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Original poster

Help - house next door to one we are buying is for sale - is it worth it?

91 replies

Evecob · 28/12/2020 19:46

We really would like everyone's opinion on this issue.

we are purchasing a property that was up for 315k - we bought for 308k. We love the house itself, it is perfect for us and our needs, it has a conservatory off the lounge which will be perfect as a playroom for our 2 children, however our niggle was the driveway. It has private parking beside the house for 2 cars one behind the other. There is parking nearby in a shared carpark for any guests we would have, we could have people park directly in front of the house but would be tight for the house on the end to get by. We have visited the house and area a few times and we both have said "ahh if only next door came up for sale instead" purely for the parking space they have - the house next door has 2 parking spaces to the side like ours except their house is tilted slightly to allow more room to get in and out and at least one private designated space in front of their house for visitors. There could be more room for another car if the whole space was bricked over. They are also on the end, so while we both have field views to the front, their house has it to the side as well.
Their house came up 2 days ago for offers in excess of 300k.

We are due to complete end of january. The lady buying our property is pretty much ready to exchange, we are still waiting on the solicitor forms from our sellers (they are in, but our solicitor wasn't ready, we will be getting them on the 4th when they are back in office). Our sellers are ending the chain.

To compare, the houses are exactly the same structurally in terms of rooms and room sizes, the one we are buying does have nicer flooring throughout, has a kitchen splashback, and has a conservatory, but the house next door has the wider parking to the side and bigger front space for extra parking. We bought for 308K. house next door up for offers over 300k.

If they were happy to end the chain, what would you do? We have had our searches back already, and had a mortgage offer back already, going through a broker. If we decided to go for the house next door, would we have to reapply for searches/mortgage and pay out again for them? is it worth the hassle? I'm worried if it takes longer our buyer might pull out but my husband thinks it is worth asking their situation, as we might regret it in years to come.

OP posts:
ClashCityRocker · 28/12/2020 21:35

If you miss the stamp duty holiday, it'll cost you an extra 5k... Plus additional solicitor fees and all that jazz.

As a seller, I'd also be wary of you if you had previously pulled out so close to completion previously - not to mention not wanting to feel like I've buggered things up for a neighbour.

If you make an offer, and it's rejected and gets back to your current buyer (unlikely, but if the neighbours talk a lot...) you could end up losing both houses.

It all seems like quite a risk with not that great a reward...I don't see how an additional parking space for occasional visitors is going to improve your quality of life significantly as the house already has sufficient parking for those who live there.

strawberry2017 · 28/12/2020 21:39

I wouldn't go to the effort of starting again just for visitor parking. Sounds like a lot of money to waste for something that won't be in constant use.

HeronLanyon · 28/12/2020 21:45

I’d be worried that the second house owners are testing the market having found out what ‘yours’ has gone for - they may not be serious sellers or even have found something etc.
Either way good luck.

Chumleymouse · 28/12/2020 21:48

Parking not a big deal for me . We have a garage and 2 parking spaces and I still park on the street all the time , wife parks in the garage.

Northernstar1245 · 28/12/2020 21:50

Yes you’d need to get everything reissued, mortgage offer, searches and so on for the next door property. So there would would be costs involved in that to consider. You may not get everything done in time for end of stamp duty holiday so overall you wouldn’t be saving money.

As others have said, I’d be concerned about bad blood and neighbours speaking to each other about the situation. If they do find out what’s going on between them and have a good relationship it’s unlikely they’d accept an offer from you. You pulling out may mean that your current vendor looses the property they’re buying because they’re not in a position to move anymore.

Northernstar1245 · 28/12/2020 21:54

Apologies, last part is not correct as you said your sellers are the end of the chain.

Northernstar1245 · 28/12/2020 21:54

Apologies, last part of above is irrelevant as you said the vendors are the top of the chain.

MeMarmiteYouJam · 28/12/2020 21:55

I wouldn't risk collapsing the chain, and losing both houses as a result. Not worth it.

EagleFlight · 28/12/2020 21:56

If the neighbours get on well and the new one finds out, they could pull out because they either don’t want the bad relationship or else because they think you are flighty and not to be trusted to follow through with the purchase.

ShalomToYouJackie · 28/12/2020 21:57

Playroom for children, nicer flooring, splashback in kitchen vs parking space for a visitor.

I'm not sure it's worth it for the extra money it'll cost. Plus what if something goes wrong or someone pulls out with the 2nd house and you end missing out on both?

Chicchicchicchiclana · 28/12/2020 22:04

How much parking space do you need? For more than 3 cars it seems from your OP? Why?

OxfordwillsaveusbyFebruary · 28/12/2020 22:05

What will the stamp duty difference be?

You will need to start the process again and so will possibly miss the end of the window on 31st March?

