North east facing garden

[kirinm]

Would it put you off a house? For context it is our preferred area and not a lot comes up. There is also a 70ft tree at the end of the garden in a neighbouring property so we can't reduce its height.

Partner really likes gardening.

We've viewed it but agents are pushing for offers tomorrow.

The NE facing back garden wouldn't put me off as long as it was twice as long as the height of the house... incl the roof.

The 70 foot tree would though. Waaaay too tall for a domestic property!

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@SabreIsMyFave it's an issue we have all over this area - massive trees. It's conservation so you need planning permission to do anything and it just means people don't do anything! Plus the cost of tree surgeons is really expensive. We had to remove one tree from our current garden and that cost £1500. Absolutely worth every penny has it transformed the light we get but not everyone is willing to do it.

We lived in a couple of rented houses with north facing gardens before we bought this house with a south west garden and I would never even bother looking at a house with north facing garden again. Being able to sit in the sunshine and grow anything we want is priceless.

I hated having a dark garden. It was depressing. Couldn't even have people over in the summer because no one wants to sit in a dark garden on one of the few warm days we get a year in this country!

Blimey, that's loads!

As I said, the crazy tree would put me off sorry. As I said, 70 feet is far too high a tree to be in a domestic garden. Unless it's a good 100 feet away from any building, footpath, or road, then it's not OK.

That's just an EA pressure tactic tbh , try to ignore!

I wouldn't bid. Pushy EA might have shot himself in foot with all prospective parties... and no one actually bids.

In your shoes, I'd call Council tomorrow and see if there is a TPO for that garden. There would be no harm to go visit owner of the tree if it does not have a TPO on it and explain why you are asking and if they would be willing to take it down if you pay. Then deduct the amount notionally from the bid.

You did say, sorry. Missed that update! I'd try not to be influenced by their tactics.

Yeah, the EA telling me I might miss out as others are interested would really piss me off. I would say 'well I will leave it then, for one of the 'many people' who are dying to buy it.'

Emotional blackmail and manipulation doesn't work with me. I HATE being pushed and pressured. 100% guaranteed to make me back away and resist.

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We have one. It's long, no large trees at the sides but there are some at the far end. It gets sun most of the day but the evening sun does disappear from the end of the garden by about 6.30/7pm.

Nor me. I have an East facing garden and it's plenty sunny enough, everything grows as it should and the folk who have South facing gardens near me moaned all summer because everything was parched and their houses were too hot!

@SabreIsMyFave I'm the same. The EA playing games has really fucked me off and he alone is making me think we won't offer!

We have a north facing yard and get ZERO sun in it.

Wood rots horrifically fast and its always cold and wet.

You could 'garden' it though you would just have to grow the right types of shaded plants. Ferns grow well as do carpets of mosses.

Tbh yes it would put me off.

I like sitting in the sun and bbqs so have a strong preference for a garden facing South or West.

I've just gone and stood outside the house with a compass (can you tell the garden is really bugging me). And I think it's actually north west facing. Does that make a huge difference?

NW would be preferable to me over NE as you'd be more likely to get evening sun.

It would still be a no from me though but I prioritised garden over house when I bought, having lived for 18 years without one! I'd only consider South or West.

The tree would also be an issue for me. I'm a bit of a tree hugger but one that tall that I didn't have control of would worry me.

I don't know. I actually really like our north facing garden, and don't recognise all the comments about lack of sun and dampness etc. We get sun in it all day, it's not damp or boggy, and we have lots of glazing in the back and skylights and it's always bright and not too hot in the kitchen diner.

My mum has North West facing, and a smaller garden. But she has sun and loads of plants.

I did read all of the horrors of a north facing garden and go down and peer in at different times before buying this house though, and it's been fine

I have a NE facing garden. Raised patio bit at the back and get the sun until 7pm-ish. I moved from a south facing garden with trees that blocked a lot of light. Prefer current situation.

NW better than NE but it would still put me off the house. Mind you, no house is ever perfect (unless super rich maybe) so it all depends on if it’s a compromise you can live with.

I don't expect us to get it even if we desperately want it because there is a lot of competition and people seem to be able to afford to overpay my tens of thousands.

It's London so we are not talking cheap housing and I feel quite annoyed that we barely got to look at it. But DP has said, unfortunately this is how estate agents work and we can't dismiss them as we still need somewhere to live!

It's about the whole aspect not just which way the garden faces.

Mine faces ESE, but the southern aspect is pretty much clear so it gets sun all the morning and for most of the afternoon.

If it is a small garden and surrounded by high buildings/trees to the left and right its not so good for sun.

If it is a long garden with clear views to the south it could be fine.

There are programs on the web that allow you to do shadow analysis on google maps to see how much of the garden will be in shadow at any time of the year.

I have used these and they are pretty accurate. You do have to guesstimate the height of surrounding buildings and draw them over the google map. Once you've done this a slider bar allows you to move through the day and see where shadows will be cast. They are easy to use.

I think it doesn't really matter what I'd do (fwiw I have north facing garden and love it) because you really come across as down on the house - don't be pressured into buying a house you don't want. If it fails to win you over once you've move in, you'll spend all your time there regretful at possibly angry at yourself and those who pressured you.

Keep looking.

I have to say it would put me off. I have a north west facing garden and that gets enough sun for the summer months, but in the winter only the top half of the garden gets any sun and the grass gets quite mossy in the shadow.

This is the garden and the tree (which you can't see the top of here).

The trees give good privacy in the garden. Nothing worse that being overlooked.