Single person buying a 2 bedroom house?

silvercar

Me and OH rattling round in a 5 bed house. Younger child is at home from university in holidays and may return more permanently. Elder may return home to save for a house deposit.

One bedroom has the boxes from the loft from when we super insulated it and now have no storage floors up there.
Another is used by parent(s) when they visit.

I dream of the day when there are grand children running round the garden and all the bedrooms are in use again.

PS renaming the (outsize) TV room as a music room to sound more middle class.

elsien

Laughing now at how many from a previous generation would have gone "Why do you want a study anyway?" - whereas I think most people my generation (Baby Boomer) and younger want a room for [STRIKE]study/home office/hobby room/meditation room [/STRIKE] throw the junk in to get it out the way room, in my case.

TBagpuss

I'm single. My last 2 two houses were both 2 beds,current property is a 3 bed.
When I was looking this time around my priorities included off road parking and a garden, and having a property which was either detached or semi detached.

It's very difficult to find properties which meet those criteria and which have only two bedrooms (and I'd imagine even fewer with only one)

If I had found a detached 2 bed I might well have chosen that over a 3 bed seem.

I currently have one bedroom as my room, one as a guest room and the third will eventually be a study/bookroom and can be used as another guest room if necessary.

OP - a 2 bed is always likely to be easier to sell when you come o move on than a 1 bed, it also gives you more flexibility - space for guests, space for you and a lodger if you want one, space to expand if you have a partner in future.

If you can afford it, go for the 2 bed.

chelseablue

When I was single I purchased a 2 bedroom flat, just because I thought a 2 bed would be easier to sell on.


Lived in it alone for 4 years until I met my boyfriend and he moved in and when our son was born he had the second bedroom.


Recently moved to a 3 bed house

MobileSaver

elsien wrote: »

To be perfectly honest, I have no idea how families manage to fit all their stuff in as I've managed to fill it with no difficulty at all.

Totally agree with this. As a singleton I once bought an eight bedroom house with double garage and outbuildings and it's shocking how easy it is to fill all the rooms with "stuff".

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I bought a property based on location, price and garden. Two bed houses were what was in my price range; smaller flats were in a nicer postcode up the road and therefore too expensive.

When I was single I did once read some American idiot woman's advice on finding a man: squish up all the clothes in your wardrobe to leave space for Mr Right's things, and also park on one side of the drive so he can park too. This apparently puts you in the mental frame of mind to meet someone.

PasturesNew

In the main, in my experience, there's very little difference in price between a 1-bed and 2-bed. But there's a great deal extra space in the 2-bed. So, it makes sense, if you can push to it, to have that 2nd room, even if it's empty. Although it won't be empty as you'll end up with a handy room "for everything".

Also, it's an issue of supply. Whereas I could find, say, one 1-bed house in my area for, say, £220k, I could find 100 2-bed houses for, say, £250k. So, if the extra's achievable, you get more choice with 2-beds.

But, it's also about size/layout....

My house is a 2-up-2-down 2-bed, but I'm about to extend (9'x16') as I have some design issues to correct and I'd LOVE a utility/hobbies room, so I'm trying to wrap up all the niggles and wants into one compact extension.

For me, the extension's about my personal flow - living alone you really only need one room - with the ability to reach other spaces with just 2 steps ... if spaces/rooms are separated it becomes a chore to go from one to another for stuff. Designing for one I'd have a central room, with sliding doors that open up to reveal other functional areas

Frogletina

elsien wrote: »

Another single person in a 3 bedroom house - master for me, one as a study and one for guests.
To be perfectly honest, I have no idea how families manage to fit all their stuff in as I've managed to fill it with no difficulty at all.
I don't do minimalist so a one bedroom pace would feel too confined and cluttered. Plus if all else fails, in a bigger place if you do get into financial difficulty you have the option to get a lodger. Which I'd hate, but if it keeps a roof over your head.

I'm single too and live in a 3 bedroom apartment.

The smallest bedroom I call a study - in reality it contains a desk, a cupboard and a wardrobe - plus a sofabed. Then there is my bedroom and a guest bedroom. These two bedrooms each have an ensuite and I also have a family bathroom.

Twice I have had two house guests, once for 6 months and each had a bathroom of their own. I've never lived in a home with a shower before - now I have three to choose from! Worst thing is having 3 loos to clean but that doesn't happen often and my house guests cleaned their own bathrooms.

I also had a family member stay for 6 months, that nearly caused me to regret having more than a one bed apartment!

frogletina

chelseablue

A colleague of mine is single and lives in a 4 bed detached

Hermia

I live in a two bed flat and love it. I don't have loads of stuff, but having a second room that I use as a craft room/office is so useful. I also have an air bed for when people stay. It is also handy if you want to shut something away. If I am in the middle of a DIY project and want a break from it for instance. One thing I did not like about living in a one bed flat was you have nowhere to hide things.

I can understand under-occupancy concerns with social housing, but if people are buying I think they can have what they want. When I bought my flat I wasn't fighting off families who needed a two bed flat after all! I know couples who don't need much room because neither have any hobbies and they don't work from home. I also know singles who have home gyms, sell on ebay or have hobbies that take up a lot of space.