4 bed detached house or 3 bed detached bungalow

[Threemangoes]

Right I have posted another thread on potentially leaving our house purchase 6 weeks in for a bungalow that has just pooped up on market in a better location.

Bungalow: 3 double beds, modern conservatory with tiled roof, 2 bathrooms, kitchen and diner, double garage, private garden with tall trees at the end.
House: 4 bed with 2 box rooms, 3 toilet/baths, kitchen diner, old conservatory no insulation, double garage, private garden backing on other gardens/garages.

Both are same price. Are we mad to prefer the bungalow? We have never lived in one. Kids are 18 months, 11 and 13 year old.

The garage is pretty close to the bungalow so we can convert that too. There are possibilities to extend in the bungalow but not in the house. Lo is not moving out of my room for a while and then she can share for a while until we can extend. So rooms really are not a problem for us.

Bungalow.
The house sounds dire in comparison. It doesn’t matter how many bedrooms there are if they are crap.

Bungalow, especially with the school run. It sounds well spaced and like you can convert to add a room.

3 kids I would go for 4 bedrooms. I'm one of those pesky MNetters that values individual bedrooms though. Also not keen on living on one floor, feels smaller, especially with teens.

It sounds like you are defending the bungalow though, that's clearly your natural instinct. And location is pretty critical.

The bungalow has had an offer come in from someone else so fingers crossed 🤞😒

Bungalow. Can you split one of the bedrooms or use a reception room (if you have more than one) as a temp bedroom?

Uhh my kids think spending time on their own in their rooms is punishment. They love to be around everyone downstairs.

I'd go for the bungalow. It sounds much more spacious. 3 doubles and with a double garage you could easily convert part of it into a 4th bed if you needed.

Most important - as your older DC become teens they will want the freedom of hanging out with friends. Much easier if you are a short bike ride away rather than depending on parent taxi service.

Have you offered yet @Threemangoes Round here they get snapped up at asking price every time. We got ours before it went on to the market because our estate agent knew it would suit us. People like the size of rooms, plot size and in our case location

What are the square metres of each house living space

I wouldnt even consider a bungalow with younger children. It will be a nightmare. No.

You need 4 beds. Your older 2 can’t share and it would be unfair for your daughter to have to share with an 18 month old. So stick with the house.

However it sounds like you’ve mind to take the bungalow (you aren’t being neutral on 2 properties).

If that’s the case then I would be trying to ensure you get another bedroom in.

I am not fond of bungalows, a bungalow would have to be something really special to tempt me. Good job we don't all want the same things I suppose, as a pp said. But I think it is natural to want to go upstairs to bed (once read something by an anthropologist saying it is an instinct, similar to how apes will sleep in trees to be away from predators, not sure how true that is lol).

Houses on more than one level give everyone more peace and privacy,important with a family.

I know the bungalow sounds like it's on a better plot with a nicer garden maybe, but think in your case with 3 DCs you really need the 4 bed.

Another vote for the bungalow. The house has 4 beds but two of them are so small that you'll be wanting to move again as the kids get bigger, whereas you've thought through the implications of only having 3 beds (which you can manage), and could extend if you wanted to.

Uhh my kids think spending time on their own in their rooms is punishment. They love to be around everyone downstairs.

Well your eldest is only 13, I was the same at that age, and my eldest is too actually, but when I was 15-18 especially, my room was my sanctuary, and I expect my eldest will value his room more too the older he gets.

Not saying that to be combative, but just to help you consider all the pros and cons, your kids and family will likely change a lot over the next few years, you need to look longer term than today (that's not to say the bungalow is the wrong choice).

That will change as they get older OP, they will spend time in their rooms. Try to get the bungalow, they always get snapped it here, even in this market. Very desirable.

I think it's obvious that you prefer the bungalow and so that's the one you should go for. Get your offer in if you haven't already!!

In heatwaves sleeping downstairs is bliss. We have three bedrooms downstairs one en suite, use one as an office. The bedroom in the loft space is big with its own en suite.

The dining room is in the conservatory which doubles up with a toy box, arts and crafts stuff. We tend to eat in the kitchen but it's great when guests come over.

Thank you for your replies. I'm leaning more and more and more towards the bungalow. But good to see lots of positives about the house because if our offer isn't accepted we are moving there soon anyways 😅
Yes have made an offer 🤞

Those box rooms are small are any of the bungalow bedrooms big and could be subdivided? It’s not an expensive job if you already have windows on both sides. Stud walls, lights, couple of doors. We did it and was pretty straightforward.

Team bungalow: we brought up our family in one which was extended as our family grew. You have a double garage which could be made into a 4th bedroom/playroom/ office/utility/bathroom as your family grows up!

3 big bedrooms isn't enough for us unless theres feasibly access to split one but thats an added cost to account for.

We need minimum 4 bedroom (1 double and the rest any size) so we would have to go for the house likely.

I would compromise on a guest bedroom for the right location, but as you have three kids I would have to vote for the 4 bed house

I would have said the bungalow anyway but this is an extra massive pro in favour of the bungalow.

Those box rooms sound shit.

House always, feels like more freedom woth an upstairs, plus better views? X