Advice from people who have "downsized"

LE3

I am currently living alone in a large 3-bedroom house (rented) and
am now wishing to buy my own property. I will be downsizing
somewhat which is fine - there are rooms here I barely use!

I was originally looking for a 3-bedroom property as I have
overnight guests at least once a month and it's important to me
that I have a bedroom available for them (ie sleeping on the sofa
is not an option!). I also need a study/desk/computer area and this
cannot be in the "guest room", hence thinking a small 3rd bedroom
would be ideal! My ideal property would be a bungalow, however there aren't many 3-bed bungalows available round here! Whilst I am also looking at houses, I am finding that the detached ones are usually far too big & the semis are invariably on the busier estates and I would prefer
a quieter neighbourhood with older neighbours.
However, someone close to me is convinced that I actually need to buy a
2-bedroom bungalow and that whilst it may seem small initially I
would soon grow "into" the size and find it perfect once I was
there! I went to see a 2-bed bungalow a few days ago & whilst it
certainly is very attractive in the important things (like it's
been very well maintained, location is fine, price is right) I am so worried I would regret buying a 2-bed for 2 main reasons:

I would need to make a room 9'7"x8' work as a double bedroom - the
bedhead would need to go against the 9'7" wall due to windows/door. The room would only be used for sleeping/dressing so would only
need the standard double bed (metal frame), bedside table and a
small chest of drawers or perhaps one of those little
wardrobe/drawer combos. Does anyone have a bedroom this size in
regular use as a double - does it work ok?

Secondly, I'm worried that I can't make a study area unless I use
the dining alcove at the end of the kitchen, and if I do that I'm
nervous whether there is really anywhere to put a table to eat at!
I don't like eating in the living room.
Part of me thinks that the benefits of a 2-bed property should be
outweighing any negatives (lower council tax, lower bills, it's
only me most of the time so I don't need to heat rooms etc that I
don't use ...) but part of me is scared that I would regret not
holding out for what I *think* I need - yet because I have lived in a house that is definitely too big for many years I am also aware that I may have a blurred idea of what I actually need!

(8 months of searching have not led me to a suitable 3-bed property at present )

cattie

I answered a post to somebody else thinking of downsizing earlier this week.

I planned on downsizing to be mortgage free a couple of years back. However, after searching for 6 months I couldn't find a suitable 2 bed property as some had a very small 2nd bedroom, but saw a couple of 3 bed properties I really liked that were £30+k less than the house I was selling. So I decided to go for one of these instead.

It's a cottage, with smaller living rooms than my previous house, so easier to heat & much more cosy. I love living here & waking up everyday knowing I'm mortgage free is so wonderful. I have a seperate dining room that leads off of the kitchen, so sometimes use my laptop in there, but my bedroom is very big, so ample room for a study area. I had a carpenter build me a computer desk in an eaves cupboard, so I can just close the door on the computer & printer & the untidy mess I seem to always create.

If I did have any financial problems I could always take a lodger seeing as I still have space, as I did in the past when I hit hard times, so having the extra room is a kind of cushion in that respect.

Ivana_B_Rich

Could you use/convert the loft space in the bungalow and use it for office space?

LE3

cattie wrote: »

I planned on downsizing to be mortgage free a couple of years back. However, after searching for 6 months I couldn't find a suitable 2 bed property as some had a very small 2nd bedroom, but saw a couple of 3 bed properties I really liked that were £30+k less than the house I was selling. So I decided to go for one of these instead.

It's a cottage, with smaller living rooms than my previous house, so easier to heat & much more cosy. I love living here & waking up everyday knowing I'm mortgage free is so wonderful. I have a seperate dining room that leads off of the kitchen, so sometimes use my laptop in there, but my bedroom is very big, so ample room for a study area. I had a carpenter build me a computer desk in an eaves cupboard, so I can just close the door on the computer & printer & the untidy mess I seem to always create.

Cattie, thanks for your post - it gives me some hope.
For me, having the computer in my bedroom is not something I want to do - I have done it before and it's not something that works for me! In this particular property the bedrooms are not big enough to include an area that is suitable for working at for an extended period of time with sufficient desk space etc.

Ivana_B_Rich wrote: »

Could you use/convert the loft space in the bungalow and use it for office space?

No, a loft conversion is not something I wish to consider - there is not sufficient space to allow for a proper staircase and I am not climbing a loftladder many times a day!

Jowo_2

Buy a 2 bed with a bit of garden and get a cheap garden office installed. There seems plenty fully installed with heating/electrics etc at under 10k. Then you can have full separation between work & study & domestic space and just concentrate on getting the right interior living space, knowing you can just pop an office into the back or corner of the garden at low cost.

But frankly, I can't understand why a 2 bedroom property that has a combined bedroom/office space won't work. You can get pull-down wall beds that can be concealed when not in use or a futon bed to switch it between the 2 functions leaving plenty of space.

ognum

I think if you re read you question you will get the answer. You do not want the two bedroom bungalow, you are trying to convince yourself you do because someone has told you to like it.
Wait for something that fits all you criterea or list your requirements in order of importance and compremise on the less important ones.

lincroft1710

In some areas 2 bed bungalows are almost as costly as 3 bed house. 3 bed houses vary in size, some are quite compact (or cramped). I had a 4 bed that was smaller in sq footage than my previous 3 bed. Some 3 beds have a decent size main bedroom and 2 reasonable singles which may suit your needs.

olias

Jowo wrote: »

Buy a 2 bed with a bit of garden and get a cheap garden office installed. There seems plenty fully installed with heating/electrics etc at under 10k. Then you can have full separation between work & study & domestic space and just concentrate on getting the right interior living space, knowing you can just pop an office into the back or corner of the garden at low cost.

But frankly, I can't understand why a 2 bedroom property that has a combined bedroom/office space won't work. You can get pull-down wall beds that can be concealed when not in use or a futon bed to switch it between the 2 functions leaving plenty of space.

Or you could look to install a conservatory? again a decent one can be got for <£10K

Olias

skintlass

depends on where u are. I have a 3 bedroom bungalow with a study downstairs and a large kitchen diner. I bought a 1-2 bed bungalow with a downstairs bathroom a tiny kitchen and a large dining room. Its got a lot of space for me and my dog but the extra bedrooms come in handy when people stay.

carefullycautious

Good idea Olias. Where there a will theres a way.

I moved from a 3 bed house to a 2 bed GF flat. Yes we have had to compromise of space, however, we have cheaper utilities and it is a dream to clean etc being all on the level. Also easier to decorate.

I would not want to go back to a house but would ideally like a bungalow or looking at present at coach flats.

What about a chalet bungalow which would give you your extra bedrooms?

Fire_Fox

Have you thought about multi-function furniture? Sofabeds, sofas with integral storage, Wall-beds that incorporate desks and even wardrobes, a modern bureau, gateleg dining table/ desk, folding or stacking dining chairs etc.