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Original poster

Buying a house across the road

45 replies

BootsScootsAndToots · 10/12/2021 21:41

Dh wants to buy a house that's for sale that is across the road.

I know we need to move for more space, but when I think of moving, I imagine a total change! How weird will it be coming down the road and instead of turning right into our driveway, we'd turn left into the new house Confused

I like the road, the house looks good (going for a second viewing today) so why do I feel disappointed?

OP posts:
DrEllie · 10/12/2021 21:44

Hopefully the removal costs are lower!

Original poster
BootsScootsAndToots · 10/12/2021 21:52

Yes, that's a positive Grin

OP posts:
catchyjem · 10/12/2021 21:53

I wouldn't like to have to look at "my" old house every day with someone else living there. I couldn't stand seeing them rip out all the stuff I had chosen and putting in their own.

Lampzade · 10/12/2021 21:54

I wouldn’t do it myself. One would want a complete change

rrhuth · 10/12/2021 21:57

I had a friend who did this because they lived on a great street. No stress over new neighbours etc.

Bathshebahardy · 10/12/2021 21:57

My parents did that when I was small. We lived in a rented flat and, after viewing houses in different areas, bought a house opposite the flat. I used to get asked why we moved and stayed in the same road.

Totalwasteofpaper · 10/12/2021 21:57

It's weirdly common in our area.

People love the area and move for more room or a bigger garden

Original poster
BootsScootsAndToots · 10/12/2021 22:03

@Totalwasteofpaper DH loves the area and was so excited when the house came on the market.

Personally, I'd really like to move areas but as we can't agree where to go, and we're getting desperate for more space, I'll probably take the easy option and buy that house.

OP posts:
Justcannotbearsed · 10/12/2021 22:28

We moved to a different street but only 10 minutes walk away. Easy move.

Kendodd · 10/12/2021 22:35

Might be difficult if you've got a cat.

AntiHop · 10/12/2021 23:19

I dream of this! I like my road, neighbours and location.

SunLovingMummy · 10/12/2021 23:25

I’m in my third house, same town. Close enough we kept the same phone number with each move. Kept same Gp and kids were not disrupted with school or friends by moving house. First house is in the middle, we went one street either direction of it with each move. We needed more space each time.

Negligee · 10/12/2021 23:26

Weirdly common in the (inexplicably popular) village I used to live in — people would buy whatever house was available/ they could afford to get a toehold and get in the school catchment, then look to move to something bigger or more to their taste. I can think of several people who moved within the same street, or just around the corner. Some friends bought the house who garden backed onto theirs, and took down the fence to move their belongings.

Original poster
BootsScootsAndToots · 10/12/2021 23:39

@Kendodd

Might be difficult if you've got a cat.
No cat.
OP posts:
Redsquirrel5 · 11/12/2021 01:00

@Negligee

Weirdly common in the (inexplicably popular) village I used to live in — people would buy whatever house was available/ they could afford to get a toehold and get in the school catchment, then look to move to something bigger or more to their taste. I can think of several people who moved within the same street, or just around the corner. Some friends bought the house who garden backed onto theirs, and took down the fence to move their belongings.
I I love that they took the fence down. We moved four times in the same village. Lived at mum and dads briefly then rented but had to ove out by April as it was a holiday let. Rented off an Airforce family that had gone to Germany then bought a house opposite and around the corner no.9 to no.11. Lived there for 6 years then moved 300 miles away and we have been here 33 years. Not planning on moving again.
Badgerforbreakfast · 11/12/2021 01:03

Very common in my street! People moving from mid terraces to end terraces or semi detached houses.

If you like the area then I would do it. Better the devil you know.

Laughsandgiggles · 11/12/2021 01:14

We did this when I was growing up. Moved 3 doors down to a house that belonged to a school friend and I spent a huge amount of my childhood in the house. It was a bit strange but got over it quickly

And even stranger our two cats - who were mainly outdoor cats and roamed the neighbourhood - were sat on the new door step the next morning (we had warned the new owners of the old house that they might have to inherit the cats) and rarely went back to the old house.
My parents still live there twenty years on.

stingofthebutterfly · 11/12/2021 10:37

We bought a house almost opposite the one we were renting. Kind of like a try before you buy. Worked well, because we knew we loved the area and the style of house was ok for us. Better the devil you know, sometimes.

AwkwardPaws27 · 11/12/2021 10:47

We looked all over our borough, neighbouring boroughs and right across the nearest county... ended up two roads away. We like the area, its close enough to walk to the shops & station while still being quiet, & it still works for us. We just wanted more space so moved from a flat to a house.
Still had to pay for removals though as everything had to be out of the flat by midday and we didn't get into our house til close to 3 as vendors were still moving out.

TheOldRazzleDazzle · 11/12/2021 10:47

I’d jump at the chance! I love my house, the street and the location but we live next door to a shared house and have had issues with different tenants and the LL over the years. We just aren’t settled as a result. If I could resolve the situation next door I wouldn’t move again, so moving over the road would be ideal. It’s not an area with many HMOs so unlikely a neighbour would move and the house converted.

SprayedWithDettol · 11/12/2021 10:50

Will your garden get more or less sun now? That would be a factor for me.

Mirrorxx · 11/12/2021 10:58

A family on our street moved onto the next road, about 50 meters away they needed more space but wanted to stay in the area

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 11/12/2021 11:02

We live over the road from our previous house. We moved the village but wanted more space. Made sense. I thought it would be strange, especially as dc3 was born in that house but it isn't.

PatriotCanes · 11/12/2021 11:05

My now-neighbours used to live up the road. And my ex did the move into the house behind, take the fence down and carry everything through thing. Oh and my brother moved from a shared house to his first owned house just down the road - that I remember well because his 'only' furniture only was a bed and a chest of drawers - everything else fitted in cars but the bed frame, mattress and chest of drawers was carried down the hill by a very grumpy me.

So - if you like the area, go for it.

percythewitch · 11/12/2021 11:18

I would hate to do this because you would run the risk of the buyers knocking your door every few days to ask "how does the boiler work" or "where is the key for xxx" or "the roof is leaking".