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Original poster

Would you buy this house?

27 replies

Squidgysquiffle · 18/08/2024 07:52

We have a pretty extensive list of requirements which means that not that many houses that could work for us tend to come up.
We have a small area to search in because of school catchment and proximity to station, we don't want a very busy road because we have 2 cats, we need 4 beds and a decent garden but our budget isn't massive.
We've found a house that ticks all those boxes, on a lovely street. BUT the kitchen is small and DH is really stressed about it. We could move and extend but should we? Or should we keep looking? I can't decide (and neither can he) whether he is stressed because he's not happy with it or because he struggles with making a big decision. If it were just me I'd go for it because other than the kitchen it's great.

OP posts:
heldinadream · 18/08/2024 07:58

How long have you been looking? How many houses have you looked at? Is it at lower end of budget leaving you with the money to extend?
You don't have to extend straight away. You could live with it a while first. It might be fine if everything else works.
Is there a utility? Can you make more room in the kitchen by having more appliances in utility etc?

Twiglets1 · 18/08/2024 07:59

I think with a long list of requirements & limited budget you are going to have to compromise somewhere and a small kitchen seems a reasonable compromise to me. Especially if there is the potential opportunity to extend in the future if it bothers you.

BiscuityBoyle · 18/08/2024 08:02

There is going to be a compromise somewhere. Unlike location or busyness of the road, this is something you could fix in the future.

Aquamarine1029 · 18/08/2024 08:03

With all of your requirements, it will be nearly impossible to find a perfect house. If you can expand the kitchen someday, and you're sure that's feasible, I would go for it.

redtrain123 · 18/08/2024 08:06

How small? Manageable all, or was dh imaging an everyone- in- the-kitchen type house? Is there somewhere else you can congregate?

Why din’t you have a second viewing and then decide?

PolaroidPrincess · 18/08/2024 08:06

I agree you have to compromise somewhere.

One of my requirements was a South facing garden. The house we bought faces almost due North. I love cooking and the kitchen is tiny and the road is a bit busier than we'd wanted to buy a house on but it was within budget and school catchment and we've been happily living her for about 20 years.

I'd book a second viewing. Small kitchens can work but you just have to really strip back on your kitchen equipment and plan the kitchen meticulously. Anything that wants to a place in my kitchen has to be a very. Very useful appliance that we will use almost daily.

IPartridge · 18/08/2024 08:09

If it's a 4 bed house the kitchen can't be that small can it?
I'd buy it, it's only 1 thing you're compromising on.

LindaDawn · 18/08/2024 08:14

I would buy the house with small kitchen and extend at a later date. it’s so disheartening house hunting and stops you getting on with your life. There are always compromises!

RVEllacott · 18/08/2024 08:14

Is there a spare reception room you could move the kitchen into and then turn the existing kitchen into a utility/boot room/study? It might be cheaper than extending and give you a bigger kitchen.

Original poster
Squidgysquiffle · 18/08/2024 08:15

To answer some questions
We've looked at maybe 15 houses but honestly some of them were right on the edge of the school catchment and with the 20% add on if private school fees for VAT I think the catchment is v likely to shrink so it would be risky
This house is easily within budget. In fact when we add our savings we wouldn't actually have to extend our mortgage so we could do the extension for sure.
DH is very much a home and family guy though. He LOVES having all the family over for Christmas/ birthdays etc and I think he's worried we won't be able to host as easily. He's right I think. We could fit people in but if would be a squash. But we'd be fine if we extended.
No it doesn't have a utility ATM. If we extended we'd add one.
Oh the other negative is it's a mid terrace, and we're currently end of terrace. I don't think hes too bothered about that but just thought I'd add it's not perfect even with an extension.
It's an absolutely lovely road though.

OP posts:
Original poster
Squidgysquiffle · 18/08/2024 08:16

RVEllacott · 18/08/2024 08:14

Is there a spare reception room you could move the kitchen into and then turn the existing kitchen into a utility/boot room/study? It might be cheaper than extending and give you a bigger kitchen.

No. The downstairs at the moment is just lounge (great size) hallway, kitchen / diner. That's it.

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 18/08/2024 08:21

Does the house you want actually exist in your budget in the limited area you are searching in?

It sounds like the house you are talking about now has the potential to be the "dream" house.

