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Original poster

would you buy a house with no garden (if you had a 5yr old and a 2yr old)

42 replies

JackiePaper · 22/07/2009 20:08

have seen a beautiful house, in the middle of the countryside, really lovely but it has no garden.
dh thinks we could manage but i'm not convinced. Would it be really difficult?

OP posts:
RorysRacingMa · 22/07/2009 20:09

no

plimple · 22/07/2009 20:10

I wouldn't, but I'm not you. Decide what you think is best and stand your ground!

LoveMyGirls · 22/07/2009 20:10

I wouldn't.

No bbq's? No where for the dc's to play unless you take them out somewhere.

Of course your dh thinks you'll manage, because it won't be him having to do the managing will it?

whooosh · 22/07/2009 20:12

Don't do it!

RealityIsGettingMarried · 22/07/2009 20:14

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Message withdrawn

ComeOVeneer · 22/07/2009 20:14

NO

myredcardigan · 22/07/2009 20:16

No way. I have a 5yr old, 3yr old and 1yr old and they spend almost all their free time in the garden.

But then I would choose smaller house+bigger garden over bigger house+smaller garden.

Gardens are so important at that age. Being close to a park is not the same as they can't just run out and safely explore and climb tress.

Yurtgirl · 22/07/2009 20:18

No

VinoEsmeralda · 22/07/2009 20:19

No, never ever, agree with redcardigan

Tambajam · 22/07/2009 20:20

If it's in the middle of the countryside I would first investigate whether there's any adjoining land available to buy. Farmers may be up for selling a bit of field and you could create the dream garden.

I wouldn't do it otherwise.

Original poster
JackiePaper · 22/07/2009 20:23

yes you're all right aren't you.

this is the house.
buying a pice of field might be an option, how would i go about finding our who owns the land?

OP posts:
Fimbo · 22/07/2009 20:29

It looks a lovely house, but is right on a road too?

Fimbo · 22/07/2009 20:30

Is there anything you could do with the garage, as it says it is quite large, could you perhaps halve it to gain some ground?

Lilyloo · 22/07/2009 20:32

I wouldn't we renovated a house which was lovely , but virtually no garden.
It irritated me when we were pre dc , afterwards we sold!
I wouldn't no

Original poster
JackiePaper · 22/07/2009 20:32

the road it fronts onto is private and only used to access 5 houses so that doesn't bother me really, not sure about the garage it's not clear on the details where it is. will go and have a look and maybe have a chat to the neighbours to see if they know who owns the field over the road

OP posts:
mrsjammi · 22/07/2009 20:32

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Yurtgirl · 22/07/2009 20:33

I agree that is lovely - but that is in large part because of the gorgeous furniture etc in it atm - with my stuff it wouldnt look nearly so nice

I dont think that is a good buy for that price (well over twice what the average house in my area costs) plus no garden

Id keep hunting

HerHonesty · 22/07/2009 20:35

is there any space opposite or around it? so, eg. my friend has small garden but lives opposite the most enormous village green, which is wonderful.

DONT buy a house thinking you may be able to buy some land. some friends did this and never managed to buy the land in question and ended up selling house for a loss because of lack of outside space.

Original poster
JackiePaper · 22/07/2009 20:37

the space around it is just fields and fields and more fields, so no playground or village green type thing. it's a no goer really isn't it.

OP posts:
francagoestohollywood · 22/07/2009 20:41

Most people in most big cities manage without a garden! It is doable! Children go to the park and make friends.

I'd buy a house without a garden, yes

MaybeAfterBreakfast · 22/07/2009 20:49

No!

HerHonesty · 22/07/2009 20:49

but most people in big cities live in flats. even most city houses have some sort of usable outside space...

yes, jp, i sort of think it is. if it isnt space they can just tumble out into. sorry...

happywomble · 22/07/2009 20:52

No don't buy it...it would be no fun for your children having no garden to let off steam in after school.

Surely it would be better to have a 3 bed house with a garden. I couldn't think of anything more frustrating than moving to the country and having no garden.

gomez · 22/07/2009 20:54

Where is the private drive? How big? Could you gate that and use as outside space?

MrsEricBana · 22/07/2009 20:55

Sorry to be negative, but definitely don't do it. We bought our house with tiny courtyard garden before dc (now have 8yr old ds and 6 yr old dd) and they have spent their whole childhood bouncing off the walls even though I take them out to park, walks etc all the time and I honestly feel they have lost out and it has made my life harder than if we'd had a dif house/garden. Dh says don't be stupid, loads of children grow up perfectly happily in flats, which of course is true, but we had option to move but chose not to and I do regret it. I spent my whole childhood on swing, digging in borders, on spacehopper (yes I am ancient!) and they just haven't experienced that at all and I feel that their childhood has been quite controlled as they could never just run around outside.