Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Would you buy something like this?

149 replies

Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 09:11

This is a very expensive area of South West London, with great train connections, schools, all the amenities you can think of, safe and very close to Kingston, which is an amazing town for shopping (just saying this as I appreciate people from other parts of the country might think this price is nuts for a property like this):

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132580421#/?channel=RES_BUY

Check out this 2 bedroom maisonette for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom maisonette for sale in Ardmay Gardens, Surbiton, KT6 for £500,000. Marketed by Matthew James, Surbiton

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132580421#/?channel=RES_BUY

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
justaweeone · 01/08/2023 13:35

How do you feel about this one OP?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134493668#/?channel=RES_BUY

Original poster
Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 13:36

@justaweeone it's a very interesting one but I am not keen on the layout, not for us I think.

OP posts:
justaweeone · 01/08/2023 13:42

Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 13:36

@justaweeone it's a very interesting one but I am not keen on the layout, not for us I think.

Describe your ideal home, your lifestyle as a family and your priorities as that might help.
I looked at that one earlier but discounted but saw it again, seeing it in a different light, think it's one of those you need to view.
I say the details for our current house and initially didn't want to view, but here we are 18 years later!

FrenchandSaunders · 01/08/2023 14:00

How can they possibly describe that Warren drive one as surbiton 🤣🤣.

I know estate agents have always bent the truth but this thread is hilarious! It’s even the other side of the A3 from Tolworth 🤣

Original poster
Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:01

@justaweeone It's 3 of us, DD being a pre schooler. We need some decent space but not necessarily a massive house (although wouldn't consider something like 65 sqm as that's our current place and it's too small). Some storage, ideally a private garden or patio.
We both work FT on a hybrid pattern, like to have a lot of amenities nearby, ie. choice of nice cafes, shops, nice walks, parks, gyms etc. Spend most of our weekends outside.

OP posts:
Original poster
Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:03

@FrenchandSaunders I would always choose a flat in Surbiton over a 3 bed there personally

OP posts:
Original poster
Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:05

justaweeone · 01/08/2023 13:42

Describe your ideal home, your lifestyle as a family and your priorities as that might help.
I looked at that one earlier but discounted but saw it again, seeing it in a different light, think it's one of those you need to view.
I say the details for our current house and initially didn't want to view, but here we are 18 years later!

Show quote history

Is that the property you linked also doesn't have a garden and it's on the top floor and suspect there is no lift in the building so personally I think the one in my OP is a bit more practical

OP posts:
JassyRadlett · 01/08/2023 14:15

If you're within a year of applying for primary tbh I'd either keep renting with a flat somewhere in a sure catchment for your chosen school, and buy afterwards, or only consider buying somewhere that has an excellent chance for your chosen primary/primaries. Competition is still quite fierce and goodness knows when the new Hollyfield Rd primary will actually be ready to open.

If you're both commuting sometimes and need to consider dropping off then heading to the station I'd really narrow in on schools that work well for that. Maple or St Matthew's would be my choice though Lime Tree also an option, I wasn't keen on it though.

Heronwatcher · 01/08/2023 14:15

Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 13:27

@Heronwatcher I always find it funny how here the Brits seem to hate hearing noise from neighbours :D Isn't that always the case unless you live in a detached property? Most of the world population live in flats, I don't see why it's an issue

I can only assume you’ve never had nightmare neighbours or someone who bothers you every time your DC sneeze? There was someone on here who had a downstairs neighbour who complained they were chopping tomatoes too loudly the other day. It can make life hell. Of course it’s something many people live with but you want to minimise both sides as much as possible- which is not having 5 sets of neighbours in close proximity with all wooden floors! Total madness! With the semi detached house you’d reduce that to 1.

JassyRadlett · 01/08/2023 14:22

God I sound like a school places obsessive don't I! Sorry. But it's still so cut throat round here and I recently realised what a narrow shave we had with secondaries when we moved years ago - I hadn't really taken secondaries into consideration because my eldest wasn't in primary yet. But the only other potential house we'd considered would have been out of catchment for the secondary we like, leaving us with only the option of the one we actively disliked. Dumb luck on our part!

justaweeone · 01/08/2023 14:23

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134493668
It has a communal garden by the looks of it.
So am I right in thinking that if the original flat had a garden/patio it would be perfect?

Original poster
Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:27

@JassyRadlett chances are we'd still be in our current place when the time comes to apply for schools so not much I can do in that sense. We should be able to get a place in one of the local primaries, I'd also like to avoid Lime Tree for current rating, although I know things might change.

Re secondaries, I know Hollyfield and then there would be Kingston I guess? Not sure, are you saying you wouldn't recommend this area for secondary schools? I feel overwhelmed sometimes as there is so much to think about.

