Which house?

[MixingPopAndPolitics]

DH and I accepted an offer on our house on Wednesday so are now in a position to proceed. The two houses below are in our budget and we're disagreeing on which one is best.

I'm set on separate adult living room and an open plan kitchen/diner with seating area.

I think this one www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84880518 offers the best solution. I think we can knock the wall between the kitchen and the room which is currently a gym to the halfway point, and have a sofa against the partial wall. DH says no/thinks we won't be able to because gas pipes.

He prefers this one because it's cheaper - www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122318192 and thinks we can add a 'sunroom' jutting into the garden from where the dining area is. I think building rather than knocking down a partial wall is likely to be way more expensive.

WOWYC?

(Which one would you choose??)

Ohh I know these...I think the first one is over priced but a better location and more potential..I think 350 to 375 is more realistic

I much prefer the layout of the 2nd property, but I don't think either is the right choice.

How much under your budget are the 2 properties? If you're already having to make huge changes like knocking down walls and building sunrooms, then why not look at other properties which may be a bit more expensive but don't need as much work to make them work for you.

You only sold 3 days ago, you don't need to rush into buying. My advice is slow down, call estate agents and see what else is coming onto the market in your area.

I agree @Mrsladybirdface - it was on at £415,000 and has just been reduced, hence why it's now in our price range. Both close to the school DS goes to, I'm sure you know which one!!

£425,000 is top budget for dream house in walk in condition @Whinge

Property one (your favourite) has an extra bathroom, that would swing it for me. Building would be messy and stressful, it always is. Why do it if you don’t need to?

knowing the area I would prefer property one’s location as well.

The second one. It has potentially better kerb appeal and is closer to the station.

Actually the second one is further up the road then I thought...ohhh I can't decide now!

Both decent and so little stock in that price bracket!

The first one backs on to the railway according to the map? That would be a mark against it from me. The second house looks in a nicer area with the park close by - but I don't know the area so might not be the case

The extra room and the bathroom would possibly swing it for me on the first, but the workmanship looks awful - I'd worry how it had been constructed. Has it got building reg sign off do you know?
The second one looks like it's had much more care taken on it.

I think the second house has better layout. It already has a kitchen diner and separate living space, which is what you say you want, and mor eimportantly, the bedrooms are more evenly sized. Tiny third bedrooms drive me nuts. no child wants to be the one in the box room.

I'm very impressed that you can get nicely decorated houses in Cheltenham for £350k!

Second one...you may have a chance of getting DCs into the new senior school (assuming they aren't at senior school already)

Yes @Mrsladybirdface, that did occur to me. Current catchment is tiny but I can see that extending.

I much prefer the second one, but it is hard to say which is better for you.

No knowledge of the area.

There is a lot I don’t like about the first one, no proper garden space and all paved over. Awkward layout that you would be trying to fix. Low spec flooring in the extended areas implies low spec elsewhere. No side access to the rear.

With the second, you’d be buying a nice garden that works for your family and bbqs now, generous side access to the rear which will make it really easy to add a sun room or conservatory (which aren’t as expensive as a proper extension). What PPs have said about school catchment as well makes this better.

I hate awkwardly and cheaply extended houses though. I know for others the extra space and second bathroom would make it preferable.

Just on looks alone I prefer the second one

1st one as you have lots of extra room downstairs and a downstairs toilet- although you may need to move gas pipes

I also know this area well!

I actually prefer the first house, as you have the extra room downstairs and extra bathroom, which is really handy. It also just feels bigger.

But you are sacrificing the garden space, as the bigger house has more of a yard and the smaller one has a nicer garden. How old are the kids, and do they use the garden a lot?

That would probably swing it for me.

One DD, aged 7. Not planning anymore so smaller bedroom not an issue. Could easily chuck some astroturf down in first house (second house already has AstroTurf).

I also really like the separate shower and bath of first house.

How would either of these be in the catchment for the new high school? Will it really extend to Hatherley?

Sorry, DS!

First one definitely wouldn't. And I suspect you'd need to be in Warden Hill to get into an extended catchment. But possibly the closer you are to Morrison's (the second one) the more chance of swinging it on a low birth year?

The extension in the first house is horrid and awkward and needs spending money on to resolve. It has a great kitchen, ruined by the extension so you’re paying for the new fittings in a poor layout IMO.

For that reason, I prefer house 2.

@Chewbecca - I do agree with you. The shape is awkward but with a bit of saving and knocking around, I think it could be great. My thought is that it's easier and cheaper to work with the walls you have, rather than extend??

Out of those two the first one as it's bigger and got more rooms, unless it's a poorer area then I'd buy the other and extend
No down stairs loo in second which is rubbish

It’s an external wall and the original corner of the house so not that simple.

I’d rather spend £50k less and do it up properly rather than correct their bodge job. this has a lovely garden.

I know this area.
I prefer the space and Road of number 1 but not so keen on the garden. House number 2 does t have a downstairs loo which I think everyone with children needs!