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Original poster

Would you buy a house with an east facing garden?

45 replies

Mammina · 04/03/2009 13:56

DH has found a nice house but it has an east facing garden. I almost don't want to see it in case I fall in love with it bec I think an east facing garden would bother me. Are they really that bad? I am not a gardner by any means (in fact, the last time I had a garden was when I was a child), but really look forward to eating/lounging in the garden etc when the weather's nice.

OP posts:

bran · 04/03/2009 13:59

It depends how long the garden is, if it's long enough for the bottom to be out of the house's shadow then you will still be able to sit in the sun in the evenings.

On the other hand if most of the living area is by the garden then the rooms might be a bit colder than they otherwise would be as they won't get any evening sun.

Original poster

Mammina · 04/03/2009 14:02

it's about 40 foot long at a guess. DH said they have a table and chairs at the bottom of the garden which suggests that the sun does reach there...?
Kitchen is by the garden, lounge is at the front

OP posts:

offwetrot · 04/03/2009 14:03

Yes I would, but the price should be lower. If you can afford more, and can wait, then don't offer. But if its a good deal and you have few options in the current climate then think of all the hot summers you would miss...um, yeah, that would be how many?!

bran · 04/03/2009 14:06

It will probably be quite usable then. Best thing to do would be to go round a couple of times a different times of the day, preferably when it's not too overcast and see whether you think you can live with it.

I wouldn't mind it at all, but then I'm not keen on direct sunlight and would be much happier sitting in the shade on a hot day.

Your evenings wouldn't be as long as if you had a west facing garden because the sun will sink below the roofline of the house earlier, but if it's 40ft long you would definitely be able to eat an evening meal in the sun for most of the summer. Of course that assumes that we actually have some sun this summer.

PestoMonster · 04/03/2009 14:07

Hello Migola! I felt the same as you when I was house-hunting many moons ago, until I found the one that we live in now. I very nearly didn't even bother to come and look at it, but I'm so glad we did. The house is lovely but I was so concerned about the lack of sun in the garden. Anyway, the garden isn't super large, but in the summer it does still get the sun at the end until the evening. In fact, it is better with children, because you get a beautifully sunny rear garden all morning and then by late lunchtime the patio gets the shade and you can eat out in the cool. It was a boon when the dds were younger too, as I positioned their sandpit on the patio by the back door, knowing that they would be out of the sun in the afternoons. Perfect!

Now that my dds are older and play out the front, I have a sort of 'lovers bench' thing in the front garden. Like two wooden chairs attached to a small table between them. It is the perfect spot to have a cup of tea/glass of wine in the afternoon or evening and also keep an eye on them.

So, the moral of the story is, 'don't dismiss a house with an East-facing rear garden!'

Original poster

Mammina · 04/03/2009 14:11

ha ha that was exactly my thought - how many bloomin sunny days do we actually get in a year?!
Was definitely thinking of offering lower as it's as expensive as the houses on the other side of the road. We can't afford more, but I guess we can wait, it's just a case of how long until a house on the right side of the road comes up. According to DH the house is a little bigger than the others we've seen on the same street (and neighbouring streets) so it's a toss up bet. slightly more space or sunny garden..

OP posts:

moshie · 04/03/2009 14:11

I'd visit in the afternoon to see what time the garden loses the sun, it's my biggest complaint about this house that I get no sunshine in the lovely summer evenings as the sun disappears over the roof too early.

mistlethrush · 04/03/2009 14:17

I've moved from one to another - old house was more of a problem as it was only about 20' so the sun had gone behind the house by mid afternoon - however, it was quite nice sitting on the front door step instead. Now our house has a much longer garden so we have no problem - nice spot half way down that keeps the sun all day - and the patio by the back of the house does get shaded earlier which is better for sitting out for longer periods if/when it is hot.

Original poster

Mammina · 04/03/2009 14:22

Hi pesto, thanks. That's a very good point about the DCs. It's not like I have a lie in during the mornings anymore so would make the most of the sun, plus on a hot day you wouldn't have to bother with slapping on the suntan lotion!
No front garden as such though, just an ornamental one - I did think maybe I could put a little bench but I would almost be on the pavement!

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mistlethrush · 04/03/2009 15:03

Migola - would that mean that you would have a lovely sunny front room?

Original poster

Mammina · 04/03/2009 15:04

yes I suppose it would.. (DH said it was very bright even on an overcast day)

OP posts:

ChippyMinton · 04/03/2009 15:10

Mine faces east. It gets the sun all day, has a cool shaded patio in the afternoons, and evening sun at the bottom. I'd prefer a bit more evening sun, but the garden stays warm anyway because the back of the house is soaking up the heat all day.

Piffle · 04/03/2009 15:12

tis a bain for bbq season.... no sun left at grubs up time

Grammaticus · 04/03/2009 15:13

You'll have a sunny kitchen at breakfast time and a sunny lounge all afternoon - think of it like that!

Galava · 04/03/2009 15:14

My back garden faces east.

Its quite large though so there is always somewhere to sit, and there is shade too which I think is always useful.

My kitchen and sun room are east facing too. Thay can get quite cold later on in the day.

tbh the garden doesnt bother me, but if I were to move I would prefer that the kitchen got more sun.

There is always some comprimise to be made though.

mistlethrush · 04/03/2009 15:14

OOoo - and if the kitchen is at the back of the house its really lovely to have breakfast in wtih the sun streaming in in the morning... or watching the sun coming up as we have been over the winter. You see, there are even some positive benefits about having an east facing garden!

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 04/03/2009 15:15

I think my garden faces east. Checks.....yes it does. Its 100ft long and the bottom third of it is still sunny. Top 2/3rds are in shadow.

Original poster

Mammina · 04/03/2009 15:18

all valid points (positives and negatives)
mistlethrush there are french windows off the kitchen so am now imagining myself having breakfast with them open on a sunny day (and then having to put my thermals on in the afternoon!)
ok, will go and see it at least, and then take another view

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 04/03/2009 15:22

No. We're leaving in an east/west facing house now and it loses the sun too early.

I second the suggestion of driving by there at different times to see how the sun moves over the house.

Original poster

Mammina · 04/03/2009 15:28

oh no expat! by too early, what time do you mean

prob is I can't drive by there at different times bec the back garden (i.e. only garden) backs onto another garden, so you can't see it from the road

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 04/03/2009 15:31

Well, you have to remember that I live quite far north and we don't get as much sun as many parts of the UK south of here.

But it's gone by about 2PM here.

Too early, IMO.

edam · 04/03/2009 15:33

Never heard of offering less on a house because the garden faces East! (Wish I'd thought of it when we bought this one...)

Our back garden faces North East, I think. It's only brilliantly sunny on a summer's day from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. But I'm not keen on baking sunlight anyway. However, it does slope up from the house and is not overshadowed by other buildings, so it's sunny enough for me.

mistlethrush · 04/03/2009 15:35

We only lose the sun on our patio by 2pm - so it does depend a lot on the exact circumstances. I would have thought that it would be preferable for BBQ as you'd have the BBQ further from the house (ie at the bottom of the garden) - provided that there remains some sun until later.

You will also need to remember that it varies signficiantly during the year due to the sun's position.

One idea - let the vendors know that this is a concern to you and ask then if they have any photos of the garden taken in the afternoon/early evening when its been sunny...

southeastastra · 04/03/2009 15:35

we only have a little garden and the sun goes at the height of summer at about 4, it's a pita. i have to sit out the front like a saddo .

40ft should be ok though.

sarah293 · 04/03/2009 15:37

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