OP posts:
Original poster
Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:28

@justaweeone as much as a communal garden is nice, it's not like having a private space so for me communal garden is the same of going to the park behind the corner iyswim...
I don't love the outside of the first one but yes, if it had a garden it would be a very good option. My ideal would be a period maisonette though.

OP posts:
justaweeone · 01/08/2023 14:31

Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:27

@JassyRadlett chances are we'd still be in our current place when the time comes to apply for schools so not much I can do in that sense. We should be able to get a place in one of the local primaries, I'd also like to avoid Lime Tree for current rating, although I know things might change.

Re secondaries, I know Hollyfield and then there would be Kingston I guess? Not sure, are you saying you wouldn't recommend this area for secondary schools? I feel overwhelmed sometimes as there is so much to think about.

I'd wouldn't worry about secondaries as so much can change over the years.
At the moment focus on primary school and commuting distance for drop off/pick up.

JassyRadlett · 01/08/2023 14:35

Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:27

@JassyRadlett chances are we'd still be in our current place when the time comes to apply for schools so not much I can do in that sense. We should be able to get a place in one of the local primaries, I'd also like to avoid Lime Tree for current rating, although I know things might change.

Re secondaries, I know Hollyfield and then there would be Kingston I guess? Not sure, are you saying you wouldn't recommend this area for secondary schools? I feel overwhelmed sometimes as there is so much to think about.

My eldest is a boy so it's slightly different maths for us. I hated Southborough, others adore it. Luckily we're in catchment for Hollyfield, which I was surprised how much I liked. We're way too far away for Kingston unfortunately!

As a PP says, a lot can change in 6 years (and we're certainly seeing a lot of friends with 7/8 year olds planning moves in the next couple of years for secondaries.) And the new secondary being built in Kingston should change things too.

Crikeyalmighty · 01/08/2023 14:39

Looks good to me and a good area too.

Crikeyalmighty · 01/08/2023 14:42

The only reason I didn't put it on my previous list @Iamabarbiegirl was that it didn't have a garden and was under offer. Still think the one on East Rd is a better deal- lol, I know I'm a bore
3 bed , bigger, and a garden

Crikeyalmighty · 01/08/2023 14:43

@justaweeone Ooh dove cottages is gorgeous!!

Original poster
Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:49

justaweeone · 01/08/2023 14:41

One is near the A3 so would discard. Others are very cute but also very small :( In fact smaller than our current (already too small) 2 bed flat!

OP posts:
JassyRadlett · 01/08/2023 14:51

The first two on @justaweeone's list are well worth a look!

The third is literally on the A3 (and Tolworth), so not even worth that price tbh. The fourth is good for the Long/Thames Ditton feeder schools to Hinchley Wood but the commute is a lot worse and that second bedroom is titchy.

justaweeone · 01/08/2023 14:52

This might be too small😉

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135359264#/?channel=RES_BUY

Original poster
Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:58

@justaweeone haha. Look, I am not trying to be a princess (infact I am saying I'd settle for a 2 bed flat even though I could get a 3 bed house elsewhere) but if you look at the sq footage, I think you can see for yourself that it is not doable for a family of 3 (and I am saying this as someone who lived in a small flat all her life!). Some of those are under 60 sq mt, way too small for us, we are in 65 sq mt now and have zero storage and struggling with space, despite the fact that we declutter regularly. I'd be looking at at least 70-75 sq mt.

OP posts:
justaweeone · 01/08/2023 15:17

Iamabarbiegirl · 01/08/2023 14:58

@justaweeone haha. Look, I am not trying to be a princess (infact I am saying I'd settle for a 2 bed flat even though I could get a 3 bed house elsewhere) but if you look at the sq footage, I think you can see for yourself that it is not doable for a family of 3 (and I am saying this as someone who lived in a small flat all her life!). Some of those are under 60 sq mt, way too small for us, we are in 65 sq mt now and have zero storage and struggling with space, despite the fact that we declutter regularly. I'd be looking at at least 70-75 sq mt.

😀 nice house but 5m crazy
It's hard, house prices are so high now
My top tip though is hold out for a garden as priorities change as children grow!

Xenia · 01/08/2023 15:27

I wouldn't buy a flat and would move further out to avoid that. Even the first one linked on fist post is jujst a share of leasehold (so not freehold). However n terms of that first one it is light inside and well designed as flats built in that style usually are like the Barbican in London etc - can be easier to live in that than older nicer from the outside properties. My son's 2 bed terraced with garden is just outside the M25 (on the tube - almost as far out as you can get on the tube) and costs about £350k.