Only freedom will do

Dobbibill

Looks lovely Ed,

Tweak a few things if you want then to suit your growing family. Maybe change the shower cubicle for a bath with an over-the-bath shower and add an upstairs toilet [take a little bit of space from one of the bedrooms maybe]

Happy house hunting Ed

edinburgher

We won't be buying that one, but we're having lots of fun looking. We're also planning on looking at more modern versions of similar houses in the same area (borders a huge park) and have another couple of areas to consider as well that are decidedly more expensive. I think our max budget is about £200k, which does not buy what it used to! :eek:

Luckyinlife

Youll have more fun cleaning your new windows ed hehe :]

200k is a great budget is what sort of mortgage will you be left with

edinburgher

Youll have more fun cleaning your new windows ed hehe :]

I actually quite like cleaning windows as long as they're tilt and turn and not 30' up!

200k is a great budget is what sort of mortgage will you be left with

Probably £150k, depends what we end up buying. If we buy a cheaper place, we might break into savings and investments to take it down to 60% LTV, but won't bother if it's at the upper end of our price range (as it wouldn't make much difference).

I know houses bring their own costs, but looking forward to not putting aside £95/m for the factor!

edinburgher

• Lots of tasty bargains at L1dl this morning including half price chorizo, anchovies, sea bass and free range chicken
• £64.70 to savings
• Purchased a 1TB external hard drive to back up laptop - £11.96 after vouchers
• No MB today, but made a small profit on Friday and there are a couple of offers on tomorrow. Slimmer pickings now, bookies keep banning me :eek:
• HM chicken, chorizo and kidney bean stew in the oven waiting for DD to finish her bedtime feed :A

AlexLK

Moving in October :eek:, you don't hang around, do you? :rotfl:

I haven't a clue what sort of money property goes for in Glasgow, so not sure if that house is good value or not. However, I think that type of house looks like a good base from which to improve.

A few things to consider:
* Bathroom has already been mentioned.
* What are the local schools like?
* Are the room dimensions big enough to do what you want to do in the house (general living, hobbies (I know you'd like to start playing the piano, for instance), plans for future children etc.)?
* Do you need garage space (if so, factor planning and building into any house without garaging)? Is the drive big enough?
* How do you feel about sharing a wall?

gaffel

Hi Ed, just popping by. Good luck on the house hunting. I would go for the EA who has sold the last 2 apartments. Also, decide the school you want DD to go to and focus on that area.

I am with mrs ed on the stairs though, but has she considered an ergonomic baby carrier? Much easier that trying to haul up a baby in a car seat up steps. Avoid what they call 'crotch danglers'! (like jborn).

How are you getting on with the cloth nappies? We used them and found them ace.

edinburgher

* What are the local schools like?

I'm going to be controversial and say that primary schools don't matter all that much

We are looking at two types of areas - good value, less fancy areas and the areas with the 'right' schools - hefty premium, tiny houses.

*Are the room dimensions big enough to do what you want to do in the house (general living, hobbies (I know you'd like to start playing the piano, for instance), plans for future children etc.)?

You know what? I don't even think about our wants so much when I'm looking at houses, tend to be more focused on DD and future sibling (probably stop at 2). We saw a house the other day where half the garden was covered with a massive workshop, a typical 'man cave' where the Dad spent the day tinkering with boats. It left us cold, we couldn't stop talking about how the needs of the parents had been prioritised over the children so that they had nowhere to play outside!

* Do you need garage space (if so, factor planning and building into any house without garaging)? Is the drive big enough?

I'd like either a garage or enough room to build one. Like most people (maybe not you with the classic cars), the garage is basically a great space for storage, DIY and general hiding from the missus :rotfl:

* How do you feel about sharing a wall?

Resigned, have only seen one house advertised that was detached and that we could afford. That house would have been our 'wing and a prayer' wiped out savings and slightly stretched budget

I would go for the EA who has sold the last 2 apartments.

Thanks gaffel, that does seem to be the consensus.

but has she considered an ergonomic baby carrier?

Like a sling? She has one of those and it's a bit of a sore point. She purchased one for quite a bit of money and has used it all of 3-4 times :mad:

How are you getting on with the cloth nappies?

Very well for the most part, but we find that DD occasionally soaks through the back of one of them. Not sure if it's the nappies themselves, or our technique (it's always her night nappy).

smallholdingsister

Reasons why you need to consider primary school...
Assessed standard on entry to secondary school is largely dependent on primary school assessments.
This assessment informs targets for the child in secondary school.
Targets for the child inform the school's expectations of her.
e.g. had I trusted in my DDs primary, they would have continued to teach no maths, her expected grades would be Cs as a result of a 4b in maths. Because I am a cussed old booger her target grades are As.

edinburgher

Assessed standard on entry to secondary school is largely dependent on primary school assessments.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is any formal assessment (exams) in Scottish primary schools?

My glib comment refers to the fact that engaged parents will make a far bigger difference at primary school age (when chances are they 'outrank' the child academically in every subject and can help them learn). By secondary age, chances are the parents know nothing about 50% of the child's subjects and are sketchy on the other 50%.

Parents have tought in both sectors, not completely arbitrary statement.