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?

I have a small garden. But because we live in the country and are very outdoorsy we never go out into it lol

No from me.

assume if it’s a small yard it’s probably adjacent to a neighbours yard as that’s how these layouts usually work? We had a yard with a 6ft high wall between us and it wasn’t the lack of space that was the issue but we couldn’t speak a word without being heard or hearing them if both doors were open. While our yard had sun, theirs didn’t. What is yours like for sun? A dark, shady yard will be dank and even less useable. What about eating outside? You say a small table but can all of your eat out there in a couple of years?

Not even if it was half price. My kids loved playing in the garden when they were small and it was priceless.

I'd be concerned no one would want to buy it so I'd be stuck with it too.

I'd buy a house that needs renovating and do it up rather than have a house with a small garden.

No

A garden is a must

Friends in flats suffered in covid

Having open space esp for kids a must imo

Doesn't have to be huge but ideally some grass and so you can have a swing /slide and trampoline on it

Just nice to open the door and toddler can potter outside /in a sandpit while you sort out baby and as get Older tea etx

Many will say it's fine if a park near by

But honestly a garden is a must for me

Just couldn't.
To me, a garden is an important part of the package and I could no more consider a house without a garden (or just a yard) than one missing a living room or spare bedroom.
Space permitting, the interior can be remodelled but you can't add external space if the footprint does not have it.

Nope. Deal breaker. I was put off by a lovely house because it had a tiny garden

Go for it. Until mine were mid primary we had tiny yards. They were out all the time. Chalks, paddling pool, trikes, growing plants. And an advantage of a tiny place is that they could have free access in and out from crawling age.

Can you post a stock photos?

What size is it? Your version of backyard could be different to someone else.

Definitely wouldn’t entertain it, we keep hens and have cats and like to grow things. A garden is a must have for us.

I'd buy it. I have a 120ft garden, I'd prefer a 10ft garden.

They are a pain in the arse. I've only ever used the very small patio.

I grew up in flats, but with parks nearby, and never felt I missed out.
Gardens are a lot of work, specially if you hate gardening!
Are the nearby parks less than 15 mins walking distance?
Does the little yard get sunshine? Does it feel reasonably private / not too overlooked? If it's a nice place to sit in, I think that's perfect. We only really use our garden for sunny meals. Much prefer taking our 3 yr old to the various parks nearby and having a change of scenery.

Deal breaker for me.
Having that space for small children to wonder off into has been invaluable.

You can change insides of houses over time but your garden will stay the same

What are the views like from the windows?
Can you see any greenery/trees?
How much light do you get and is the yard in the shade all the time?
How close are the neighbours? (Do they have dogs/smoke/talk loudly outdoors?)
Is the house / yard fairly private?

I'd happily have the amount of outside space you are talking about, but the above some of the factors I'd be thinking about.

I lived in a flat with no outdoor space for a couple years when my eldest two were toddlers and it was a nightmare. But having some outdoor space makes it something to consider. Personally I love gardening so would be lost without one. Mine pretty much lived on their trampoline for a few years. However, so long as you have a private space which you can open your door to on lovely summer days and let them out to play then it will be manageable.

I live in Bristol and anywhere vaguely close to the centre has a tiny garden/yard. It's fine. It'll still be enough to sit in the sun and maybe have the odd BBQ etc.

My brother's house now (also Bristol) has a tiny garden but they can still squeeze in a paddling pool and trampoline for DN and some pots for flowers/herbs. And the park is round the corner. Their previous house had a huge garden but it was a crappy little house in a horrible area. I know what I'd go for.

Absolutely would buy it . It is not like you have no outdoor space at all. Overrated I think as it is often too wet, too cold anyway. You say you have access to parks anyway . Main thing is school closeness and the house is good for you. What do relatives and friends think ?

I nearly did; the truth is you get more house for your money as it’s a tiny plot and you habe no garden. But my husband was dead against it, he was right, being able to play in the garden, football, swing set, all those things kids love, plus being able to relax out there, meant yes, a garden was a must.

As this thread has shown, some people love gardens and gardening so this house would be a no.

For others, who hate gardening or have close outdoor parks etc, it would be a dead set yes.

So you need to make your list. as a PP said, if a decent garden doesnt make the mutual list in the top 5 then offer.

As a non gardener who would cheerfully tarmac the world, I would buy it in a heartbeat but my sister would spit on it! Asking others in a housebuyung situation is pointless really as we arent you, so what do YOU want? Do that.

We rented a one bedroom flat for 5 years with no garden or parking, when we were buying our first home, a reasonable garden with a driveway for two cars were essential.

We were lucky to find a house with a really long garden and we love it and so do our kids. Most of the garden is for the kids, massive trampoline, triple swing set, monkey bars, football goal and some horrible moulded plastic castle thing that I try to put out of view. But they can they can be out there all day with their friends.

As a non gardener who would cheerfully tarmac the world, I would buy it in a heartbeat

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Brilliant.

We sold our house with a huge backyard for our dream house with a tiny yard and haven't regretted it. As long as there are parks and recreation space around we've found that's enough for our three kids.
Soon enough they will be tweens/teens that couldn't give a shit about the garden but having space in the home is priceless.
I prefer the smaller yard it's easy to keep on top of it with our limited time.

I would and I love my garden. Lots of children grow up in flats with no gardens at all, I grew up in a terraced house with a courtyard garden and it didn’t bother me. As long as there are parks in walking distance then I think it’s fine.