Semi detached vs end of terrace

movilogo

Is there any practical difference between the two?

Usually semis are costlier like for like. But why?

pinkteapot

No practical difference that I can think of. I guess the price difference is just down the fact that it's part of a terrace and (generally speaking) doesn't look as nice. I think you'll find that an end terrace will cost a bit more than a mid-terrace.

With any adjoining property, make sure you look at what rooms adjoin. With a lounge-adjoining semi you're more likely to hear your neighbours than in a halls-adjoining semi. I lived in a well-designed flat once where the only wall that actually adjoined the neighbour's flat was the side wall of the spare bedroom.

Speaking of terraces, I love the way that all the ones being thrown up in recent years are sold as "town-houses", not terraces.

MX5huggy

Some terraces have foot paths at the back between the garden and the house that the whole terrace uses (but infrequently in the case of the one I was in) this means the end terrace has the most people with access. Not a issue with any semi.

Soot2006

My survey said end of terrace/semi so in my neighbourhood at least the difference appears minimal. The terraces are only about 4-5 houses long before there's a little gap usually filled with a garage and then the next terrace starts again ... Typical council constructions!

Davesnave

With modern houses there's probably little difference much of the time, but with post war suburban areas, the semis often came with more garden, being a step up from terraces. Sometimes, shoddy build compensated to a degree for the extra cost of the land. Certainly true of my last house.

Today, house prices are still often governed by perception rather than rationality. For example, where I lived, terraces commanded similar prices to the semis, despite having gardens only 10% the size and no off-street parking, even on the 'ends.' This was because the terraced houses were Victorian and had 'character features,' though from my experience of them, this meant some rooms being very dark and the outlook quite claustraphobic.

As oft quoted on here, a house is only worth what someone will pay for it. Nowadays, many people place style over substance, view recent sold prices and then conclude they have a good deal, where others acting more rationally might conclude they'd paid through the nose.

DVardysShadow

In a semi, one of your neighbours lives in a semi. In an end terrace, one of your neighbours lives in a mid terrace. It is the class of the neighbourhood.

sirmosh

DVardysShadow wrote: »

In a semi, one of your neighbours lives in a semi. In an end terrace, one of your neighbours lives in a mid terrace. It is the class of the neighbourhood.

This sums it up so well, the house itself won't really be any different to a semi but the area it is in will be much less attractive than an area full of semis and detached houses.

abankerbutnotafatcat

pinkteapot wrote: »

Speaking of terraces, I love the way that all the ones being thrown up in recent years are sold as "town-houses", not terraces.

I thought the definition of a townhouse was the number of floors rather than the relationship with other houses. I live (i think!!!:)) in a semi-detached town house as it was originally built over three floors (as opposed to gaining a third floor through a loft/basement conversion). Traditionally, town houses, particularlly in expensive areas such as some of the beautiful regency squares of inner London, were often in a terrace. I am happy to be corrected on this but this was my understanding.

I think things may becoming a bit blurred these days as modern townhouses have integral garages which obviously traditional ones didn't; a variant seems to be a coach house.

puddy

Davesnave wrote: »

With modern houses there's probably little difference much of the time, but with post war suburban areas, the semis often came with more garden, being a step up from terraces. Sometimes, shoddy build compensated to a degree for the extra cost of the land. Certainly true of my last house.

Today, house prices are still often governed by perception rather than rationality. For example, where I lived, terraces commanded similar prices to the semis, despite having gardens only 10% the size and no off-street parking, even on the 'ends.' This was because the terraced houses were Victorian and had 'character features,' though from my experience of them, this meant some rooms being very dark and the outlook quite claustraphobic.

As oft quoted on here, a house is only worth what someone will pay for it. Nowadays, many people place style over substance, view recent sold prices and then conclude they have a good deal, where others acting more rationally might conclude they'd paid through the nose.

thats very interesting. the road behind ours is full of small victorian terraces. they have parking behind with the use of a long access road but no off road parking to the front. the room sizes are smaller, the bathrooms are downstairs and the road looks quite cramped due to cars every where.

our road is full of semis, built 1929, 3 beds with bathrooms upstairs and drive ways, many having space for 2 cars (we have a one car drive), the rooms are much bigger and yet, the prices for the terraces on that road are slightly higher (5-10k), ive always found it really odd

cepheus

pinkteapot wrote: »

With any adjoining property, make sure you look at what rooms adjoin. With a lounge-adjoining semi you're more likely to hear your neighbours than in a halls-adjoining semi. I lived in a well-designed flat once where the only wall that actually adjoined the neighbour's flat was the side wall of the spare bedroom.

I have been thinking about precisely that point lately. For those with Noise being the major issue I guess a hall adjoined end terrace would be great value. However aren't most modern semis or end terraces lounge joined? The only upside to this is I can think of is that they use less energy to heat.

BlondeHeadOn

You may find that an end terrace is the same size as a semi and has the same advantages (corner plot, bigger garden etc.) - but may have a lower (i.e. cheaper) council tax band because it's a terraced not a semi. Happens around our way a lot.

Worth checking....