Littletreefrog · 18/08/2024 08:25

We are in the process of buying a house that had everything we wanted but a small kitchen.

We were a bit unsure but when we sat down and thought about it the house fitted everyones wish list (DH, me and 2 teen DS's) and no one had anything to do with the kitchen on their wish list so decided to go for it.

midgetastic · 18/08/2024 08:26

You need seating and dining spaces to entertain - the kitchen itself amazing when you are organised how many you can cater for

Twiglets1 · 18/08/2024 08:28

Squidgysquiffle · 18/08/2024 08:16

No. The downstairs at the moment is just lounge (great size) hallway, kitchen / diner. That's it.

Show quote history

Surely the kitchen/diner is a decent size in that case even if the actual kitchen area is on the small side? And a big lounge will be great for when family & friends are visiting.

Wishimaywishimight · 18/08/2024 08:33

Mid terrace would be a deal breaker for me. The kitchen can be fixed by extending but you can't add a side entrance.

We are currently getting the back garden landscaped, we just leave the side gate open for the guys every morning and they go about their business, I would hate to have them coming through the house with bricks, cement etc. Also, wouldn't like bringing the bins through the house.

If it were me I would keep looking.

PolaroidPrincess · 18/08/2024 08:43

Wishimaywishimight · 18/08/2024 08:33

Mid terrace would be a deal breaker for me. The kitchen can be fixed by extending but you can't add a side entrance.

We are currently getting the back garden landscaped, we just leave the side gate open for the guys every morning and they go about their business, I would hate to have them coming through the house with bricks, cement etc. Also, wouldn't like bringing the bins through the house.

If it were me I would keep looking.

I used to live in a mid terrace and I've never had to bring things through the house. It had a gate at the back.

olivecapes · 18/08/2024 08:44

If you've got the cash and space to extend I really don't see what the problem is, it would be daft to pass it up, you'll likely make money out of it too. Why is he so reluctant if the problem can be fixed?

Original poster
Squidgysquiffle · 18/08/2024 08:46

PolaroidPrincess · 18/08/2024 08:43

I used to live in a mid terrace and I've never had to bring things through the house. It had a gate at the back.

Show quote history

Yes it has a gate at the back so wouldn't need to come through the house.

OP posts:
Original poster
Squidgysquiffle · 18/08/2024 08:47

olivecapes · 18/08/2024 08:44

If you've got the cash and space to extend I really don't see what the problem is, it would be daft to pass it up, you'll likely make money out of it too. Why is he so reluctant if the problem can be fixed?

He's not reluctant really. He struggles with making big decisions. If he was actually saying he didn't want it that would be ok and we'd keep looking. He's not. He's saying he can't decide

OP posts:
Marinel · 18/08/2024 08:48

If everything else about the house is right, buy it and extend/knock through.

PolaroidPrincess · 18/08/2024 08:51

My DH is a bit of a ditherer over things like this too. I might have been known to put an offer in a house and tell him later with the option of withdrawing the offer if he's not happy. I know that wouldn't work in Scotland though.

Original poster
Squidgysquiffle · 18/08/2024 08:53

Also FWIW we met the neighbours and they were absolutely lovely. I know that's not the be-all and end-all because they could move but it definitely is a plus.

OP posts:
olivecapes · 18/08/2024 09:10

@Squidgysquiffle maybe go get some quotes for an extension, have a look at some kitchen showrooms and get yourself excited for how you could make it, maybe that's the spark of excitement you need for you both to take the plunge?

MissLC · 18/08/2024 09:51

Hi @Squidgysquiffle ,

We've just been in a similar position to you and had an offer accepted on a house yesterday (fingers crossed it all goes through quickly without a snag!)
Anyway, this property ticks all of our boxes but you go into the house directly into the kitchen which I've not been hugely keen on. However, we do have the option of building on a small porch, or redirecting people through the side door which I'm happy doing.
Downstairs also wasn't quite as much space as I'd been hoping but seller has previously had planning permission for an extension and neighbours identical house has done this. Also, the garden is big enough to lend itself nicely to this, bigger than other houses we've seen and bigger rooms too.
Anyway, we thought that the house is perfectly liveable, happily, for now, and then we can make it more how we want it in years to come. Houses like what we want are selling like hot cakes at the moment. It was also cheaper than the smaller houses we've been looking at!