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Original poster

3 bed Semi-Detached vs 4 bed Dormer Bungalow

59 replies

ReginaPhalang · 12/06/2023 10:08

We are in the process of purchasing a 3 bed 1 bath Semi-Detached house in Reading, which we really liked when viewed. It's right size for us and near good schools. It is a 100 year old property and we are FTBs. After the survey, we got to know several issues that need to be fixed immediately (which are not very really blockers to move in) but we felt like it might be a little difficult to maintain if any issues keep occurring.

While we are thinking about this, we liked another property in the area which is a dormer bungalow. This is a regular bungalow from 1930s which is renovated into a dormer bungalow. This is 4 bed and 2 bath with wet UTF heating downstairs which I really like (not a fan of carpet). But this could cost 110k more than the 1st house. We are hoping survey won't have many issues since it's recently renovated.

Which one would you prefer based on our knowledge/ experience? Are there any disadvantages with dormer bungalows? How is the resale value for dormer bungalow? Please share your thoughts, as we are FTB and unaware of potential disadvantages.

OP posts:
MrsCarson · 12/06/2023 17:01

We have a 3 bed Dorma bungalow and still have an attic above. Dh insulated it more than it was and we don't have any problem with it being too hot upstairs.
Our house is quite a lot bigger inside than the regular 3 beds in the neighbourhood. Two double bedrooms and one that is 9'x8' Downstairs is spacious and no narrow halls here.

CellophaneFlower · 12/06/2023 17:12

UsingChangeofName · 12/06/2023 16:23

I've just checked my postcode with that checker, and it says '0' for all crime within 1 mile of my postcode which is highly inaccurate. Laughable in fact. Car crime alone I could give you a monthly list of, and obviously I will only know a tiny fraction of crimes committed.

Mine is the opposite, it says 2 incidents of arson in my street, but there definitely hasn't been! It's a very small culdesac and you can't dart without the whole street knowing 😂

CellophaneFlower · 12/06/2023 17:12

*Fart!

Lovelynames123 · 12/06/2023 17:55

I live in a dormer bungalow although have 3 bedrooms upstairs but bathroom and my bedroom is downstairs. The upstairs does get home in summer and cold in winter, although it's probably not very well insulated. I like that the dc have their own floor, and looking to add a shower room upstairs in future. My kitchen diner is huge plus have a large open plan dining/living room, and attached garage/utility so plenty of storage

KievLoverTwo · 12/06/2023 18:33

CellophaneFlower · 12/06/2023 17:12

Mine is the opposite, it says 2 incidents of arson in my street, but there definitely hasn't been! It's a very small culdesac and you can't dart without the whole street knowing 😂

Show quote history

It somewhat fuzzes the results to keep it anonymous.

BlueMongoose · 12/06/2023 20:58

ReginaPhalang · 12/06/2023 10:32

The dormer bungalow is detached, with 3 rooms(potential bedrooms) downstairs and one bedroom and dressing room upstairs. We found the ventilation to be good but didn't realise it will be very hot in summer.

The storage is less compared to the semi-detached house because there is no loft, and the total floor area of bungalow(156 sqm) is more than that of the semi-detached(97 sqm)

Properly insulated in the loft space and it ought not to be hot in the summer, at least downstairs. Ours is 1920s, and it's cool downstairs even today- partly I suspect because the rooms have higher ceilings than modern houses and the walls are more solid (it's chilly in winter but lovely now). Where there is an upper storey, the upper storey is hotter, but the bits upstairs that are 2-storey with a roof above are no more hot than they would be in a normal 2-storey house, even the room built in the old loft is fine, and is cooler now we have had the roof reslated and insulation put between the slope and the slates.
We do miss the roof storage, but it's been good for us in terms of making us chuck out junk, and in houses that age you can often fit in storage elsewhere.
I'd take the detached bungalow over the semi any day.

UsingChangeofName · 12/06/2023 22:42

It somewhat fuzzes the results to keep it anonymous.

If it fuzzes them to the extent of saying there has been no car crime within a mile of my postcode, Grin then it is complete fiction and not to be relied on at all.

Original poster
ReginaPhalang · 13/06/2023 10:31

UsingChangeofName · 12/06/2023 16:29

However, back to OP.

If I had the money to do so, I would choose detached over semi all day long.
However, it seems odd to be able to afford one house that is £110K more than the other house you are considering. Most people have a budget and then sometimes have a dilemma between 2 similarly priced properties, or one that might be cheaper but needs major work doing to it. It seems strange to be undecided between 2 properties that are ready to move in to, at such different pricing brackets.
It is going to depend on your earnings, job security, whether you want to work full time for many years to come, whether you have other things you'd rather spend that money on etc etc etc. Once you have decided that between you, then your decision will be easier.

I understand what you mean. We fixed a budget and semi is in that budget but when we got the survey report we started to think if it's better to go with newer/ renovated houses. When we viewed the detached dormer bungalow, we started thinking if we need to increase our budget (even though it's affordable, we need to most of our savings) since we like to have detached over semi. So posted here trying to understand if it's worth it :)

OP posts:
Original poster
ReginaPhalang · 13/06/2023 11:37

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and suggestions. Now that I got to know the noise issues with semi and the pros of having more living space, I'm wondering if we need to wait for a while, increase our budget a little and look for detached houses/ bungalows. We still have one year before we need to move in(for school) but not sure if we will find a house we like within this time if we let go of the semi.

We put on offer for the dormer bungalow but not sure if we'll get it or not. Meanwhile we might lose the semi and end up with nothing haha. Only time will tell. Thank you all!

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