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pickles16
Real Estate Professional
Member since 11/07 17227 total posts
Name:
Jen
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need honest opinions on a house
So we found two houses...one of which I loooove it's a splanch which is a style I'm obsessed with and in the town I ideally want...but it's not deep in the best area of the town, it's in the middle if you drive a tiny bit more you're around stunning stunning houses...Also this house is a shell, we would have to redo everything, which I looove bc then it'll all be our taste and make it the way I love...DH likes it doesn't love it, bc we saw ANOTHER house that is a hi ranch, which I'm not a fan of, but these ppl put A LOT of money into this house they blew the entire first and second floor out, thye build a playroom, a huuuuge master, very high end bathrooms, took away one of the garages and built an in law suite downstairs..which makes for a total of 5 or 6 nice size bedrooms depending on you count the garage conversion...it's alll updated but not to the taste I like, and I know myself eventually I'd start getting annoyed with the style and want to make it over..it's also in the same town we're living in now, but not my top pick..I obviously don't mind the town, but would prefer the other one...DH is obsessed with this house bc of the space it has...and it's obviously more expensive than the other one, but in the other one after all the money we put in, we'd probably be even...the hi ranch is probably around 1000 square feet more than then splanch...
We're both torn..we have no clue which one to go for...bc we each love the other, and don't really mind the other..if that makes sense...
SO WWYD?
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Posted 7/19/10 8:47 AM  |
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july4mrsO
Happy boy!
Member since 5/10 2867 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
well I think when you are house hunting, unless you have unlimited funds, there will always be a compromise. No one house will be 100% perfect and you would have to decide what you're willing to budge on and what you're not. We loved this one house that had everything we were looking for except the neighborhood wasn't all that great. In the end, we passed on it and ended up with a house that needed a bit of work to make it exactly what we wanted but it's in a great neighborhood. Because that was more important to us in the end. I think you and your DH just need to sit down and figure out what you can live without and what you absolutely need in a house. GL!
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| Posted 7/19/10 9:33 AM |
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Nifheim
allo
Member since 1/09 5476 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
you can always change a house (might take 20 years) but you can't change a neighborhood. I mean unless its a transitional neighborhood.
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| Posted 7/19/10 9:36 AM |
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Megs4
LIF Adult
Member since 11/08 1619 total posts
Name:
Megan
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I agree with the previous poster - you can change anything about a house, except where it's located. That was a priority to us when we were looking.
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| Posted 7/19/10 9:45 AM |
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Pray4Baby2010
<3 Cutest Giants Fan
Member since 10/09 5796 total posts
Name:
MB
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I always heard that you buy the worst house in the best neighborhood- so with that in mind, I would buy the one that needs work and a little at a time do the construction to make it yours- that one is the most likely to appreciate in value
good luck!
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| Posted 7/19/10 9:47 AM |
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julz33
i run for bacon
Member since 5/05 20584 total posts
Name:
julz
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
it doesn't sound like either house is the right one. i would keep looking. 
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| Posted 7/19/10 9:48 AM |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
ITA w/ this. it sounds like even the 1st one although you like the neighborhood its not really the area of the neighborhood that you want
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| Posted 7/19/10 9:54 AM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I'd go with the one that's in the location you like
a-it saves you money up front
b-its in the town you want to be in (even if its not on the same block, at least your kids are in the schools so if one day you can move to the street you want no change in school)
c-you get to make it all you own
As for the high ranch thing- that was the one type DH and I really didn't want, and we almost bought one.
If its not what you want, you will be unhappy quick. and with a re-done high ranch, there isn't going to be much you can do to make it better. Don't buy a home that you know you won't love.
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| Posted 7/19/10 10:02 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I guess I would start by thinking about how much needs to be done to the house you really like. It has taken us 3 years to come to where we are in the house and it's been a long 3 years with all the construction we have done. I don't want to do anymore, but we aren't completely done yet. So if you have all the money and can get a house like this to your taste in a year, then I would go for it, but if not, maybe you guys should just keep looking for now.
When you say not your taste with the Hi-Ranch, what would need to be changed? Bathrooms & kitchens not the right tiles or cabinets? Then I would keep looking. That is a lot of money to spend to buy the house in the first place and then to have to change things. Then you are losing money on the house already.
Hope that all made sense. GL! 
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| Posted 7/19/10 10:04 AM |
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MaZz
* Lovin my baby girl!!! *
Member since 2/09 6243 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
If its not something you're both in love with, I think one id going to end up disappointed.... If I were you, I'd keep searching... Theres tons of houses on the market and the interest rates are only getting lower!
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| Posted 7/19/10 10:29 AM |
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pickles16
Real Estate Professional
Member since 11/07 17227 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
Thanks ladies!!!
I should have mentioned that the high ranch is on one of the best blocks in the town we live in..I think you're right, both houses aren't THE one...but I think we've seen soooooo many houses that I think we realize we need to compromise a tiny bit...
As for what I don't like in the high ranch, it is the kitchen and the bathrooms they made it very very very much NOT my style and I hate the look of them...nothing that I would even think of buying will go with any of it...and totally not my taste...
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| Posted 7/19/10 10:33 AM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I would keep looking then for a little while longer. GL!
