How do I choose which house?

29 replies

zingally · 04/04/2024 11:51

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!

Check out this 3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale on Rightmove

3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Poachers Way, Kingsthorpe, Northampton NN2 8AY, NN2 for £330,000. Marketed by Jackson Grundy Estate Agents, Kingsthorpe

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144716045#/?channel=RES_BUY

OP posts:

Waspie · 04/04/2024 15:40

SequinBear · 04/04/2024 12:46

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 agree with all of this, plus " Bedroom 1" doesn't have a window to the outside world because there is a conservatory on the back. I would hate this.

Garden is subjective - for some people a big garden is just a headache.

Foxgloove · 04/04/2024 20:46

With house 2, I don't like the stairs being in the living room, having a downstairs bathroom but only an upstairs toilet and bedroom 1 window into conservatory. Drive needs doing too. It has a better garden though.

penguinbiscuits · 04/04/2024 20:46

OP have you ever looked after a garden? I notice you said you'll live there by yourself.

We have a 4000 sqm house now that we're selling, and never ever we want a big garden again. The amount of maintenance goes into it is crazy. Takes up a lot of husband's time, and money.

abracadabra1980 · 05/04/2024 11:03

Second home for me. Has so much more kerb appeal than the first one.

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