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Original poster

Which house?

80 replies

onedaymaybeone · 20/10/2021 21:33

Help me wise Mumsnetters!

I just had a house purchase fall through after 6 months Shock of waiting. I'm in a good position with my deposit and mortgage secured post divorce and I'm in a rental property. But I need to move as I'm rapidly being priced out the local market and my rent is killing me!

I looked at these 2 houses today.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114731210

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/115104611

I preferred the feel of the pink one which is down a no through road and has a south facing garden. But its terraced and smaller with no en-suite. Would it be a bad decision to go for it over the blue semi which is bigger, with an en-suite but has a north facing garden and on the through road of the development?

I have 2 primary aged children and a dog. I love the development itself so it's my first choice of area locally.

OP posts:
LeekChic · 20/10/2021 21:39

They both look nice!

Would the extra bathroom be useful as they get older?

maofteens · 20/10/2021 21:39

I liked the pink one too. Don't overthink - whichever spoke to your heart.

Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 20/10/2021 21:40

I think the extra bathroom would be good but we don't have one now and it's fine. My children are 8y & 6y so don't spend much time in there at the moment Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 20/10/2021 21:41

@maofteens

I liked the pink one too. Don't overthink - whichever spoke to your heart.
Yes the pink one is the heart choice
OP posts:
scottiedogs · 20/10/2021 21:45

Both look lovely - like the kitchen in the blue house. Is north facing garden a deal breaker? Probably would be for me. Good luck deciding!

Wakeupin2022 · 20/10/2021 21:45

The 3rd bedroom is small is both but really small in the blue one.

Whilst I like an ensuite, I think the extra space in the bedroom would fit growing children more.

bellabelly · 20/10/2021 21:48

I like the pink one better and having had a north facing garden a few years ago, I'd never choose one ever again!

afromom · 20/10/2021 21:49

It depends how long you are planning on staying in the house I think. But for me I'd pick the blue one because-

  1. The second bedroom in the pink one looks small for 2 children as they grow. I'd prefer a bedroom each for them
  2. You can park right next to your house in the blue one (I've seen shared parking like in the pink house before and it always ends in a nightmare- and you'd have further to carry shopping in the rain)
  3. I'd choose a semi over a terrace as there's 50% less chance you are attached to noisy antisocial neighbours.
  4. As someone with 2 teenagers and only 1 bathroom, I'd always choose an en suite over not having one - school mornings with 2 teenagers and work is a nightmare with only 1 bathroom
But that's just me from past experience!
afromom · 20/10/2021 21:50

Sorry I missed the pink one had three bedrooms too, ignore my first point

custardbear · 20/10/2021 21:54

The blue one has very small bedrooms

Bimblybomeyelash · 20/10/2021 21:55

I agree with wake, the third bedroom is very small in the blue house. I’d prioritise bedroom space and a sunny garden over an extra bathroom.

GlitteryFlaps · 20/10/2021 21:56

I like both, but out of the two, I would go for the blue semi.

However, I think this one is nice: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/113170355#/?channel=RES_BUY

I don’t know the area, but it looks really nice, the third bedroom is a better size and you get the en-suite as well.

Flyingbymypants · 20/10/2021 21:56

The 3rd bedroom in the blue one is tiny. I'd go for the pink one for this reason

WhoppingBigBackside · 20/10/2021 23:17

The blue house is a semi, butt the north facing garden would put me off.

The pink one is better apart from not being a semi, but it has access to the garden, which is a plus.

2 bathrooms aren't needed as you have a downstairs loo.

Londongent · 20/10/2021 23:30

@GlitteryFlaps

I like both, but out of the two, I would go for the blue semi.

However, I think this one is nice: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/113170355#/?channel=RES_BUY

I don’t know the area, but it looks really nice, the third bedroom is a better size and you get the en-suite as well.

I like this one two. Of the others, probably the pink house
trickyex · 20/10/2021 23:41

I would keep looking. I like the house linked to by GLittery, that looks a better bet if the area is right?

DILevil · 20/10/2021 23:47

I like @GlitteryFlaps house. I think having a walk in shower is a must for me.

2018SoFarSoGreat · 20/10/2021 23:49

pink for me - it is lovely, and both have a downstairs WC so you have that already. South facing garden is a big draw, with kids small enough to play out.

northernmonkeymummy · 21/10/2021 00:04

Notice how the both have very little furniture in the 3rd bedroom probably because they hardly fit anything in. So many new builds make the 3rd so tiny it's not practical as a bedroom to be used all the time because once there's a bed in it there's no room for anything else. My friend has one similar and bought a single bed to find out it wouldn't fit so had to get a child size single bed, which pre kids on Saturday nights out we'd toss a coin which of her mates would have to sleep in it. 🤣 I think those size rooms maybe work with younger children but certainly not when they get to be teenagers.

You have my sympathy, the market is crazy at the moment I sold last February a big 5 bed terrace to downsize before the prices rose and now the house I sold would be worth 70k more, I can't even get a nice 3 bed for what I got for mine. I'm hoping with with more probate being granted, furlough ending and the cost of living soaring there may be a slow down in the market. Good luck in your search. X

Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 21/10/2021 07:15

Thank you everyone. The north facing garden and tiny 3rd bedroom in the blue one is putting me off despite it being semi detached etc.

@GlitteryFlaps that house is lovely but on a 'rough' street. It's surrounded by social housing and unfortunately there has been quite a bit of anti social behaviour. But yes I agree that house is a good option otherwise.

The development the pink and blue house are in is lovely and my preferred area for the kids.

It will probably be a 5 year house. So it's a stepping stone rather than my forever home. But I want to get it right. It's my first big decision to make on my own.

OP posts:
BeStillNowColin · 21/10/2021 07:31

That parking set up could be a potential issue with the pink house but apart from that it is lovely. Utilise the garden as much as you can as when they get older they go in it less and less.

The one thing I will say is I have sons, they started showering every day when they were in year 6 because they smell and their hair needs washing. I know yours are only 8 and 6 but in 5 years that gives you a 13 and an 11 year old. You will all be sharing that bathroom in the morning so I would just bear that in mind.

Didiusfalco · 21/10/2021 07:35

You’ve just gone through a divorce which is a stressful thing, go for the pink house. Live somewhere that will make you happy.

MamsellMarie · 21/10/2021 07:56

You have to get dog and DCs out of the house in all weathers - I'd prefer being away from traffic - just less stress (dog messing around, kids going ahead up the road etc )

CovidCorvid · 21/10/2021 08:00

The third bedrooms are very small in both, but worse in the semi. Saying that I think the semi is much nicer downstairs. I’d be tempted to keep looking.

PurBal · 21/10/2021 08:03

Pink. En suites are just an extra loo to clean 😉

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