When buying a house, what factors are important (e.g. off-road parking, character, a large kitchen)?

[mumma24]

Obviously all are good but which are the main gor you when looking to buy a house

1. off road parking
2. property with character
3. garage
4. not overlooked
5. quiet road
6. spacious rooms
7. good size garden

snd which would you rule out?
for example you wouldn’t consider a bungalow, something with no kerb appeal, it was overlooked or had no off road parking?
Would love to know your thoughts on this

Last move was

Cat friendly
(Spave for) dream kitchen
Adaptability for downstairs living if necessary
Flood risk
Space for home office (although how we achieved this changed from original plans)
Large garden
Two loos
Space for guests

Not in any particular order but : off road parking, a kitchen large enough to actually cook in (not just plate up in), storage space (or blank walls big enough to put storage units on) and enough parking on the road for visitors (and for neighbours cars).

ETA - forgot the most important things! More than 1 road in and out and every turn (so peninsulas, or dead ends) due to the fire risks here.

Location is number one. I’d be willing to compromise on most things, accepting I probably don’t have the budget for a house that ticks all the boxes. The house we bought 12 months ago is the right location, lovely size, enough rooms for everyone and home office, nice sized garden but the parking is not ideal.

an odd question: that’s different for all of us and at different times life stages!

without understanding the purpose of your post, if you are looking for a home, I’d suggest views lots of styles and sizes and specs on budget and in different locations. You will find your “must haves” and your “nice to haves” change through this process. There will always be be compromise.

Detached
Quiet neighbours (would love next to cemetary)
Would love a bungalow
Inside space - big rooms
Not bothered about garden
Dont drive so not bothered about parking
No where near schools

Location and neighbourhood amenities - cafes, shops, green spaces etc
Space.
Original features/character
Quiet Road.
Garden.
Aspect.

Not off the road parking or garage as those aren’t often available in the areas of London I prefer.

I don’t see the point of cafes near my house.

Has to be within walking distance of a shop where I can get basics.

Has to be within walking distance of a train station and bus stops.

Non-negotiables:
Right price range.
Number of double bedrooms.
Location.
Some outdoor space for the cat so either a house, or a ground-floor apartment.
Off street parking.

I just bought my first house two years ago and that was my non-negotiable list. And we’ve ended up with a house that is really too small so we won’t be here forever, but you’ve got to compromise somewhere. As a bonus, I got an absolutely amazing sea view so that might go on my list of non-negotiables for next time :-)

South-facing garden important to me

I do, to meet friends etc without having to drive.

We looked at one property and bought it, for us it was size, value for money, location. Moved in 4 weeks ago after an 8 week sale period and it's bliss

It can depend on the time of life you are buying. Getting our first home for us was affordability and in hindsight it should have been location. Our current house was location, near good public transport links and amenities, I wanted to be somewhere where we could be car free if needed, three bedrooms and a decent garden and off street parking for two cars. We now need four bedrooms but absolutely insane prices currently where I am so we are building over our garage which we have already converted into a playroom(as have most of our neighbours) .

Well my elderly neighbours don't see being near the excellent Secondary school as an advantage.... but find the nearby bus stop very handy. Everyone has different needs.

Not really most of those, we moved recently and ours were:
-Location: within safe walking distance of current schools
-short walking distance of public transport
-the 2nd bedroom not a fire risk
-Private, enclosed garden of any size. We compromised on this in the end but it's a priority for next time

For us it was…
-location
-4-5 bed
-at least 2 reception rooms
-downstairs loo
-small garden(I don’t want another job!)
-no open fire or stove- modern heating system. -A2W or similar- high energy efficiency rating.
-new and clean lines.
-off road parking for two cars.

got it all so we are happy 🙌

Proximity to coastline. South facing garden. Off road parking.

Location
Parking

After that I'm based on budget and my interest in doing work on things that you can change.

I used to live in the centre of a small town, being a short walk home after going to the cinema/shops/theatre/swimming/school etc was fantastic.

Now I can walk to fields and the church, we do have a seasonal cafe though and a pub that opens on the evenings (both involved walking uphill though)

Off road parking was of no importance to me - but mainly because I wanted a victorian property in a central location (able to walk everywhere) and they rarely have driveways. Ditto the garage.

Cafes - well I like the community feel and amenities of a place. I can walk to a nice neighbourhood shop, go and work in a cafe, meet friends, go swimming, to the cinema, independent shops all without needing to drive. I can be in the centre of London for galleries and theatre in 40 minutes. Or be walking on the Heath 20 minutes away.

So more a cafe culture- I get that.

@DisforDarkChocolate Im a Londoner & grew up 5mins walk from a good high street. I can’t not have that so would always chose that over a bigger house where you have to drive to everything.

We have had so many different motivations for moving in the past.

Our first house was entirely dictated by where we could use Help to Buy and get on the ladder.

Our next house was where we could afford 3 beds and raise small children - near GP, library, playgroups, public transport.

Our next house was centred around secondary school catchment with the ability to walk to primary and secondary independently, and non negotiable was safe and quiet with lots of access to outside space so dc could bike ride, climb trees, play out with friends and have a trampoline etc in the garden. For this reason we ended up in an estate with a 90s newbuild which is not my thing at all, but ticked all the dc related goals and provided a wonderful stable base for them to grow up.

Our next move will be a combined move to somewhere with annex type accomodation for aging parents and this time we will have zero interest in schools but a real focus on public transport and services, so young adult dc can zip back and forth and easily find jobs when home from uni, and parents no.lomger driving can have some independence and see a GP/dentist etc easily.

I would love character and kerb appeal and a private cottagey garden but it's never been pragmatic to have that outweigh other considerations.

I wouldn’t have character property on a list - having done older property and new property - I would do for a newer well ventilated warm easy to maintain property every time.
Things like wooden windows are a nightmare.