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Original poster

What did you compromise on and what did you gain?

79 replies

OUB1974 · 01/04/2021 08:03

Having just had our offer accepted, I'm interested in this. We've viewed around 10 houses. The reason we rejected the other 9 was mainly due to garden size.

We compromised on: a private parking space, and being set back from the road with a front garden (although dh says that's a bonus as he hates maintaining them!). We also gave up having a semi (although it's a wide end terrace so not much difference)

We gained: more space than any other house we've viewed, a large garden and lots of character! We have an open fireplace, beams and floorboards. Plus a 3 minute walk to school! We also have 3 loos, which I find amusing.

I wasn't expecting this at all as I didn't realise there were any pretty houses in the area we were looking in (I think we drove down the street once and I assumed they were all tiny terraces). Where were your compromises?

OP posts:
Spinningaround21 · 01/04/2021 08:10

Garden sizes s garage, the garden is compact and overlooked but there were far too many pluses. We have a front garden/now a drive with dropped kerb. The house has huge windows and haslovely light airy feel. It didn’t need as much immediate decor doing as ones we had scene ( a bit more modern instead of elderly persons) It just felt perfect for us. It’s in a really nice area, in the suburbs but 10 minutes to a city centre. it’s probably gained 50k equity in 4 years.

To be fair the small garden is fine there is only two of us, we have grass and places to plant flowers and plenty enough to have people over in the garden

merrygoround88 · 01/04/2021 08:12

We sacrificed a cul de sac and south facing. Gained large driveway, not overlooked from the back, larger space, great area.
When children were in the 5-12 age bracket I lamented the fact they couldn’t play on the road. Coming out of that now so feel we made the right decision

Disfordarkchocolate · 01/04/2021 08:14

I compromised on style. We both wanted an older house but ended up in a 60's house.

We ended up with more garden and a garage which we never expected.

FakeFruitShoot · 01/04/2021 08:15

With this house, we compromised on bedroom size for kids and cul de sac location, although we are on a smallish side road. It was also a lot more rundown than we'd have liked.

We gained a massive garden, lovely family friendly downstairs with lounge / diner and a perfect location (DH can walk to work, kids are 5 mins from school and in the secondary catchment we hoped for).

Caspianberg · 01/04/2021 08:18

The garden. The view and house are amazing. But to get the view we are on a hill, and garden is basically a super steep slope

HavfrueDenizKisi · 01/04/2021 08:22

For this house:

We compromised on London travel zones - so moved one zone out therefore changing an 18 min door to door commute to a 40 min one. I also didn't want to do loads of work on the new house (having done last one top to bottom) but new house has now had an extension plus new bathrooms etc.

We gained: detached period house, off street parking, large garden, great schools.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/04/2021 08:24

A fourth bedroom and extra bathroom. Gained a bigger garden, great school catchment, and will hopefully be mortgage free in seven years.

Also compromised on car port over garage (for motorbike, canoe, trailer, camping equipment etc)

Alannathelioness · 01/04/2021 08:31

Driveway size / garage size (or at leas the potential to add more) it's still a decent space as they were non negotiable, but DH had been hoping for more. He's a car hobbyist and we have 3 cars as a constant and had also hoped for space for visitors etc, but we've compromised on driveway parking for 2 and a garage for the third.
We had hoped for detached but got a semi.

For those compromises, we got a really good garden space, and 4 bedrooms (1 a box). Also three bathrooms including a downstairs shower which is great for the dog but had never considered before. Now I wouldn't be without it!
Also main bedroom is opposite side of the house to the next door neighbours which was on our wishlist so they don't disturb us and we don't disturb them at all. Nice location in a village in a quiet street.

StCharlotte · 01/04/2021 08:31

My only requirements were an upstairs bathroom and off-street parking. This house has neither.

But I have a cute house with lovely neighbours who, after 20 years, are genuine friends, a south facing garden and an unusual layout which works really well for us.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 01/04/2021 08:40

We compromised on garden size and age of property.

We were torn between a potentially lovely cottage in a tiny village and our current house. The cottage needed loads of work but had an amazing half acre garden. The village had a primary school but no other facilities.

The house we ended up buying is a really ugly 60s house with a much smaller garden. 200 feet x 40feet. However it ticked all our other boxes - the village has a primary school, village shop and post office, butcher and deli, coffee shop, pub and restaurant. Our house is bigger than the cottage and only needed cosmetic work, not structural. Plus although our house is ugly, it's in a gorgeous lane full of lovely houses.

I'm so glad we went with our current house. Also, we can hardly keep up with maintaining the garden we've got so am very relieved we didn't go for the half-acre!

crumpet · 01/04/2021 08:40

Compromised in size of garden. Gained a great local community, Park just a few minutes walk away and a street quiet enough for the kids to play out in when they were younger. (Oh, and gained more time due to less garden maintenance!)

lazyakita · 01/04/2021 08:45

We compromised on garden size. Ours is very small and overlooked, but we live in a fabulous place with lots of parks and great walks nearby. We also compromised on the age of the property. I desperately wanted an older house, but within our budget we had to go modern to get the WFH space we needed. When we next move I'd definitely like a period property and a bigger garden, but the compromises were definitely the right choices for us at the time!

