Which house??

bigg2001

Looking for some advice - looking to move locations for my eldest child's secondary school which she will be starting Sept 2013. We are a family of 4 but like having a spare room for occasional guests - approx once a month. There are about 12 roads I would be happy to live in and I want a 4 bed house. Most of the houses innthese roads are 3 or 4 beds and built in the 1930s.

I have yet to put my house on the market but am confident of a quick sale as an estate agent has already told us they have a buyer for our exact house ( only 2 in village and they lost out on the sale of the other one 18 months ago and are still looking) and we have just spent 25k on the kitchen ( stupid mistake I know - thought it would be enough to convince me to stay) and I est imate we will have 150k equity and can borrow 370k mortgage

We have found 2 houses for sale that we like which is where the advice I need is around.

The first Is in the nicest location, was built in the 1970s but is relatively pretty and is being marketed as a 4 bed all of which are doubles, 2 are small, possibly too small for decent wardrobe space, but has a dressing room off the master which used to be the 5th bedroom, 2 ensuites, a conservatory, integral garage and a beautiful and massive garden, however it needs a new kitchen and new carpet throughout and master ensuite needs updating although this is purely down to taste. It has just been reduced from 475k to guide price 450k with stags and i know the current owners bought it in 2007 for 440 k, have spentin region of 40k on it and are looking to downsize - looking to move into rented initially. I estimate the work I would do would be 25k. House is structurally sound and has been looked after.

The second is a 5 bed 1930s in need of modernisation on the busier road of the 2 - a main road - needs a new kitchen and all new bathrooms with a bedroom being made the family bathroom which will make it a 4 bed, the fourth bed being a single but the other 3 bedrooms are bigger than the first house and the original bathroom would become the master ensuite. It needs some garden work - resiting the drive and landscaping and recarpetting. Possibly will also need a new boiler and the fireplace in dining room to be replaced. It is on the market for 345k. I estimate the work needed would be 60-75k as may do a little bit of structural in kitchen and would look to rent whilst house was done up - old man selling it who wants to downsize following his wife's death.

My question is which house does everyone think? All work needed bar painting will be done professionally as we are useless. Also what would be a sensible offer - house one has been on market since feb 2012 and house two since march 2012. And should I put in a preliminary offer on both houses ( different estate agents) to register our interest whilst accepting that the estate agents will continue to market the properties. And advice as ever gratefully received??

Happy to post links if someone can tell me how to do it on the iPad!! Technophobe!!

Jangin

Can you copy and paste the links from Rightmove?

bigg2001

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33809728.html

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-37392524.html?premiumA=true

Don't know if this will work?!

bigg2001

It has - so proud of myself ...... Little things

Loopgames

For me the second one is it...i can't stand relatively new builds! As for location and road i am unsure. But i wouldnt even look at the first one out of pure snobbery lol!

jackyann

I spent most of my life in a 1970s 4 bed and it was great!
I would say, given the age of your children, take the house that gives them the most space & privacy!

shelleylou

I like house 1. I don't know the location but it has a nicer 'feel' about it.

savingmummy

If i was buying i would buy house 1 - Its gorgeous inside and out


Good luck.

Yorkie1

House 1 has a much nicer and bigger garden. I didn't examine the room dimensions for the 2 houses - from the piccies, the rooms look bigger / less long and thin (narrow) in house 2 although that might just be down to the photographer.

I'm not sure which I prefer though ...

Joto_2

I'd say ignore the decor and go with the one you 'see' yourself living in. I always think the house that as you walk round you start imagining where you would put your furniture is the one for you. In all honestly though Id say if you are asking us you haven't lost your heart to any of the houses and therefore neither are really for you. Regarding price all areas and markets are different and some would accept lower offers than others, some areas are holding there price and others have lost. I'd look what houses have sold for rather than marketed.

Strapped

House #1, for the garden.