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Original poster

Moving from detached to semi (same price)

71 replies

moveblues · 29/10/2021 08:20

Morning all

I'm just not sure
We've found a beautiful 3bed 20's house in an area we love (semi, left floor plan). Current house 4 bed detached on the right. Both same £.

The semi is smaller by 30 sq ft approx, but in our preferred city. It has a glorious south facing garden (see previous post if interested to see) but definitely needs a bit of work to bring it up to what we want, and it's a semi.

We moved to our current 30's house in our current small city during lockdown and for various reasons it just hasn't been what we were after. The garden is about a 5ft drop with (beautiful) decking leading down but just feels disconnected. North west facing with slight south aspect. Busy main road, and we don't use all of the rooms! We could grow into it (babies?) but I can't see myself being a mum here, with the busy road, awkward garden and loft room just feeling a tad impractical. It's done to a T, to the previous owners spec. It's beautiful but to change it would probably lead to loss of value as it's so well done (lovely carpets and wallpaper but where we wouldn't have them)

I've felt like I'm living in a posh Airbnb for a year!

I keep looking at this plan we have made to move, and thinking 'are we mad to be moving to a smaller semi for the same price which needs more work with same (poor) EPC' etc etc. What do you think?

Moving from detached to semi (same price)

OP posts:

Original poster

moveblues · 29/10/2021 08:27

Just to add, current house has Harvey Jones kitchen cabinets, quartz worktops, engineered hardwood floors
New house naff b&q style kitchen laminate worktops laminate 'wood effect' floors (just to help you picture)

The current house is filled with expensive things we probably would never have bought (frugal and not lavish!). But they're lovely nonetheless! The quartz worktop and kitchen island prob cost more in current house than whole kitchen in new house

I'm more of a wooden worktop farmhouse style kinda gal.

OP posts:

MissyB1 · 29/10/2021 08:31

Go with your heart is my advice. I would downsize tomorrow for the right house. I’m also in a detached but would definitely consider a semi if it ticked all the boxes.
Obviously do consider possible neighbour noise, which side is joined on? The garage side or house side? And try to find out about the neighbors.

FakeFruitShoot · 29/10/2021 08:32

If it's where you want to be then that's worth a significant amount imo. You've had the fancy kitchen and 30 sq ft extra for a year and don't like it.

Bimblybomeyelash · 29/10/2021 08:38

Location will aways be the most important thing.

ClafoutisSurprise · 29/10/2021 08:44

If the semi is the same price as your detached house, then clearly it has other features that make it more desirable than yours (if that makes sense). The location, I’d guess from what you’re saying. That’s not to be sniffed at. I wouldn’t give fancy kitchen fittings a second thought, nice as they are and even if I loved them. Which does not sound to be the case here.

My worry would be neighbours. I live in a semi, have had some issues and so am thinking about moving to a detached. Your move in reverse in a sense. It will be either a bigger mortgage or a house that is not as nice as my current one save for being detached. Very hard decision to make because I am really enjoying the things you’re looking forward to with your semi - great location, this house has always felt ‘right’ - and they are hard to give up.

So for me depends on whether you’re willing to take that risk - I am an anxious person and if I didn’t feel this way would definitely go for the nicer semi every time.

CasperGutman · 29/10/2021 21:17

I grew up in a 1920s semi, and live in a 1930s semi now. Hardly ever hear the neighbours in either house. Sharing a wall really doesn't have to be a problem.

NewHouseNewMe · 29/10/2021 21:45

I think steps down to a garden can be hard as it seems disconnected. Is there a basement level that could be converted into a snug or kitchen?
It strikes me that you're talking about the downsides of the house but not the area, yet you want to leave for the new city. Are you sure if it's the house or the city that is the main issue?

crimsonlake · 29/10/2021 22:23

There have been lots of threads on here about going from detached to semi.
Unless there is a serious financial situation causing you to do it, my advice from experience is don't. You cannot put a price on not having neighbours attached and any noise you may have to put up with.

SisforSoppy · 29/10/2021 22:29

We moved from detached to semi and I HATE it. Every damn day the tv from next door is on from 7am -11pm. It’s the only thing we hear but it’s just a constant drone in the background. The couple are elderly and I know we must make way more noise than they do…especially when I get my son to practice his trumpet by the tv wall!!

In your case the south facing garden might swing it for me….but that essentially why we are in this house as it was almost the only house we saw with a south facing garden. But I’d never live in a semi again.

hotmeatymilk · 29/10/2021 22:31

Forget the semi vs detached issue, it’s a red herring.

The house you want has:
• south-facing garden
• the location you want
• opportunity to make it your own

Your current house has none of those things and you can’t changes its location or aspect; all you could do is rip out luxury fittings to make it more your style but that would be an environmental crime. You don’t love it there, right? Go where you’ll love and forget the semi/detached issue.

