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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:
Shmithecat2 · 21/10/2021 12:44

Pink. Ensuite is nice to have, but as long as there's another toilet somewhere, the lack of one isn't a deal breaker for me. The fact its on a no through road and has a south facing garden wins me over.

Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 21/10/2021 12:48

I just had an update from the Estate Agents. The pink house have lost the house they wanted and haven't seen anything else they remotely like.

The blue house has a complete chain and more than likely I could be in before Christmas.

OP posts:
Pinkdelight3 · 21/10/2021 13:03

Well, I was blue anyway, but if I wasn't, that would clinch it for me. In this market, the pink people could take a while to find somewhere and get an offer accepted, and who knows how high that chain would go on? As it's only five years, I'd get on with it and get this stress over with. Perhaps an extension (loft or side) is the answer to the bedroom issue longer term if that's a big concern.

Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 21/10/2021 13:07

@Pinkdelight3

Well, I was blue anyway, but if I wasn't, that would clinch it for me. In this market, the pink people could take a while to find somewhere and get an offer accepted, and who knows how high that chain would go on? As it's only five years, I'd get on with it and get this stress over with. Perhaps an extension (loft or side) is the answer to the bedroom issue longer term if that's a big concern.
Yes, I'm very jaded after this year. Divorce, leaving the family home, having to get a full time job to support myself etc. Some closure would be very welcomed!
OP posts:
CovidCorvid · 21/10/2021 13:10

I wouldn’t let the fact that kids your kids know play out on the street influence a house choice. Kids come and go, kids fall out with each other, kids playing on the street is a short term thing.

However if you otherwise like the area and can’t find anything else you like nearby then that’s different.

Onandoff · 21/10/2021 13:13

@onedaymaybeone

I just had an update from the Estate Agents. The pink house have lost the house they wanted and haven't seen anything else they remotely like.

The blue house has a complete chain and more than likely I could be in before Christmas.

It’s only been on since 12/10 so they won’t have been looking for long. Worth sounding them out, they might be willing to move into rented or with family for a good buyer.
CellophaneFlower · 21/10/2021 14:27

@Onandoff Yes you can still get evening sun sometimes... but for a north facing garden for a start, it will be at the end of the garden. I didn't want my patio area there. There's a reason why South and West facing gardens are generally preferred... it isn't a myth!

Onandoff · 21/10/2021 14:34

[quote CellophaneFlower]@Onandoff Yes you can still get evening sun sometimes... but for a north facing garden for a start, it will be at the end of the garden. I didn't want my patio area there. There's a reason why South and West facing gardens are generally preferred... it isn't a myth![/quote]
No it’s not but there is a spectrum. I’ve had long or non overlooked north and east facing gardens which have had better sun exposure than a short south facing garden that has been scorched all summer (my last house).

CellophaneFlower · 21/10/2021 14:51

@Onandoff I really can't see a south facing garden not getting as much sun as a north facing garden no matter how short it is.... unless it is surrounded by massively tall buildings 🤔 And to me, it's not just about the summer, it's the winter, when the sun is low. Many north facing gardens won't get hardly any sun at all. There are often lovely sunny days in the winter where I can still sit out in the sun at the back. In my front garden, zero sun and bloody freezing.

Pinkdelight3 · 21/10/2021 16:10

Worth sounding them out, they might be willing to move into rented or with family for a good buyer.

Worth sounding them out, but with the caveat that ime people very often seem to fib about this or change their minds when renting becomes a reality and suddenly they want to stay put until they've bought after all.

sunshinesupermum · 21/10/2021 16:28

Quiet no-through road every time!

sunshinesupermum · 21/10/2021 16:34

I wouldn't go for such a small third bedroom in the blue house nor such a small north-facing garden. You think you may only be there five years but things are never certain as you have found :-( so I would ask owners of pink house if they would be willing to move into rented so you can move there as you want that estate and it sounds like the best option for your DCs.

CovidCorvid · 21/10/2021 18:12

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114083423#/?channel=RES_BUY

.¿

houselikeashed · 21/10/2021 22:51

Personally, a small N facing garden would depress me. But then again, you would get all day sun on the living room.
I would hold out for the Pink one. Sunshine in the kitchen is lovely.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 22/10/2021 02:11

It's a shame there aren't any houses for sale down the road on the streamside walk (Jubilee Drive, Cumbria Close, Cheviot Drive area) as when I used to visit friends and family there (very often but admittedly 20 years ago now) it seemed a really nice place for a young family to live - kids would play by the stream and the trees and it was an easy walk to the infant and junior school. I wonder if it's still as lovely?

