Would you buy a house with kids playing outside?

martindow

eschaton said:

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. 

You sold the house to someone, though, who didn't see this as a problem.  It illustrates the general view that any house will be attractive to some people but not to others.  Luckily we are not all the same!

mlz1413

I bought on a new estate last year. I don't have children and have a fairly low tolerance of bad behaviour, in any age group. 

I do have children play outside my house as it is the end of a cul-de-sac, but generally view this as a good thing as they are mixed ages, nationality and wealth all playing happily. Plus they aren't sitting indoors on their phones.

I have drawn the line at my driveway being used for scoring goals, which was received well.

But this is actually the quietest place I have lived for 30 years.

The benefits are no one makes a noise before midday at the weekend.  Very few barking dogs.  Plus no sirens or helicopters that were common place when I lived nearer to town and a large park.

Also I rarely smell Weed being smoked now, which I appreciate. 

So I'd say the same as others.  Put up for sale in November as there days are shorter and hopefully sell to someone with children who wants them to play outside. 

CBmum

What's your opinion? 

Fair enough. You've enjoyed your time there. Time to move on and find somewhere more suited to your current needs, and gracefully pass that home to a family who will value that space outside and the community of children playing there. No dilemma!

Suzycoll

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?

I have a green outside my home & kids play on it. Even though my family are grown I love to see the children playing - although it's mostly younger children & all home mostly by 9pm.

It will depend on if a family with children is looking to buy I suppose or if the children are out playing when they view ! It may put older viewers off.

Personally I don't think it's a deal breaker. Put your house on the market & see how it goes maybe ?

I would be more worried about a neighbours house being a mess ( as my neighbours is!)

Or address the 'problem' of the kids playing out late. Do you have a community police officer ? They are normally pretty good with having a chat with the kids & explaining about noise later on etc

Good luck 

bgy3jlh

As someone who doesn't have kids and values peace, it depends on the age and demeanour of the kids.

Kids in the street where I live are primary school age and it's nice to see and hear them playing outside. But if it was hoards of bored teenagers dropping litter, climbing where they shouldn't, and being intimidating (which I've experienced when living in Manchester) then I wouldn't buy. 

MyRealNameToo

Reminds me of a thread I saw elsewhere the other day... "Things that seem normal at 3pm but scary at 3am", kids laughing outside your house was the first answer. 

Really it will depends on the teenagers plus the buyer...  I grew up on a close so was actively encouraged to go out and play in the street because it was very quiet and most the neighbours had kids about the same age. Later in life my mother bought a new build on an odd development with theirs being the only close/ cul-de-sac and as such kids gathered in it which my mother hated, despite her previous position. 

If its a family with kids they may like there being green space near by, if the property is showing heavy football damage they may not.