We don’t know which house to go for. Can anyone who’s been through it, or has older kids, offer any perspective? What are the things we simply won’t think about? What do you wish you’d considered, and what are you glad you stuck to? What’s really important and what’s kind of irrelevant? Obviously we may get neither offer accepted but that’s beside the point.)
We are a family with a 15 month old boy and will be one done: no more kids. My priority is a place he can play safely and feel independent when he’s older.
Both in london zone 3.
house 1:
1930’s house on a wide street where everyone has off street parking. Detached (rare for london!). Big back garden but steep steps down to garden. Has a front garden too. Vendor is a bit more tricky, he’s hoping for a big price as he’s moving abroad but hasn’t had much interest as most people round here go for Victorian houses.
PROS HOUSE 1: Detached. Modernised. South facing garden. Less competition as it’s a 30’s house. Three mins walk to our fave park. Between 2 ofsted ‘very good’ primaries. Next to a cul de sac so hopefully he can ride his bike? Pretty layout with wide hallway unlike Victorians.
CONS HOUSE 1: needs a new roof. Survey otherwise OK. If we do this it will make the price comparable to House 2 (don’t ask me why the vendor modernised without fixing his roof leak 🙄)
House is on the flat bit of a steep hill. This gives the house great views over london but the walk up the hill from school or the train station will be tough on the glutes!
15 mins walk to the tube and rail station for our work. No secondary school nearby (relevant in ten years time)
House 2
Different neighbourhood but comparable. Slightly closer in to London as it’s on the zone 2 border and is in a conservation zone (good? Bad?) Vendor is more normal and reasonable it seems. A bit more expensive.
PROS HOUSE 2:
Literally 30 seconds walk to a park. Beautiful big Edwardian. Modernised and meets conversation area’s requirements. 5 minutes walk to an Ofsted ‘outstanding’ primary and secondary. 8 mins walk from a national rail for work or 16 to a Tube.
Bedroom 3 has an ensuite (good for guests but does make the overall sleeping space smaller, ie a squashed double)
CONS HOUSE 2:
On a B-road and actually we saw local neighbourhood petitions for safer roads/ ‘give us safer crossings etc.’ Not a place you’d want to ride your bike immediately outside (but it is 30 secs from park). Conservation area and tight neighbourhood community feel, but no shops or cafés for a 15 min walk. House has a lot of competition already.
This house is almost identical to the one we are currently in just a little bit bigger and with tall ceilings and a longer garden - worth it? Or better for a change?
No off street parking.
Here’s how they are like-for-like making it harder to choose:
Both have nice families next door. We checked.
Both are already modernised.
Both are in nice safe neighbourhoods.
Both are 3 beds and would be the same price if you allow for house 1’s roof cost.
Both have downstairs loos.
Both have enough storage.
Both involve a bit of a hill.
Do I need to be thinking about what teenage boys will need one day? Or is it better to live in the moment? Tell me things I just won’t have thought about!
NB I am aware how privileged this all sounds too. I grew up with not much, sharing a bedroom with several (fighting!) siblings, going to a bit of a rough school and seeing my mum cry over the lack of coins in her purse. I’ve worked really hard, always saved and know I am extremely lucky to be in this position age 40.