. Has loads of potential, but we'd want to extend the kitchen (60k quote), bathroom needs replaced, every wall needs stripped and likely skimmed, and I'm suspecting we'll end up needing to replace electrics to some extent. I think a lot of DIY has been done so who knows what we'd turn up.

It would need the work done straight away not in a few years time. Garden would probably need professional help to get it decent - lots of huge overgrown trees. On at offers over 455, Home report value 470 but they've had 50 viewings and likely to go to closing soon so may need to bid high to get it.

Site has huge fence and trees round it so no neighbour chat, but it backs on to a road which is likely to get busier due to new builds nearby so trees are needed for noise. Oldest DD hates it.

2. new build a stones throw from the project. Complete - we could be in within 6 weeks. Same square footage pretty much, smaller but nice garden, very light, good sized rooms. Met the neighbours looking around, seem nice. Edge of development so you have neighbours either side but nobody behind so feels quite open, nice views from garden. Priced at 515, I haven't tried to negotiate yet. Oldest DD loves it.

I'm really torn so thought I'd ask some strangers! We've always fancied doing a project but I'm just not sure now is the time and we'd have to live in it while it's done as we have cats so rental is out. And I'm worried about DD - this is already a big change for her and I'm concerned she's not going to settle as well if we're doing a building project in a house she doesn't like. But it has bags of potential.

Don't know if I am missing something but I can't see any arguments for 1! Much more hassle for a house that isn't even bigger or nicer.

Tough one, I would always go for a project. You could get it to exactly how you want but understand it’s an upheaval, I’ve you ever done a renovation project before because they are time consuming and usually cost more than you think. What does your daughter dislike about it? Is it location or because it needs work? I would only be concerned if it’s location because it’s miles away from any of her friends etc. Which is in the better location? I think if you like them both I would go for the better location.

For me there are projects and then projects - nice to get a kitchen re done to your preferences but I can't get excited about redoing electrics, walls, ceilings etc.

With a young child I would always choose the house that needs no work beyond a bit of decorating to make it your own. We chose a new build when our son was one for that exact reason and it has been wonderful not to spend our spare time doing DIY but instead to have it to enjoy with him.

I can't see any arguments for 1

The pros of 1: big site (could have an incredible garden once done), space to extend and make it what we want, has the potential for a loft extension in future too. It could basically be a forever house as it's very flexible. and it is a wee bit bigger actually, as the garage is included in the square footage of the newbuild but not the project house. On the flip side, I think it's darker than the new house

The locations are basically the same - we're moving out to East Lothian so a change from that point of view. But you can see the trees surrounding the project house from the garden of the new house (there's currently open ground between them, which will mostly become phase 2 of the new development. It's set back and low so views from new house unchanged, and noise/disruption from new house construction likely to be similar for both)

Not sure what DD doesn't like, but she really doesn't! We have done a project before (current house had a garage conversion, major redo and we had to move in with MIL which was a nightmare. And that was with one kid)

It's also the last house on the new site, so waiting for a closing date for 1 might lose us 2

You sound like you want to go for 1. A large garden would be a negative for me as we both hate gardening but only you know how much you would value it. We also both work in demanding jobs and hate DIY projects so would only choose a.house that needed work if it was a lot nicer and a lot cheaper than the alternatives but it sounds like you're more up for it

If there’s been 50 viewings on 1 & it sounds like a potential development, the reality is you may not even be successful in securing it. How does that make you feel? Does that make you want it or would you be relieved the decision has been removed? What does your OH want to do?

I think given your DD hasn't got a specific reason why she prefers 2 (eg closer to friends, bigger bedroom) then I suspect she could like both, possibly shes being influenced by the posh interior of 2?
I would always go project house, the big plot would definitely swing it for me.

Your DD probably can't see the end result yet.

I'm not exactly sure what way it works in Scotland but do you submit a sealed bid? If so what would that be? Say £470k plus £60k to renovate = £530k so £15k more than new build.

What do you need the extra room for?

I'd go for the new build. Lower bills and less work

Having brough new build before I would avoid at all costs. You are onto of each other for a start. Option 1 sounds like work but within a short period of.time you could have an amazing y
House you ha e out your own stamp on. Its a large plot with scope to extend up thereby future proofing and ensuring you have lots of space.

Yes it requires a lot of money and work spent but it could be worth it if you want to do it.

I'm not exactly sure what way it works in Scotland but do you submit a sealed bid? If so what would that be? Say £470k plus £60k to renovate = £530k so £15k more than new build.

It has an offers over price (455), an official survey valuation (470), and then when it goes to closing date you have to submit a single offer. These can go wildly over. We were valuation 475, sold for 504, and that was within a week as I couldn't be arsed doing any more viewings. A house I viewed last year was o/o 530, sold for 635. So there's no way of knowing. It does look a lot better in photos than reality.

It's not £60k to renovate- it's £60k to do the kitchen extension plus kitchen fittings. In addition it needs (minimum)
-New family bathroom (£10k say)
-Every wall needs paper stripped off (very badly applied, think gaps between every strip in every room) and redecorated. The walls are clearly bumpy and some ceilings had cracks so I think many rooms will need skimmed. I think because of the amount of it I'd need help. I'm very capable decoration wise, but time poor. So easily another £10k sorting this, maybe more.

• garden would need pro help - owners currently use it as a business so huge sections aren't really garden right now. Not sure what this would cost, but I think a fair amount.

