Do we really need to move?

ShandyAndy_2

We currently live in a 2 bed terrace home in an area we want to live , low mortgage and low bills, we have 2 girls, 4 and 8 years sharing a bedroom , I have always wanted a bigger place, 3 bedroom, garage etc, I now earn more so could probably afford it, but then my wife always says the kids won’t be living with us forever, we have 2 holidays a year, neither of us want to work till we drop and sometimes I think how nice would it be to be mortgage free in a few years, anyone else in a similar boat?, looking for inspiration...

I would also hate to be worrying about money!

Comms69

Loft conversion / extension?

01afraser4

If you are content where you are and you are affording a decent standard of living and enjoying life at the moment then you don't need to rock the boat.

However, that being said there's nothing wrong with looking to the future. You mentioned you have 2 girls currently sharing a bedroom. This may be working well for now, however they may like a room of their own as they grow older (you know what teenagers are like).

In my opinion I'd enjoy things as they are for now but keep an eye on potentially upsizing. If you start planning for it now and set some money aside then hopefully you won't be in a position where you are worrying about the cost 3 or 4 years down the line.

gingercordial

It isn't mandatory for children to have their own rooms. There's no reason in theory why your daughters couldn't continue to share until one of them leaves home.

However that will mean them still sharing when one is 17, doing A levels and trying to study, with her 13 year old sister annoying her and needing to have the lights out for bed earlier. Or equally the 17 year old coming back home late and waking the 13 year old. And what if the older one doesn't actually leave when she's 18?

You are the parents so this is up to the two of you. I imagine you would want to consider the personalities of your children and how well they get along. If one is very private and reserved it may be better for them to have their own room later, if you can manage it. Only you can decide whether the sacrifices in other areas would be worth it.

As Comms has said, could you extend? Loft or basement conversion? Fancy cabin in the garden? Could they take the bigger bedroom (even if that is currently yours) and install some kind of proper room divider? Is there a downstairs reception room that could be sacrified/reworked?

To be honest I would be more worried about the number of bathrooms once they are teenagers. If you have just one that will be hell.

SallyAnneBooth

Seeing the floor plan of the house would be good.

Retired_Mortgage_Adviser

I'm 70% with your wife on this one. The only issue is the difference of 4 years between your daughters, I don't know how that will play out.

Out of principle, we made our own daughters share a room until the elder one was 14 but they were only one school year apart and we had a guest room to give one of them after that (and temporarily during exam time). Personally, I think it helps with learning to share and adjust, but that's just my opinion based on my experiences.

Any chance of an extension to add a small bedroom?

ShandyAndy wrote: »

We currently live in a 2 bed terrace home in an area we want to live , low mortgage and low bills, we have 2 girls, 4 and 8 years sharing a bedroom , I have always wanted a bigger place, 3 bedroom, garage etc, I now earn more so could probably afford it, but then my wife always says the kids won’t be living with us forever, we have 2 holidays a year, neither of us want to work till we drop and sometimes I think how nice would it be to be mortgage free in a few years, anyone else in a similar boat?, looking for inspiration...

I would also hate to be worrying about money!

strawb_shortcake

We are in a similar position, my Husband wants to move I'm more interested in getting rid of the mortgage by 50. We have 3 children and a 3 bed house, currently the two boys share aged 15 and 10 without problem. We are more concerned about general living space as bedrooms in our house are just for sleeping, so loft conversion or conservatory is an option. Longer term I think we will move but I think I'd rather do it once catchment areas are not a concern.
It always seems to be the one without the financial responsibility that want to move or is that just us??

MovingForwards

Many of us grew up sharing a room with a sibling, mine was 3 years older than me.

You seem to be having a good life at the moment.

If you are happy where you are why not extend or do a loft conversion?

ShandyAndy_2

Loft conversion is far too much work and expense, was going to have it done until the architect mentioned would have to rip my original door frames out for fire doors and frames, would lose the character of the house, only a small garden so no room for extensions.

Marvel1

My house is too small and it's just me, small as in hardly no-one know where to store stuff property.

BUT mortgage is cheap, once paid off money for fun things in life, I just think it' just brick and mortar.

oystercatcher

We have a small 3 bed house and three boys (now grown and gone) , there was an extension on the back which wasn't suitable for a bedroom but we partitioned off part of the original living room for a few years so they each had their own room when studying for exams. Partition now removed.

It worked for us but depends on house layout etc.
I think a bedroom to oneself is quite important in teenage years if possible.

Could you partition off the biggest bedroom to make two small rooms and parents have smaller room for a few years ?