Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Help me pick a house!

49 replies

IHateHousehunting · 15/03/2021 06:36

I'm really torn between two houses in two very different locations and I don't know what to do.

Option A: Extended 1920s house in a naice area close to outstanding and good schools- currently in catchment for both an outstanding primary and an outstanding secondary (though both are due an Ofsted), plus on the doorstep of a good private school (DC wouldn't be attending it though, short of obtaining a scholarship). Good sized garden, big downstairs, but upstairs is significantly smaller. Would need to rejig to fit in a kitchen table, needs redecorating throughout but currently liveable. Two of the bedrooms are pretty big, but the other two are currently much smaller- about the size of our current boxroom. No en-suite to the master but downstairs shower-room off the kitchen (only one door between shower room and kitchen though, and proximity of the toilet to the food prep area does give me the ick somewhat). It's a city suburb, so close to city amenities but about 15 minutes walk from the nearest playground and park, though the garden is big enough to put our own play equipment in. Has a garage and lots of potential for rejigging the interior if we had the time and money. Underpriced for the area and house for quick sale. More affluent and more highly educated local population- on the doorstep of a hospital so lots of doctors, plus other high-flyers.

Option B: Extended 1970s build in a nice (but not naice) village, about six minutes away from the nearest large town and twenty minutes from the city. Big upstairs but downstairs is slightly smaller than the one we've got now, though very nicely laid out- kitchen/living/diner overlooks the garden, separate (though smallish) living room at the front, office/playroom. Garden is small, but very practical for children in terms of layout and backs onto a park with a playground that can be accessed from a grassy path three houses down. Nearby country walks, including to a castle ruin. Sort of village that attracts lots of walkers on the weekends. Schools good, though not outstanding, with only one near-ish secondary. Has an en-suite and dressing area to the master, bedrooms are all a good size. Family bathroom needs redoing, but apart from that wouldn't really need to change much. Hasn't got a garage. Lower crime (Option A isn't bad for crime but there's significantly more owing to how urban it is).

Option B has had an asking price offer made on it already having been on the market less than a week. Option A has been on the market since last year, and according to the vendor had a sale fall through due to problems at the buyer's end, there is an offer on the table they're considering but it's lower than they'd like. They want a new-build though and have to get their house sold again to secure it. It's about 40 grand more expensive than Option B.

I'm really torn and don't know which one to go for, they're both really nice. Really, if I want either I need to make a move today. Thoughts?

OP posts:
Thighdentitycrisis · 15/03/2021 06:43

B
Sounds like more living space downstairs, country but not isolated

Original poster
IHateHousehunting · 15/03/2021 06:44

B is smaller downstairs, but better laid out and bigger upstairs.

OP posts:
pumpkinpie01 · 15/03/2021 06:47

Ooooh tricky , how old are the dc ?

Hopefulbride18 · 15/03/2021 06:47

A - I always chose location!

ipredictacarrot · 15/03/2021 06:48

How would your commute / travel to schools take. I'd lean towards A.

Original poster
IHateHousehunting · 15/03/2021 06:53

@pumpkinpie01

Ooooh tricky , how old are the dc ?
Still very young, DD is 2 years and DS is 5 months.
OP posts:
user1471530109 · 15/03/2021 06:55

Surely it depends on which location you'd rather live in?
For me, it would definitely location B. But I love living in a village and despite growing up in cities and towns and spending my first decade as a homeowner in a city, I much prefer more rural living. However I know lots would be horrified at that and prefer living more urban.

I'd forget about 'which house' and focus on 'which area'.

Original poster
IHateHousehunting · 15/03/2021 06:55

@ipredictacarrot

How would your commute / travel to schools take. I'd lean towards A.
Commutes for adults are very similar. For the kids the secondary school is over two miles away with Option B, with Option A they've got three good/outstanding secondaries within walking distance plus the private. Primaries are close for both.
OP posts:
ThePricklySheep · 15/03/2021 06:56

A, thinking ahead to when the children are 12+.

daisypond · 15/03/2021 06:57

A hands down for me.