Searches alone are now on an 8 week wait here (was less than a week last year)

HyacynthBucket · 28/12/2020 22:09

Would it be possible to buy just the piece of land that would make your parking easier, but not the house itself - as long as it still has other parking, it should be OK. You would have to offer them something for the parking area that was at least as much as the difference they would get if selling the house without it, but it could be worth your while.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 28/12/2020 22:10

You'll have all your costs again. The solicitor will have to start from scratch otherwise they will compromise their own indemnity insurance (if you sued them for anything).

Original poster
Evecob · 28/12/2020 22:12

Just for a little more clarification, the visitor parking would be used often by us, so we wouldnt have to park one behind the other like in current property, as timings for getting home from work make that a bit of a pain. eg. husband leaves for work first so would need to be parked in front, also but gets home first, so its a bit of a niggle, he would have to park outside our house for half hour before i got home to park up cloest to garage then repark infront of me. The front of our house doesnt have a proper spot, it has a big enough drive for a car to get past but its a bit tight, and it might annoy our neighbour.

but like most of you say, it doesn't seem like it's worth the hassle changing last minute, plus too risky, and I would be very upset to lose out on this house. Thank you all for your help, I think it does help in our decision, not sure DH is convinced though lol.

OP posts:
Indecisivelurcher · 28/12/2020 22:12

If I were in your shoes i would go and see it, and keep my fingers crossed I didn't like it as much! Then it'll be an easy decision.

Personally I think the parking at the house you're currently buying sounds absolutely fine, so I wouldn't be taking the risk.

Northernstar1245 · 28/12/2020 22:20

I’m prob overly cautious but I would be careful about going to see it if it’s up for sale with estate agents involved with anyone in your chain. If you were to, I would have vague answers prepared for any probing questions from estate agents about your situation.

OxfordwillsaveusbyFebruary · 28/12/2020 22:20

You might need planning for a conservatory on an end house?
You do here are it is a conservation area- so you need it for all
At our last house (a new estate) those that had a footpath along the side or back needed planning for conservatories- the rest didnt.

Diddlysquatty · 28/12/2020 22:20

Ooh super awkward to have to live next door to the people you pulled out of last minute 😬

It’s a tough one... I guess if you pull out and go for the one on the end you have to be prepared it could fall through for some reason (eg you could get gazumped). Depends how upset you’d be to end up with none.
If you’re pretty close to exchange might be worth sticking with it. But it might always niggle you if the sale of the one on the end goes smoothly

RowanAlong · 28/12/2020 22:22

I’d definitely vote for conservatory over parking.

FamilyOfAliens · 28/12/2020 22:28

Why did you carry on looking on Rightmove when you’re so far along with this purchase?

Surely you knew there was a chance you might find a property that made you wonder if your purchase was the right one?

tonyunclejohnny · 28/12/2020 22:29

With regard to cars and parking can't you switch cars daily, first one out take the last car in the night before etc. We do this and it works surprisingly well and no juggling cars in the drive on a night.

timeforanother1 · 28/12/2020 22:43

Without doubt go and view ASAP!

This is a big thing so if you had already said 'if only next door...' you must see it and stay with the one you have or decide to swap. Yes it might be messing others around but this is your life and what will be a home for many years.

When we viewed houses parking was a top 3 priority where there were 2 spaces that wouldn't block each other in. We ended up finding the perfect house with a one in front of the other drive... we went for it as it was perfect in every other way but car swapping was an absolute nightmare especially when dp worked late nights and I was out first thing he'd have to mess about car swapping 5 days a week. Things you take for granted (pre Covid) like a pop to the shops. First thing we did when we had money was get the drive bricked wide enough for the 2 cars. Best thing we did but cost thousands.
Sounds like flooring inside the 2nd house would cost less!

Plus for that much you don't want to be sacrificing anything really!

Original poster
Evecob · 28/12/2020 22:43

@tonyunclejohnny

With regard to cars and parking can't you switch cars daily, first one out take the last car in the night before etc. We do this and it works surprisingly well and no juggling cars in the drive on a night.
this is a great solution but unfortunately my husband has a car i'm not insured on and don't feel comfortable driving :( we may look into getting a new car for him lol. Otherwise this would work perfectly.
OP posts:
timeforanother1 · 28/12/2020 22:44

Without doubt go and view ASAP!

This is a big thing so if you had already said 'if only next door...' you must see it and stay with the one you have or decide to swap. Yes it might be messing others around but this is your life and what will be a home for many years.

When we viewed houses parking was a top 3 priority where there were 2 spaces that wouldn't block each other in. We ended up finding the perfect house with a one in front of the other drive... we went for it as it was perfect in every other way but car swapping was an absolute nightmare especially when dp worked late nights and I was out first thing he'd have to mess about car swapping 5 days a week. Things you take for granted (pre Covid) like a pop to the shops. First thing we did when we had money was get the drive bricked wide enough for the 2 cars. Best thing we did but cost thousands.
Sounds like flooring inside the 2nd house would cost less!

Plus for that much you don't want to be sacrificing anything really!

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