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Original poster

Viewed a near-perfect house yesterday, one thing putting me off

259 replies

booomshackalack · 05/08/2023 15:13

Currently in an elevated two up two down mid terrace with two DCs of opposite sex sharing a room, DCs are 13 and 9. On street parking which is terrible at times.

We viewed a house yesterday which we fell in love with and it ticks a lot of boxes - only a few steps at the front door, three bedrooms plus a dining room and converted loft, new style kitchen and bathroom and home survey highlights no issues. It's another mid terrace, we were set for a while on a semi however with the economy and fuel bills as they are, it probably makes more financial sense to go for a mid. We are moving within a very sought after area where semis in particular get snapped up fast at tens of thousands over asking so no guarantee we would even get one if we held out i guess.

The only downside is it's on-street parking. The majority of the street are semi-detached houses with their own driveway, with just a couple of rows of terraces. When viewing yesterday it didn't look too bad - or at least, not as bad as where we live atm! Would this put you off if the house seemed ideal in every other way? I guess in the future we could look at putting a drive in the front garden, although it would be a shame to rip the front garden as it's quite nice.

OP posts:
Original poster
booomshackalack · 05/08/2023 15:52

@crapactually does that not get on your nerves? I think if one house had all those vehicles and I struggled to park because of them my blood would be boiling.

OP posts:
sonjadog · 05/08/2023 15:52

I think one of the interesting things with viewing new houses is that is gradually betones clear what you are willing to compromise on and what not. For me, no parking was a dealbreaker, for others, as we can see in this thread, it is not. I would weigh up what is most important to you that this property has, and do the good points outweigh the bad?

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 05/08/2023 15:54

Go for it!

Stoic123 · 05/08/2023 15:54

Wouldn't put me off. Check situation on Sunday c7pm which seems to be the busiest time where I am.

SophiaElise · 05/08/2023 15:55

Definitely a deal breaker for me. I was in a similar position a few years ago - made an offer but just couldn't go through with the sale. Ended up paying more for a house with off-street parking and have never regretted it (I'm in London)

TheFireflies · 05/08/2023 15:57

Yes, check in the evenings and on a Sunday. I bought a house with no parking. I still love the house, but if we were ever to move I’d have parking as an essential in future.

crapactually · 05/08/2023 15:59

booomshackalack · 05/08/2023 15:52

@crapactually does that not get on your nerves? I think if one house had all those vehicles and I struggled to park because of them my blood would be boiling.

Exactly why I would check out the parking situation. Yes it's annoying for visitors who often have to pay up the road at a supermarket.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't buy it unless I could put a drive in.

Pinkitydrinkity · 05/08/2023 15:59

You have to compromise on something when buying a house so I think if that was the only sticking point I’d go for it!

VinEtFromage · 05/08/2023 15:59

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 05/08/2023 15:49

I live on a road of terraces in London. Noone has off street parking on our road or on many of the roads nearby. It is fine.
I get why it would be an issue with very small children or mobility issues but other than that I can't see why it's a big deal at all.

Maybe because I like to get home from work, park & go inside my house, not spend time driving around trying to find somewhere to park.

I like to be able to load/unload my car easily, not quarter of a mile away.

I like to be able to see & hear (the alarm) my car.

I'd like the option of cleaning my car, on my drive too.

@booomshackalack can you tell it grinds my gears too!!

I want to move, but I'm not moving until I find an affordable house with my own off road parking.

Depending on how much the kids mind sharing I'd wait it out & look at ways to give them their own space in the meantime.

VinEtFromage · 05/08/2023 16:01

@booomshackalack it's not about prioriting the car having its own space over the children having there's as some posters have suggested🙄🙄. It's about the time wasted & mental stress of not being able to park to know you can park when you get home

ladyvivienne · 05/08/2023 16:01

It all depends on what's important to you. I can't imagine living anywhere that didn't have it's own driveway for at least 3 cars and a decent sized garage.