Heronwatcher · 30/10/2021 07:41

I’d definitely value a good garden, nice area and quiet road over a fancy interior and some of the most expensive houses in the UK are terraces (albeit in Notting Hill) so don’t let the fact it’s a semi put you off.

TopCatsTopHat · 30/10/2021 07:47

@hotmeatymilk

Forget the semi vs detached issue, it’s a red herring.

The house you want has:
• south-facing garden
• the location you want
• opportunity to make it your own

This I'd say. The garden you have now sounds a nightmare for children. Neighbours can be lovely or neutral, lots of non noisy perfectly fine neighbours out there.

traka · 30/10/2021 07:58

A major plus point for me when it comes to detached Vs semi is that a detached doesn't share a wall with the neighbour

Original poster

moveblues · 30/10/2021 08:55

Thanks all. It's an east facing garden in the current house sorry, with south aspect.
Current house has total wow factor about it (conservatory let's lots of light in and lots of warmth out and like a bloody greenhouse in summer.). Could get a warm roof but just not feeling emotionally invested enough to do it!

OP posts:

Original poster

moveblues · 30/10/2021 08:59

@hotmeatymilk

Forget the semi vs detached issue, it’s a red herring.

The house you want has:
• south-facing garden
• the location you want
• opportunity to make it your own

This sums up exactly how we feel. Our friends are going to think we are crazy, but oh well! It'll also be pricey to do up the new place, but then I think well, at least we can do it at our own pace and in our own style... Current place left, new place on right

OP posts:

Original poster

moveblues · 30/10/2021 09:39

We are also moving back to the city we moved from during lockdown

OP posts:

hotmeatymilk · 30/10/2021 09:57

They’re both gorgeous houses!

Lots of people made moves in lockdown that didn’t work out. And who cares what your friends think if you’re happy?

eightlivesdown · 30/10/2021 09:59

Moving to a semi runs the risk of noise from neighbours, but it's not certain. Unless you're very noise sensitive, it's likely (but not guaranteed) to be OK. On the other hand, you know you don't really like your current house and the location is inferior. On balance, moving to the semi is the better option.

Starseeking · 30/10/2021 11:01

For me, your current house has far more kerb appeal than the one you are moving to, however location is a huge factor here.

I lived on a main road, in the house I just sold. Thought it was a mistake even before buying the house 4 years ago, and I'd never live on a main road again.

The fact that the houses are the same price despite your current home being detached, means the semi is likely in a better location, and from what you are saying about the pull towards the semi, I'd go it. You'll be able to make it your own over time.

Starseeking · 30/10/2021 11:02

I'd go for it

Kitsmummy · 30/10/2021 13:00

Your current house is MUCH more attractive! Depending on house prices/stamp duty it could easily cost you £30k just to physically do the move. And then you'd be in a semi that still needed money spending on it.

I'm not seeing very strong reasons for making this move!

A garden with a drop is no big deal. The main road and garden aspect I understand isn't great, but overall is it enough to justify this move??

Original poster

moveblues · 30/10/2021 15:43

@Kitsmummy

I'm not seeing very strong reasons for making this move!

A garden with a drop is no big deal. The main road and garden aspect I understand isn't great, but overall is it enough to justify this move??

Exactly Kits, this is the other side of the coin but an important one!! I hate living on a main road though. Hate. I don't know why I thought it would be ok (we did live on a main road before but traffic was generally slower and slightly less of it; usually 15-20 mph or the odd boy racer; here a constant throng of 30-40 or above mph)........! Speed limit on both is 30 but very different issues. We also don't live too far from a dual carriageway and a major motorway and I swear I can hear both at night at different pitches!

My noise sensitivity is much more acute for roads than neighbours.

Never ever again.

We are fortunate in that the move will cost us about 11k total. Bloody expensive mistake though.

OP posts:

Original poster

moveblues · 30/10/2021 15:44

@Kitsmummy

I'm not seeing very strong reasons for making this move!

A garden with a drop is no big deal. The main road and garden aspect I understand isn't great, but overall is it enough to justify this move??

you'd be in a semi that still needed money spending on it.

This is my main concern! Hit the nail on the head here.

OP posts:

Fadingout · 30/10/2021 15:47

We’re lucky to live in a detached. Previously lived in a terrace. I would prefer not to move back to a semi or terrace again. Your current house looks really lovely from the outside. How different is the location?

Bluntness100 · 30/10/2021 15:55

Yeah I’m also not sure about this, your current house is much more attractive obviously and from what you say, not just on the outside but the inside too, so you’d be downgrading size and quality for the area.

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