Go for the perfect location or hold off for a nicer house?

[optimisticpessimist01]

I'm so undecided on this house we have viewed I really need unbiased opinions! So far I've had about a 50/50 from family and friends telling me to go for it and telling me its a bit small.

The house is in the perfect location, 10 min drive for DH and 15 min drive for me to work. We are within walking distance of bars, restaurants and other amenities (5 min walk maximum). There are no neighbours overlooking the back garden as it a small field behind it, sometimes used for spots but it is maintained/has locked gates etc. Close to family and not many houses come up for sale on the road as people don't want to move off it.

However, the house has some factors that previously would've made me completely disregard a property. The front door opens up in to the living room and has no hall, it is in a position that means a wall could be put up to separate it from the living room but a hall is not possible. The 3rd bedroom is absolutely tiny, it can fit a double bed in but nothing else. The back garden is also NE facing which is less important but still another factor to consider. It does have a big kitchen though, a small utility room and a long garden (which DH is all for)

Should I let this house go and wait for something that "ticks all the boxes" to come up, knowing that this is absolutely the perfect location, or should I sacrifice the internal things about the house and just go for it?

For a bit more context we are FTB, no children and would probably look to move again in about 8 if we bought this house

Apologies, I'm having a mare! The third bedroom could fit a SINGLE bed in but nothing else.

Location is really important.

How big are the other bedroom? If big enough for 2 DC to share one and have the other as your bedroom I'd go for it.

The 3rd bed would be big enough for a cot as a nursery for a few years too. Our DC slept in a cot with the side taken off until they started school and they were tall children!

It sounds perfect for you tbh. In the current climate, most buyers have to compromise on something.

You can change the house.
You can't change the location.

Long garden = extension potential.
If you want a glazed extension (like 90% do), a northerly garden is good,

It's unlikely that you'll need a large third bedroom in the next eight years? Maybe you could build on a front porch? We can't know those things.

It sounds good to me because of a perfect location, but what does your gut say? and your DH of course, what do you actually feel about the house?

Location is important but I would honestly wait. You spend more time in your house than in the location (meaning the shops, bars etc).
It took us 6 months to find the perfect house and we did make an offer on one like you describe, perfect location but had some niggles about the house and I'm SO glad we waited now we're in! Those things about the other house would have constantly been at the back of my mind.

I think it sounds great. The 'issues' don't really sound like issues to me.

A north garden which is long and has no building at the back is perfect! You can sit at the end as it will get sun even in winter.

I chose location and an ugly tiny house. Slowly planning changes to little house and DC and I are happy here. I nearly bought in a village 20 mins away with a much more desirable house. But I'm so glad that house fell through now.

We are mid 20's so not in a rush to have children yet, the third bedroom we could definitely use as a nursery for a couple of years then as the child grows up look at moving (or possibly extending) but that's probably around 10 years away yet.

I did think about the possibility of building a porch, its a real bugbear of mine to have the front door opening to the living room, but spending thousands on an, effectively, pointless room seems a bit of a waste

The garden is sizeable to extend and there's room down the side of the house to park a van down so a small extension sideways could also be a long term solution I guess!

I'm in the middle of a buying a house that is exactly like the one you describe. Perfect road, big garden, decent enough kitchen, small utility, downstairs loo, tiny third bedroom. 1930's semi. I keep having an on/off panic about the size. My DC are 7 and 2 so bedroom size is an issue but I'm planning on putting the eldest in the smaller room in a cabin bed with desk underneath it and he couldn't be more excited. (They currently share a bunk bed). In a few years when our childcare costs are less and the kids are bigger (and need more room of their own) we'll extend to the back and side. Then we'll have the perfect house in the perfect location. And in the meantime the house is still a big step up from what we have now. It just may not be as big as other houses we could afford in less nice areas.

I do think that location matters. I would rather be in a house that's not perfect just yet, than one that can never be perfect because of where it is.

There's so rarely a house that ticks ALL the boxes.

I think location is really important. More important than a large 3rd bedroom (for me, anyway). Would it be possible to add an extension, even a small one, allowing extra room in the 3rd bedroom? Could a porch or some kind of room division be worked out for the entrance. I do agree it's not brilliant to open straight in to the living area.

But only go for it if you really can see yourself there and WANT to be there. Moving is tough even for a house you love. Good luck.

