House A or House B

[tangledzebra]

Hi everyone,

I need some help and advice please. I have two different houses that I like and I can’t decide between the two. I have done pros and cons list, scored them on different areas such as (location, layout etc) and they came out equal!! I keep flip flopping and would feel sad and happy which ever once I choose. Can you help. I am a FTB, who often makes impulsive decisions so really want to think this through.

sorry if this is long but I wanted to include all points.

House A

• The house I had always hoped I would live in
• Dream garden but only has front wrap around (this isn’t an issue to me)
• Overlooks grass woodland area
• Close to villages I love.
• Would have to drive everywhere- village only has 1 coop
• i don’t have many friends (recently moved from hometown) where I currently live and moving here could make me even more isolated
• Potentially to make amazing
• epc rating of f because there is no gas to village, currently runs on gas lpg central heating and wood burner in one room. Would need to factor possibly putting in a new air pump
• Requires new bathroom and kitchen - although liveable.
• Requires redec, painting and carpet throughout - although liveable
• Is on for £260k but I ‘think’ I could get it for £250/240.
• Is quite remote- has a bus into main city but not frequently and takes an hour.
• I wfh but I occasionally travel around the uk - once every two weeks? Adds an hour onto whatever journey I would need to make.
• It would be me and my teenage daughter living there, she would love to live there but it would impact on her going to uni- she would want to do open uni but it would be quite isolating for her. She is a homebody
• The light in the house is amazing
• Unsure how much structural upkeep house has had.
• Houses take a while to sell there- this house has been on for two years due to lack of gas
• South facing house
• Seller wants to move about 3 hours away to be close to family so could potentially take a while due to being able to visit potential properties
• i am a single parent working two jobs so not much spare time but love interior/ and making things cosy

House B

• Very close to where we currently live.
• Location is great and very convenient - close to city, train, shops,
• Has had some renovation and redecoration to a high standard and to my taste ie sanded floors to a high standard that have been filled - no gaps. Walls have been replastered, new thick skirting boards, new roof.
• Lovely new kitchen and bathroom
• Amazing feature fireplace.
• Lovely flow to house and light
• Separate brick converted outbuilding with power and heating so I can wfh.
• Front garden which they have made private with plants/ bushes so has a little table out front.
• Back garden is currently concrete so I would want to dig that up and lay turf and flower beds.
• House is in v popular area and they sell v quickly.
• Living area downstairs is smaller than house a, upstairs feels similar size.
• Price is on for £325 but they would accept £300k for quick sale
• Seller hasn’t found anywhere but is v keen to progress

which one would you choose?

House B, hands down. Practically it just makes more sense and still sounds lovely.

House B. While you sound happy with both houses, you have listed far more downsides for house A so perhaps indicates where your head is.

I have done pros and cons list, scored them on different areas such as (location, layout etc) and they came out equal!!
I don't understand. They are so very different, how can they be equal?
It sounds like heart (A) versus head (B).

hi - you had me at house A point 1 "the house id always hope id live in" - if this is your dream, go for it x

House B for your daughter.

House A every time

B and then move to A when your daughter has moved out.

A doesn’t sound great for your daughter.

So house B is obviously the “right” answer objectively, so the fact you are stuck probably means house A is the one you really want- so if you’re being honest with yourself about the shortcomings and you really can live with them without too many issues I’d go with that one.

House B for your daughter's sake, plus it sounds like you'd have less to do once you move in and also more convenient in terms of access to everything. Although I love the sound of house A being in the countryside I think the realities of living there would be less appealing after a while.. can you post links to properties?

@senua sorry, I wasn’t clear. They didn’t come out equal on each point. They both ‘won’ the same amount of points ie kerb appeal - house A, convenance - house B

It is very much heart vs mind but both are still lovely.

it seems that the advice is mixed.

I was thinking the same, perhaps house A is further down the line.

Agree with this pp too isolating for dc at the moment

House B without a doubt

Absolutely house B.

thank you everyone for replying. This is really helpful. It seems that those who think House B are very clear on House B, whereas those who think House A are suggesting it because that’s my dream.

That's sort of my point. You seem to have given equal weighting to (for example) kerb appeal and convenience. You need to decide which of the factors are more important.

House B hands down

House B as the lifestyle and living would be more restful & peaceful

not having to drive the children everywhere, cheaper supermarket, more opportunities to make friends, not having to renovate and all these things make for more time, can’t buy time

house a will be expensive to run, heating, insulation m, renovating, higher food costs, less time as every trip will eat 40 minutes into your time, fire in house lung hazard

but I’m all for making life easier

B for sure. A sounds like a money pit and too isolating.

Definitely House B.

House A would be expensive to run and renovate, isolating and is very. over priced if it hasn't sold in 2 years on the market.

Anpther vote for B. Especially at teenage stage it's hard to live in a more isolated area. We moved when ours were teenagers due to this

Thank you everyone. The advice is very useful, it’s hard when you are in it and are dreaming about what ‘could be’.

@senua you are right, I do need to give more weight to areas. I started to do this and my head felt like it would explode so wanted some ‘neutral’ advice as I felt like I was biased.

House B without a doubt.
House A sounds very isolating for you both. Renovations are expensive financially & emotionally (& it's really hard to find people to do the work). You already work 2 jobs.
My homebody DC hates it when there are workmen around.
The driving everywhere would soon become very tiresome & limiting.

Both houses sound nice. So up to you. I wouldn't like living in the middle of nowhere. But some folk do.