LongTimeMammaBear · 15/03/2021 06:58

Option A

Location location location

Plus, being an older house, likely if you wanted n a few years (and ha funds) usually easier to do a loft conversion if you needed an en suite/more bedrooms)

MeanMrMustardSeed · 15/03/2021 06:59

A. It’s a no brainier for me.

NoSquirrels · 15/03/2021 07:00

Where are you moving from and what do you think you want most from a move? To me, it sounds like you prefer option A...

Panicmode1 · 15/03/2021 07:02

I woukd pick A. I have four (Y6 - Y12) children and we live in a town - it is blissful not driving them everywhere. They walk to school to friends, to the pool/town/entertainment (in normal times!). I would love to be more rural, but that will have to wait until they are through the schools - or until one of them gets a driving licence Wink

Morgan12 · 15/03/2021 07:06

A question about option A, are the two smaller bedrooms next to each other? Could you make them one larger bedroom?

Badoukas · 15/03/2021 07:09

I think option A.

Original poster
IHateHousehunting · 15/03/2021 07:11

@NoSquirrels

Where are you moving from and what do you think you want most from a move? To me, it sounds like you prefer option A...
We're moving from a 80s build 3 bed (both new house options are 4 bed), in a suburb of the same city as option A (but decidedly not naice!). The main reason we're moving is schools- the secondaries where we are now are all inadequate and we know the ex-head of one, who says it's very unlikely to turn around anytime soon. We'd rather not have to uproot both DC mid-primary, so we'd like to move now before they even start primary. I do love that we're in walking distance of a large country park where we live now, which is a great resource for the kids. I grew up in an area similar to Option B and it was really lovely, but DH feels more at home somewhere more urban, though he's happy with either option.
OP posts:
Original poster
IHateHousehunting · 15/03/2021 07:13

@Morgan12

A question about option A, are the two smaller bedrooms next to each other? Could you make them one larger bedroom?
No, opposite ends of the landing. There is a cupboard on the landing next to the third bedroom, which we'd knock through into to maximise space in that room, but it still wouldn't be particularly large.
OP posts:
Igmum · 15/03/2021 07:17

A. I'm a city kid. Think it's down to where you prefer to live OP. Are you a townie or a country lover?

JackieWeaverFever · 15/03/2021 07:18

A hands down

pumpkinpie01 · 15/03/2021 07:18

I'm going for A then , your dc will get many years out of a bigger garden and if you are still there when they are teens you can have an extension if need be/finances allow.

Original poster
IHateHousehunting · 15/03/2021 07:30

@pumpkinpie01

I'm going for A then , your dc will get many years out of a bigger garden and if you are still there when they are teens you can have an extension if need be/finances allow.
Do you think the lack of nearby parks and countryside will be an issue when they're little though? There's a biggish park with a playground but it's a 15 minute walk away. I might be thinking with lockdown head though- had we not lived within walking distance of the country park last year, I think I'd have gone mad.
OP posts:
mummabubs · 15/03/2021 07:31

I think it partly depends on whether you're viewing this move as being for the long term.... If so I'd be led towards A. It sounds like it has more potential to extend and tailor to your needs long term. (I'm biased as we have just sold our "top heavy" townhouse- one storey is living space and two are bedrooms, so although we have good size double bedrooms the actual family living space is a tiny kitchen and one big room. The pandemic has made me really appreciate how for me I'd rather have smaller bedrooms and more usable living space. We've therefore bought a house that is in a great location (like your house A, catchment to sought after primary and secondary schools), a bigger garden and although the bedrooms are smaller there is already more living space and potential for us to create more long term). As others have said, you can change the house but you can't change the location. Also house B sounds like it wouldn't have much potential to be extended any further than it already is? If you can afford the extra money for A I'd go for that 😊

Original poster
IHateHousehunting · 15/03/2021 07:35

You raise some good points @mummabubs, thank you.

OP posts:
Didiusfalco · 15/03/2021 07:36

I think option A too, everything is going to open up and your kids will get bigger. Being right by a park will no longer feel so important. Although to be fair neither sounds like it would be a mistake.