Post # 1

Member
108 posts
Blushing bee
We are in the process of looking at houses. Right now, we have it narrowed down to 2 houses. They are actually right across the street from each other.
House #1 – Great layout. 2100 square feet. Downstairs – 3 bedroom/2 bathrooms, den, dining room, eat in kitchen, laundry room. Upstairs – bedroom/bathroom and bonus room. Kitchen is nice but a little closed off for me. Screened in back porch and wired storage building outside. No front porch.
House #2 – Also a great layout. 2000 square feet. Downstairs 3 bedrooms/2 bathroom, den, dining room, eat in kitchen, awesome laundry room with “mud room” storage. Upstairs – bonus room only. Kitchen is great and has a “window” into the den so you could watch tv while washing dishes. Nice back porch but not screened in. Has a very prety front porch.
Why are these decisions so hard? I love both houses but I can’t decide which factors are “it” for me. I love the extra bed and bath in house #1 but I also love the more open feeling of the kitchen in House #2. I love the screened in back porch of House #1 but I love the front porch and curb appeal of House #2.
What factors seem more important to you? Price wise, they are almost identical.
Post # 2

Member
5938 posts
Bee Keeper
Gerber: Well, honestly they both sound great! Is there any one thing on your list that is most important, like the more open kitchen? I don’t suppose you know anything about the “bones” of the house yet. Whether or not the roof is in good shape or insulation is strong enough or whatever? I love me a porch and wish to heck I had one and had more curb appeal. It’s going to be years before we get good curb appeal, if ever. Need new siding badly!!
Post # 3

Member
5081 posts
Bee Keeper
Is the bedroom upstairs in House #1 the master suite? If so, do you have kids or plan on having them? I wouldn’t want to have my bedroom on a separate floor if I had children. That could be a factor. Screening in the porch on House #2 is probably a pretty easy fix. I think I’d go with House #2 based on the open kitchen and the bedrooms all being on the same floor.
Post # 4

Member
108 posts
Blushing bee
SithLady: The master is downstairs.
Post # 5

Member
5081 posts
Bee Keeper
Gerber: In that case, it might make for a nice guest suite. I’d still probably go with House #2.
Post # 6

Member
839 posts
Busy bee
House #2- you could always add a screened back porch pretty cheaply. Curb appeal and open layout is great for resale value.
If youre planning on more than 2 kids I could see going for #1. Otherwise the bonus room of #2 can be your guest room. You said the same number of bathrooms in your OP though?
Post # 7

Member
108 posts
Blushing bee
sparklesalways: Both have same number of bed/baths downstairs, but #1 has an extra bed/bath upstairs in addition to the bonus room. #2 just has the bonus room upstairs.
Post # 8

Member
108 posts
Blushing bee
Thought I would include a couple pictures. This is House #1 — 2100 sf, total 4 bedrooms/3 bathrooms and bonus room.



Post # 9

Member
108 posts
Blushing bee
This is House #2 – 2000 sf, total 3 bedroom/2 bathrooms and bonus room



Post # 10

Member
10491 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I’d personally go for number one. More space is more space and I like the kitchen, personally. I’m not a big fan of open concept kitchens where you can see if from other rooms. Like, what if I don’t feel like doing the dishes today? I don’t want to have to see them staring at me from the living room.
Post # 12

Member
4018 posts
Honey bee
After the pictures I like house 2 even more. My house has the same recessed doorway like house #1 and I hate it! Leaves and pine straw are always getting blown into it and it constantly has to be swept out. I also like the look of the interior better. Something else to consider is location. Are both houses in the same area? Is one on a noisier street? If you haven’t gone by after rain storms I would do that too to check drainage. Maybe it’s because I live in an area with low elevation, but that’s always something we consider.
Post # 13

Member
5081 posts
Bee Keeper
The curb appeal is about the same to me. But the kitchen in House #2 is much bigger and better IMO and it’s upgraded already. I also prefer tile to wood in a kitchen. A nice functional kitchen is really important to me, so if you don’t need that extra bedroom, that would be a really important feature that would push #2 ahead.
Post # 14

Member
2521 posts
Sugar bee
I would choose house number 1 assuming they are both in the same area. An extra bed adds more value I think. I personally like the kitchen- open kitchen concepts are starting to fall out of trend again. I used to love them, but my current house doesn’t have one, and I find having guests over and cooking in private is much less stressful