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Original poster

House A or House B

68 replies

tangledzebra · 06/04/2025 08:28

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
tangledzebra · 06/04/2025 08:55

@bumsntums My homebody dc also hates when workmen are around.

OP posts:
boobashka · 06/04/2025 08:57

House B without a doubt. Sounds lovely.

FaceOrf · 06/04/2025 08:59

House B obviously!

Nettleskeins · 06/04/2025 09:04

B. Your daughter not wanting work done is a factor.
However, just because house B appears to need no work is no guarantee that it might not have hidden defects
What about more of a fixer upper with a bigger garden in B area? Getting rid of the concrete is going to be a lot of work in B if your aim is to have more of a garden

Original poster
tangledzebra · 06/04/2025 09:04

This has really helped my thinking. Thank you mumsnet and everyone for posting

OP posts:
NewsdeskJC · 06/04/2025 09:07

House B
We had similar choice 8 years ago. We went B and thought we would move again but tbh, being able to walk to shops/pub/doctors and good transport links is kinda hard to give up.
We also realised with our choice A that if either of us couldn't drive or car packed up we would be utterly stuck.
It also sounds like your A needs a ton of work which is really hard to get decent trades.

PrincessOfPreschool · 06/04/2025 09:07

YABU to post a choice without a Rightmove link!

sixtiesbaby88 · 06/04/2025 09:10

Definitely house B!

Peekingovertheparapet · 06/04/2025 09:12

I grew up rurally, somewhere people love to holiday (I’m here now actually, in a holiday rental overlooking an iconic beach). I never ever thought I would end up living in a city, always thought I would want rural life.

As an adult, the things I value are so so different. I live in a medium sized city in the South of England, a nice/desirable area with decent greenspace and good walking access to the shops, good transport links.

as much as I love being here, I’m not sure I could move now - the things I love as a visitor would drive me mad as a permanent relative. Things in the town are so expensive, supermarkets are far away, and at home I can walk to Lidl or Waitrose. Urban life gives more options overall.

Ciaroscuro · 06/04/2025 09:13

Agree B. I have a mid 20s kid who is stuck at home, after a mental health crisis a couple of years ago. If we had lived in an isolated spot I don't know how I could have supported their recovery. As it is, they gradually began walking to corner shop, then McDonald's, local park etc.

I wouldn't want to facilitate teen isolation in someone with tendencies in that direction, not in this day and age.

Chewbecca · 06/04/2025 09:14

B
A sounds like a headache of a house in an inconvenient location with few pros tbh.

Ecocool · 06/04/2025 09:15

Without question B. I'd absolutely hate to be stuck somewhere that I was dependent on a car so that ruled A out for me instantly.

Freedom is being able to walk rather than drive.

PrincessOfPreschool · 06/04/2025 09:17

What does your DD think of the two? How far off is she from uni? Could/ would she learn to drive?

Concrete will be very difficult to remove in the back garden. Maybe get a quote on that and see how important a garden is to you.

I moved to a house lovely on the inside and plenty of room, but not great on outside space and definitely not my dream. 10 years later I still don't love it. It has pros and it's a roof over our heads but it's not made me happy.

SheridansPortSalut · 06/04/2025 09:20

With a teenager, the deciding factor for me would be

  • Location is great and very convenient - close to city, train, shops,
Original poster
tangledzebra · 06/04/2025 09:33

I’ve had a look at the cost of removing concrete and it doesn’t seem like it would be too expensive. I have side access to the garden so that would help, rather than having to go through the house.

buying a house in house b area with a nicer garden and an outside space for office would put me out of budget.

My daughter currently attends online school after a mental health crisis, she is only just coming out of the end of it and I wouldn’t want to isolate her anymore. She loves the idea of living remotely but I don’t think that is the best option for her. Staying close to the centre she has choice, even if she doesn’t take up that choice

She is 16,17 in the summer, currently doing GCSEs (she went back a year) so is close to learning to drive but there is the cost of that, plus car/insurance etc.

OP posts:
Mumlaplomb · 06/04/2025 09:52

Anotjer Vote for house B. I think house A sounds too remote particularly for your daughter. My parents moved very rurally and I stayed with them after uni and during the holidays and I remember it being very inconvenient and isolating having to drive everywhere and a very long commute to do a post grad course in the nearest city.
Life would’ve been much easier if we had lived nearer the train station/somewhere with better transport links.

Marbledwhite · 06/04/2025 09:59

House B for physical and mental health. It's not good to have to drive everywhere.

And improving the heating in house A might not be easy at all.

Gloschick · 06/04/2025 10:25

Another vote for house B. Renovations are expensive at the moment. I'm not convinced A isn't selling just to do with the lack of gas. That is pretty standard in villages. There is probably a lot of work to do which won't be fun to arrange on your own. Yes, house A is your dream, but also has more potential to become your nightmare.

Guavafish1 · 06/04/2025 10:26

b especially in financial climate

MrsMoastyToasty · 06/04/2025 10:30

Or House C, when one comes onto the market.

In the meantime, House B with a House A move at a later date when DC has moved out.

Yoursselfmysselfandotherss · 06/04/2025 10:32

B

LlynTegid · 06/04/2025 10:33

House B for me. As I wfh two days a week.

gottakeeponmoving · 06/04/2025 10:41

Which house makes you smile?

I think it’s probably A?

Houses aren’t forever if you don’t want them to be so I would pick A and give it a chance.

Halfemptyhalfling · 06/04/2025 10:45

House a as in a remote village potentially easier to make friends. Now is the time for dream house beiyou get too old. But I would strongly recommend your daughter goes to a live in uni. Terms are only a few weeks and then she can come back in the holidays to somewhere lovely. She could really do with the life experience.

MinnieMeee · 06/04/2025 10:51

When I was a teenager my parents moved into House A. I found it isolating and couldn’t wait to move out. They came to regret it too. The last bus was at 7:30, I had to drive to meet friends, if I broke down I was on pitch black country roads, it was remote and lonely, oil was delivered to heat it. Occasionally I drive past it now and am glad I no longer live there.
House B, OP. It has umpteen plus points and is a good investment.