Three houses, same street (ish)

[joseybloggs]

So for sale there are three houses, fundamentally the same house. Two are on the same street one is just round the corner. Three different price points and three different states of decor.
Renovation is a possibility - not an endless budget for that though and could afford either of them to buy/put down deposit etc

Which one would you go for and why?

House 1 - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84392326.html

House 2 - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73042749.html

House 3 - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-85038184.html.

Definitely no2 as end terrace means you have non-adjoining rooms. Where we are you usually pay a premium for that which is roughly equivalent to an extra bedroom (eg we could afford 4 bed mid-terrace or 3-bed end) .

Number 2 definitely. Having side access to the back garden makes such a difference if you want to do anything to the garden (although I now see there's a gate at the end of garden 1 - do they all have that?).

I suppose it depends if number 1 is your style. I prefer the kitchen in 2 - you could fit new doors pretty easily. The kitchen in 1 is just a cheap ikea job and it looks smaller (plus I much prefer eye level cooker)

2

Number 2. You get a side entrance and the garden looks bigger it’s liveable until you want to decorate.
If you don’t want to do anything yourself number 1

No 1.

It hardly needs a thing done to it, it is in move in condition knowing you won’t need to do much work over winter. Having the garden in such a great way helps massively. That alone would make me go for 1.

You can always change fixtures and fittings down the line if you want to overhaul anything. Not needing to do too much expensive and time-consuming work right away however would be my choice.

If I was buying I'd go for no.1 because it looks like it has been recently refurbished and I don't want a project house! But if you want to put your own mark on it then it sounds like no.2 is right for you. The off-road parking is a huge plus point too.

I'd be wary of a house that doesn't look like it's been well looked-after, like no.3. I'd only buy it if it was the best I could afford in the area.

Number 2.
1 is gorgeous, but that's partly because I love their furniture.
2 has more living space
3 would be too much hard work for me, plus I wouldn't have the spare money to do it up. Not that I can afford to buy a house anyway

These houses are very pokey - less than 800sqft for a 3 bed is a tight squeeze.

Depends a bit how flexible the prices are. They’re all new launches this month. The 2nd seems worst value and the conservatory needs knocking down it’s awful.

Watson Av comes up as high risk for surface flooding so I’d be checking insurance and past flooding with neighbours/vendors. The flood risk map can be wrong but it’s worth some investigation. Seems the best value cosmetically especially if you could knock some k off asking price.

3rd house looks like a can of worms to me. I think there’s some damp perhaps? Definitely looks like a back to bricks renovation and frankly you think you know reliable tradespeople and it will run smoothly but it rarely does. What if work stops for months due to a lockdown scenario? I had that happen in March and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody! Might well be the most popular as it’s nice and cheap and people underestimate how big a job this type of renovation is.

Prefer 2 because its a semi and I like the garden best. But I prefer the interior of one.
No. 3 is horrible. What's with all that bloody green. ?

2 for me as well. The garden is better and not having to go through the house to get to it is great. Those things will still be there when you come to sell, whereas decor may have dated by then.

I would also not choose a north facing garden if I had an alternative.

Another vote for 2! One lot of connected neighbours access to the garden without going through house.

House 2. The garden looks wider and longer. Its a proper semi and it shouldn't cost 20k to make it look better than house 1.

I would go for either 1 or 2.
At the moment I would personally go for 2, purely for the garden layout would be better for us, 2 young kids footballs etc.
But I prefer 1, so i think it all depends what you want tbh

2
The side access is useful and valuable for bikes compost plants kids toys dogs etc
I bet you spend more than 20 k doing it up but it doesnt need to be all at once

I would go for the end terrace as its only one neighbour. You can do it up to your taste

House 2 because

• non attached on one side
• side access
• OSP
• east-facing garden is far better than north-facing
• liveable while you do what you want to it
• you could offer lower than asking

I would go for Number 2, it seems bigger and a bigger garden. Plus end terrace. I’d spend the extra 20k doing it up!

I'd just go and view all three woodlandwalker and see how you feel when you're there.

I'd go for 2 to avoid having neighbours both sides. I think the parking out the front makes it more appealing than 1.

I'd go for 2 because its a semi, after living in a flat for years I want as few people attached to my walls as I can afford

House 1 or 2. 1 is decorated lovely, wouldnt have to do much but 2 is semi detached and has a little conservatory, just seems a little more spacious.
In reality I would go for neither as I would want at least 2 toilets for a 3 bed house

They are all the same basic design on the same estate. My view
Number 1 is mid terrace and no drive, plus a dodgy looking bay window. It is staged to sell, and over decorated for the area. Is it at ceiling price for that street? The kitchen diner knock through looks a good idea to me. As lovely as it is, don't be blinded by decor and garden. Will you keep the garden and decor? For how long? It is mid terrace and no drive.

Number 2 is end of terrace so wider garden and side access, although all seem to have rear access. Drive is worth car insurance savings. Plus if you cover the side passage you have somewhere for bikes. Decor and conservatory are ok to live in, but mid term some expensive work knocking through kitchen and dining room, and possibly removing conservatory for a real extension. Garden needs work, but is level so toddler friendly and can grow with you over the years.

3 is a complete refurb, so only buy if a serious Diyer or in the trade. Trades are expensive right now with corona so unless really really cheap, avoid. It isn't cheap enough compared to 2.

I'd prefer a north garden to East, depending on neighbour trees. I've a NNW garden which gets evening sun. An east facing back garden in the uk is rubbish.

How long is the house for? 2 years then 1 might be best, but negotiate down based on 2. 2 years or more then house 2, but negotiate down based on 1's work and cost to remove conservatory. If you are a builder then house 3 with a hefty discount.

Good luck, nice to have options!

Do people value the being attached on only one side quite highly than?

Generally yes and I would prefer it but lots of people love mid terrace too for other reasons!

No 1

I would have said 1 if you hadn't mentioned it being mid-terraced. I would never buy a mid-terrace of I had the option of end or semi.