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Original poster

FTB love the house not the garden

14 replies

SOJane · 17/03/2025 15:19

Hi there, not sure if I'm looking for reassurance or insight

Put an offer on a house we absolutely love. Turn key but a few areas we are looking to put our stamp on.

However the garden is est. 450 sq ft. Or 9x4.5 m

We have 2 kids, 7 and 4. I grew up with a garden but I was of the era were you rode you bike from sun up to sun down with the other neighbourhood kids.

This will be the first home we have that has a garden.

I'm not big on gardens even when living with my parents, I didn't ever go out there asside for the annual bbq.

I have seen another house that's lovely with a nice sized garden but I really love home number 1 and don't want to lose out a lovely first home, just because there isn't enough space for a trampoline

I wasn't too fused about the garden until we went for 2nd viewing and DD said the garden is a bit small. Now it's been on my mind constantly

Sorry for essay

Just wanted to ask anyone out there that has a small garden, what ways were you able to keep the kids happy in said garden

Thanks

OP posts:
hotandpermi · 17/03/2025 15:41

We didn’t have a massive garden in my previous property. We had a compact playhouse with a slide on one side. Trampolines are death traps in imo but then I saw my cousins leg get trapped in one of the holes by the springs and I can tell you it wasn’t pretty.

look for outside play equipment that takes up more space vertically than horizontally. Rest of most kids gear can be folded or deflated

Original poster
SOJane · 17/03/2025 16:20

hotandpermi · 17/03/2025 15:41

We didn’t have a massive garden in my previous property. We had a compact playhouse with a slide on one side. Trampolines are death traps in imo but then I saw my cousins leg get trapped in one of the holes by the springs and I can tell you it wasn’t pretty.

look for outside play equipment that takes up more space vertically than horizontally. Rest of most kids gear can be folded or deflated

Thanks, that's not a bad idea with the vertical equipment. I've seen a climbing frame slide combo.

I think the trampoline has stayed with me because whenever we go to visit the niblings, our kids live playing in it. But I've also heard the horror stories

So far I'm thinking of getting a pop up tent set and a slide. For summer some water guns and just water in general to muck about with. I know when they get to preteen/teen years their interest in the garden is likely to dwindle. But I'm still stuck in my head about it

DH wants to get a small football goal too 😅

OP posts:
Ferretbitme · 17/03/2025 20:16

I had a small garden with 2 kids. Manageable when young-had fold up slide, water pistols, pop up tents, sand/water tables etc but once they started wanting to run and kick balls was challenging.

Have moved for more garden, but the house was hard to sell possibly because of the garden.

Was smaller than that though.

Myengagementring · 17/03/2025 20:19

We have a big house with a small garden and it worked fine, we are lucky to live near a park so didn't have any play equipment in the garden. The biggest issue has been when DS got bigger and needs more room to practice his football we had to take him to the park. We are through that time now though and I'm so pleased we don't have a huge garden to maintain.

DoorToNowhere · 17/03/2025 20:30

A large garden generally means more space and less noise from neighbours, which can make it feel more private. I think a garden is a massive asset, even if you're not into gardening, it gives kids more freedom in a safe place too. It doesn’t even have to be high maintenance, other than the odd mow and the occasional bit of weeding we do basically nothing to ours.

Original poster
SOJane · 17/03/2025 22:49

Myengagementring · 17/03/2025 20:19

We have a big house with a small garden and it worked fine, we are lucky to live near a park so didn't have any play equipment in the garden. The biggest issue has been when DS got bigger and needs more room to practice his football we had to take him to the park. We are through that time now though and I'm so pleased we don't have a huge garden to maintain.

I hate gardening, suffer quite bad hay-fever. It's started already. So I didn't want anything that would require maintenance. The back fence has a door that leads out to a big green and there is a small playground about one minute from the house

OP posts:
Original poster
SOJane · 17/03/2025 22:52

hotandpermi · 17/03/2025 15:41

We didn’t have a massive garden in my previous property. We had a compact playhouse with a slide on one side. Trampolines are death traps in imo but then I saw my cousins leg get trapped in one of the holes by the springs and I can tell you it wasn’t pretty.

look for outside play equipment that takes up more space vertically than horizontally. Rest of most kids gear can be folded or deflated

That's also the benefit. We are also a loud family lol. We've already started the searches for house 1 and I'm worried about the money we will lose pulling out now especially as we went to the very top of our budget. I haven't been to see house 2. It's currently on Rightmove. So I'm tempted to go see it but don't want to add to the anxiety of loving it over house 1

OP posts:
Summerhouse24 · 16/05/2025 07:12

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MissSookieStackhouse · 16/05/2025 08:37

You said ….”The back fence has a door that leads out to a big green and there is a small playground about one minute from the house.”
….and you hate gardening apparently.

No brainer really!

abnerbrownsdressinggown · 16/05/2025 08:50

Our current house has a slightly bigger garden (11m x 5.5) but it probably feels the same size as yours as we have (inherited) mature borders and a shed at the bottom. We also have 3 DC and it is fine, but our DC are older and never go out there and were never into football anyway.

We do need to make better use of the space at some point though as currently there isn't enough space on the 'patio' area to sit comfortably round the table.

My biggest concern is I would like to do a standard side return/ kitchen extension but I would be really worried about losing any more of the garden.

It was the right house for us though, and I don't regret buying it at all.

angelinawasrobbed · 16/05/2025 09:29

The trampoline years pass quite quickly. I wouldn’t base your decision on the present needs of your children.

DorisTheFinkasaurus · 16/05/2025 09:37

"The trampoline years pass quite quickly. I wouldn’t base your decision on the present needs of your children."

Absolutely this.

"You said ….”The back fence has a door that leads out to a big green and there is a small playground about one minute from the house.”
….and you hate gardening apparently.
No brainer really!"

AND this! Listen to the wisdom, OP. 😊

rwalker · 16/05/2025 09:43

Whilst for a few brief year out big garden was great
it’s only short term now it’s just work maintenance and expense never set foot in grass just use patio

Bluevelvetsofa · 16/05/2025 09:45

If you’re a loud family, bear in mind that you will have neighbours who may not appreciate that, so the green and the playground will be a bonus.

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