Echobelly · 01/04/2021 08:49

We compromised on garden size and off-street parking, which got us very near the tube. Just realised that was a bit of a shame about the garden given the last year and at least the next, but it's bit enough and we have a park around the corner! We also got a large and extendable and house and stayed on the road we were already living on as we really like it.

JackieWeaverFever · 01/04/2021 08:49

Compromised on: detached, garage, carriage drive

Gained:
5 doubles (3 and a box would have been fine)
off road parking for 2 (only needed one)
a frankly incredible "master suite" (our bedroom was new and huuuge, massive ensuite and dressing room too)
Amazing neighbours

Phrowzunn · 01/04/2021 08:52

We compromised on outdoor space - small paved back garden and small lawn out front, but got drive for two cars and everything we wanted internally. There are parks / green spaces very close nearby and neither of us are great at garden maintenance so it seemed like the obvious sacrifice to make. Also the house is only 20 years old - if we’d had unlimited money we’d have loved something old with character/features. But in terms of the amount of space inside, layout etc it is perfect and I love it. Interesting thread OP - congrats on your new house!

RealisticSketch · 01/04/2021 08:56

We gained space, beauty, views, lovely community, great local school in walking distance, garage/workshop, storage and home office... We compromised on its not habitable yet currently 3 years into self build project, hope to live in a house one day. Grin

HappyTimeTunnelDinosaur · 01/04/2021 08:57

We compromised on a fourth bedroom and a garage. We found a 3 bed with 3 decent double rooms, which is plenty as we just didn't want a box room. We also have a fantastic garden and planning permission to build a garage and driveway if we want to. Also its not on an estate, which felt like a big gain for us. I think sometimes you have to see what you love to realize what you are happy to compromise on.

BoKatan · 01/04/2021 08:59

We compromised on the kitchen. It's tiny. In return we got detached, all bedrooms a good size, separate dining room, utility room, garage, and perfect location.

folloyourarro · 01/04/2021 09:07

The opposite to you OP, we compromised on garden size and instead have a good size plot to the front with up to 6 parking spots. So long as the garden is big enough for a dining area, seating area and a bit of kick about space I don't need it very big, but private parking is essential for us.

We also committed the cardinal sin and compromised location to get more for our money, no regrets yet.

mummabubs · 01/04/2021 09:12

We've compromised on not having a flat garden (although our current one is flat but tiny and the new one is 3/4 times larger), I really didn't want to live on three storeys as we do now and I really don't like it, but while the new house is 3 storeys the main living spaces are all on one floor and same for the bedrooms. Slightly smaller bedrooms in the new house too. But... We're gaining a double garage as well as 2 off road spaces, the garden space that we've all been craving, more shared living space and gorgeous elevated views of local hills and 18th century Castle. Plus good primary and great secondary school catchment so we feel the compromises are worth it.

JensonsAcolyte · 01/04/2021 09:15

Our house (new build) had only one parking space and the family bathroom didn’t have a shower.

We gained twice the living space, separate study and dining room, woodland to the side and four double bedrooms.

We’ve paved over half the front garden to make a double driveway and installed a shower, total cost £3k. So pretty much got everything we wanted.

Africa2go · 01/04/2021 09:20

Everything - except for location and potential to extend.

So it was smaller than we wanted, price was over budget, and had old-lady decor that we knew we'd have to live with for years.

BUT - it gave us roots, catchment for some of the best schools in the country, fab neighbours and 11 years on (after an extension and complete redecorating of everything else) a house we love.

Quail15 · 01/04/2021 09:30

We compromised on not having an upstairs bathroom - I said I would never buy a house with the main bathroom downstairs but location won me over. Tiny kitchen. Not being able to walk to the local train station (for husband's work) - had to buy a second car when we moved.

We gained views of fields to the front and side of the house, lovely quiet col-de-sac, village pub 2 minute walk away and primary school less than 5 minute walk. Good size garden.

We have just got planning permission to put on a two story extension so I will eventually have my upstairs bathroom and bigger kitchen but it's taken 6 years to get to this point. I still love the location though so it's been worth it.

fizbosshoes · 01/04/2021 09:36

Character - our house is unbelievably dull and has no interesting features but the rooms are a good size, it had a massive garden and it was the only detached house remotely in budget, within our preferred location. (It also had no central heating when we moved in)

stormelf · 01/04/2021 09:52

We wanted end terrace or semi but compromised on a mid terrace. The house is double fronted with a large garden which we were able to build a large extension in without sacrificing on garden space, we still have a large garden. The house is also non standard construction

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