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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 17:22

@EmeraldDuck we already live in the area and kids are settled at their schools, so wanting to stay local. We have fantastic schools here but you pay a premium for housing because of it unfortunately!

OP posts:
Pudmyboy · 05/08/2023 17:25

Ditzyduck · 05/08/2023 15:31

Considering the ages of your children I think them having their own space is more important than your car having a space .

Good point!

Grimbelina · 05/08/2023 17:26

Sounds a very sensible buy (and it does sound like you need to move pretty imminently).

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 05/08/2023 17:29

Is the house near a school ? You;ll be getting a summer holiday/no school pick-up view at this time of year .
Near a Station?

Has the seller applied for OSP and been rejected ?

fdgdfgdfgdfg · 05/08/2023 17:29

I'd take it. You've already got shit parking so know you can live with it, and you desperately need the extra space.

Twyford · 05/08/2023 17:30

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)

Would it be a deal-breaker if there was a front garden which could be turned into off street parking, as is the case for OP?

Twyford · 05/08/2023 17:32

booomshackalack · 05/08/2023 17:22

@EmeraldDuck we already live in the area and kids are settled at their schools, so wanting to stay local. We have fantastic schools here but you pay a premium for housing because of it unfortunately!

You're unlikely to find anything better then, are you? I'd go for it, see how parking works out, if it's really bad convert the front garden.

rickandmorts · 05/08/2023 17:33

We don't have parking and have never had an issue! I'd go back in an evening when everyone is home from work and assess the situation.

Original poster
booomshackalack · 05/08/2023 17:34

@70isaLimitNotaTarget not near a school and I'd say not near enough to the station to be an issue, people tend to park over the other side of the station if they can't get into the car park for it.

OP posts:
Boomboom22 · 05/08/2023 17:36

Have any of the terrace already converted? If on a corner is vision ok to put in a drive?

Crikeyalmighty · 05/08/2023 17:37

If off street parking and a semi is going to be above budget then I would go for it

Oohmissus · 05/08/2023 17:37

It would have mattered to me when my children were small, but I now have a house without parking (like millions of other people in London) and have had since my youngest child was 11 or so. I would far rather have a bigger house with personal space for all my children than a drive.

SgtBilko · 05/08/2023 17:38

I live in London so most parking is on the street. What I would check is whether your have parking zones in the area and whether there is a large stadium/events venue nearby. Paid parking zones will protect you from overcrowding and some have restrictions for non residents during certain events.

CoffeandTiaMaria · 05/08/2023 17:40

livethislifetoday · 05/08/2023 17:09

As someone else mentioned; eventually you'll have an electric vehicle and will probably want your own charging point. It wouldn't prevent me buying it, but id go into it knowing that within 10-15 years the garden would have to be converted.

Seriously!?
There’s absolutely no way i’m ever having one, far too expensive and no way of charging it at home.

Amidlifecrisis · 05/08/2023 17:40

TropicalTrama · 05/08/2023 15:48

Your kids need their own space more than the car does! We live in London so we park on the street, I don’t know anyone local to us with a driveway, literally not one single person. I would though want to make sure that you can park easily enough so make sure you visit at different times to check it out.

Same.

We are in London and everyone parks on the street and have no issues. If most of your neighbours have drives then surely it’s going to be even less of an issue?

Someoneonlyyouknow · 05/08/2023 17:40

I would say go for it. If the on-street parking becomes a pain you have the front garden option (if you think it's likely you would get permission to drop the kerb). Also, there may be rules about what kind of surface you are allowed and where it would drain to. Might be a consideration whether you would get more than one vehicle in (thinking ahead). The front garden may look nice but probably won't be an area you would sit in and you could move plants and get pots etc.

Neverseenbefore · 05/08/2023 17:40

Twyford · 05/08/2023 17:30

Would it be a deal-breaker if there was a front garden which could be turned into off street parking, as is the case for OP?

Show quote history

It isn’t the case for the OP, though. No one knows if that would be allowed or not.

Worriemumma · 05/08/2023 17:43

If your DC's were much younger then I'd have maybe been put off and lugging prams and toddlers around is no joke, but with the age your DC's are I don't think it's a dealbreaker at all! Good luck with the purchase!!

PerspiringElizabeth · 05/08/2023 17:44

I’d snap that up OP! Don’t be too fussy or you’ll end up staying where you are tbh.

dudsville · 05/08/2023 17:44

I think it's important to know what your priorities are before you start looking so that you don't get caught in this kind of dilemma. We know a family who've mved twice and been so unhappy with each move. You need a list and to stick to it. Our last move was over a decade ago so I can't remember everything we were looking for, but we were moving further away from work in order to be able to afford better, so had to have public transport within very easy reach of home and the commute no more than an hr, quiet streets at night, people who looked after their property, a good size garden, more than 1 toilet, near enough to a corner shop, not on a main road, and a drive. We also knew we didn't want a major project, we only wanted to do cosmetic stuff. The house that ticked all the boxes was a surprise to us that we never would have thought would have scored highly. But we've felt so lucky from day 1. The house is perfect. Stop thinking about this house for a moment and sit down together and draw up your list, then start again!

YukoandHiro · 05/08/2023 17:45

It's the middle of the summer holidays so lots of people will be away.
But it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

Pregnantandsweaty · 05/08/2023 17:48

I have prioritised parking when we moved this year, however I have an 18 month old and I’m 8 months pregnant so having to park down the street was a big no no for me.
As your kids are older I don’t think it should be a big factor - however I would say, is it going to be something you always regret?
if you buy the house will you wish you had got somewhere with parking?

DaphneDeloresMoreheadRidesOn · 05/08/2023 17:51

is it anywhere near a school/hospital/big employer with no employee parking ?
MIL lives in a lovely cul de sac which was really quiet until the hospital round the corner expanded and got rid of staff parking. Now it's like a car park.

calmcoco · 05/08/2023 17:53

I'd be fine with no parking, so long as the price was fair.

Daffodilsandbagels · 05/08/2023 17:54

Yes I would go for it. I don’t know how reliant on a car you are but you could even consider joining a car club and getting rid of the car? Maybe it wouldn’t work for you but if it did - no parking stress!