Is 700sq ft too small for 3 of us?
Discussion
I know this is a bit of a random question, but we love a grade II cottage we've recently seen. It needs some renovation, and being cash buyers not in a chain we can get it at a "good price".
However, we've got our first baby due in Feb, and we're a little unsure whether we're going to simply run out of room. It's a small house (Living / Kitchen on ground, Bed 1 & Bathroom on next floor then bed 2 on top floor) We could potentially add another 40sq ft on to the back of the downstairs but not to the other floors.
We were thinking of buying it, renovating it over a couple of years and then moving to something bigger as it's in a great location and would either sell or rent easily in the future.
Surely a baby up to 18mths can't need that much room?!
However, we've got our first baby due in Feb, and we're a little unsure whether we're going to simply run out of room. It's a small house (Living / Kitchen on ground, Bed 1 & Bathroom on next floor then bed 2 on top floor) We could potentially add another 40sq ft on to the back of the downstairs but not to the other floors.
We were thinking of buying it, renovating it over a couple of years and then moving to something bigger as it's in a great location and would either sell or rent easily in the future.
Surely a baby up to 18mths can't need that much room?!
The Grade II listing is only an issue with certain areas; most of the renovation is outside the limitations of the listing - but I do agree, it can cause issues. (Fire regs for one as I've found)
I don't know why everyone upgrades to massive mansions 1hr out of town to have a better "lifestyle". I prefer to be nearer my family and have a shorter commute to spend more time with them, maybe I've got my ideas back-to-front and I'll want to move out in a few months.
The missus has agreed the 911 can stay - it's got back seats so what more do I need?!
I don't know why everyone upgrades to massive mansions 1hr out of town to have a better "lifestyle". I prefer to be nearer my family and have a shorter commute to spend more time with them, maybe I've got my ideas back-to-front and I'll want to move out in a few months.
The missus has agreed the 911 can stay - it's got back seats so what more do I need?!
We have a baby, nearly a year old now.
My wife originally wanted to put him into my 6'x6' office as his bedroom. Glad we didn't as there would have been no room in that errr room. The baby is small but you need a cot, changing table (cot top) storage for clothes and toys and don't forget you will need somewhere for him to play and crawl about as baby gets older. Where will you keep the pram, stroller, travel cot etc.
As long as the spare room is a good size then you should be fine until baby wants to run about.
My wife originally wanted to put him into my 6'x6' office as his bedroom. Glad we didn't as there would have been no room in that errr room. The baby is small but you need a cot, changing table (cot top) storage for clothes and toys and don't forget you will need somewhere for him to play and crawl about as baby gets older. Where will you keep the pram, stroller, travel cot etc.
As long as the spare room is a good size then you should be fine until baby wants to run about.
you got a baby due and you want to buy this house and do it up with new baby to look after? Forget it mate. You and the missus will be sleep deprived and so so busy with that kid. You will have no time to do up a house. Factor in disruptions to plumbing, electrics, dust, building work with a new baby in the house? Its not going to work. It all sounds very romantic. New family, cute cottage. I've seen friends try to rennovate with young kids in tow, it doesnt end well. Ever. We moved out with the kids when work started on the house. If you choose to stay, it will be very very hard.
For reference, our typical modern 'developer' 2-beds are 660 sq. ft., but the problem with older properties is that the internal arrangement may not be terribly efficient... for example, if it's old enough, the house may well have been designed without a proper bathroom, so the bathroom may be oversized because it's been located in a sapce that was designed for another function.
It's difficult to say how 'workable' it will be as a family home without knowing how the floor plans work, but it's certainly on the small size, taking into account this possible problem of inefficiency.
It's difficult to say how 'workable' it will be as a family home without knowing how the floor plans work, but it's certainly on the small size, taking into account this possible problem of inefficiency.
herbialfa said:
Go for it! Babies etc need feck all room!
Who, I am told, grow up into bigger things that need much room 
I reckon it all depends on you and your missus more than anything. I have an old 1,400sqft place and it's too feckin small for two of us! Pretty much solely down to my other half's addiction to shoes, handbags, clothes and general tat that can never be thrown away!
