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Original poster

Which house would you choose and why

53 replies

whichkindof · 20/03/2025 08:59

Two houses, one 1930’s detached, large garden and drive, garage, lots of modernisation needed, rooms not very big but bags of (expensive potential) it’s on a main road out of town. We have a cat and young kids.

The other house, Victorian semi, all done up gorgeous, smaller garden because it’s closer to town (side street in town) cellar, 6 bedrooms, 3 storeys, no garage or drive. Plus it’s 100k cheaper than the other.
It’s also opposite a social club. Next door has been converted into flats (some kind of house share ?)

I love them both but the characteristics and price are making me keen towards the second house. I need some sound advice please !!

OP posts:
Nessastats · 20/03/2025 09:02

House 1.

Bluebellwood129 · 20/03/2025 09:06

Neither - I'd never buy a house on a main road or one with no garage or parking. The location of house B also sounds awful plus it's not detached.

anonymousanonymouse · 20/03/2025 09:07

Neither. Keep looking!

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 20/03/2025 09:10

House 1, IF you can afford the renovations.
Otherwise, keep looking.

ChAmpagnesupernissancorsa · 20/03/2025 09:10

House 1.

Twiglets1 · 20/03/2025 09:11

I wouldn’t buy a 6 bed house unless I had about 4 children and wouldn’t buy a house on a main road out of town either, especially with a cat.

The answer may be to keep looking.

TwentyKittens · 20/03/2025 09:14

Neither. Main road, no thanks. Lacks a drive, no thanks.

LindorDoubleChoc · 20/03/2025 09:16

Another one saying no to both. Absolutely definitely not to a main road if you have a cat!!

maddiemookins16mum · 20/03/2025 09:16

Neither.

BarnacleBeasley · 20/03/2025 09:17

Depends on the town. In my town (really a large village) the 'main' road is only really a through road to two other villages, so it wouldn't put me off as it's never busy. Similarly, very few people have a driveway or garage here, and there are lots of lovely semis, so house 2 would be a very normal house. But you know your town and area better. I'd want to know more about the social club before committing to house 2 though!

Original poster
whichkindof · 20/03/2025 09:17

We have three children and reason for moving is a lack of bedrooms. Wouldn’t use all as bedrooms, just 4.
the road out of town is a 30mph and the drive is large and set back from the road with wide pavements.
second house right on the street but a quiet road.

OP posts:
Seawolves · 20/03/2025 09:17

If I had to choose it would be house 1 but ideally I would keep looking.

Cabbagefamily · 20/03/2025 09:19

House 2.
no one has drives or garages where I live and it’s fine. But it’ll depend on the area.
I also live next door to one converted into flats - also fine.

Original poster
whichkindof · 20/03/2025 09:21

It has a permit with the property. I really like both, second one is lovely and very in keeping with the style of the property, all original flooring which I love about it !
first one has more land but smaller rooms and we’d have to extend !

OP posts:
Makebettermen · 20/03/2025 09:22

Location is the obvious answer but neither of these sound great. Detached is on a main road, semi is close to a social club and attached to a houseshare.

On that basis I'd go for the detached, which TBH I'd sacrifice some location for anyway.

Twiglets1 · 20/03/2025 09:22

whichkindof · 20/03/2025 09:17

We have three children and reason for moving is a lack of bedrooms. Wouldn’t use all as bedrooms, just 4.
the road out of town is a 30mph and the drive is large and set back from the road with wide pavements.
second house right on the street but a quiet road.

It’s still a 6 bed 3 storey house which most people would consider too big for an average family of 4 or 5. Completely your choice naturally but I think you might struggle with resale. Most people prefer smaller houses with more outside space for a garage or drive if possible.

BarnacleBeasley · 20/03/2025 09:26

I only have two kids and would love to have a 6 bedroom house. DP and I both work from home sometimes, and with four beds we have to share our study (not great for calls) and we don't have a spare room for guests. As long as it's got enough bathrooms (but that's a different thread)...

its2025 · 20/03/2025 09:28

Completely depends if you have the budget for renovations on house 1. If you do go for that one. If you dont - personally I'd keep looking. No way I'd live next door to a house share (could it be a HMO??!) and also opposite a social club - the evening chuck out time could be noisy.

The detached one sounds a bit better I wouldn't be put off by the road if it's set back like you describe. Could you still walk to shops/schools from there?? But if you can't afford to make it big enough and nice enough for you I wouldn't buy that one either.

SerenaSemolena · 20/03/2025 09:30

Keep looking.

Lavenderflower · 20/03/2025 09:31

I would buy the second - but being a Londoner may be skewing my perspective. I prefer period property and I rather have the extra space.

aliceinawonderland · 20/03/2025 09:31

Is the Victorian house three storeys with proper rooms on the second floor, or do they have sloping ceilings?

MiddleAgedDread · 20/03/2025 09:32

Neither unless you could convince me about the road. I wouldn't want a house that doesn't have off-road parking or a garage / large shed and definitely wouldn't want to live next door to a HMO.

Lavenderflower · 20/03/2025 09:32

I personally would never buy a property on the main road. A lack of drive is not a big deal.

FloppySarnie · 20/03/2025 09:35

I’d go for house 1 BUT only if you afford it. Work out how much the renovations would cost. I don’t like the sound of the location of the other at all - sorry - more potential for noise and disruption there.

BruisedNeckMeat · 20/03/2025 09:37

Neither sound ideal. Most people in the market for a 6 bed will not want a semi-detached, especially next door to a HMO. You are potentially going to be living next door to a revolving door of people. Having just read a long thread about the impact of neighbour noise I would never choose this over a detached house.