What to look for in a bungalow? Downsizing.

youth_leader

I've finally sold my magnificent money pit of a listed building, for a song unfortunately, and want to buy a bungalow for my last ever home.  I want to go south, and will be visiting two seaside towns over the next few months where there are properties in my low price range.  
I've never lived in a bungalow, is there anything particular I should look for?  I want my kids to be able to sell it easily when I've passed on.  Thanks.

Thrugelmir

From looking over the past few months. Layouts do differ widely. Some border on the impractical. Take your time to investigate the options. 

coachman12

Same as any other home really : nice area, nice garden, enough interior space and the right number and size of bedrooms, check whole street for eyesores (too many parked cars, caravans, neglected gardens etc ),easy access to shops but in quiet location, a home that has been looked after by previous owners and that you don't have to modernise, good schools as you mention your kids.
A bungalow is just a house without stairs 
A south coast seaside town sounds good, though I am worried that you say you do not have a large amount of capital-----but cross that one when you've looked around. I wish you all the best with your search over the coming weeks/months. Good luck in finding your dream home. 

hazyjo

Think about room placement. It's usually preferable for the bedrooms to be near other bedrooms, and living spaces together. Have a think about what's important to you. Do you (and most) want all living spaces including kitchen across the back so you have direct garden access, and are you happy with the bedrooms at the front? Or do you want a bedroom at the back of the bungalow?

Hallways can be dark. Middle rooms may also be dark if it's long and narrow rather than wide, also depends how close neighbours are.

If a semi, think about what room's the other side of the wall if same layout. Try to get "halls adjoining".

Tbh some of this applies to houses too, but it really depends on size of bungalow as to what to look for.

Oh and remember rooms can often be flexible. Just because a room may be labelled a bedroom on a floor plan, or has a bed in when you view, doesn't mean you can't use it as your lounge if big enough etc (although the lounge may well have a fireplace in).

Good luck!

youth_leader

Thank you very much for replying and for your good wishes.  I have looked at lots of bungalows on line, the layouts are very different, I will focus on that as well as making a list of the points you have made.  I'm older and lazy with metric, I need to start converting to feet and inches to compare room sizes etc.  
Estate agent details vary wildly, some only have the very basics, perhaps it is to make you telephone so you have to register.  It has made me sad looking at some of the 'chain free' empty properties, some people have been living in very poor conditions.  
I haven't been able to visit the south yet as I couldn't get my dog into kennels until the end of August, but I can't book train tickets yet as Cross Country have only scheduled until 27 July.  I am outpriced from the Wareham/Swanage areas I like, I am visiting Broadstairs in August, Exmouth in September.  

hazyjo

Sometimes the feet and inches are included on the floor plans rather than in the descriptions. Failing that, just ask Google or make/look for a conversion chart you can bookmark.

Can't help re areas as more familiar with Kent and Essex.

Davesnave

Personally, the last place I'd look for a bungalow is a South Coast seaside town, simply because I'd be paying a premium price to live alongside a lot of other old people and I prefer a more balanced demographic.

I'd also probably not enjoy having the place I live invaded every fine summer weekend by tourists, or in the spring by schoolchildren, as in Swanage, for example. Mind you I have relatives and friends who live there because they like playing with real trains, so there may be specific reasons sometimes for ignoring the other down-sides of a location.

I live in a bungalow close to a rural Devon town, where there are plenty at much more reasonable prices than on the South Coast. Because there are few holiday lets here, there is friendliness and good community spirit. My friends/relatives from elsewhere are often surprised that they often can't walk down the road here without people saying hello and stopping to speak!

If you are determined to look at coastal locations, give the less popular North Coast of the peninsula a look too. Bideford and Barnstaple aren't exactly seaside, but they're good value because of it.

deejaybee

I live in a small town in the South Hams ( South Devon ), there are a fair amount of bungalows, particularly in some of the surrounding villages ( Chillington for example - although reflecting Dave's comments above, there are a LOT of old people in that village, reminds me of that old film Cocoon ! )

Davesnave

The South Hams and anywhere where the boating fraternity can launch down there is mega-pricey. Some villages can half empty in the winter, when the second homers depart and the boats are laid-up.

It's also somewhat disquieting when one lives in a place where most other people have a greater disposable income. When I lived in Kensington & Chelsea for a while, I thought I'd really come up in the world, but even as a young person with a certain amount of 'attitude,' I felt like a second class citizen and was very pleased when I relocated to West Hampstead! (otherwise known as the North East fringes of Kilburn!  )

Splatfoot

Not sure which way South you are going, East or West, but if you're going East, take a look at bexhill on sea or St Leonard's. Avoid Hastings . Broadstairs is lovely, I remember being really surprised at how much I liked it as I always had the impression that Kent was a bit ugh. Until I went there and Canterbury and Sandwich. 

onwards&upwards

Does it have to be a bungalow?  From a health perspective the longer you keep going up and down stairs the longer you will stave off frailty, muscle loss and falls.  What about looking for a house but that has the space/layout for a stairlift should one become necessary later on. 

You'll avoid paying the bungalow premium then too!