https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:20:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2180230 Sat, 16 May 2015 06:18:47 +0000 hellobeeboston 2180230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: congrats!! Good luck on the projects.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2180209 Sat, 16 May 2015 01:54:12 +0000 Cherrybee 2180209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi everyone. I thought I would come back and update here because our offer on house A has been accepted. </p> <p>When we got in there to view, we found that what looked like a new kitchen on the pictures was in fact just a good picture - the kitchen does need replacing, as does the bathroom. So we will be doing all three projects in the end! Never mind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090605 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 22:43:43 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2090605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm another vote probably for A UNLESS you are ok with holding off on part of B's renovations if the estimates come back higher than you thought. I realize the kitchen is small but you just never know what you might discover when you get started, and kitchens and bathrooms are expensive. It very well might be doable but just in case. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090229 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 14:21:58 +0000 Grace 2090229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would pick A, just because then the reno can be contained. Especially, if your DH is going to DIY stuff, you could be living in a disaster zone for months.</p> <p>As for the kitchen estimate, the thing with kitchens is there is a huge range on what you can spend. Moving walls, changing plumbing, laminate versus granite countertops, custom cabinets versus ikea (or painting the cabinets, for that matter), tile floors versus lino, tile backsplash versus paint, and on and on and on. Also, a huge range in appliances. Mine, which I think are perfectly nice are $2500, not $10K. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090101 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 11:04:36 +0000 travelgirl1 2090101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: My BIL did his kitchen for much less. I agree with others about smaller English houses and the HB demographic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090087 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 10:54:37 +0000 ladybee 2090087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: honestly, we've got a decent size kitchen. We are in a small suburb home and we could redo our kitchen for $10,000 but we have a much lower standard then most here as we make significantly less money.</p> <p>We are talking about it and planning $6,000 since DH and FIL will do most of the work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090083 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 10:51:34 +0000 ShootingStar 2090083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the difference is the currency conversion (£10k=$15,400) and the difference in space. </p> <p>As for appliances, if I were to redo my kitchen, I'd spend about $5900 (~£3800). Fridge $2500, range/oven $2500, microwave $300, and dishwasher $600. These are all nicer Samsung appliances, but not exactly top of the line premium brand stuff. I could see if someone wanted to redo their kitchen with all Bosch stuff and install double wall ovens, then it could get to $10k. But it doesn't have to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090066 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 10:30:04 +0000 photojane 2090066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I agree with @avivoca: -- I think it's the demographic here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090061 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 10:27:01 +0000 illumina 2090061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I've never done it, but it sounds ok to me. Bear in mind our houses are ALOT smaller than U.S houses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090036 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 09:56:08 +0000 avivoca 2090036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I think it's partly that, partly how big our kitchens are and partly that the demographic of HB is fairly well off and can afford to renovate with high priced appliances and finishes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090023 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 09:38:08 +0000 Cherrybee 2090023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@illumina: What do you make of the suggestion that £10k is a very low estimate for a new kitchen? Is it an exchange rate issue, do you think? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2090020 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 09:36:36 +0000 Cherrybee 2090020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pancakes: We haven't even put our house on the market yet!! So we will definitely miss out on A! But this created an interesting debate with DH about priorities and preferences. B has been on the market for two years (!) and at the price its advertised at it will never sell! We may make him an offer (and walk away if he wont budge on price) or we might hold out for another house A. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2089970 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 07:59:34 +0000 Pancakes 2089970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Since you mentioned that B is overpriced, if you put in an offer on it and the buyers don't accept, how likely are you to miss out on A? That might sway me in the direction of A... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2089963 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 07:06:24 +0000 illumina 2089963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>B! Seeing as you'd prefer to re-do the kitchen. I think I'd be more put off by having to sort out the loft conversion, than re-plaster all of the walls! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2089962 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 07:03:06 +0000 Bubbles 2089962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If one of them doesn't give you 'the feeling' more than the other then I'd probably go on numbers and pick the one where you stand to create more value in the house by doing the work :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose/page/2#post-2089937 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 02:50:03 +0000 Cherrybee 2089937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still haven't decided...... and the votes are neck and neck! 53 v 53!! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089936 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 02:48:46 +0000 Cherrybee 2089936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: It is a thing over here still, yes. :happy: And yes I think you must be right about the money conversation...... an eighteen thousand pound kitchen better be pretty spectacular!!</p> <p>@Mrs squirreld: Yeah and its not really about the money - we could afford to do all the work - but you cant replace a new kitchen in a house you've just bought at a premium because of the modern kitchen!