What was your 'compromise' with your property purchase?

Jigglebiz

We wanted an extended, modernised 3 bed house in the catchment for excellent schools.
We got an unextended, stuck-in-the-1980s 3 bed house that needs renovation. However it’s on a quiet cul de sac, short distance to said schools and has lots of potential to improve. Plus it’s a freehold.
We’re still in the purchasing process and I have my moments of doubt, but location is spot on and that’s the one thing that can never change. We plan to be there long term.

Waterlily24

We wanted a bungalow with a large garden not overlooked and ended up buying a small bungalow with a large garden (just over an acre). We were hoping to extend the bungalow but were only allowed to increase the footprint by a third - which wasn't enough.


The original bungalow had 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom and a very small hall. The bedrooms were all off of the living room and there were just 3 doors in the hall to the kitchen, bathroom and lounge and of course to the front door (only one exit from the bungalow).


We eventually got planning for a 4 bed, 3 reception with kitchen, utility and 3 bathrooms BUT it was a chalet bungalow - not what we wanted at all. We are fairly lucky though because with just the two of us we can live downstairs only when visitors come do we use the upstairs apart from my craft room which is upstairs.


My hubby does all the gardening and although I say it myself it looks lovely - we've even had compliments on it from people who walk their dogs nearby. When we moved in it was overgrown with nettles and brambles all round the bungalow and where we've got the main garden was grass waist high. There were two or three rose bushes here and a wisteria and that was it plant wise..


It was a big job and we bought very small plants for cheapness and for the last two or three years the garden looks really good but it's taken about ten years.


We live in what's classed as 'countryside' so planning etc is a bit more difficult.

babyblade41

The whole house was a compromise, but location and outside space had to be as near as damn it as poss... oh and within budget.

I never even viewed it myself so saw it on moving in day

For me, I knew it would be right because of where it was located and I wasn't wrong

Downsizing was always something I'd have to get used to so space inside was a problem at first...decided on a very small kitchen extension] to square up the property plus re modernisation through out .. Plans already submitted after moving in mid Jan.to add to the kitchen (my fave place)

I'm one happy bunny and although the house is very drab and dated , I can do it at leisure with no major hassles, although really not looking forward to having the 2 reception rooms re-plastered in a couple of weeks.

Location is all for me rather than the house itself

KatieDee

babyblade41 wrote: »

I never even viewed it myself so saw it on moving in day

:eek:

May I ask why you never viewed it? You are ridiculously brave. I've already viewed our house twice and really want to go back for a third! :rotfl:

walwyn1978

Wanted: village location.Character. Spacious. Garden for kids. Thinking barn conversion or similar. We felt those were all important and non-negotiatable.

Compromise: small market town and in the middle of a 1950’s era group of houses, because; spacious, garden for kids, has been extensively extended and opened up sympathetically so actually a load of character. Extra bonus: better transport links, better local amenities, postcode not seen as high end unlike local villages so more house for less ££££.

Delighted we compromised, 5 years later.

suki1964

KatieDee wrote: »

:eek:

May I ask why you never viewed it? You are ridiculously brave. I've already viewed our house twice and really want to go back for a third! :rotfl:

My husband first saw out house the day we moved in as did my step dad

Me and mum saw it just the once - 20 mins viewing. I knew it was the house for us just by the EA brochure

DaftyDuck

My compromise: always go with wife's preferred house, as I get to eat with my own teeth, and keep my testicles that way.

It's a happy compromise though....

babyblade41

KatieDee wrote: »

:eek:

May I ask why you never viewed it? You are ridiculously brave. I've already viewed our house twice and really want to go back for a third! :rotfl:

It's the second time I've only seen the house on moving day .

Reasons being my OH has a look at the outside space to fit some rescue animals in and if they are OK then the rest is easy.

I choose the area and location and it has to be detached without many neighbours and as long as the above is OK then the house can be changed

quantumlobster

Our compromise was all the chintz in the world, in every room. We're getting through it, though

HanPop

It’s interesting to see that most people (without limited budget) have to compromise! We are about to move into our second home which is a 5 bed. Although 2 of the bedrooms are singles so I would have preferred doubles, also it doesn’t have a utility and I would have preferred a kitchen/diner/family room than just a kitchen/diner however if I had all of that it would have cost £60,000 more (I know this because that’s what next doors is!). So I’m quite happy that we’ve got what we have with our budget. If I had £200,000 more I’d want somewhere not on an estate with lots of land and not overlooked.