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Original poster

It's a compromise either way!

60 replies

amipreparedtocompromise · 28/06/2022 14:01

Name changed for this because I've asked so many people in real life! DH and I have looked at 2 houses. Both chain free, both in budget, both lovely.

One has 4 bedrooms but they aren't particularly big. It has a lovely long garden and private parking. It's down a private road close to the river so very quiet and safe.

The other has 5 bedrooms and space for an office. Not such a big garden but backs onto a play park. It's also less than 5 minutes to walk to the village shop and school but near the main road through. My heart says it wants the smaller house in the beautiful location but my head says more inside space is better.
For context we have 2 children, one boy one girl. My DH works from home and I have a small sewing business. Neither of us are keen gardeners and it's a relatively small village we're looking in.

I've linked the houses below. Which one would you go for? Should I let my head rule my heart? Confused

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/118818557 smaller house, lovely location, fab garden

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85310154 bigger house, village location, small garden

OP posts:
Allicando · 28/06/2022 14:21

First one hands down. You could always put a garden room in that HUGE garden for an office / sewing space. The second is on a busy road, no garden (even though you may not be gardeners don't under estimate private space). I suspect the open green space could become a curse if there are rowdy kids playing on it / anti-social behaviour.

easyday · 28/06/2022 14:27

The second ones bedrooms all have sloped ceilings which would drive me crazy. The first one has room to expand though I don't like the livingroom being on the first floor.

Allicando · 28/06/2022 14:29

Just looked at street view for the second and its not on a busy road and does look lovely looking out over the green space, i can see why you are torn. If you have young DC though would you be happy with such a small outside space? It also looks like much more of a project, would that be an issue?

TheGriffle · 28/06/2022 14:30

Does the second one have parking? I couldn’t see mention of it but may have missed it. I’d never buy anywhere that had no off street parking. The park at the back might cause issues as well with kids congregating in the evenings.

im not keen on the layout of the first house either. Seems a bit higgledy piggledy with the random bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor.

Bamaluz · 28/06/2022 14:31

I don't like the second one at all; no garden, no parking, busy road, and a play park at the back isn't necessarily a good thing.
I'm not keen on the first though because I don't like first floor kitchens because of point in from the garden for drinks etc.
And it depends on whether you could walk into the village, it would mean the children wouldn't need lifts all the time as they get older

Foreheadwoes · 28/06/2022 14:33

Neither-wait for another house to come up

MarmiteCoriander · 28/06/2022 14:33

Number 1 for me too

We recently moved to a quiet, cul-de-sac near open fields and the peace and quiet is lovely. I agree that the play park could be noisy with kids in the day, and possibly antisocial behaviour at night with teens hanging out/drinking etc. Plus a busy road nearby would also put me off.

I also hate the slopped ceilings in number 2 which make it feel like rooms have been shoe horned into the loft. Plus- number 2 looks more dated and those bright walls would need to go. Number 1 could always have a garden room added as an office in the future.

BaronessBomburst · 28/06/2022 14:36

The first one. There's no privacy with the second house. You're right on the street and the garden backs onto the play park.

Original poster
amipreparedtocompromise · 28/06/2022 14:53

You're all saying what my heart is telling me! Although that play park isn't where kids hang out at night, there's another bigger one where they run a youth club. And there's not any antisocial behaviour really, we're very lucky it's such a lovely village. DH is definitely keener on the one with the outside space and it would be lovely not to have to drive to school and the shop

OP posts:
Simbobbly · 28/06/2022 14:57

I prefer the second. The photos are dark in the first one which might be putting me off, but having the 4th bedroom 2 floors away from the others and the 3rd bedroom so long and thin means it's less of a 4 bed, and somehow it just doesn't appeal.

The lack of garden and the townhouse arrangement are both things that people can tire of after a few years, but the compromises are what keep the rest of it affordable.

onlywhenidream · 28/06/2022 15:00

River - flooding ?

Doubleraspberry · 28/06/2022 15:18

Ditto the poster above. Have you checked the flood risk for the one near the river? (You can put the postcode in here and it will tell you: www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk) Bear in mind water levels are rising so areas not currently subject to flooding may be at risk in the not-too distant future.

Doubleraspberry · 28/06/2022 15:19

But I'm jealous of your move. Allendale is lovely - a relative lived there extremely happily and we almost bought there last year.

Doubleraspberry · 28/06/2022 15:20

Also (sorry for all the messages) please don't underestimate not being dependent on a car. I wouldn't move anywhere without public transport or within walking distance to a shop and school.

Crikeyalmighty · 28/06/2022 15:22

I personally prefer the 2nd one but would depend on parking.

Original poster
amipreparedtocompromise · 28/06/2022 19:15

Doubleraspberry · 28/06/2022 15:19

But I'm jealous of your move. Allendale is lovely - a relative lived there extremely happily and we almost bought there last year.

It's a lovely village, we're so lucky to live here!

OP posts:
Original poster
amipreparedtocompromise · 28/06/2022 19:16

Apparently it has never flooded but that doesn't mean it never could. Parking with the second one is on street but there's 3 houses on the terrace so you're pretty much guaranteed to park outside. It's not a case of need to park several streets away

OP posts:
Seeingadistance · 28/06/2022 20:25

Does the first one share the back garden with the house next door? It looks that way from the photos.

harriethoyle · 28/06/2022 20:36

Is the garden of the first one overlooked by the rest of the terrace? I wouldn't like that if it is... I don't think either are great tbh. In terms of houses, I prefer the first though.

MiseryWIthAStent · 28/06/2022 20:41

Second.

NetballHoop · 28/06/2022 20:48

I much prefer house 1 but the septic tank is putting me off.

SafelySoftly · 28/06/2022 21:21

If you don’t like either, and there are serious drawbacks to both, I wouldn’t buy either.

I think you’re naive about flooding and that tiny garden/no parking for the second is a big drawback.

parietal · 28/06/2022 21:55

I think house no2 (with 5 beds) looks better.

no1 seems to be north facing and looks dark and cold. Plus I think you have shared access across someone else's garden which means there is potential for neighbour disputes.

if you aren't keen gardeners, then no2 looks light and sensible with a good layout (no downstairs bedrooms) and would make a great family home.

Magicmagician · 28/06/2022 22:00

The flood risk would put me off the first house

Original poster
amipreparedtocompromise · 29/06/2022 06:02

Seeingadistance · 28/06/2022 20:25

Does the first one share the back garden with the house next door? It looks that way from the photos.

Half of the garden belongs to the house, there's a boundary line so we would have to fence it if we bought it to stop the kids getting to the river

OP posts: