Buy a house without a proper garden or keep looking?

[xmxtom]

Hi,

This house is ticking a lot of boxes for my needs, central location, close to amenities, close to both train stations.
Of course the major issue is the lack of a 'normal' (even very small) garden.
I don't even like gardening and don't have children however I still have these second thoughts because in the future I may have issues selling due to this very reason.
This was sold for months and is back on the market for some reasons.

Would you go with such a setup or should I look somewhere else with a more 'standard' setup?

Thanks!

I think it's lovely. The courtyard space could be made more attractive. I wouldn't buy somewhere with no outside space but a little courtyard is fine.

I think it depends on your expectation. It has a back yard, which many city centre terraces have. I live in one and while I didn't mind it when I moved in, I'm at a life stage now where I would actually like a bit of a garden.

However, houses on my street sell within minutes of going up for sale, so I assume they're still popular.

No garden would bother me, as like you I’ve no kids and it’s enough space to put an airer out.

I think you could make it beautiful. Some beautiful flooring, raised beds, outdoor lights, stylish outdoor furniture. You could make it a proper extension of the lovely interior.

www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/outdoor-living/small-backyard-ideas

You won't be the only one who doesn't like gardening and/or who doesn't have children so I don't see that as an issue for re-sale. There will be plenty of people like you looking for the things you like about this property.

Re: sold and then back on the market: probably the chain collapsed somehwere. I don't think that's related this property per se.

its a lovely house and the courtyard/garden wouldn’t bother me BUT I’m not keen that it’s street side so anyone walking passed can see you sitting out there

It wouldn’t bother me at all, what would and why I wouldn’t even view it is because of the open plan lounge / kitchen, and - even worse - is that the house is on a main road.

I agree with others that you could add more plants to the courtyard to make it more private and green- IF you wanted to.

The biggest issue for me would be having to traipse up and down stairs all day to get to a loo, carry laundry etc.

The kitchen and the living room are on two different floors.

For me it's the odd layout of the house that would put me off, and the fact that a significant living area is in a basement, where the view is a brick wall and the lights have to be on during the daytime. For re-sale purposes, it wouldn't be a family home, you'd be looking at a professional single/couple.

Although you could make the courtyard nicer, you can't change the fact that it's dark and small.

Not for me, that one. Lovely as it is inside, I couldn't be doing with such a small space outside, and I can't help suspecting that parking might be something of an issue.

I believe that is on the back. The plan is confusing but for me looking from above with Google Maps it looks that there are two back to back houses and this one is facing north towards the parking area.

The listing mentions courtyard garden at front and rear on one photo you can see the steps to front door. Listing also says an allocated parking space.

Oh yes indeed.
I am assuming that having doors on both sides each semi has its own access?
The first picture is showing the door on the back where the parking is.

It looks lovely, but are all those blinds disguising the fact that you're looking out of the window at walls?

courtyard has a lot of potential even if you did have kids in the future.

canopy can sort that with some lighting options in a summer evening.

The pavers are green with mould - I don’t think this courtyard gets much sun

Is it just that void/basement area at the front of the house? Whilst you could make it attractive to look out onto from the kitchen using plants and styling, I doubt you would sit in it often because it will never get the sun as it's very deep and narrow and I can see the pavers are green, suggesting it's in shade all the time. Plus I wouldn't like people peering down at me or potentially throwing their rubbish over from the street above. I think the layout of the house over several floors is more likely to limit your resale than outdoor space, but it depends how it compares to similarly priced town centre properties. It certainly has lots of space.

The house is lovely and if it was more or less what I wanted, I would go and look at it.
I think from your post, you haven't been to see it?
It might make it more clear if you want to proceed when you see the outside space and if it is good enough for you.

I think something could be made of the courtyard but I think you would need to be hot on annual or twice annual treatment for mould, as is commonly the case in gardens with less sun. Good in summer when you want shade.

Correct, I didn't view it yet.

From the advertisement I understand that is has both front and back courtyard.
In the pictures it is very clear that they are showing only the back for whatever reason...

I think at least one photo is the front courtyard as the floor plan shows the double patio doors are out of the kitchen area to the street side of the house, not the dining end which has a window, and I think the same metal wall ornament can be seen through the blinds looking out?

Worth thinking about the orientation of the courtyard. Does it get any sun? I would think about that re lower ground floor generally.

But it looks like a lovely house and if the space is enough for you it will be enough for future buyers too.