Property A property B?

[poppym12]

I'm going round in circles with 2 properties we've viewed twice. I like they both but each have negatives (to me) so could you give me your opinions please?

Property A is in a nice area. 2 bed, 2 bath, space for an office and allocated parking. There's a large terrace which although lovely, faces mainly NE. It does get some sun but the living room doesn't seem to get any. No work is needed immediately apart from professional carpet cleaning. Vendors said they'd move out if necessary but I'm not sure they would so we'd have to wait for them to find somewhere. Access is via internal or external steps. 2 windows from the neighbouring property open onto the terrace. There's lots of space, area is great and the view is lovely from the terrace. I think a number of the properties are rented out.

Property B is also in a good area. Rather than parking it comes with a garage which has to be used. Access is flat. Again 2 bed, 2 bath and space for an office. It's on 2 levels so both bedrooms and both bathrooms are downstairs. Living Room and master bedroom have south facing balconies looking out onto a pretty courtyard. It's immaculate but not to my taste so cosmetic stuff would be needed over time. Every room has anaglypta wallpaper. The vendor has to move closer to family and says that they will stay with relatives whilst looking for somewhere. Again, not sure this would happen. Most properties are owned/rented by older people. Area great, plenty of internal space with a courtyard view from each balcony. There are communal gardens with a lovely view too.

Both properties are the same asking price. Which would you choose/discount and why?

Do you have kids OP? Thinking about the steps in and out with kids.

the garage would be preferable to me than allocated parking if it’s only you that can access the garage.

based on what you’ve written id go with B - if you want to PM the links to both or put them in the thread you’d get better suggestions

Is the pretty courtyard you mention yours, or someone else's? (ie - do you have use of it, or just a view of it?)
A balcony (or 2) wouldn't be enough outside space for me, so that would be a big factor.

How many cars do you have to park, and how many does the garage hold? Is there easy parking close by for your visitors?

How do the room sizes compare?

2 sounds nicer apart from the garage

No, our children are grown up but may visit. I have some mobility problems but one flight of stairs is ok. Yes,the garage is kind of underneath the upper floor of the property. I'll try pm links as I don't want to put them on here.

The courtyard is communal and there are further lawned communal garden so we'd be able to use both. I don't want a big garden to manage but definitely need some private outside space. We only have one car and visitor parking is available at both. Room sizes are similar although property A has a slightly larger living room and smaller second bedroom than property B.

I can't work out how to message in the app @buddhasbelly, sorry.

Property B sounds much nicer. Flat access sounds better if you have mobility issues (which may potentially worsen as you age?). If you’re retired having a balcony to sit in the sunshine for most of the day wins!

Very true. I can't see me suddenly being cured of a problem I've had to live with for nearly 20 years!

I have mobility issues too, so B. But if you are struggling to decide between the two perhaps you should continue to look. Good luck.

We are continuing to look but property B has a couple more viewings this week and I'm wondering if I'll kick myself if we don't go for it and someone else does.

Go for the one with level access.

B

Are there service charges for the shared areas OP? If so, I'd compare these as part of your costs. I agree that property B sounds nicest and most appropriate for your needs.

I'd go for the one with:
Garden/access to garden
Level access
Sunny aspects in rooms where you want sun (usually living spaces for me)
Easier parking

Put the particulars up? It's difficult to tell with just a short overview

The service charges are similar but property B seems better run.

We have a couple more to view at the weekend and I think unless they top property B, we'll put in an offer.

I feel like it could get annoying to have to park your car in a garage every time you use it. Do you have, or will you need in the future, mobility aids? Will the garage have space to fully open the car door so you can easily get in and out? Is there an option to park anywhere else?

How many steps in house A?

And finally, our South facing garden is unbearably warm today so B's terrace might be very hot? But the idea of someone else's windows opening on to A's balcony doesn't sound very nice.

So I'm not much help, sorry.

Doubt I will need mobility aids but it's not impossible so the space inside the garage is a good point. There are 3 or 4 resident's parking spaces but they were all full both times we visited so I think certain residents have nabbed them.

There were about a dozen steps down to A and a normal flight of stairs in B.

I'm thinking that A might be too cold and bleak during the winter due to lack of natural light and as you say, during summer, B might get too hot. There isn't a possibility of much breeze either with how the other properties are situated.

Maybe it's best we keep looking as neither is quite right.

Other people's windows opening onto terrace would put me right off A. B sounds nicer but I'd have reservations about having to use a garage.

I think I've ruled A out due to that and the fact that although the view from the terrace is lovely, in winter the living room will be really dark and the view would be mainly of walls of other properties.

Property B sounds much lighter & nicer

Neither tbqh . Bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs don’t work for me . If I was about to be homeless , B, but only if so had to . Sorry

B.

The thought of carrying bags of shopping in to A is enough to put me off, without the fact the neighbours window opens onto the terrace.

B you just can’t over estimate the importance of sun in rooms. Garage would be useful too. It just sounds much nicer than A .