Is the house worth the commute?

[matilda1077]

Went to view our dream home earlier this afternoon. It is everything we are looking for, plus a huge garden. It is well under our budget too. The only box it doesn’t tick, is the location. The area itself is lovely, but it’s around 35 minutes from where I am now, where my daughters school is quite literally up the road.

My DD is in year 1 and had a rough start to school and has finally settled, so I don’t want to move her and make her start all over again. I would have to commute, which would add another 35/40 mins to our journey to & from school, and involves motorway driving which is often gridlocked.

I would also have to give up WFH and work from the office full time, as I wouldn’t be able to make the timings work.

Has anybody got any advice on moving to another area and making the commute? Was it worth it?

I wouldn't buy this house. It's going to make your life much less convenient.

This sounds like too many compromises to me.

I wouldn’t buy this house if you’re set on not moving your DD to a local school.

Is your work office near the current school and that’s why you’d have to give up wfh (to save the return journeys for pick up)?

If a school move would also mean you could keep wfh then I’d take the house and move the school place. Your DD might struggle a bit in the short term, but the long term benefits for the whole family could be enormous, and your DD will settle at the new school. I’d probably do the commute to make the change of schools land in September or January.

If it’s your dream house then go for it. Here is always a compromise and if that’s it for the e enrichment this will bring you then just do it. In time DD may get comfortable with the new area and want to move school anyway. X

In your shoes not a chance. The journey will often be longer, especially if even more people are required to be in an office more days a week for no real business reason (except to force more to leave if reduced staff is wanted).

I also wouldn’t buy the house. When we moved into our current house DC had 6 months left at nursery, which he loved, so I drove 2 hours (30 minutes each way, twice a day) every day so he wouldn’t have to move. I didn’t realise how much I hated it until he started school (which is walking distance - so nice!). It was only bearable because I knew it would only be for 6 months.

@HappyAsASandboyyes, my office, house and DDs school is all within 5 minutes of each other at the moment. I wouldn’t be able to make it from the new house, to school and back to begin work on time. WFH just wouldn’t be feasible anymore.

she’s been through so much settling into school due to bullying in her class, I had her moved classes and she loves it now and has so many friends. I don’t think I could unsettle her with the upheaval x

If you buy the house and don’t her school now she will be at risk of not being able to go to the same secondary school as her friends.

Wouldn’t buy this house.

It’s not really your dream house then as there are too many life compromises that you are likely to regret.

Could you look for co-working spaces near your daughter’s school?

I often work from one near my son’s nursery if I’m running late to get back to start WFH, then get myself back when I have a lull between meetings. Obviously will depend on the nature of your job though.

Another house will come up OP 🙂.

it’s good to see lots, as it helps you to understand what you need and want. So this one has shown you that location is critical to you.

Not a chance I would buy this house.

I would buy it but plan to move schools at a natural break point. My dc do not even remember their first primary from yr 1 at all.

I think location is part of a dream house to be honest, and it will just become too stressful and make the rest of your life worse. I would wait for another suitable house to come up nearby.

No don’t buy, too inconvenient, no way i’d be including a busy motorway in my daily commute.

No.

It's not your dream house with so many mitigating factors to consider.

I'd get the house and move daughters school. Yeah it'll be a bit unsettling but realistically who remembers much of their life from that ago? Kids are super adaptable. I moved schools a couple of times when I was primary age, and literally remember very little about the swaps, you just move on, make new friends and all is well.

Why do you want to move house?

Sounds like life would be awful!

It can't be a dream house if it messes up your life.

Do they change your daughter's classes every year?

She's made friends again, I promise you it's the easiest age to love and like others day she can make friends then for the king haul

Or compromise and pick a less perfect house for the location

No way. Location is key. If you could move school it would work but this doesn't match your lifestyle and needs.

Location, location, location.

Your daughter is unlikely to get into the same secondary school as her friend if you’re out of catchment.

I wouldn’t buy this house.

The one thing about a house that you can't change is its location. This one sounds inconvenient for your life, so perhaps it is not your dream home.