Is it really worth buying detached over semi detached?

Johnandabby

New party walls are designed so you don't hear voices, but don't prevent noise from banging, loud music or kids running up and down stairs from coming through.

Detached every time! I used to always worry about making too much noise and tip-toed around with music on really low - but always lived next door to people who couldn't give a toss and did whatever they wanted...

bylromarha

If you can afford it, then do it.

We hear lots of Wii Sing through our wall - new build. We heard lots of screaming through the wall in our old house - new build. We hear lots of family fights through the wall in Mums house - built in 1920s. We hear lots of booming music through shared wall in Mum in laws house - built in 1950s.

You will hear and be heard.

advice_please_2

You mention new, is this new build?
If so then yes you'll be able to hear next door even if they are quiet at some point be it dropping a pan etc.

motherofstudents

I have viewed two semi's which I would have considered as the front doors were together, ie the stairs are together on the adjoining wall so no direct contact in the lounge and dining room. Upstairs the small third bedroom was next to the next door's one and the bathrooms were together. I think that is how all semi's should be built. I would prefer one of these (Edwardian) even though semi-detached, over a new build detached any day.

Fortheloveofmoney

Detached every time. We've just moved from a 1930's semi to a new build 4 bed detached.

We never heard our old neighbours at all however we now have a very noisy 2 year old and I'm very grateful that I don't have to tell him to keep the noise down when he is playing.

With regards to attached new builds, I've lived in 3 before. 1 terraced, 1 semi and 1 link detached. All of which I suffered noise from the neighbours. The link detached was the worst. We were only attached by the neighbours garage but he was a kick boxer and used his garage as a gym. A total nightmrte!

The terraced house was very noisy too. One side we had a family with 2 small children. We used to hear them running across the landing and it sounded like they were in our house. The other side liked loud music. She used to come home drunk in the early hours, put on loud music and pass out which meant her music stayed on until she woke up the next day (from 1am ish to around 8am ish).

phoebe1989seb

Strapped wrote: »

I live in a semi but it has 3ft thick solid stone walls, so no worries.

But I wouldn't touch a new build semi or terraced with someone else's bargepole. When I bought my first house, the lady next door worked funny shifts which meant she went to bed really early, before 8pm. If I so much as turned the radio on she went mad, banging on the walls and yelling. I even used to watch TV with headphones in. It was a nightmare.

Our current house (1700s) is also attached to one side with thick stone walls - no sounds from next door here either

Our previous two houses were both detached period (Victorian & Tudor) properties but we had no qualms about buying an attached house as long as the walls were solid and extra thick.......however we would never, ever consider a new-build that was attached in any way (or even a detached one for that matter, but that's just personal taste!).

My parents' house was a largeish 1920's semi, attached at the front door with the living room and kitchen furthest away from the neighbouring house. The dining room and middle bedroom were adjoining next door and both there and on the stairs you could clearly hear their neighbours talking, the TV, extra-curricular activities etc!

Mozzanov

berbastrike wrote: »

live with parents atm in a detached but will probably only be able to afford a semi detached as first home.

Are the newer semi detached any good, can you hear things through the walls?

Is detached really worth around £30k extra?

If it's a new build, then I would avoid a semi like the plague. It seems like paper-thin walls. The last two semis I lived in were built in 1975 and 1955. I couldn't hear anything from neighbours, but in various new builds (semis, terraced, flats) I have heard voices, phones vibrate, etc.

Maybe there are some with good build quality, but you'll never know for sure until you spend enough time there at different times of the day. That's not easy to do (until you've bought it).

Detached, if you can afford it. (Although new builds are often so small these days - are you sure you want one?)

GDB2222

motherofstudents wrote: »

I have viewed two semi's which I would have considered as the front doors were together, ie the stairs are together on the adjoining wall so no direct contact in the lounge and dining room. Upstairs the small third bedroom was next to the next door's one and the bathrooms were together. I think that is how all semi's should be built. I would prefer one of these (Edwardian) even though semi-detached, over a new build detached any day.

Termed "Halls-Adjoining Semi" in the estate agent blurb. Definitely regarded as a plus point for those who understand the difference.

adamzetec

The construction of the house is obviously a big factor but so is how considerate your neighbours are as well. I'm sure even if you live in a detatched house yet your neighbours are inconsiderate you will still hear them, especially if they play loud music at unsociable hours.

lessonlearned

adamzetec wrote: »

The construction of the house is obviously a big factor but so is how considerate your neighbours are as well. I'm sure even if you live in a detatched house yet your neighbours are inconsiderate you will still hear them, especially if they play loud music at unsociable hours.

This is the key. Even in a detached property if your neighbours are inconsiderate then you will still have issues over noise. Loud parties, people very noisy in the garden. etc.