Would you buy your *almost* dream home... if it had no garden?

[Southernbelle19]

We have found a house that we are absolutely in love with. It's the perfect location, size and is beautiful - it has been very well cared for and is very to our taste already and has obviously had a lot of money spent on it. This is brilliant as we are expecting a baby and don't want a house that needs lots of work.

The only downside is it doesn't have a garden, only a small (albeit very nice) back yard. Enough space for a table and chairs and maybe a small bbq but that's it.

I already have one child and we are expecting another so ideally we would want a garden. However, we have viewed numerous properties and all of them within our budget are either way too small, the wrong location or need completely renovating. But this house we fell in love with and ticks every other box.

I should say we are very outdoorsy people and live in the countryside so we will be spending a lot of time outdoors regardless, but obviously not having a garden to run around in is still a compromise.

What would you do?

We only had a small back yard, a little bigger than what you have described but tbh as soon as they were a bit older than they need a lot of space so we went to the park.

Considering the weather how much use is a large garden with a lot of lawn??

A garden is even more work IMHO 😭

I wouldn’t buy it.

No way. Personally.

Haha very true... what's the point 🙄 on those rare sunny or even dry days it would be good to let the kids let off steam but like you said there's the park! I hate spending entire days at home anyway.

Ooh. That's a tough one. I'd really have to think about it, and the house would have to be damn near perfect.

That's a tough one. I couldn't cope with no outdoor space. How small a yard are you talking? If there's enough room for children's toys and you have plenty of green space close by then it's doable. But it's a big thing to compromise on. (Imagine what the house would have been like in lockdown?)

Absolutely no way, with a baby coming who will be a toddler before you know it. It's a godsend being able to just open the back door and get them outside with no effort, getting dressed and packed up, etc. Breakfast outside on sunny days for example, is such a small but lovely pleasure with a little one.

I'm not sure any parents dream house can really be one without any outside space.

No I wouldn't but it wouldn't be my dream home without a garden. I love my garden and put a lot of care into it, I'm always out digging and pruning, it's a way for me to relax and ground myself. For some though a garden isn't a big deal, even if they have one they barely use it or see it as a chore. Only you can decide how important it is to you.

For me it would be a no. Lots of people do manage in flats etc with no garden, but it would be something I couldn't compromise on. Especially if you live rurally

Pretty small - big enough to sit in and perhaps a sand pit but not for running around.

But there are plenty of parks in walking distance!

I do see what you're saying especially the no effort thing. Unfortunately we can't afford all of the things on our wish list and we've been looking for absolutely ages! We really don't want somewhere that needs lots of work, this house is otherwise perfect.

Ahh what to do

Totally depends. I like being at home, sitting in the garden, gardening.
If I went out a lot, didn’t really like being at home then as long as there was space to sit outside and for DDog to do his business first thing then maybe. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Does the house have a garage so you could completely empty the back yard sometimes? Is there any front garden space at all?

I think it's a compromise I'd be prepared to make seeing as there is some outside space, albeit very small.

What's the pay off for the lack of decent garden versus schools for example?

Unless you're absolutely desperate to move now, I wouldn't go for this one.

We viewed an amazing house with a tiny back yard. Seriously considered it. But then decided our toddler would enjoy more space so decided to wait to see what else came up. A perfect house with much bigger garden came up for sale not long after and we've happily lived there for the past 15 years with no regret.

And the opportunity to dry washing outside is priceless.

It’s the compromise we made to live in central London but if I were going to consider living in the countryside it would be for the outside space so I would consider it an absolute dealbreaker.

A garden is a small thing to compromise on OP compared to everything else you've stated. The only issue for me would be the lack of garden causing a price ceiling when you want to re-sell.

Quite frankly I have no idea why British people are obsessed with gardens when a) most of them are too small for kids to run around/play in etc b) you get tons of people on here complaining about the noise when they actually do c) weather is shit most of the time anyway.

Anyway it's just my opinion.

Do you like gardening? Because if you don't then I'd totally go for it. You've got parks on your doorstep and you enjoying being out and about and exploring the great outdoors. Why get a worse house just so you can spend your precious free time gardening unless you really enjoy it? It sounds like you'd enjoy exploring a country park more than pottering round the garden?

No garage. There is a small strip at the front with a bench, probably enough room for a slide or swing but not private at all!

It's a 5 min walk from the school and maybe 10 from the secondary school (both great schools) plus very close to several parks/woodland etc. So it's not as if there arnet outdoor spaces on the doorstep but I guess it's not the same as a private garden.

No I hate gardening with a passion. Haha. My partner likes it but he says as he works outdoors all day he doesn't really want to come home and be gardening. So we'd only want a low maintenance one anyway.

Some very valid points here!

Tbh I don't think we'd be doing much work to add value to the house anyway in our eyes it's perfect already!

You’ve got SOME outside space, and with careful planning, you could easily make it work. My sister lives in a back to back terrace with only a front garden, she has 3 children and grows her own fruit and veg in hanging baskets and on shelves. The kids have a swing and sandpit.

No. We did just that. Great house; perfect location, we've fully renovated and love our house. But the garden (or lack of) is a constant source of disappointment that leaves me slightly resentful of the fact we can't now move due to the schools and age of kids. I wish my garden was bigger, the older I get the more I love being out there and growing stuff, I'd like raised beds and more area to grow, a trampoline or room for a slide. I never really cared about a garden before but now I do! I'd not buy again unless the garden was a good enough size for what I'd like.

Can you get a mid kitchen or a wendy house?

Honestly it's enough.

All those families in flats manage just fine and they only have a balcony. I assume it's bigger than a balcony?

I think if it has a yard that’s something

we have a big garden but it’s up a load of steep steps so I can’t let mine just wander out the back door, which to me is really annoying and wish I’d considered