Stick with original purchase or look at other house

[Wispagolden]

What would you do?

I'm buying a smallish 2 bedroom bungalow (large kitchen and main bedroom but smaller kitchen, bathroom and spare bedroom) large back garden though so there's definitely a possibility to extend in the future and the driveway is big enough for 2-3 cars. It's a lovely street which comes to the end of a cul-de-sac so not a lot of traffic, very quiet and tidy apart from a couple of houses (nothing major, just a bit of overgrown grass). The current owner has installed a new kitchen and bathroom but the boiler needs replacing, new carpets are needed and every room has artex but I can live with that and might just get them skimmed in the future. The bathroom could also do with a new window as it's single glazed and the frame has started to rot. I have family and friends in various trades though so hopefully I'll be able to get things a bit cheaper (mainly the boiler). The survey came back fine apart from the boiler and window, basically what I already know.

A new house was added to rightmove this morning (yes I know, why am I still looking I have no idea, just being nosy tbh and I like scanning rightmove).
It's a 2 bed semi (stairs already putting me off) with a modern kitchen and bathroom, not brand new though. Similar size living room and main bedroom but the kitchen, bathroom and 2nd bedroom are bigger than mine. The back garden is smaller I think but it has a similar size driveway. The street isn't as nice imo, it's a long street (sort of like a cut through if that makes sense and branches off to a few different streets). Also a couple of messy houses, again just overgrown grass etc. I have no idea what the current state of the boiler/electrics are. Carpets look a few years old and it's mostly painted in grey. It's 10k more.

I still love mine but of course now I've seen this one, I don't know. I do think my street is nicer. It's such a hard decision though and I want to make sure I'm making the right choice. I probably shouldn't check rightmove anymore haha. I've also paid for a survey and searches on mine. We are now at the enquires stage so hopefully near the end too. Not sure if I'd want to start again tbh.

Thoughts?

Apologies, I meant to put large living room and main bedroom but smaller kitchen, bathroom and spare bedroom, not large kitchen!

To add, I can't borrow any more from the lender so I'd need to make up the difference from my savings.

There are always going to be other houses. I'd stop looking. Location always wins imo which the first house has over the 2nd.

Have you made an offer? How far through the process are you? It would be rather rum of you to pull out because you were tempted by something else.

without seeing the adverts to compare it’s difficult, however in general I would go for better location (ie you like the first houses street more) and better plot of land (the first house has the larger garden). Like you say, you can extend the bungalow in the future to give bigger rooms if you feel you need it but you can’t lift up the house and move it. Also if the stairs are putting you off now then that’s not a good sign. You may end up living mostly downstairs in which case bungalow has more space.

new boiler and new carpets seems like a very reasonable amount of work to do when moving. You never know what thjngs may be wrong with the second house…don’t think I’ve ever moved anywhere that didn’t need at least the boiler and carpets changed, usually much much more than this!!

You’ve said that the stairs put you off so stick with the bungalow, if you have mobility problems then the stairs might become more of a problem later on.

Bungalow all they way.

I agree that location is important and I think that's what is swaying me to stick with the bungalow. Fortunately no mobility issues, I just like the thought of being on 1 level and not having to hoover the bloody stairs haha.

My offer was accepted and we are nearly 12 weeks in, currently at the enquires stage so hopefully shouldn't be too long now!

I just wasn't sure and a family member said that the other house looked like it didn't need as much work, but then it is more expensive...

I actually love a bungalow! We are in one now and it means both our living area and our bedroom have lovely big doors opening onto the garden. Sometimes you can go into the loft if you want more space in the future, have you looked into that?

Better location, nicer road, bigger garden, no stairs, cheaper.
You can't change those things. Kitchens and carpets you can.
Bungalow wins.