Mosaic123 · 05/08/2023 16:01

Make sure that there are no schools nearby and you road gets blocked with cars. Sometimes things are different when it's not school holidays.

notacooldad · 05/08/2023 16:03

I wouldn’t even look at it if it didn’t have parking. Both me and DH are essential car users for work. DS visits most days in his car. I have seen to many disputes over parking over spaces near homes when I lived in a terrace ( and that was thirty years go )

Jl2014 · 05/08/2023 16:03

It will make things awkward if you get an electric car

ohtobeme · 05/08/2023 16:04

VinEtFromage · 05/08/2023 16:01

@booomshackalack it's not about prioriting the car having its own space over the children having there's as some posters have suggested🙄🙄. It's about the time wasted & mental stress of not being able to park to know you can park when you get home

Not everyone has the choice to have everything they might want - shock

I would prioritise the children over a bit less convenient parking

If I found the need to look for parking and walking a little very stressful I think I would have bigger problems than parking

reallyworriedjobhunter · 05/08/2023 16:05

Wouldn't bother me at all. It's all street parking where I am.

babbscrabbs · 05/08/2023 16:06

We have on street parking but can usually park within 5 car spaces away. Occasionally have to park around the corner which is more like 10-12 but this is once in a while. Always get a space within that distance. It's annoying when unloading after a holiday or similar but aside from that it's fine.

Friend of ours however live in a different area a few miles away and parking there is so tricky. You can be driving round for ages within a 5 min walk and see no spaces whatsoever.

khakitrousers · 05/08/2023 16:07

We've moved from somewhere with off street parking to on street parking and it's fine - it will entirely depend on the road.

It is actually easier to park at our current house than it was at our old one as we had one of the only drives and the rest of the road was terraced houses so across our drive was often one of the only places delivery drivers etc could pull in - so I was often blocked in or out. I much prefer my new quieter road where I can always park!

I am concerned about the electric car charging issue, but figure that something will have to be done about it as we are far from the only people in London with the same issue!

ClematisBlue49 · 05/08/2023 16:08

There's always a compromise to be made when choosing a house. For me it wouldn't be the parking, but whether or not I'd be willing to sacrifice the front garden if the parking turns out to be a problem. The place I'm moving to has off-road parking, but there is space for a bit of lawn / planting between the parking space and the front of the property, so it's still attractive.

One thing I would check though is whether planning permission is needed for off-road parking and whether anyone else in the street has done it recently.

Is there any chance of a controlled parking zone being introduced? That would improve things. My current road used to be a nightmare but fine after the parking zone was implemented.

Peony654 · 05/08/2023 16:11

Space for your family is a priority. Parking wasn’t important for us, we don’t use our car on a daily basis though.

PurBal · 05/08/2023 16:13

I think it depends on the street. Where I used to live it was all terraces and on street parking, occasionally had to walk half a mile / 15 minutes for a spot. We walked to work so the car wasn’t used ever day but I couldn’t do that again, especially with two small children as I have now. However if it’s fairly easy as you say it would bother me less. Only you know if it’s a deal breaker for you.

Jux · 05/08/2023 16:14

Would you consider enting a parking space somewhere nearby?

Qbishy · 05/08/2023 16:15

Wouldn't bother me at all. Especially with the garden being convertible.

Try living in London 😆

FloofCloud · 05/08/2023 16:17

Have the kerb dropped and no one should park outside your house

DyslexicPoster · 05/08/2023 16:17

I think on street parking is easier on a straight terrace. Imo it's cul de sacs where people get shitty and possessive. I was on my way out and drove past a neighbour would I wanted to talk to too, his neighbour came out flapping his arms about when he to had a drive! Everyone has a drive and there's free off-street parking but he is like a mad animal as his family has 3 cars. Dick. On a terrace you don't get that. I'm grateful I don't live directly with the other houses where I am. I'm at the end with a very long drive that I own all of

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