Pros and Cons of Townhouses

siliconbits

Me and my wife have been discussing whether we need to buy a townhouse or a terraced house. Townhouse she said is too big (no children for now), requires more labour to maintain, difficult for older people and pregnant mothers, looks like a box, would probably cost more to maintain.

I say that it is excellent value for money and has loads of space and character. Both dwellings are within the same price range (TH is £3K cheaper) and apart from the fact that the town house has no front garden. There's not much to differentiate them.

What do you think?

Debt_Free_Chick

Could you perhaps describe or post a link to a photo of what you call a townhouse, please? It could mean different things to different people.

I've lived in a terraced (end-of, Edwardian) house and a townhouse - like this one. Is that what you mean by a Townhouse?

siliconbits

Yes, it is a 2-storeys, detached townhouse

carefullycautious

Im with your wife on this one.

lincroft1710

"Townhouses" are more usually 3 storey and now often have 4 or 5 beds, newbuild townhouses started becoming popular about 10 years ago as land got more expensive, govt wanted more houses built and builders could increase density.

siliconbits

carefullycautious wrote: »

Im with your wife on this one.

I think I have to admit defeat on this one. Will probably have to give up:p

It has 3 storeys rather than 2 but no garage as well.

lynzpower

Does it have a lounge on the first floor

siliconbits

lynzpower wrote: »

Does it have a lounge on the first floor

Yes it has and it is a big one. 19' x 11.5'. The dining room ain't that bad as well.

Lemoncurd

I like our 2 storey '70's built one. Loads of space inside high - ceilings and a bit of character despite being fairly modern, great for our family of 5, covenient location for town living, well insulated (by neighbouring houses) so heating costs are low.
Downsides are smaller garden in relation to size of property and you can hear all the neighbours, espec outside and in summer.

siliconbits

Lemoncurd wrote: »

I like our 2 storey '70's built one. Loads of space inside high - ceilings and a bit of character despite being fairly modern, great for our family of 5, covenient location for town living, well insulated (by neighbouring houses) so heating costs are low.
Downsides are smaller garden in relation to size of property and you can hear all the neighbours, espec outside and in summer.

In our price range, I don't think that we can afford a house with no immediate neighbours anyway. The other proposition we have is a terraced house. The TH on the other side has one immediate neighbour and nothing else. So heating costs might be a tad high.

It doesn't have front garden as well.

lynzpower

siliconbits wrote: »

Yes it has and it is a big one. 19' x 11.5'. The dining room ain't that bad as well.

I think in the main most people prefer lounges on the ground floor. I remember trying to sell one of these when I was an estate agent and although it was faultless inside, no one liked the kitchen being seperate from the lounge, especially when they have kids. And people with kids were the people veiwing this house.

Im minded to agree with her though about the cleaning. If she feels like its goingto be too mcuh then it probably is and you cant be cleaning all the time . We probalby clean here about 4 hours a day, the house just needs it.