Help me choose between these properties

[SwedeInLeeds]

Hi,

We're viewing two properties in Leeds that we're very interested in. In the areas we're looking viewings disappear within the day of appearing on rightmove and listings tend to sell within a week. We are looking for 1) Good primary school; 2) Large house (>120m2). We are happy to do work on the place.

No 1:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74049807.html
Positives:
Large semi-detached in a cul-de-sac. Close to good primary
Negatives:
We would probably extend the rear to get a nice kitchen/diner.
No shops/restaurants/bar within 10 min walk.

No 2:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74170755.html
Positives:
Detached (never thought we could getting something big and detached). Enormous. Central location with shops. Close to good primary
Negatives:
Garden is overlooked. It is on a fairly busy street. No building regs for 'loft conversion'.

Ideally I would like nr 2 as it's detached, but the road is probably the biggest issue for me. Meanwhile, with an extension I think 1 could be amazing. Is this unreasonable, what are your thoughts?

Thanks!

Plus I've heard traffic in Carr Manor is awful around school pick ups.

Always detached. You can put up high fences

I would say one without a doubt, but I do reciognise that 2 might be nicer in person.
My reasons
one feels like it has more downstairs spce actually. Large living room, separate dining room plus kitchen.
2 has a living/diner and kitchen with no space for a table, so even though it is bigger, it isn't much usable space more.

one rooms feel more balanced, better shape, nice features, character.
two, onw of the bedrooms looks really small.

loft - if it has no building regs, then it is probably not able to get them because of eg not enough roof height or no fire door on the stairs. While it may be perfectly safe to use and live in, I wouldn't want my main bedroom to be not officially classed as a bedroom.

position, that corner plot for two is horrible, and really exposed. Noise, privacy etc

If you look closely at one its a bit rough and probably looks a lot worse in the flesh.
The downlight in the bedroom is hanging out ( it will be broken or they would pop it back .
The finish around the tiles where they meet the bath/ shower is rougher than a badgers arse !!!!!!
Looks like signs of damp above the skirting next to the wood burner.
Chimney looks like in needs a complete rebuild.
Kitchen looks a bit shabby chips in cupboards doors not in line .
Render looks like it's starting to come off below front bay and rear downstairs window .

Looks a bit shabby to me

Definitely No 1 which is homely and full of personality. Extend to the side. No 2 is characterless, cold and empty looking, no garden to speak of.

I have moved 3 times from a detached house because of neighbour issues. There are many other problems besides sharing a party wall. Now in a semi and couldn't be happier, nice neighbours [no stuck up neighbours, loud music in garden, barking dogs, very late barbeques, overly loud kids with extremely loud friends, or interfering territorial bullying idiots].

Oh so you only get nice neighbours in semi's ?

Of course not. It's just been my luck to have these experiences. Pointing out that detached does not necessarily mean there can't be issues.

One of my sons is moving from a detached too because of an unpleasant neighbour. Another son is in a semi and had great neighbours for 16 years....just the luck of the draw. Understand now?

1 looks nicer and would be perfect with an extension, 2 looks really unhomely and dark and isn’t pretty on the outside. 2 may be detached but it might as well not be with being so overlooked behind you.

Dislike both. Are there any other options?

Buying a type of house is not just about the impact the neighbours will have on you , it also about the impact you will have on them .
We do a lot of building work ( slowly when I have time ) So noise , dust , deliveries ect also I like to listen to music at a decent Lvl 😀 .
No matter how nice your neighbours seem after a while things like that will cheese them off . So that is why for us a detached is better for our neighbours.

I prefer number one. I really don't like number 2

Hard to choose between them really. The first one is definitely a bit nicer but is a big old semi; with that comes old semi problems that are potentially unfixable - what are the neighbours like?
My instinct would be to always push towards a detached option if available.

Easily second house. Detached. Easy to create privacy in rear garden. Easy to make the side garden another private area for use

House 1 is a bit meh. House two would easily work Scandi style

2 just needs redecorating and contemporary furniture

No.1 but am biased as used to live on the street next to it! We used to walk to all the lovely cafes and bars in Chapel Allertpn when we lived there and don't remember it being that far away. Ah brings back happy memories, loved living in Leeds.

I'm also local to that side of Leeds although I don't live there any more, but I wouldn't live in Meanwood. I also think the road the second house is on is too busy and I think it's a rat run? I'd go for no.1. There's a reason you get more house for your money with no.2, the location.

no1. I wouldn't even bother to do an extension. I'd make the front downstairs room into the lounge and then knock the kitchen sideways into the big room at the back to get a decent sized kitchen-diner. Then I might add on a small utility & downstairs loo & storage to the side of the kitchen, but no need for a big extension.

much better kitchen.

you could do the kitchen in house number one as they've done in the house number 3 the other poster linked to

knocking the kitchen into the lounge room across the back and if your say you'll be able to make a utility beside the back door by building a stud wall acrobat the back of the stairs.

you'll still exit the lounge by French doors

Then I might add on a small utility & downstairs loo & storage to the side of the kitchen, but no need for a big extension. that blocks the drive from the garage in house number 1

Aesthetically I prefer house 1 but location 1 is also way way better. It needs some work but you can add value in that area.

So much helpful information. Any of the Leeds people willing to suggest value/suitable offer for 1?

House 1, but I don't know the areas.

This just went next door: www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=68445852&sale=91028115&country=england
Makes me think asking is reasonable

This just went next door: www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=68445852&sale=91028115&country=england
Makes me think asking is reasonable