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Original poster

Does location really count for so much?

18 replies

mumof3teens · 22/01/2008 15:38

We have been offered for sale (before it officially goes on the market)a house in our village. It has lovely views, is off a country lane opposite fields with just a handful of other houses. We have hankered after a house on that lane for years. However - we have done so much to our house - expensive kitchen, conservatory, loft conversion etc etc and this house is smaller than ours and will cost a bit more. It would be big enough for us I'm sure and i know nobody can make the decision for us. But I am still unsure. Ours is on a small estate and is fairly new. Realistically, is location worth so much more?

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expatinscotland · 22/01/2008 15:42

YES!

My ILs have a house that needs a lot of work, but it's been valued high because it sits in prime catchment area, lots of buses to town centre where the work is (close enough to cycle to town centre, too), a driveway and near a stunningly beautiful park and the Botanical Gardens.

It's also got a big garden and it would be easy to get permission to extend or pop the loft as many homes in the area have.

location is worth much when you're talking about a family house.

as estate agents say, 'it's easier to sell a bad house in a good location than the other way round.'

Original poster
mumof3teens · 22/01/2008 15:49

Thanks for that expat ...I think I know that deep down. I think i am hesitating because our house (internally at least) is ideally suited to our family just now (although DS1 is at uni and DS2 due to go Oct 09, so our needs are going to change soon)and we have done so much to it (although I would enjoy the challenge of sorting out another house, I must admit)

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lalalonglegs · 22/01/2008 17:33

Location is everything - buy the worst house in the best street etc. I think the fact you have always lusted after this lane tells you a lot...

S1ur · 22/01/2008 17:35

Sounds like you'll soon have an emptier nest anyway so a good time to start new project for house suited to different needs?

hertsnessex · 22/01/2008 17:39

location means everything. go for it!

cherryredretrochick · 22/01/2008 18:03

It does, My friend has a lovely house due to doing a lot of work on it, can't sell as in a rough area. She is getting so stressed out by it.

mumblechum · 22/01/2008 18:08

Absolutely the most important thing. We bought a pretty ugly but v. large house in a perfect Chilterns village. It has a v. large garden so even though we've had to practically gut it over the years, I don't think we'll ever move now.

We look over rolling hills and beechwoods and I can't imagine moving from here into a house overlooked by other houses etc.

Go for it.

alfiesbabe · 22/01/2008 20:16

YES!!! Our cottage has the most beautiful views across fields to the sea. Lifts the spirit just to look out of the window! It's not huge, but it's lovely and we'll never ever sell it. Go for it - you won't get the chance again

Original poster
mumof3teens · 23/01/2008 09:11

Thanks everyone for your replies - guess it means we are going to move!

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FuriousGeorge · 24/01/2008 23:07

Yes,we were in a lovely, very big house in a bad location & spent more money on a smaller house in a beautiful village.I'd lived nearby all my life & knew that this was the first house to come up for sale in the village for over 10 years {unless you have a spare million or so}.So it was a case of now or never.It is going to take at least 10 years to fully renovate,but we can't think of anywhere else we'd rather be.Like mumblechum,I can't bear the thought of being surrounded on all sides by houses on an estate somewhere.

You can always change a house,you can't change it's location.

Original poster
mumof3teens · 09/02/2008 15:56

Eek! We have sold our house this week before it went on the market to buyers who have moved out into rented property and our seller is moving to rented, so it looks like all systems go. Just hope we are doing the right thing now (keep looking at my nice house which we have done so much to...... )I keep blowing hot and cold though, one minute this house the next I am thinking what a nice spot we would be living in, with nice views and a south facing garden

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lalalonglegs · 09/02/2008 20:59

Bloody hell mumof3teens - where do you live that all the houses sell before they are even on the market?

Original poster
mumof3teens · 10/02/2008 17:21

Well I think we were just lucky. We had tried to sell about 4 years ago. It was on the market then for about 4 months without a dickybird. It is in the catchment for a very good school which helps.

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Fizzylemonade · 11/02/2008 12:51

My sister gutted and refurbished a house that they intended to extend, and then a house came up for sale on a street that they had dreamt about living on for 15 years!!

They sold theirs (the house they wanted fell through, little old lady been in property 40 years and changed her mind) and because she had decided to move they went ahead and found another house.

They have no regrets, the house needs gutting from top to bottom and it is a slightly smaller house on a much bigger plot. They are slowly working their way through but they have no regrets.

Good luck!

anniemac · 11/02/2008 14:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
mumof3teens · 14/02/2008 15:42

Thought it was too good to be true - the estate agent rang last night to say our buyer had pulled out and . Really don't think we want to put ourselves through putting it on the market and all the problems that brings (although we have already shelled out for HIPS, survey, solicitors etc)

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lalalonglegs · 14/02/2008 15:54

Did your agent think there were any other likely buyers for it? If so, I would dip my toe in - just put it on until April or something and see what happens.

Bad luck though .

Original poster
mumof3teens · 15/02/2008 09:48

I think that is what we will do lala. We are going to talk to our friends tomorrow, as they said they will give us some more time.

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