-The (attached) garage has active woodworm -The electrics I think might need work -there's some not so good secondary glazing, with huge dead spiders trapped in it which might need doing -The boiler is old (although recently serviced) and is also oil fired which we've never dealt with before. New house has an air source heat pump and a gas boiler.

There is no right answer it depends what you are all into.

The project would be a no brainer definite yes doe me. I love a project and a self build and a big garden. It takes a lot of work, I love it. I love the work. (My kids and dh often need persuading as they dont have the vision. But love the finished article)

But other people like to move in to a turn key perfect property. Neither of us are wrong.

Which person do you think you are?

Exciting times ahead either way.

What do you need the extra room for?

Just space to live basically. There's currently 4 of us, plus the cats, in just under 100 square metres. I'm working from home just now (and likely to be able to do/asked to so several days a week for the long term), DH runs a business so WFH, we have no outdoor space at all. I absolutely love my current house but the little one especially needs space to just run around. We've viewed a couple of new houses and in both she's just run around like the happiest kid in the world.

Bigger DD is normally really good at visualising things so this is odd for her. She said that houses have a feel (like every cat has a different smell apparently??) and that's always there, and this house doesn't have a nice feel.

I'm torn because we've always wanted to do a big project house and make it our own. But with it in front of us it feels like it could be a money pit, and I'm just not sure I have the mental strength to deal with the chaos just now. And big DD is a sensitive creature, I'm worried about doing what is quite a big move from the only home she's ever known and then spending 6 months living in a building site.

We are at the beginning of doing up our project house. It’s the 3rd one we’ve done but by far the biggest.

We’ve never lived in a new build, so I can’t really talk about what they are like. But I think they are great initially but may perhaps lose their appeal whereas the project is the reverse?

I think there’s a lot to be said for the privacy and space that #1 could give you, but as you know, renovations are not a walk in the park.

Our current one, we have decided to undertake in 3 phases to help break down the enormity of it.

We have 2 children and I’m pregnant with #3, who will be born while we are all sharing one room 😱😱😱 but... I think we will have the most amazing house when it’s finished, which will not be in any way comparable with a new build.

But, believe me, there are many days when I wish that we were in a new build 😂

It would be 1 for me but I hate new builds and I have a husband who can turn his hand to most things as he’s in the trade so can appreciate that would make a difference. I don’t think children have the foresight of how things can look, they just see a nice modern house with everything done more appealing.

I think you want Project house. If you can afford it and are prepared to put the time in then go for it.

Oil boilers aren't a problem. We had one for years. However we replaced it with an air source heat pump 3 years ago - there was a government subsidy which covers the cost, not sure if there still is but worth checking.

My parents had a large 1930s bungalow in the Craigentinny area of Edinburgh which they sold 20 years for a new-build in another town.

Their Edinburgh bungalow was a great property, large rooms, high ceilings and a huge back garden. Since they sold it on, it's been developed again with a back extension which still doesn't make a dent in the garden space.

Their new bungalow is nice, but not a patch on the old one.

I would do the project for the sake of a better house on a better plot.

We took on a projesct bra wise it was all we could afford to get the floor space we wanted. However. We looked at many projects and there are definitely levels of 'project' so if it's not at all lovable then with little ones I'd go for Newhouse. Mine are teens so don't need the work Just feeding. Driving around and school work

Project 100% for me. But I just hate new builds....

If you tot up the hours on the DIY project that you spend organising and working and total that up at £250 each 7 hour block- the old house will come To much more than you think over the next 18 months

It’s time you won’t ever get back

I’d rather spend that time with my children, at the park, having picnics, watching a movie

I think you want Project house. If you can afford it and are prepared to put the time in then go for it.

I think the project is what we always thought we wanted. But with it right in front of us at this moment in time, I'm just not sure. On paper we can afford it and the work but only just - there's not much of a contingency I don't think.

We weren't looking for a project when we went to see it the first time and initially ruled it out as too expensive as a result; we thought it would need a new kitchen (but just an upgrade) and some garden work, but otherwise it looks great in photos. It doesn't capture the very tired, lots of dodgy DIY reality!

Having grown up in a house that was a “project” I have some sympathy with your DD. This was a big old bungalow with a huge garden. It needed everything doing to it, cost more than my parents could afford, and we spent an entire summer with no roof over part of the house. It took years to be completely habitable, and was never entirely finished (no water in utility room and second loo!) because it was too difficult and my Dad had had enough.

We took on a project and it was hard work. The extension bit was fine and i would extend again, but the refurb got me down and im not sure id want to live in a house with no roof, no electics and only one tap again! We did it because it was the only house we could afford.

However i must say a bigger plot of land and further from neighbours sounds good.

Ivykaty44 that's kind of it. We're moving out so will be spending more time travelling compared to virtually none just now, but we're kind of hoping to be able to have more of a family life at the weekends. Our current house, whilst lovely, isn't in a family street. No other kids at all. Big DD lives in her bedroom.

I think she'd be more likely to meet friends on the new estate - the project house is close by but totally closed off so you'd never talk to neighbours on the driveway, over the fence etc. Some people's idea of hell there I appreciate but maybe better for the kids?

ARGH! I appreciate I sound very confused (hence asking the MN hive for input!) Think I'm basically torn between the project which is much more theoretically "me", vs the new house which is maybe more "us right now"