Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Location, location, location?

21 replies

doradoo · 22/03/2013 10:33

Would you buy a house that was a bit smaller than you'd ideally like, garden/bedrooms etc - didn;t tick all your boxes - purely because the location was FAB?

I've been looking for a house for about 3 years now - and been to view something today - which on paper is the right size (square meterage) is in the right price bracket - has the right number of rooms - and is in a great location.

Inside, it's probably a bit smaller than what our rental is, but workable, but the location would mean we didn't always need to use the car for things, great leisure/transport links and easier for shopping/social.....

But, it doesn't have an eat-in kitchen (my list topper), not 4 proper bedrooms together (another deal breaker) - or so I thought - think my heart might be trying to overrule my head....

I'll post the link - but it's in German (sorry!) house

WWYD?

OP posts:

Report

itstheyearzero · 22/03/2013 10:42

Its lovely.If you are desperate for a kitchen/diner you could always knock the kitchen through into the dining area then put either a wall up or double doors between the sitting room and new kitchen/diner. Is that an option?

MinimalistMommi · 22/03/2013 10:58

I think the house looks beautiful, although the area where the dining table is seems quite dark?

We have moved into a small house, having chosen location over size and while it has taken some adjustment, we are in a great area and a couple of doors down the house are worth over half a million pounds. We don't have to get in the car unless we want to drive out into the country side and with children that is very useful.

If we had moved further out of the city onto a housing estate for example there is no doubt we would have for more house for our money. But the housing estate has an awful reputation and I just couldn't get past that! It does mean we are one bedroom down though but we feel like it is worth it.

CHST · 22/03/2013 10:59

I love German houses (drools.) I used to live in Hamburg and this has made me miss Germany :( that house is lovely. We have a table in our kitchen and to be honest, barely use it. I would say though that location is really important. I love being able to walk most places, it is one of the reasons why I bought when I did. I think you'll always have to compromise on something whatever the budget but I think even in the most perfect house, if the location isn't quite right, you'll always be wishing for it.

CHST · 22/03/2013 10:59

where i did

pinksky · 22/03/2013 11:17

That's a really lovely house! Where we are, we don't have to rely on cars and there are lots of excellent amenities. I think it's fantastic being able to do that and I would pretty much always choose location over house size.

NotGoodNotBad · 22/03/2013 12:45

Houses are nearly always compromises. This one looks lovely.

Can't answer for you as it depends on what is important to you, and what else you can get with your budget. We prioritised more space over location, but on our budget we'd have been looking at postage-stamp flats in a better location (and I don't want a flat again as long as I live!), rather than a lovely house.

doradoo · 22/03/2013 13:05

The more I think about it, the more I seem to want it....

Yes, had already thought about knocking into the dining room from kitchen to open it up - that's the NE corner of the house so will be darker.

It should be plenty big enough - even though it seemed smaller inside it is technically 10sqm bigger...

OK - plan to book second viewing and take the family and let them see if it works for them.

Very excited

OP posts:

fussychica · 22/03/2013 13:16

Looks lovely.

We chose location over size this time - it's not straightforward but if the house is actually big enough but otherwise isn't perfect I'd probably go with it. If you know it's really too small then don't bother. I do get a bit frustrated with my small kitchen but the other rooms are a really good size and I love the location so I put up with it.

nocake · 22/03/2013 15:15

We're currently prioritising location in our house search. It's so important to us that we'll end up paying more than we might if we were prepared to live only a few miles out of town. Being able to walk into town, where we both work, is a massive benefit and we save a huge amount on car running costs.

Yfronts · 22/03/2013 15:55

Lovely house. Just rejig the kitchen so the stove is moved. Then knock through so it's a kitchen diner. Easy.

Or extension?

Jaynebxl · 23/03/2013 07:30

Love it. What's the issue with the bedrooms? Doesn't the description say 5 bedrooms? Are a couple not really useable as bedrooms?

doradoo · 23/03/2013 07:56

the bedrooms are split over the 1st floor and in the cellar - there are 4 upstairs although you need to go through one to get to another IYSWIM - which I thought could work for my 2 boys with a sleeping room and a playroom (theyre 8 & 6 at the mo) then when they were bigger I figured they could have 2 cellar rooms with their own bathroom.

Although they are cellar rooms, as the house is built on a hill they have proper windows so not in cellar but on lower ground floor I suppose.

OP posts:

Jaynebxl · 23/03/2013 08:00

It sounds like a great arrangement. Go for it!

Cosmosim · 23/03/2013 08:35

I always thought I wanted a kitchen/diner til I got one... It's great on our own but I don't like it when we have company over. I have to tidy the kitchen as I cook and it's a pain. I much rather have a good flow between a separate kitchen and dining area without a door, as in this house. You can still chat between the two rooms esp as the stove is so near the table but when you sit down to your meal, you're not looking at a messy counter. Cellar rooms for teen boys? They'll be in heaven!

Mandy21 · 23/03/2013 21:48

Definitely. We could definitely have a bigger house if we lived a few miles down the road but I absolutely love the location and couldn't be happier.

RedHelenB · 24/03/2013 19:02

Don't see the need for an eat in kitchen when you can see the table from the dining room through the doorway. Lovely looking house imo.

imonkey · 27/03/2013 12:31

I'd go for location over the size of the house. Houses can be changed, walls knocked down....extensions built etc. But if you live in a location that you're not happy with then there's nothing you can do about it short of moving.

The house looks lovely :)

doradoo · 27/03/2013 16:58

Update: so we've been to talk to the bank and DH has looked round it but is not 100% convinced - the main living room is causing him furnishing trouble!

I think I want to go for it but it's such a big step - means we definitely wont be coming back to the UK.....(well for at least 10 yrs)

wobble wobble.....

OP posts:

doradoo · 01/04/2013 07:57

Have had our offer accepted and it's been taken off the market! So excited!!!!

OP posts:

MortifiedAdams · 01/04/2013 08:05

Congratulations!!

We have a four street radius for a house (we already live within that radius in a flat so can sit tight til a whole house comes up) so yep, location is top priority for me.

dizzyhoneybee · 03/04/2013 09:38

It looks lovely :)

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.