Which element would you sacrifice?
Poll: Which element would you sacrifice?
Total Members Polled: 66
Discussion
We have just accepted an offer on our house and have now started to shop seriously for the replacement. We would like to move to a location which splits the difference in our commutes, currently mine is 16 miles and my wife's is 41, this gives us a location to work in.
We would also like detached and a double garage. The budget is £300k. Absolute max hard stop of £350k, in other words, theoretically we can borrow this and pay for it, but I wouldn't be comfortable with it.
There is precious little in the search area that fits that description.
So the choice seems to be sacrifice:
1) Location - Potentially leaves one of us with a similar commute to today
2) Double garage - I'd dearly love one for servicing work, projects, etc
3) Budget - Potential stress of such a large mortgage, things going wrong etc.
We would also like detached and a double garage. The budget is £300k. Absolute max hard stop of £350k, in other words, theoretically we can borrow this and pay for it, but I wouldn't be comfortable with it.
There is precious little in the search area that fits that description.
So the choice seems to be sacrifice:
1) Location - Potentially leaves one of us with a similar commute to today
2) Double garage - I'd dearly love one for servicing work, projects, etc
3) Budget - Potential stress of such a large mortgage, things going wrong etc.
Mothersruin said:
Location should be priority and then look at how you could incorporate your other needs, then wants.
They can often be added or worked around. Location can't.
Good luck.
Yep. There was a similar thread on here recently where the question was house or location; most said house... as long as the location is fine - so that's location then.They can often be added or worked around. Location can't.
Good luck.
I know it's a car forum but it's got the be the double garage that gets crossed off.
Location and Budget are too important in comparison. Budget is the financial envelope, if that doesn't buy the garage then you can't have it and Location is generally quite fixed too unless you're prepared to live in a dive just to have a garage!
I don't have a garage either and desperately want one so I understand the pain!
Location and Budget are too important in comparison. Budget is the financial envelope, if that doesn't buy the garage then you can't have it and Location is generally quite fixed too unless you're prepared to live in a dive just to have a garage!
I don't have a garage either and desperately want one so I understand the pain!
Was in the same position myself a year ago, and sacrificed a proper garage (it's got a pre-fab type instead) for the house that we both wanted, in the area that suited us both (and the kids schools) and a price we could manage should one of us end up out of work.
We have had to stretch ourselves a bit for a kitchen refurb, boiler, windows etc, but we do have the space at the side of the house to build a decent garage when funds allow next year.
We have had to stretch ourselves a bit for a kitchen refurb, boiler, windows etc, but we do have the space at the side of the house to build a decent garage when funds allow next year.
For us it was the Double Garage, a bedroom, a study and the detached-ness.
Effectively, for the same money we could have had detached, 4 beds, double garage and a study. But it was on an estate, with a tiny garden.
Where we bought has a manageable garden, and looks out onto a cow field, which cannot be built on. Sometimes I think we did the wrong thing. (Mainly when the kids are going mental and I'd love to wander off to the garage / study.
But on balance, we're happier in this location.
Effectively, for the same money we could have had detached, 4 beds, double garage and a study. But it was on an estate, with a tiny garden.
Where we bought has a manageable garden, and looks out onto a cow field, which cannot be built on. Sometimes I think we did the wrong thing. (Mainly when the kids are going mental and I'd love to wander off to the garage / study.
But on balance, we're happier in this location.
Double garage. I have a double garage now, but only half is used for what its designed for....the other half would equally work in a big shed in the garden as it's just storage space for bikes, BBQ and other bits and bobs.
I'd want to be ensuring the single garage wasn't the size of a postage stamp though...my previous house had a long garage but was narrow.....getting in and out of the car in the garage would now be a challenge in my later years !
I'd want to be ensuring the single garage wasn't the size of a postage stamp though...my previous house had a long garage but was narrow.....getting in and out of the car in the garage would now be a challenge in my later years !
Interesting conundrum. I am with the general consensus that the garage is sacrificial.
I am a slight hypococrite, as whilst I kept location and budget, I sacrificed my ideal house (Victorian) because it had no off-street parking and bought a 1920s house that has a double driveway and a garage. The garage is actually going to be a utility room as it's too small for a modern car.
However, this is London where parking is at a premium, increasingly is controlled, and likely to get even more crowded in the future. So a slightly special case, I think.
I am a slight hypococrite, as whilst I kept location and budget, I sacrificed my ideal house (Victorian) because it had no off-street parking and bought a 1920s house that has a double driveway and a garage. The garage is actually going to be a utility room as it's too small for a modern car.
However, this is London where parking is at a premium, increasingly is controlled, and likely to get even more crowded in the future. So a slightly special case, I think.
Craikeybaby said:
Do you actually want to store 2 cars in the garage? If now what about a large single?
Or indeed the space/access to build the garage of your dreams in a few years?
It will never get two cars stored in it. It will get one stored in it during the worst of winter at most.Or indeed the space/access to build the garage of your dreams in a few years?
Mostly it will be used for motorbike projects, car servicing and maintenance.
ETA: I was edging towards the double garage already, but it is interesting that a car based forum is leaning towards knocking the garage on the head.
Edited by Megaflow on Monday 8th February 20:00
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