House Location vs House Size: How to Compromise

Trying to find your perfect ‘dream house’ can be a process fraught with difficulty which puts a lot of pressure on prospective buyers. Realistically, there will always be factors which you have to compromise on, but working out which ones you can do without will be tricky. So, how exactly should you decide which aspects to compromise on and which are deal breakers?

Concessions

There are some factors that are universally desirable when choosing a house. Basics such as size, location, local amenities and crime levels are commonly cited by prospective buyers as key considerations in their hunt for a home. However, when you factor in your price range you can frequently find that it becomes necessary to make concessions.

Ultimately, what points you decide to concede on will depend upon your lifestyle and the importance you place on certain perks. According to a survey from Which?, the top three aspects which people deemed as deal breakers which they did not compromise on were local crime levels, number of bedrooms and proximity to schools. Size of property came 6th and preferred location came 8th.

Location vs size

One decision which seems to crop up more than others is whether to prioritise the size of a property or its location. Many factors can influence your decision here, so it can be helpful to ask yourself some telling questions to determine what’s best for you.

• What do you want the extra space for? – If you merely want a larger house to have a spare bedroom or study, you may find you could easily live without this space as it won’t affect your day-to-day living.
• How willing are you to carry out work on the property? – If you are willing to carry out improvements to a house, building an extension to an existing house can give you the space you desire without affecting location. What’s more, the difference in price between a 2/3 bedroom house or a 3/4 bedroom house is usually much larger than the cost of building your own extension.
• Are you thinking of starting a family? – If you are looking for a forever house to grow into and raise kids in, space will be very important. Bear in mind school catchment areas when making this decision though.
• What are your travel requirements? – According to SpareRoom, around 40% of people have moved to be closer to work; bear in mind that location can have a positive influence on your long-term travel costs. However, if you are commuting regardless, being flexible on location can help you find a more spacious home.  

Planning

So long as you are realistic in your expectations, there will be a property out there which will meet your needs and that you can love. Although the whole process can be an emotional one, try to rationalise what you need most from your future house to try and simplify finding it. To reduce pressure and stress further, you should also try to plan well in advance, keeping in good communication with your estate agent, solicitor and, when the time comes, your removals firm.

Darvills & Benns is a reliable, professional removals company which operates across Bradford, Halifax and the surrounding areas. Our company has a long and dependable history, having been established over 130 years ago. This experience, combined with our skilled team, allows us to offer customers a comprehensive, stress-free removals service. Simply get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss your relocation requirements.