Would you buy a house with kids playing outside?

Albermarle

kimwp said:

Myci85 said:

It depends if they're being antisocial or just playing. It seems sad that teens playing outdoors is viewed as a negative - not all are swearing, littering louts!

I live opposite a small development with lots of green space and I love how many kids, young and older, are outside most days playing football, riding their bikes and scooters etc. It would only bother me if they're screaming loudly (more often younger ones that do that) or not being mindful of neighbour's properties. 

I have the same opinion. I had a family live next to me with four young children, it was lovely to hear them chirping and negotiating rules of games in the garden. My neighbour on the other side didn't like the noise and would grumble and swear loudly about it, which was much less pleasant.

We had the same as you ( although they were grandchildren who visited very often especially in summer / school holidays.)
Mostly I was ok with it , but one of the children was a screamer /screecher.
Also when the parents came around it seem to set the kids off louder, then parents shouting at them etc. A couple of the parents were pretty loud as well
So it was quite intrusive at times, and I was glad when the kids grew up a bit and got bored with playing in the garden.

GDB2222

Clearly, there are two schools of thought on this, and there are enough people happy to buy that the op should have no problem selling. 

stellartuesday

Thanks for your replies everyone. I'm pleased that the majority of people said they wouldn't mind. 

I know I'm a grump but I'm a grump who has a busy job and enjoys a bit of peace and quiet in the evening  

Marvel1

I wouldn't due to the noise levels.

Uriziel

To answer your question, no, but your other half is also wrong. There is no such thing as "never sell", you just won't get as much as you would like.

pieroabcd

Silence is priceless for me. I would never buy a house near a major source of noise, like main roads, schools or a gathering place.

GDB2222

pieroabcd said:

Silence is priceless for me. I would never buy a house near a major source of noise, like main roads, schools or a gathering place.

Different noises affect different people. I would never buy a house next to a busy road, but other people appear not to be fussed by it.

 The noise of kids playing doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I like to hear them enjoying themselves. 

I’m not sure the op needs to sell for a lower price. They just need to wait for a buyer who appreciates the extra green space and doesn’t mind the noise. 

eschaton

It put me off. 

My last/first house was a new build in a cul de sac 25 years ago. 

Really nice to begin with then young kids started using the monobloc road as a football park. They and the parents had zero respect for the property of others. 

I had decided to do an extension with integral garage and was just starting to plan it. 

The thought of needing to park both my cars on the road during construction wasn’t worth thinking about. 

I came home from work one night, looked around and decided to look for another house. 

Found one not long after. If ticked every single box. The biggest one being not being situated where anyone could safely play with a ball. 

I offered asking price, put my house up for sale a few days later and moved within 6 weeks. 

Never had a single issue in 20 years. 

ReadySteadyPop

stellartuesday said:

We have a small green area outside the front of our house. We lived here peacefully for years but the past 2 years have brought an influx of older children who play outside. Sometimes it just a couple of children, sometimes it can be large groups of them. 
We've had enough of the noise going on until 9pm and footballs being kicked on our property and decided to sell up.

I'm of the opinion that someone will come along who doesn't mind or sees it as a positive if they have children. My other half thinks no one in their right mind would buy a house with that going on outside and is worried we'll never sell. What's your opinion? 

If it is priced to sell it will sell to somebody.

Skiddaw1

Not quite the same but we lived opposite a park for many years. In addition to children playing/young people hanging out/listening to music, etc, we had regular funfairs, beer festivals, sporting events, fetes, concerts, fireworks just about every night in the autumn/winter. It was occasionally irritating (particularly the students letting off fireworks at silly-o-clock) but in general it didn't bother us a bit (nor did we have any difficulty in selling the house- being opposite a park was seen by most viewers as a plus point). I think it'll be fine OP. You'll find a buyer who couldn't care less.