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| Posted 7/19/10 10:37 AM |
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kat151
LIF Infant
Member since 2/07 215 total posts
Name:
Kathy
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I don't want to offend anyone that has one but I live in a high ranch and I hate it. I have 2 small children and the layout of the house is awful I think. The bedrooms are on the same floor as the rest of the house so if you have a child napping and the other one running around it stinks. The deck is off the kitchen which is also on the 2nd floor and it is a raised deck so again with the kids not ideal when they are playing outside becuase kids love stairs especially running up and down. We setup the den/playroom downstairs but right now they are too small to leave down their by themselves so if your cooking in the kitchen they can't be down there. So because of that I pretty much have toys in every room.
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| Posted 7/19/10 12:35 PM |
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pickles16
Real Estate Professional
Member since 11/07 17227 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
Posted by kat151
I don't want to offend anyone that has one but I live in a high ranch and I hate it. I have 2 small children and the layout of the house is awful I think. The bedrooms are on the same floor as the rest of the house so if you have a child napping and the other one running around it stinks. The deck is off the kitchen which is also on the 2nd floor and it is a raised deck so again with the kids not ideal when they are playing outside becuase kids love stairs especially running up and down. We setup the den/playroom downstairs but right now they are too small to leave down their by themselves so if your cooking in the kitchen they can't be down there. So because of that I pretty much have toys in every room.
see this high ranch alleviates a lot of those problems..the way they blew out the house..they built a playroom off the kitchen, and there is no deck, only a shaded patio area off the den on the bottom floor...although...I doubt the kids would stay in the playroom long since it's a small room that fits a lot of toys but don't know if I'd put a tv in there and the den would be in there...also you bring up a great point about one napping bc then the other would be in the playroom on the SAME floor running around...
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| Posted 7/19/10 2:30 PM |
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laurabora
LIF Adult
Member since 4/07 2712 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
It sounds like neither one is right for you guys since you don't agree on either one. I wouldn't buy a house style I disliked and I also would not be happy with a house that wasn't done to my taste (that I couldn't justify redoing). Hang in there, something will come up.
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| Posted 7/19/10 3:15 PM |
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CrankyPants
I'm cranky
Member since 7/06 18178 total posts
Name:
Mama Cranky
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
Keep looking!
I wouldn't go with the high ranch simply because they already re-did it and you will see that in the price so there won't be a save to redo the way you like it.
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| Posted 7/19/10 3:43 PM |
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KittyGags
LIF Adult
Member since 7/09 5614 total posts
Name:
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I live in a splanch and I love it!
If you're looking for ideas, i'd be happy to show you mine :) The flow and the floor plan are awesome and I also don't like high ranches.
FM me if you have any questions!
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| Posted 7/19/10 4:05 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I dont know...tough choice but the thought of major renovations with a little one kill me. We did major renovations years ago before DD and I cant see doing them with her. So if you take the house that needs work, either you will have to live in the dated style for a long time or deal with juggling renovations and small kids. I am so not up for major renovations anymore.
Message edited 7/19/2010 4:18:10 PM.
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| Posted 7/19/10 4:17 PM |
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pickles16
Real Estate Professional
Member since 11/07 17227 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
Posted by Goobster
I dont know...tough choice but the thought of major renovations with a little one kill me. We did major renovations years ago before DD and I cant see doing them with her. So if you take the house that needs work, either you will have to live in the dated style for a long time or deal with juggling renovations and small kids. I am so not up for major renovations anymore.
See that wouldn't be a problem thankfully, since we are most likely not selling the house we're currently in so we would do all major renovations before we move and then move after...
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| Posted 7/19/10 4:26 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
Posted by pickles16
Posted by Goobster
I dont know...tough choice but the thought of major renovations with a little one kill me. We did major renovations years ago before DD and I cant see doing them with her. So if you take the house that needs work, either you will have to live in the dated style for a long time or deal with juggling renovations and small kids. I am so not up for major renovations anymore.
See that wouldn't be a problem thankfully, since we are most likely not selling the house we're currently in so we would do all major renovations before we move and then move after...
I hear ya. Same here. But still, I just mean the general sense of renos...dealing with contractors, picking out things for the rooms, checking on contractors, etc. Just all that stuff alone I can't imagine lugging DD with me. Having to concentrate on which tile I want with a screaming child in the cart, etc.
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| Posted 7/19/10 5:49 PM |
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randella
Love my little man
Member since 8/05 16290 total posts
Name:
Randi
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I would go for the first house-- unless you think you can get to a better location within the town you want.
We saw a house that was totally updated and was a great house--- DH loved it, and I knew it wasn't for us, I don't care how nice the bathroom or kitchen was. The set up wasn't great for a family, although it had a lot of great aspects about it. Location was also off a main road-- although in the town we wanted.
I think it's easy to get seduced by houses that are completed renovated and very spacious, but you have to go with what will make you happy in the long run.
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| Posted 7/19/10 8:10 PM |
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I feel that if you dont both love it then keep looking. This is a very big investment and you should both agree that this is the "Home" for you both. It is a buyers market there are plenty of houses out there.
My wife and I are looking also, and we decided that we are not in a rush so if we both do not Love it then we can keep looking.
Tom
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| Posted 7/20/10 5:06 PM |
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Alli06
Baby #3 coming this June
Member since 8/05 6721 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
It is all about Location for me! Go for the house in the neighborhood you want.
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| Posted 7/20/10 7:27 PM |
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LAMGAJ28
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Member since 10/05 6039 total posts
Name:
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Re: need honest opinions on a house
I'd say to keep looking as others had mentioned. You will find a home that you both love and in the location that you are both happy about. Good Luck!
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| Posted 7/20/10 8:52 PM |
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