Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Help me choose between 2 v different properties please

71 replies

chummymummy7 · 18/04/2022 17:28

Hello! you were all so helpful last time that I've come back for more of your pearls please.

We've sold our house STC and need to get cracking finding a house for our family of 4 nearer to our kids' school.

We viewed these two at the weekend: one (character semi) at the top of our budget, one (modern-ish end of terrace) at the middle.

Our needs are 3 beds, a garden, access to the A1, space to work and play, and a kitchen/diner.

2 bathrooms would be a 'nice to have' but 2 toilets essential.

Which one of these would you choose to put an offer on if you were us? Ridiculous proposition to people who don't actually know us, but you know what I mean.

nb: the WGC house doesn't have a bath, it has a walk in shower.

(both will probably end of going for way over asking, knowing the current market)

Modern less pricey

Character more pricey

OP posts:

echt · 19/04/2022 02:40

Character one, for reasons mentioned above.

The modern one has very meanly-proportioned windows.

LetitiaLeghorn · 19/04/2022 03:12

I like the modern one better. Could you not make the office/snug into the third bedroom and make the boxroom into an office?

Josette77 · 19/04/2022 03:22

I love the modern one. It's gorgeous and I usually like character.

tobee · 19/04/2022 03:47

Yes you definitely prefer the character one. Plus the bathroom looks really appealing . Assuming everything is in good nick!

Gwegowygwiggs · 19/04/2022 03:52

I've gotta be honest here, calling the older one a 'character' property is a bit of a stretch. I'd more just go with 'old' personally - there doesn't appeal to be a great deal of character about it from what I can see. With character properties you usually expect the benefits of high ceilings, period features etc that you wouldn't find with modern properties but the ceilings look incredibly low to me and the fireplaces are just old - rather than 'period'. The bath issue would bother me immensely so I'd have to find a way to incorporate it but the downstairs space of the WGC property is WOW, the older property is a tad too depressing and brown for me. No competition. WGC all the way

icklekid · 19/04/2022 03:56

I’d go modern because I’d want to spend money making character work which I wouldn’t have so wouldn’t be happy. You know modern isn’t forever- the bath wouldn’t bother me but there is room to put one in

Rainbowqueeen · 19/04/2022 03:56

If you’re only planning to stay 4-5 years I would base my decision on a combination of what works for you best for that timeframe and resale.

So ignore high schools if the DC won’t be going to high school while you are there.

Are you planning to make improvements? If you are handy you could increase the value of the character home. The modern one is less likely to need expensive items doing to it so you can focus on getting the mortgage down.

View it as more of a business decision

ParisHarris · 19/04/2022 04:26

I would immediately discount the first one due to the size of the third bedroom. It’s a two bed really plus a little office or similar. To have a teen in there would be very difficult.

Ponderingwindow · 19/04/2022 04:39

Much prefer the layout of the character house.

I also take baths at least 3 times a week so wouldn’t buy a house without one.

SpidersAreShitheads · 19/04/2022 06:52

Character one by a country mile. More space and more practical zoned area bearing in mind you WFH. Also has a proper third bedroom and not just a box room. I usually like open plan but I find that modern one a bit soul-less.

Original poster

chummymummy7 · 19/04/2022 08:03

@Rainbowqueeen thanks, are you talking about something like doing up the kitchen in the character home to increase the value? Adding a garden office? Just thinking of ideas.

The modern one is very, very dazzling with the stunning kitchen and living space - but I should add that hallways (up and downstairs) were tiny and storage lacking throughout - and bedrooms and carpet upstairs were tatty.

It's a sexy AF kitchen/living space but they did a very good job with the photos

OP posts:

Idyllically · 19/04/2022 08:13

I think the pricier older house as it’s further form the A1, and it’s bigger! And possibly scope to extend if you wanted to? (Into the loft, but I don’t know if that’s a possibility.)

Twinsandsome · 19/04/2022 09:56

I am normally all for character but the modern house is beautiful and I could imagine being very happy, comfortable and content. You say upstairs a bit grubby, I'm sure it wouldn't take much to bring it up to your own standards and make it your own xx

SollaSollew · 19/04/2022 10:20

I'm normally go for character but with the £75k price difference you could do a loft conversion to add a 4th bedroom and an ensuite with a bath.

OohNewRug · 19/04/2022 12:29

My opinion, 'Character' property looks like a nice family home. Modern property looks like somewhere a childless couple lives.
If you can't decide it probably means neither. I'd have a think about why you are moving and why you'll be moving again in a few years, what would you buy if money were no object? what compromises are/aren't you prepared to make?
I was in your shoes a few years ago. I looked at small houses, ugly houses, houses on busy roads, houses that were overlooked... in the end I thought 'sod it' and looked at a house miles from where I wanted to live and here I am happy as can be.

LexingtonsHome · 19/04/2022 13:25

I was going to say the modern one, but then realised it doesn't have a driveway. Having lived in that area in a similar road with shared parking I know it can get very annoying! Have you visited when most people are home?

GnomeDePlume · 19/04/2022 20:51

Similar area in Knebworth:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121346144#/floorplan?activePlan=1&channel=RES_BUY

Has an actual bathroom on the first floor.

Sluj · 19/04/2022 21:18

@GnomeDePlume

Similar area in Knebworth:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121346144#/floorplan?activePlan=1&channel=RES_BUY

Has an actual bathroom on the first floor.

And an actual mainline East Coast train track in the garden

Original poster

chummymummy7 · 19/04/2022 21:19

@gnomedeplume

thanks! we viewed that one a couple of weeks back. It's lovely - but we wanted three beds on the same floor, and to have a loft for storage rather than a loft conversion.

We made an offer on the Knebworth house and it has been accepted, so all being well we are Knebworth-bound!

Thanks for your help x

OP posts:

GnomeDePlume · 19/04/2022 21:30

Congratulations! I saw the other one was sold STC so wasn't sure if it was you.

I hope you will have a smooth purchase.

Back about a million years ago I lived in the area. DF used to walk to Knebworth to catch the train into London. We then moved to WGC. Of course all these places have changed hugely since I lived there.

Original poster

chummymummy7 · 19/04/2022 22:27

Thanks @GnomeDePlume

That was v kind of you to share another option x

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3