julicorn's journey 2 - Moving Up

julicorn

Thanks @Sistergold! From my initial google search, it looks like garden rooms (within a certain size) are permitted automatically, but only when they're behind the house, not in front of or to the side of the house - so no idea when what the rules are when the garden is not only in front of the house, but also not even connected
That sounds great though - when are you thinking of getting started on that garden room?

We're also in a conservation area atm, and weren't even allowed to change the door into the garden, even though it's not visible from the front of the house and part of a small 70s extension. Fun times!

Nichelette

Congratulations on the offer. I'm not surprised you got one so quickly, the market seems to be absolutely mental! 

House is lovely. We lived in a 1 bed 2nd floor flat with no balcony or anything before moving to this place. We're now in a 2 bed house (went from 49 to 66sq/m) with a reasonable garden so very similar to the one you're looking at. Try to think practically to check it's enough space for you. We were so desperate we jumped as soon as we could afford a house. This place is lovely but I we definitely feel it's a bit small now. We could afford to move to somewhere bigger, but the cost of moving (mostly stamp duty) is so big we're trying to save to get something we actually want to stay in for at least 10 years. 

julicorn

Thanks @Nichelette! That does sound really similar. Is it mainly an extra bedroom you'd like, or just more living space, or something else? And you are right, stamp duty ends up being quite a lot at the sort of price range we're looking at, so we wouldn't want to move in somewhere we couldn't stay in for a fair few years at least. We lucked out with our first purchase, completed about 2 weeks after they announced that FTB wouldn't pay stamp duty any longer. 

Sistergold

@julicorn, it’s easier for you then that you are already used to being in a conservation area. I have had a lot of works planned but with all the “craziness” going on, regards supply, contractor/builder shortage I have just been taking a laid back approach and just kept on building up the building fund. Difficult to get a quote at present and then I also worry about escalating costs as they all say prices of building materials always going up so they give you a quote that can go up! The wooden shed is still very good so no real hurry to build the brick one yet. 

julicorn

@Sistergold That sounds really tough between the general conservation area complications and all the material and builder shortage! Really hard when you don't even just need factor in delays and extra hours when planning your costs, but also material costs going up. Taking it slow sounds like the right approach, not worth getting stressed about things that can wait a little while longer. 

julicorn

In case you're all interested in the other houses we're going to view:

Friday: House in Hove, apparently the sellers want at least £650k and that's why it hasn't sold yet: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117998879#/

Saturday: The super cute twitten house, plus a similarly central and slightly bigger but less cute 3 bed (OIEO £625k): https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119539424#/

Saturday next week: In the spirit of looking at all the cute cottages that come up, we just booked a viewing for this one, Portslade £450k. It's Grade II listed and currently has an impressibly terrible energy rating of G, so we've officially lost the plot, but I suppose we'd have lots of money left over to make improvements that are hopefully allowed? https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119690984#/

I'll keep you posted on what else comes up, hoping for some comparison properties in Hannover and Round Hill, which is really where we were originally looking. 

Nichelette

That's our floor plan for size comparison - layout is a bit different. Kitchen and living space are quite small once sofa is in. It was better as a two though not massive, but since baby we've not really had any floor space. Jumperoos are massive 🤦‍♀️. Also we have doors/windows/radiators/built in wardrobes everywhere so we're very limited as to what furniture we can have where so yours is probably better on that front.

We bought pre covid and now we're both working from home, so what was intended as a room for baby basically has a cot, desk and clothes airer plus my second work chair as we got sick of seeing it in the living room. We also have to keep the pram in the car because it's the only place where there is space for it. That sounds all baby based, but in the long run I'd rather somewhere bigger regardless and definitely saw this as a stop gap. Ottoman beds are your friend! 

That's lucky with stamp duty. We weren't classed as first timers because I went on my dad's mortgage when my parents divorced, but that's another story 😂. 

Nichelette

Ooh I like the Hove one. Assume the loft room doesn't have permission to be a bedroom so they can't market as such, but you've essentially got a 4 bed which is really handy because you've still got a guest room and an office or dressing room. I think even for two that's not too big but still gives you space to expand if you want it. That said, I wish people would list places for the price they actually want!! 
 

julicorn

This is super handy @Nichelette, thank you for sharing all that info and your floor plan too! That's a lot of bathrooms as well for a 2 bed. Must be quite tricky with you both working from home, with us it's 'just' me (apart from a short stint during the first lockdown), but having more flexibility would always be a good thing, especially when we can afford it (and I'm just being ridiculous and want the super cute super dinky twitten cottage for whatever reason)

julicorn

Nichelette said:

Ooh I like the Hove one. Assume the loft room doesn't have permission to be a bedroom so they can't market as such, but you've essentially got a 4 bed which is really handy because you've still got a guest room and an office or dressing room. I think even for two that's not too big but still gives you space to expand if you want it. That said, I wish people would list places for the price they actually want!! 
 

Yeah, I think they've shot themselves in the foot listing for £635k+ when they know they want £650k. I mean, if you anchor it that much lower then people are going to struggle justifying that price, even when in reality it's probably worth it. 

Hove would be a nice location too, I could still go swimming with the same group I go with now Always nice to be close to the sea. 
That's the one bit that irrationally annoys me about Portslade - you're super close to the sea technically, but really it's a Shoreham harbour arm so looks like an industrial estate, with the actual beach being divvied up into private beaches for super expensive seafront houses.