How do I choose which house?

[zingally]

I'm a first time buyer and have been viewing houses for the past month. Today and tomorrow I'm seeing two houses that I'm genuinely quite excited about.

Both are similar "dormer" style houses, of quite similar sizes.

House 1: Garage and driveway, small-ish "courtyard" garden (with fake grass, which I kind of hate). Beautifully done on the inside with plenty of downstairs living space. However, I don't know the area at all, and it's not in the most convenient location. It was listed for sale in August, then taken down. Then put back up in mid-February. Houses move quite quick round here... Why's it not selling?
3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Poachers Way, Kingsthorpe, Northampton NN2 8AY, NN2 (rightmove.co.uk)

House 2: Driveway but no garage. "Proper" garden. Nice enough on the inside, but not quite as "jazzy" as house 1. I know this part of town much better, so wouldn't be moving into the unknown quite as much. This one is £5k cheaper, but that's neither here nor there tbh. It went on the market only a few days ago.
3 bedroom bungalow for sale in Port Road, Northampton, NN5 (rightmove.co.uk)

Obviously, I know more when I see them both "in the flesh", and get more of a sense of the area of house 1. But I guess my question is: How much does location matter if the house is perfect? Obviously, if I get bad vibes from the area, it would be a no-go.

I'd be interested to hear people's brutal opinions!

I don’t know the area at all, but I much prefer the second property. I would be grateful for the bigger garden with real grass and I think it is a much nicer looking property on the outside too. I wouldn’t be too blindsided by the decor and trimmings in the first one, and I would be tempted to stick to the area you know well to avoid any surprises. Good luck!

I like the second one, no contest.

i’d be really put off by the fake grass and room for a hot tub in the first one. The jazziness of the inside is a reflection of the current owner’s taste, which I don’t happen to share. But I’d easily trade a garage for a long garden.

Perfect house means nothing if the location is a problem so I'd lean towards the second one purely for that reason.

In any case I prefer the second one, the garden is lovely and I like the layout.

Don't be swayed by the inside too much as you will make your house your own taste once you are in.

Second for me. Though I don’t know the area. Location is the most important thing as you can always change a house.
if a garage is a must then number two is not for you either.
you are in a fabulous position. Take your time and when you know you will know
good luck

Second one by a country mile. How many of you are going to live there? The garden on the second property is lovely and plenty of room to build an outhouse to make up for no garage. I really like the kitchen as well and the bedrooms seem a good size, I think that one will be snapped up to be honest.

First one is tacky and meh IMO.

Just me. :)
I think, with that second one, I'd probably make that downstairs bedroom into a proper dining room/study/snug. And yes, it needs a garden shed or something for the lawn mower etc. :)

Kingsthorpe is quite a nice area isn't it? That's something to bear in mind.

Location has a big impact. You know the area of house number 2 and it’s a more convenient location. I prefer the layout of the second house but it depends what you want from the house. If you want a bigger upstairs bathroom, house 1 but if you want a bigger/nicer garden l, house 2.

I much prefer the second one. Hate the interior taste of the first but it's easily changed! I would always go for location!

I quite like the first one! I find second one claustrophobic. Also what is the point of a garden if it rains often? If it's nice weather and you are not working, couldn't you just go to a nearby park with kids, or have a bbq there?
To give perspective, I have a garden but I love venturing out with my kid on a nice day. I rarely sit in the garden.

On a different note, does anyone who is not from the uk find such low ceilings completely suffocating? I know it's the norm for the UK, but I don't know why. I'm in Australia if it's of any interest.

I agree with @penguinbiscuits about #2 being a bit claustrophobic.

When I read your post, OP, I was all ready to say that #2 would be better, from your descriptions. Proper garden sounds good, 'jazzy' decor isn't an issue as the sellers will take that with all them, etc, etc.

But, I don't like the layout of #2. The stairs not only in the living room, but so far from the front door and hall is something I'd find annoying, I think.

Plus #2 has got the main bathroom downstairs, which I don't like. And I like that #1 has a bathroom upstairs plus an en-suite, so if you have any guests you wouldn't be sharing a bathroom (but guess this depends on how often you might have anyone staying over).

I agree that location is so important though, and I don't know the area so can't comment on that. But from the houses themselves, I prefer #1.

I prefer house one but the garden of house two. If I had to choose I’d go with house one and then get rid of the fake grass if you don’t like it.

I like a large garden, but don't love the layout of house 2. Also wonder about the neighbours given the flag in the garden. If it was there for a sporting event that's one thing, but does raise questions about their politics for me.

Absolutely the second one. Location is the most important thing but this bungalow is far nicer anyway.
Plus first one has tacky decor and plastic grass is awful for birds and insects.

Go for the good location

Property number 2.

No one puts a car in their garage. Our garage is a glorified shed for lawn mower, bikes etc. There's room.in the garden gor a shed

I mostly prefer house 1 although I really don't like the long lounge. Could it be opened up to be more open plan downstairs at all? The decor isn't great but that can be changed.

House 2 also makes me feel a bit claustrophobic. I don't like it.

Is it possible that neither house is the ideal one?

Second one every time. Garden is lovely - vastly more outside space. The front is much nicer too. Interior decor - I actually prefer the second one but decor is instantly changeable whilst outside space and location are not. Even on paper number 2 looks like a clear winner.

Oh yeah, downstairs bathroom is also a big no for me.

I prefer the first one, it is more spacious and I prefer the layout. The second one looks cramped and claustrophobic, okay it has a bigger garden but it is a long and narrow garden and looks like it needs a lot of work on it. Plus for the second one the bathroom is downstairs and only a cramped toilet to service two bedrooms.

I used to live in Northampton, and would say both areas are equally nice.

If you have (or will have) kids, then number 2 as the schools are better in Duston than Kingsthorpe from what I hear from friends still in the town.

I would say you will feel the flow and the light in the house when you visit . You can always remove the fake grass and turf that area in house 1.

house 2 long term to me has potential as I would get rid of the conservatory and have the kitchen diner all the way across the back .

do you want a big garden and the work that involves ?

Then it can be taken up and turfed . That should not be a deal breaker .

some people don’t have time for a big garden .

How is house 1 separated from the attached one next door ? Is there no fence ? Open ?

that would put me off tbh

Well, I've returned from the house one viewing.
From the street it looks nicer than it does in the photo. Definitely not so dark and generally nicer-looking. The area itself seemed fine on my slow drive-through. All private housing I'd guess. 70s/80s builds if I had to venture a guess.
Inside was nice. I did like the kitchen and the long lounge. The weird brown plants from the wall were gone. ;) The bathrooms were nice, as was the master bedroom. The other two bedrooms were small. Fine for single beds, but although you'd get a double in, there wouldn't be room for much else.
As for the plastic grass, I didn't find it as wholly unattractive as some I've seen. Someone clearly invested in getting a fairly decent one.
I don't think it's worth £330k though... And it seems, based on some quizzing of the vendor and the estate agents, other viewers agree. The current owner bought it in late 2021 and paid £275k! She hasn't put £55k worth of value into it in a bit over 2 years, I'm sure!

We'll see how the viewing of House 2 goes tomorrow!