Bungalow on an awkward plot - to buy or not?

[RusBun]

We are deliberating whether to buy a corner plot bungalow we have seen as our last home (we are 60 year olds). The house seems OK, built in the 80-s, in sound condition and spacious enough, but the back garden is small and shallow – only 7m (23ft) deep and 14m (46ft) wide. The garden backs into other shallow neighbours’ gardens, has no trees around it and feels rather confined. I love gardens that back into woods or have trees around them.

The shallow garden does not give scope for extension. The garage with a driveway are awkwardly positioned from the other side round the corner, so it is a bit of a walk with your shopping.

In addition, the chimney is placed between the kitchen and a lounge, protruding into the kitchen, making it difficult to fit a kitchen or take a wall out to create an open plan (which is what we ultimately want). The house needs the usual renovating with a new kitchen, bathrooms and carpets, but this is reflected in the price, which is unusually affordable for us in this nice area.

The property has been on the market several times over the years but did not sell and we are worried it will be difficult for us to re-sell it later on if we need to.
Boo

There is no laundry, so the washing machine will have to be in the kitchen. In some countries they combine laundry with the bathroom, i.e. they put a washing machine and a dryer in the family bathroom, and IMHO it is a good idea. We live in an open plan ATM, and we have a very quiet Siemens dishwasher. I wonder if they make quiet washing machines as well? I don't use a dryer as such as they tend to misshape or shrink clothes, but OK for bedding and towels. I just use airing cupboard in winter, and it works just as well if you put a small electric blow heater in the cupboard with washing.

I used to have an Asian lodger who cooked curries, so I know what you mean by the lingering smell. But I am allergic to spices, so I don't cook with them. I buy ready made spicy meals for DH occasionally.

This morning I woke up having second thoughts and anxiety.

The lovely old lady next door on the left is in her mid 80-s. When we chatted to her, she mentioned that the vendor upset her by objecting to her radio being heard in his garden. She likes listening to the radio as the background noise (as many of her generation do), and her kitchen windows face the vendor's house and garden, thus he can hear her the radio in his garden.

She also mentioned that the vendor complained about other neighbours' noisy dogs and children, and albeit they don't go on for too long, she finds them annoying too.

Now I have a dilemma added to my other doubts. The plots are very small and all the adjacent properties are so close together. I don't want to fall out with the neighbours complaining, but I am very sensitive to any noise due to my condition, and I would not be able to sit in the garden when there is a sound of a radio, non-stop barking dogs or noisy children, as much as busy traffic or frequent aircraft noise. I am speaking from experience of living in previous properties, not just out of fear.

Ideally I am looking for a peaceful hideaway so I am now unsure and really torn. Do I listen to my gut instinct? DH says there will be neighbour noise wherever you go, but where we live now is really quiet and neighbours make noise only occasionally.

I feel like holding out a bit and carry on looking as I have an inking something better will turn up, especially in the falling market. Or am I just being anxious? It is such a serious decision to get it wrong

I am going to be a bit ruthless here. I do not cast aspersions on your experience at all but everything is a compromise.

• You want to take the word of the neighbourhood grump about how noisy it is. Of all people?
• You have visited the area numerous times and it is lovely and quiet.
• The neighbour is a gem, to quote you.
• You want a bungalow.
• Off street parking is essential as you get older.
• It has a garage for dh.
• It is very conveniently located.
• This is England. Half the time it’s raining or cold anyway so everyone will be inside with their windows closed.

All that being said, would a pair of ear defenders be a worthwhile investment? You know, the type that autistic kids use to lower sounds when they are out and about?

Honestly, this house has so much going for it, I think you would be mad to knock it back.