Detached house or semi detached we are 3 weeks away from completing on

[permanentgiraffe]

We are 3 weeks away from completion on a semi detached which wasn't perfect as 2 bedrooms had restricted headspace and the living/dining/kitchen areas were in the same room - still a very nice house nonetheless. South east facing garden.

A detached house on the same estate came up a week ago, and partner and I went to view it. It is £50k more. We can afford it, although it is at the top of our budget. Same number of bedrooms as semi, but none have restricted headspace. Separate living room and separate kitchen/diner. However, the pictures made it look light but in reality it was a bit gloomy (North facing garden). Also, the dining and living areas are in full view of the street outside.

Obviously we are very close to purchasing the semi detached - I think if both had come on at the same time I would have gone for the detached. Wise mumsnetters, what would you do in this situation?

I pulled out of a purchase a week before exchange. (No chain but I would have done it anyway). You can't buy somewhere for fear of upsetting others.

Yes, when you’re about to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds is not the time for being polite. Especially when you factor in that you’re buying from a massive building company and not a family; plus you’re buying a new build which isn’t likely to have gone up in value if you sell it five years down the line. You want to get it right.

Just to be clear, both properties in question are 7-8 years old so not "new new" but I would still class them as new builds.

We're in a new build. Absolutely awful for neighbour noise. Can hear them vacuuming/doing bedtime with their toddler/arguing/having sex. I'd go for detached 100%

We live in a 6 year old semi detached house and we can't here anything from next door at all think it depends on the build quality our last house was rented and the sound proofing was awful and that would of been around 10 years old.

I lived in a dark house and it made my mental health so had

would never ever live in a dark house or north facing garden again.

What developer built it? We are in a Redrow house and have a huge family of lots of small children through the wall and I never hear them. It's as good as detached for sound.

@Soonberaining lucky you! We're in a Taylor Wimpey very unfortunately

I rented a TW house years ago and could hear every word the neighbours said. I knew about their daughter's heart problems and their disappointing love life. It was awful. I never even met them!

So much is down to the developer putting in adequate insulation to sound proof the property. My Redrow house is great as is DD's Fairview home. My other DD had an ex council house, which people rave about, but that was as bad as the TW one. My old house, a Victorian terrace, again, was like living in the same house as my neighbours.

Sweeping statements about older properties being better are doubtful to say the least. The only way to know if an attached house, old or new, is soundproof is to live in it or ask someone who lives in an identical one.

Personally I would never live in a semi detached house ever again, we moved due to neighbour noise so detched all the way for me

My last house was detached and I had the most vile neighbours ever.

I'm now in an eot and have no sound from my neighbours, who have lots of small children, and they are all lovely.

Nothing can guarantee harmonious living.

Pulling out would be quite a shit thing to do, given everyone is likely in a chain. You and the vendor will end up paying double conveyancing too.

Has anyone else got an opinion on Barretts homes

I wouldn’t want a gloomy house or a North facing garden, one of the main reasons we still live in our semi rather than moving ‘up’ as I’ve never seen anything locally that wouldn’t mean foregoing one of those. But we hardly ever hear our neighbours. I guess you have to work out what your non-negotiables are OP.

The 3 storey we used to have was Barratts, we found it pretty good but it was planned so the adjoining wall was in the hallway and landings. We didn't hear much except when they hoovered the stairs. The gardens were small and narrow though so we heard everything out there. We did have one small problem, a minor leak, that was fixed very swiftly by them. We went for an older house the next time, but would probably go for Barratts again if I wanted a newbuild, or Redrow.

Ours is David Wilson which is the same brand and ours has solar panels really excellent insulation and I can't hear a thing next door . Sometimes the occasional door shutting upstairs but no sounds of talking or tvs or anything like that .

@HappyHappyHermit ours is the same the join to the other house was at the stairs . Although thinking about it our rented was too but the sound levels were horrific from next door but that was a different developer.

I wouldn’t worry about the chain, this is hundreds of thousands of pounds and needs to be right for you.

The detached floor plan is so much better and has better resale potential. Decor will help massively with how light and airy the house feels.

The house is naturally dark though, the garden is north facing.

How large is the garden? I've had north facing gardens twice and they have been long enough to provide plenty of sunshine while beingi n the shade at the back of the house, perfect when weather is so very hot (guessing more summers may be like this one!) The layout of the detached house is far easier to work with than the semi. I'd make an offer and find out if there is a chain otherwise you'll always wonder 'what if?'

From your original post I was going to say stick with the semi. I chose a semi for the south facing garden and outside space with zero regrets. Having seen the floorplans, if I absolutely had to choose between those 2, I'd go for the detatched, simply as I'd never choose to live in a townhouse.

I'm not sure the detached would be gloomy, as if the back is nf, then the front is obviously sf, so with that layout both downstairs rooms should get sun from the front?

I can't comment whether it's a good idea to risk pulling out now though!

You forget you have two side elevations that let in light. We have a north facing garden and get the sun at the front - so living room always sunny - kitchen is cooler which is good for summer cooking! patio is also cooler underfoot.

I’ve lived in a south facing garden before and the sun can be relentless and heats the house too much is nice to go into a cooler living area -

Your semi will be hot in the kitchen and living room and top bed room -

The detached has a much better floor plan, and if the garden is north facing the front will be south facing and let in lots of light.

You can get film or day night blinds for privacy from the road.

I completely agree that the detached is better, I'm just nervous about losing both. The detached will apparently be offered chain free at the right price, but obviously sellers can back out on that agreement. So few properties are coming on the market where we are looking (South East) and we are tired of the commute. Also don't want to risk a huge chain

If you loose both I'm sure another would come up soon don't buy a house just because your 3 weeks away from completing what ever house you like better buy it , wether that's the detached or the semi, I had that feeling the minute I walked into the house we bought it's not a life long home but I still knew it was the right one at the time although I still wish we didn't rush and waited longer to see what else came on the market, as it's not 100percent in the area we wanted. Which do you feel is right for you ? I wouldn't worry at all about loosing the houses just wait for another , better to take your time it's a huge decision.

The semi will be harder to sell when the time comes because of the restricted head height in the bedrooms. That may not bother you as they are spare rooms but it would bother a lot of people. I always consider resale when I buy properties and have made good money through them as a result. The detached is the better buy and you know that as you would have chosen it if they had been put on the market at exactly the same time. House buying & selling is a very tough business but you have to do what is best for you.