Which plot is better? A or B?

[Officebox]

Just curious to canvas opinions after conversation with friend about dilemmas choosing plots that were available on my new estate.

If a house is the exact same style, which is more desirable, A or B? We were thinking long-term in event of selling the houses in future, if both were on sale at same time then which one would be more attractive to buyers?

Same house style, so main plot differences:

A

• South facing garden
• much bigger garden than B
• Very overlooked though (3 houses; one of them directly overlooking)
• garden slopes downwards; house at bottom of the slope

(Being overlooked is the main disadvantage with A. Is being overlooked a real turn-off? Otherwise great plot)

B

• West facing garden
• not directly overlooked (views of working farm)
• much smaller garden than A, but still nice size
• not too impacted by the slope

You can look up things like development boundaries and also if there's a neighbourhood plan. That will tell you if there's a chance of development between now and ~2031.

If you are looking at a forever home then also consider how desirable the area is (commutable to major city etc) that could put pressure to develop land further? Like I would never buy farm views near Didcot. No idea what the next GWP is going to be. Same with the surrounding villages etc. Plus in that area some farm land is marked for gravel quarries so a working farm now can become a dusty gravel pit in 10 years , or bordering a monstrous walled reservoir! So don't be drawn into farm views too quickly. If you do, make sure the searches cover the farm area too.

We're buying a west facing plot. I would have chosen south but the mark up wasn't worth it. We could be overlooked but instead we surrounded by garages giving a lot of privacy. Next door are going to be overlooked but get a bit more garden. I was torn which to pick but I think I'm going to prefer a private, small well finished garden.

How strange, I've just posted something very similar then saw this!

B every time, I really would hate being overlooked.

B for privacy and view. Also, A will have a squishy and muddy garden in winter just by the house.

B. no brainer.

Also choosing B

100% B. West facing gardens are the best. Plus privacy.

Generally I’d say a south facing garden/living room but overlooking totally convinced me for B. What does OP Like about A, I’m curious.

100%B here too. The drainage of A would worry me. Unless you know it is on very very well drained soil. I'd worry about a winter like last year and surface water flooding

I’m not sure which one I’d go with.

With A, it’d be easy to plant pleached evergreens for privacy but you’d still get a bit of extra garden.

I like that B is level with no neighbours at the back. Is it likely to be more smelly from the farm? That would be my worry.

@JoJoSM2

I’m not sure which one I’d go with.

With A, it’d be easy to plant pleached evergreens for privacy but you’d still get a bit of extra garden.

I like that B is level with no neighbours at the back. Is it likely to be more smelly from the farm? That would be my worry.

I presume it's on the same estate? If so the smell from the farm is probably fairly strong wherever you are in the estate. It smells when the farms near us are muck spreading even from a mile or two away

It smells when the farms near us are muck spreading even from a mile or two away

I’d probably go with plot C

B for me too!

B, easy choice

B, a larger garden is nice but if it's sloping it's not going to be very useable space.

More then the S vs W debate, Id want to know more about the slope. It depends on the slope! I’ve lived in both downwards and upwards sloping gardens and would always go for level or sloping away from the house so A not good.
But! also take into account that farm smells can be v v v pungent so I would be v careful before buying near one.

B

Ok thanks! Sorry been away - busy times!

Yeah both have farm smells. Tbh I personally like farm smell; it makes me feel I live in the countryside and I momentarily forget I'm on a housing estate!

So, B seems to be the consensus. That's useful for my friend more than me. Just had a concern about re-selling value etc.

I just thought A had appeal with being larger and south facing. Some buyers won't even consider viewing a property unless it has a south facing garden.