If you're seriously tidy, don't hoard s
t and you both have the min of clothing and general life flotsam, you'll probably cope. But if your missus is like that, I'd worry as she's hiding something or no doubt got worse habits 
PS Unless you've spoken to the planning people about specific plans for extending it, do not underestimate for one minute how much hassle you could find yourself having for that 40sqft.
Mine's not listed. Next door's is. And even *that* makes pretty much anything a no go zone, especially if the neighbours or other muppetry stick their oar in. And with listed buildings, you also shouldn't underestimate how much people like to stick their oar in!
Mine's not listed. Next door's is. And even *that* makes pretty much anything a no go zone, especially if the neighbours or other muppetry stick their oar in. And with listed buildings, you also shouldn't underestimate how much people like to stick their oar in!
Globulator said:
....
Probably because it's listed. I'd never buy one!!
It's sometimes not that simple...Probably because it's listed. I'd never buy one!!
Obviously not exclusively, but they often have a lot of character. Yes there are pitfalls, but if you go in with your eyes fully open there's no reason why you can't work with these sort of buildings and a lot of upside (and often they'll have been round longer than us, so working with them is fair dos).
That said, 700sqft would be way too small for me if kids were on the way. I love living in Cities, but can easily see why people compromise and move out...
Murph7355 said:
Globulator said:
....
Probably because it's listed. I'd never buy one!!
It's sometimes not that simple...Probably because it's listed. I'd never buy one!!
I'm not sure what actual legal basis listing people have but the litany of unsightly messes they leave behind is enough for me to avoid them like the plague. Planners are bad enough, tasteless failed architects with inferiority complexes but listing people take the biscuit.
We have freinds down in laandaan that have a 1 bed flat and a new baby.
Obviously they have a bit less room than you are proposing but by god I would NOT like to be in such a limited space. Sheeit everywhere...no room to even put a cup of tea down.
We live in a 3 bed semi, not massive....yet....it's in the middle of being extended and we've had to move in with my old man for 6 weeks. Our little bundle is 19months old. I would NOT recommend undertaking a building project with a new baby about. When they are a bit older and you have established a routine it's bit easier to predict how you will manage.
For reference, in our average sized house we are constanly tidying "things" away, there's never enough room for stuff. This must only get worse in a smaller property.
Obviously they have a bit less room than you are proposing but by god I would NOT like to be in such a limited space. Sheeit everywhere...no room to even put a cup of tea down.
We live in a 3 bed semi, not massive....yet....it's in the middle of being extended and we've had to move in with my old man for 6 weeks. Our little bundle is 19months old. I would NOT recommend undertaking a building project with a new baby about. When they are a bit older and you have established a routine it's bit easier to predict how you will manage.
For reference, in our average sized house we are constanly tidying "things" away, there's never enough room for stuff. This must only get worse in a smaller property.
I’m yet to read on one of these baby threads where you don’t get people who haven’t had a baby saying “Baby’s are only tiny, they don’t need any space”, “When I was a lad, down pit, eee, well me mam used to keep ten of us in a sock drawer, till we were 22, so I don’t see how it’s any different today”.
The sad fact is, you can not overestimate how much space and crap a baby needs.
The sad fact is, you can not overestimate how much space and crap a baby needs.
Edited by Carl_Spackler on Thursday 4th November 08:40
Live in a 2 bed with a 3 y/o son. Garages, ride on trikes, boxes of train tracks, cars, big trucks etc live in a corner of the lounge. Bedrooms not big enough for all the toys and junk accumulated over 3 yrs. I wish we could move to a 3 bed so he could hsve a playroom, so i could get some order and normality. Currently sat on floor as the sofa has been turned into a 'den' for little one.
MonkeyBusiness said:
Carl_Spackler said:
The sad fact is, you can not overestimate how much space and crap a baby needs.
Very true 
Made even worse when Grandparents buy the biggest presents they can (ride on cars, wendy house, drum kit, etc).
Strangly enough, the gifts are getting smaller.
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