A 3rd bedroom is often small. You'll seldom get 3 doubles. The thing is you don't need a 3rd bedroom at the moment. It sounds like a house you could adapt and develop when you need to (and when you have more money). Have you seen other houses nearby you like a lot more?

I did think about the possibility of building a porch, its a real bugbear of mine to have the front door opening to the living room, but spending thousands on an, effectively, pointless room seems a bit of a waste

I don't see it that way at all! If the front door opening into the living room is off-putting to you, it will be to the people that you eventually sell to as well - it's an investment in making your house more attractive to a buyer. Also, if there's no hall then I assume there's nowhere to store coats, shoes, umbrellas, etc - definitely not a pointless room if you're adding that! It sounds like you're planning kids eventually - where will you store the pushchair otherwise?

Location matters.
A closed in porch is not a waste of money if you are planning on being there at least 8 years, can it be big enough to hold a shoe and coat rack?
I would buy it.

Very rare that a property ticks all the boxes, you could be waiting years and the 'perfect' house may never come up in your price range. This house is in your perfect location and ticks all the boxes for the next 8 years with minor compromises. Go for it

Logically you need to learn to compromise with houses. But you should never buy something you really dislike. Because you will never grow to like it.

If you don’t dislike it, I’d go for it. If you do dislike it then don’t,.but make sure you’re not that first time buyer who is so focused on the perfect house they never buy and get priced out.,,for ever.

There will always be compromises and these sound small compromises to make. A box room will be room enough for a child.

Honestly if it is just the two of you the third bedroom size doesn't really matter at the moment and sounds like you could extend or move by the time it does. What are you planning on using the extra bedrooms for in the near future?

I would also add the porch, it wouldn't be waste of money to do that I don't think.

There will always be compromises unless you happen to have no limit on your budget. We compromised on the garden size and no second toilet and it has been fine.

I disagree slightly with the poster who says you spend more time in your home than out of it. Ofcourse at the moment we all spend the majority of our time in our home and that is colouring our home buyer but (fingers crossed) it won't be like that forever.

Being able to walk to local amenities and open space is a massive win for me so I would choose location everytime over the house. I have lived in a lovely house in a not so nice location and it did become a 'sanctuary' but that was because the space outside of it was so shitty! It made me feel very claustrophobic and unhappy.

Depending on location and roads and your jobs those commute distances could also become bike rides in good weather - healthy exercise, save money on fuel/car maintenance. And shorter commutes - however you do them - means more free time for the things you enjoy.

Go for it.

For a bit more context we are FTB, no children and would probably look to move again in about 8 [years] if we bought this house
You know that saying about "life is what happens when you were busy making other plans" ...

The house suits your current circumstances. It would suit you plus one DC. Even you plus 2 small DC! You could easily sell it if something else came up ("not many houses come up for sale on the road as people don't want to move off it.") so why the arbitrary 8 year scenario?
Don't expect life to be perfect with no bumps. Grab opportunities where you can.

If the three lockdowns has taught us nothing else, it shows how life is a lot easier being in an established, supportive community with local traders nearby.

Is that what you are describing?

Well we chose house over location
And 3 years later are selling up and downsizing just to be in our dream location

Honestly, location is so so so important so if houses don't come up there often then I would go for it!

You don't have kids to worry about yet so honestly, go with the location that's going to give you the best life possible, fun, experiences, social life etc

I wish we had! Would have saved 3 years of stress ...

@optimisticpessimist01 it sounds lovely. Agree that a porch will be somewhere to take shoes and coats off whe it’s raining. Definitely not a wasted room Small third bedroom good to use as an office/hobby space for now.

My essential for the house i first bought was a porch/hallway due to living in a rented house where the house opened into living room.
Drive me crazy!!
Evey takeaway man saw inside and the cold was let out

Any visitors/workmen/neighbours would come straight into living room with shoes/boots. So living room had to be tidy at all times and the carpet had to have lots of welcome mats at the entrance to stop shoe dirt getting on the carpets!

Would never do it again.

So next house.. had a porch!!

Its so much better, but porch is tiny so again, anyone popping in again, comes into living room and not hallway which is annoying but nowhere near as bad! At least no delivery men see all and sundry!

I'm now moving and my non negotiable is an actual HALLWAY!!

I didn't know something so minor can be such a big deal!! I'll be able to have 'pop in' and not actually see my house other than the stairs unless I want them too!!

I cannot wait!!