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089935 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 02:37:37 +0000 Sapphiresun 2089935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe I'm crazy, but a major structural overhaul sounds more intrusive and expensive than a cosmetic change to a kitchen and some drywall (is plastering even a thing anymore?). All things being equal, I'd probably go with B as well. </p> <p>And I think maybe people aren't doing the conversion to pounds. You guys are like 2:1 to us here in Canada, and $40,000 sounds totally reasonable for a modest kitchen and bathroom redo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089933 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 02:25:02 +0000 Cherrybee 2089933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: They're virtually identical -just a few doors down from each other on the same stretch of terrace. Both need some serious garden work! </p> <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: DH will be doing most of the work eg plastering so its going to take months and months to do regardless of funds. Its something to consider - that's gonna be all our weekends taken up for the foreseeable future! </p> <p>@jedeve: None of it is really needed! But the fourth bedroom is the driver for us moving.... Our current house and the potential houses' third room is a tiny boxroom which works as a nursery but you couldn't get a bed in there! </p> <p>@twoofeverything: Thanks for the advice! My DH is in the industry but he is still the wildly optimistic one about cost! </p> <p>@photojane: Thank you!!!!! We spent some time googling kitchen appliances USA and cannot fathom how would would rack up a 10k bill! They're not that much more expensive than over here - the huge double fridges are a bit extreme though! Our appliances cost just under £2k in total! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089930 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 01:57:47 +0000 Mrs squirreld 2089930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>B :-) renovation prices aren't really comparable in different countries/currencies so aslong as you have done the research in your area I would go with B so you can make the place more your style! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089927 Sun, 01 Mar 2015 01:35:05 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 2089927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess for me it would depend on the amount of money I had for re-do's. If the kitchen and every room needed fixing up I would only take that on if I had the funds to do it right away. If it was something that could take years to get the way I wanted I would probably choose the one that was more liveable from the start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089887 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 22:43:14 +0000 avivoca 2089887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: My kitchen is pretty massive (It's an eat-in and the same size as our living room). I kind of hate it because I don't use most of the counter space. </p> <p>In response to your question, I would go with b only if you are going to hire it out. We did our bathroom last summer and while it was a week of not being able to shower, it wasn't bad otherwise. If we had done it ourselves...we'd still not have a bathroom floor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089875 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 21:57:55 +0000 jedeve 2089875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said A. I don't know if the fourth bedroom is a need ASAP, but if it's not, you could wait on it, or even decide to redo the kitchen in it instead. </p> <p>The kitchen might also grow on you. Mine is PSL cabinets and blue countertops. Umm...not what I pictuted. But now I love it! Do you have any pictures of the one you have in mind!</p> <p>And yes, for whatever reason, Americans have huge kitchens. :silly: And I still end up doing my prep work in the same tiny corner between the oven and the dishwasher, just like I have in every house and apartment I've lived in!</p> <p>Also, I heard on the radio that kitchen renos are one of the least profitable renos. So if you do do it, do it for you - not to increase the value! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089848 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 21:16:06 +0000 twoofeverything 2089848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>UGH! Thatvvv is hard and sucks!<br /> FWIW, DH and I have gutted two houses to the studs. Almost completely DIY in both places except plumbing, some electrical, and some drywall. We had no idea what we were doing but made (some) money and eventually bought our (still temporary) dream home. So I voted 'b.'<br /> I say go for the fixer-upper, but here's my advice:<br /> -budget 15-20% extra for s!#t that you don't even know could go wrong<br /> -agree on a "line": decide the point at which, at any point, you will hire a contractor<br /> -know how you're going to define and hire those contractors<br /> -add 30-40% of however long it's going to take, by the estimate of the most optimistic spouse!<br /> You've got this :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089816 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 20:15:56 +0000 plantains 2089816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cherrybee: I have done Reno on my old flat on London and the kitchen was estimated at £8k but ended up costing £16k. I would go with A, B is going to be far more expensive than you think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089776 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 19:20:34 +0000 sslm 2089776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: hmmm maybe it's the space factor!! our new kitchen is about 12x10 feet </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089770 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 19:13:28 +0000 photojane 2089770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: a $10k kitchen is totally doable... even in the states! I'd go with option b if you're up for living in a reno zone with a toddler! I'd love to completely design my own kitchen from scratch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089741 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 18:29:51 +0000 Modern Daisy 2089741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Regardless of how small the rooms are, renovations always end up costing more than you think. So double your estimate before deciding which house to go for. </p> <p>I care way more about location than anything. When we were house searching there were a TON of brand new beautiful homes on busy streets or tiny lots in our price range that i refused to even consider. I know they are on the same street, butis one on a nicer lot? That would help me make up my mind if i was okay with both reno scenarios.</p> <p>Also to your point about wanting to pick the kitchen, i totally agree. It was nice to move into our home with a totally brand new renovated kitchen but I hate the countertops. Thing is, they were expensive - so we ultimately paid for them in the sale price, and i hate them so much we are about to pay double to replace them. Worth it in the end since the $ made sense and we love our neighborhood, but if you have the choice to redesign to your liking that is a bonus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089677 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 16:39:38 +0000 Shutterbug 2089677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: haha yes, lost in translation I guess ;) given the estimates are roughly the same, I'd go with the fixer-upper so you can personalize it and choose your own finishes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/which-house-would-you-choose#post-2089670 Sat, 28 Feb 2015 16:26:56 +0000 Cherrybee 2089670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Yeah, we have one double and a single up high and two doubles and a single down low, with two drawers. </p> <p>Here's a shot from the other angle. I'm standing at the dining room door here. . </p> [attach=2581/15/nki3kw.600x337.WP_20150228_21_24_30_Pro.jpg]