Would you live in a Bungalow?

Sammydog

We're in the process of buying a bungalow. We didn't set out to but in the area we were looking in for a 3bed house, there happened to be a 3bed bungalow that met all our needs and we realised stairs weren't actually on our 'must have' list!
It's contemporary rather than old folksie - if it had have screamed retirement dwelling we'd probably not have even viewed it.
I think not going 'up' to bed might take some getting used to though ��

supersaver2

I think it depends on your stage of live. At the moment a bungalow wouldn't be suitable due to children and noise. I currently live in a 3 storey, new build townhouse as it suits us for this stage in our lives. I like going to the top of the house to mine and the good lady wife's room and watching tv to get away from the kids and their friends! Plus sleep overs get noisy so we like being a floor away! My parents have a bungalow a few minutes away and it suits them. I'd definitely consider a bungalow when it's just me and the wife!

househuntingmad

I'm in my mid 30s and currently purchasing a bungalow. I was expecting a lot of people to go... why on earth at your age are you buying a bungalow... but it's what suits me. It was the right size (it's just me on my own so I didn't need a massive house), I wanted detached with a low maintenance garden but a decent enough size garden, an open plan kitchen diner, integral garage and conservatory. Ticked every box.

But the main draw was it's surrounded by lots of other bungalows on the road and behind - which makes it very quiet. And very private. I work from home most of the time so both of these things were incredibly important to me.

Bungalows aren't just for older people, there are bonuses for us young un's too

moneyistooshorttomention

That is one of the mixed things about bungalows. On the one hand they tend to be surrounded by other bungalows - and that has the advantage of your garden not being shaded/overlooked by 2-storey houses. On the other hand - those other bungalows are often lived in by old people and that means an even more determined effort on my part to make mine feel "contemporary", rather than "old person-y".

I would say that balances out as basically positive - as I wouldn't want 2-storey houses towering over my garden, peering in at me from their higher windows and shading my plants.

I guess bungalows are rather less likely to be extended than 2-storey houses too and I prefer knowing the neighbours are most unlikely to go in for trying to get planning permission for an extension and, if they did, then that would also be one-storey.

Davesnave

It never even occurred to me that bungalows might be seen as old person's places, though the sort that used to be provided by councils certainly look the part. Today, that role has been filled with HA flats, but no one suggests flats have an old person image.

I'm an old person...well, at least the oldest person who's ever lived in my bungalow, but like many similar buildings set in the open countryside, mine was constructed for a agricultural purpose and planning was only allowed on that basis. Presumably, the planners favoured bungalows because land was not a problem, but impact on the environment had to be minimised.

Often, agricultural bungalows were meanly proportioned and thrown up at minimal expense using concrete panel, Woolaway construction. Fortunately, mine wasn't, and when a larger family lived here, it gained an extension. so we have a decent footprint. The farm was finally flogged-off for barn conversions at the turn of the century, so they then stuck about 5.5 acres of land with it to create a smallholding.

Having viewed quite a few bungalows with land, similar to this one, perhaps I have a different perspective on single storey living. This really isn't the sort of place suitable for the elderly and infirm....or the easily scared. Get a couple of foxes mating outside your bedroom window at 3am, or a badger digging for grubs, and you'd know what I mean! :rotfl:

spirit

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That is one of the mixed things about bungalows. On the one hand they tend to be surrounded by other bungalows - and that has the advantage of your garden not being shaded/overlooked by 2-storey houses. On the other hand - those other bungalows are often lived in by old people and that means an even more determined effort on my part to make mine feel "contemporary", rather than "old person-y".

I would say that balances out as basically positive - as I wouldn't want 2-storey houses towering over my garden, peering in at me from their higher windows and shading my plants.

.

One of the plus points for neighbouring bungalows housing older people, is that you don't get screaming kids in the garden/playing out in the road. You might get visiting grandchildren I guess, for shorter periods though


Not being overlooked is another positive, and even if you had a North/east facing garden, because the building is much lower than a house, the sun isn't blocked out of the garden.


when I first met my now ex husband, he had a bungalow. When we moved, that was to a bungalow too. We weren't specifically looking for one, it just happened to be there and ticked the boxes. It had 1/4 acre garden, 4 beds, massive separate sitting and dining rooms and large kitchen. We brought our 2 children up there and it worked really well.


My last 4 places have been houses, but am about to buy a bungalow again. I'm not old, but don't intend moving again, so I suppose I'm future proofing. I never want to go into a home, so if it lessens my chances of having to, the so be it.

selement

I wouldn't actively look for a bungalow but I wouldn't avoid one either! Although I'll probably buy a new build so bungalow unlikely... But if I don't and it wasn't more expensive I'd be happy with one I'm 27 and don't see it as an old person only home. No kids but want them one day. As long as it really did have enough space it'd be fine!

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I guess bungalows are rather less likely to be extended than 2-storey houses too and I prefer knowing the neighbours are most unlikely to go in for trying to get planning permission for an extension and, if they did, then that would also be one-storey.

Why are they less likely to be extended? Mine's been extended twice and now I've gone into the integral garage as well, so that's 3 times.

The depth of the typical bungalow can be a problem when extending, but it's just a matter of being careful not to create dark internal areas. Plots are often large enough to cope, but of course there are bungalows without space to expand, just as there are houses in that situation too.

I obtained planning permission to go up a floor, but looked at dispassionately, the sloping ceilings in the chalet we'd have created were not making that a great value-for-money option. It also looked none too special, so I screwed up the plan and went back to using what we had more efficiently, by moving internal walls and using the garage instead.

moneyistooshorttomention

Less likely to be extended I would say because families are less likely to live in them and extensions seem to usually be done because of a family-size household.

Also that possible "dark internal areas". I've obviously viewed mine dispassionately (ie from possible buyers' viewpoint) since I bought it and wondered what adaptations would be possible to it. The conclusion I came to was that anyone wanting an extra room wouldn't be able to find a way to add an extension for that without creating those "dark internal areas". The only way to extend mine (if anyone wanted to) would be the "plonk a mobile home in the garden" thing I've noticed sometimes recently and wait to see if it will be ignored. Alternatively, the more standard way of putting a home office in the garden.

Rain_Shadow

My parents bought one when they were in their late 40s/early 50s. They never regretted it and in the last five years of my father's life living in a house would have been impossible. My mother, now in her 80s, finds it so much easier even though she is still fit and well.


I'd certainly consider buying one.