house with unusual layout

yorkshire_terrier_owner

This sounds very similar to my house:
Ground floor - integral garage, bedroom 2 and 2 large storage cupboards (which I am planning to convert one of them into a WC)
First floor - kitchen diner and bedroom 3
Second floor - huge lounge diner
Third floor - bedroom 1 and large bathroom

I absolutely love my house. I love having my lounge upstairs (I have amazing uninterrupted views out of a huge picture window) and the quirkiness of the house. It has a wow factor that everyone who visits comments on. My house is over 4 floors as it is built into and sloping plot so the floors are staggered rather than one on top of each other. It is a much bigger house that other 3 bed semis I looked at. I find normal layouts boring now!

This sort of layout isn't for everyone - you either love it or hate it. What you have to ask yourself is whether the house works for you and your lifestyle - mine works for me and my circumstances in a way a normal 3 bed semi layout couldn't in a million years.

Incidentally, the vendors of my house had no problem selling it. It had been on the market 10 days when they accepted my offer and I had to beat off stiff competition from a number of other buyers.

Kynthia

Friends of mine live on a slight hill. You walk through their front door and that level has a large kitchen and a wc. The you can walk down half a level or up half a level. Down is the three bedrooms and a bathroom, and up is a massive lounge with stunning views leading out to a large garden with a pool. The bedrooms can be a little darker and don't have views but the layout works.

A relative had a three story town house. Ground floor was interval garage, wc and kitchen/diner leading to the garden. First floor was the lounge, bathroom and a bedroom. 2nd second floor was a master bedroom, and another 2 smaller bedrooms (neither a box room though). The houses were popular with larger families that couldn't afford a grander 4 bed house or those that wanted a 3 bed and study.

There are loads of houses with non standard layouts. Either they are normal for that group of roads or you sell the flexibility, uniqueness and options to buyers.

TBagpuss

Yes, it will put some people off, but will also appeal to some.

Why is it laid out that way?
My Aunt and uncle have a house where the entrance is on the first floor (house is on the side of a steep hill. There's a kitchen, hallway, dining room and garage on the first floor, and a big lounge (with fantastic views) plus 3 bedrooms, downstairs on the ground floor.

It's a little odd when you first visit but you get used to it.

Friends have a house (again on a hillside) where the back door is on the first floor landing, front door on the ground floor.

My next door neighbours have a house with the kitchen and lounge on the first floor, 2 bedrooms and bathroom on the second floor and a further bedroom on the ground floor (plus integral garage) My former neighbours loved it, they only moved because one of them became ill and as she had significant issues with balance and mobility could not manage the stairs.

One thing to consider - is it a semi or terrace? how does the layout compare with the neighbouring properties? If your main living spaces share walls with your neighbour's bedrooms (or vice versa) then think about whether there are likely to be any noise issues.