Anyway of the two houses, I must admit I'm leaning team blue as the garden situation isn't as important to me personally (I'm not a gardener and mostly use mine for the dogs to play in and to feed the birds), but maybe sitting out in the garden is more of a priority to you? Is the through road very busy/noisy?

Otherwise the only major negative for the blue I can see is that the 3rd bedroom is that bit smaller - but I think that is made up for by the fact it's a "halls together" semi (so you have no neighbours for some of the main rooms, nice for privacy/noise reduction), plus the 2nd bathroom too as the kids get older.

But I would want to double check/measure out exactly what that 3rd bedroom would fit - looks like there is a cupboard, would that be suitable as a kids wardrobe? And can you comfortably fit at minimum a normal size single bed and a desk for studying in there (even if it has to be a bunk with the desk underneath it).

Ruthietuthie · 22/10/2021 03:13

Pink!

Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 22/10/2021 09:33

@CovidCorvid

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114083423#/?channel=RES_BUY

.¿

That's lovely but out of budget and actually out of Thornbury. I'm on-call FF part time and need to live 5 mins from the station and this is too far!
OP posts:
Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 22/10/2021 09:33

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

It's a shame there aren't any houses for sale down the road on the streamside walk (Jubilee Drive, Cumbria Close, Cheviot Drive area) as when I used to visit friends and family there (very often but admittedly 20 years ago now) it seemed a really nice place for a young family to live - kids would play by the stream and the trees and it was an easy walk to the infant and junior school. I wonder if it's still as lovely?

Anyway of the two houses, I must admit I'm leaning team blue as the garden situation isn't as important to me personally (I'm not a gardener and mostly use mine for the dogs to play in and to feed the birds), but maybe sitting out in the garden is more of a priority to you? Is the through road very busy/noisy?

Otherwise the only major negative for the blue I can see is that the 3rd bedroom is that bit smaller - but I think that is made up for by the fact it's a "halls together" semi (so you have no neighbours for some of the main rooms, nice for privacy/noise reduction), plus the 2nd bathroom too as the kids get older.

But I would want to double check/measure out exactly what that 3rd bedroom would fit - looks like there is a cupboard, would that be suitable as a kids wardrobe? And can you comfortably fit at minimum a normal size single bed and a desk for studying in there (even if it has to be a bunk with the desk underneath it).

Absolutely! It's still a lovely place to live but I would more than likely be priced out now. My kids go to the school next door so it would be ideal.
OP posts:
Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 22/10/2021 09:36

Update - I went back to see the blue one. It was nicer than I remembered and the sun was streaming in the front of the house. The extra space in the kitchen felt much more noticeable.

There's no getting away from the garden or 3rd bedroom but that's the compromise with this house. The pink house is the wait.

So I made an offer...but the vendors want to honour the viewings booked in today and tomorrow despite me being in the best position of everyone so now I'm waiting.

I offered under the asking price but not far off. Perhaps I'm naive to think that a proceedable buyer is not worth what it used to be!!

OP posts:
CellophaneFlower · 22/10/2021 10:07

Makes me laugh when they use the term "honour" as though they're being fair. Nope, you just want the best offer you can get! They'll probably now use your offer to get a better ones from the others, but it's always a gamble as had you waited to put your offer in they might just have accepted 1 from the other people anyway. Just keep in mind your max price, if you would go higher as you really don't want to get into a bidding war over a house you obviously wasn't 100% on in the first place. If you don't get it, perhaps Pink will work out after all Smile

CovidCorvid · 22/10/2021 10:08

Fingers crossed. IKEA would be worth a visit if you get it for small bedroom set up inspiration.

Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 22/10/2021 10:29

I don't know whether to go back and offer the asking price and ask for it to be taken off the market or wait and see what happens. I think they are holding out for the asking price and the fact I'm proceedable doesn't matter?

OP posts:
Original poster
onedaymaybeone · 22/10/2021 10:30

@CovidCorvid

Fingers crossed. IKEA would be worth a visit if you get it for small bedroom set up inspiration.
Yes I was thinking a loft bed with desk underneath might work!
OP posts:
CovidCorvid · 22/10/2021 10:37

@onedaymaybeone

I don't know whether to go back and offer the asking price and ask for it to be taken off the market or wait and see what happens. I think they are holding out for the asking price and the fact I'm proceedable doesn't matter?
I’d wait. If they get an offer asking price they’ll come to you and ask if you want to raise it. Don’t be too keen. Then if you raise it they’ll probably go with you as you’re in a better position though there is the risk of a bidding war. Be careful you don’t pay too much for a house you thjnk you might be selling in 5 years time. If you end up in negative equity it could be tricky.
CovidCorvid · 22/10/2021 10:38

Good Pinterest board

pin.it/1nAJ6QV