Heart vs Head - advice please

mooncake89

As said above, a lot depends on whether the 'heart' house is liveable and just dated. If that's the case, and a survey comes back to say there's nothing major and it's mostly just cosmetic work needed, I'd go with that one over the one that doesn't need the work but which doesn't spark special feelings in you. I have to say, the 'heart' house does look it could be quite something and if the outside space is better and not overlooked, that's a huge plus too. If you're already thinking that you'd like to move on from the other house, you have to factor the costs of that and another load of stamp duty, etc. in too, which you obviously wouldn't have to do if you ended up staying put in the dream house.  

I'm in the situation where the house we're going for is going to have to be a long-term project, too, as it's very dated and initially there won't be much money left over. Unfortunately it's not as pretty as your house and will always be quite ugly on the outside but it feels like the right choice, as we love the location and feel of it. We also understand that it's going to take some time to do up, slowly, as and when we can (planning on doing what we can ourselves, and my partner's step-dad happens to be a builder keen to help out, too, which helps!). Would rather feel like we're in the right place with the potential, than somewhere we just don't like as much.

Imnewaroundhere

Thank you everyone, all my thoughts echoed really. I think the last 2 houses we have bought have been victorian and I love character.

My husband will be able to do a lot of work himself, but that's obviously alongside both of us working a full time time job, 2 children etc! He will rewire and when we can afford to have an extension, which is does need as a very small kitchen(see floor plan), we would save up for the shell to be built and then he would do everything else.

I think I've always been someone who said I dreamed of a project but then you're faced with the reality of it, it's quite daunting....no scrap that....terrifying!

Imnewaroundhere

Gavin83 said:

I too would pick the second based on just that photo but then again I want a project house.

One thing I picked up on was your reference to a private road. You seem to consider it a positive where as it would be a red flag for me. Not enough of a concern to consider it a dealbreaker but would certainly go in the negative column. I say this as someone who currently lives in a private road. No positives (that I’ve noticed) but some
negatives.

Out of interest do you mind please explaining your issues? Only because I've always been on busy roads and had nightmares with parking etc , so always believed a private road to be a huge plus!

Tiglet2

A private road means you and all the other properties living there have to maintain the road which could be costly depending on its condition.  If everyone is in agreement then arrangements for maintenance work will be smooth, but if some property owners don't have the money or refuse to pay, it can be very problematical.

Murphybear

Imnewaroundhere said:

Thank you everyone, all my thoughts echoed really. I think the last 2 houses we have bought have been victorian and I love character.

My husband will be able to do a lot of work himself, but that's obviously alongside both of us working a full time time job, 2 children etc! He will rewire and when we can afford to have an extension, which is does need as a very small kitchen(see floor plan), we would save up for the shell to be built and then he would do everything else.

I think I've always been someone who said I dreamed of a project but then you're faced with the reality of it, it's quite daunting....no scrap that....terrifying!

Our first house together needed work.  The kitchen had literally nothing but the kitchen sink  . My husband rewired it himself and I was electricians mate, tea maker and stripper of wood chip wallpaper.  We got a small local firm to put the kitchen in and did all the decoration ourselves.

when we came to sell it we got one viewing only, they bought it.

my heart would tell me to go for the lovely second property, it may take you quite a while to sort it out but you may regret not buying it.  

Imnewaroundhere

74jax said:

The second one for me. Based purely on the amazing frontage. I love it. Do you have a link so I can see (nosey) inside 

That's the inside

thegreenone

The second photo - definitely.  We're still doing things to ours 26 years later but we are future-proofing for retirement now ie getting rid of high maintenance hedges and planting easy shrubs.  The major stuff is done.   We loved and still love, the location - at the end of a private road.  Our children have learnt to ride their bikes safely and played with others in the road.  We know all the neighbours to say Hello to.

We pay £100 per year to our Residents Association (run by .... residents!) which covers the insurance and general hedge cutting.  The road was resurfaced 20 years ago and has had a few repairs but we haven't paid anymore.  Your solicitor will be able to find out if there is an RA and if there are works in the pipeline.  Yes as Gavin? says some may not pay but if it's a nice place to live, generally, the residents want to keep it that way.

k3lvc

I've been in your situation - bought the equivalent of the 2nd one 12yrs ago and don't regret it for a minute - it's caused debt, it's caused fights but it's also become somewhere we're proud to live and it's 'home'

Be aware that it's not easy though - I still get up every day and see something that needs doing but I've learnt to compromise and accept. I also take a view that in the same period that we've been here the 'nice/neat/new' house would've needed just as much investing to maintain to the same level and still wouldn't feel like 'ours'

Unless it's going to bankrupt you then you're mad not to go with your heart - just learn to regulate what your head says during the tough times

lookstraightahead

I prefer the older house that needs doing up definitely.

however, you really need to think about your 'life' priorities and how buying a house that needs doing up will affect them.

if your house is one of the most important things and you properly will get excited etc about doing it up, then great. If holidays are your thing, or if your working hours are long, or you're not very good with budgeting or living in a bit of a mess, then do think about it more!

im in an old house that needs lots of work, but we've bought small to reduce costs, kids have left home, we can easily afford our small mortgage, and we can still do other things. You need to check out whether anything will be really costly (new roof etc).

deffo prefer the old house, but a lovely house without anything else can be miserable.

Imnewaroundhere

k3lvc said:

I've been in your situation - bought the equivalent of the 2nd one 12yrs ago and don't regret it for a minute - it's caused debt, it's caused fights but it's also become somewhere we're proud to live and it's 'home'

Be aware that it's not easy though - I still get up every day and see something that needs doing but I've learnt to compromise and accept. I also take a view that in the same period that we've been here the 'nice/neat/new' house would've needed just as much investing to maintain to the same level and still wouldn't feel like 'ours'

Unless it's going to bankrupt you then you're mad not to go with your heart - just learn to regulate what your head says during the tough times

Thank you for sharing your experience, it is helpful to hear people who are living it. 

I don't ever think it would bankrupt us, we are key workers, so although not high earners, we are in very secure stable jobs.

We aren't extravagant with holidays either, mainly just a week or 2 in the sun in Europe. 

I guess is we aren't huge risk takers and it feels like real unknown territory, but at the same time we have played it safe with our last 2 houses and yes we have made money, we have also has to move twice as neither were perfect for us!