modern or old Houses!!! advice needed.

wigglygiggly

We live in a 12 year old house - is that newbuild or old? lol It is modern and we love it - an office without giving up a bedroom, downstairs toilet without giving up the storage under the stairs, attached double garage without having to go a mile up the road to get to it, a utility room which is added onto our already large kitchen. It does have stud walls and not solid, but its so nice to live in a house where all you can see are filled in drill holes! There is room for everything here, and we do have a sperate dining room which fits a huge dining table and piano! So modern doesnt mean smaller living space at all! And we have a big enough garden (four dogs and two children run around it quite happily!)

This said though, and we have only lived on this 12 year old 'newbuild' estate for 5 months now, there is the lack of community feel. There is no gossiping on the corner with your neighbour. Its so quiet you could hear a pin drop (and there are plenty of families living around here!) but you could go days without seeing anyone! I have no idea what they all do around here lol I think that why there is no comminity feel to theis place is the lack of amenties here - no corner shop, pub, even a church! Of course there is a shop but its more your Tescos local, so its in and out you go. You dont bump into the same person everyday like we used to when we lived in a village, but maybe its because so many people live here but work so darn hard to pay for the houses around here! I will give it time but I miss the gossiping and village life, although I sure dont miss my old house where the work never ended! If I could move this house to the spot I used to live, life would be perfect

vivatifosi

You mentioned you were looking for houses in Dartford. I'd turn this question on its head and ask what sort of houses there are in the parts of town you like best.

I'd rather live in the ugly 60s built house in a village full of beautiful cottages (I'd still get a great view of the beautiful cottages from my window after all), than in the jaw-droppingly beautiful Victorian house in a run down area that's not going to 'come up' anytime soon. Of course I would rather live in the beautiful Victorian house in the middle of the village, but that's not always possible, certainly not in my case!

If you've got what you need in terms of space and requirements (eg garden, parking etc, not always feasible with either very old pre-car housing or new-build boxes) almost every house can be made to look functional and stylish with a spot of good design. More important to me is to be in a good area with pleasant neighbours and the facilities I need on tap.

IamNotOneOfTHEM

OLD IS GOLD :j

This doesnt just go for memories, people.. Aptly suitable for buildings !