5 bedroomed terrace or 2 bed semi??

[squirtle]

My partner and I live in nice little 2 bedroomed semi in a cul de sac which seems to becoming a car park due to everyone owning more than one car per household , we have a garage but not directly next door or could build above it - garage is mainly used for storing crap.

Our bedroom is quite ample size however the 2nd bedroom isn't , the bathroom is average.
Nicely decorated with a patio garden to the rear, we like the quiet of the area and the garden to the rear (we have a dog) Hwever we have both talked about how we would like somewhere bigger with more room, so in price range we can only afford a terrace as most larger semi's are too expensive.........

Do you think we would be mad moving from a semi to a terrace even though the size is so much different?

I know its all down to personal taste and the area etc etc......but as an investment which would be better? Would an Estate Agents be truthful with me or not?

We don't dislike where we are and if could extend the house in any way we would but its not possible really, other than a conservatory, which are nice but we would rather have more bedrooms or a larger 2nd bedrooom.

Any comments or advice.

[Ethel]

Terrace houses are fine except so many don't have off street parking. If you are moving to a street of large houses, it is entirely feasible there will be more cars per household and everyone is struggling to find a parking space.

Lots of 5 bed houses have been turned into flats or bedsits, especially if it is near a college, university or large hospital.

If none of these sort of problems apply there are advantages to terraced housing - less maintenance as there are fewer external walls, for example.

[squirtle]

The one thing we wanted when we moved to the 2 bedroomed 14 months ago was a garden for the dog, however he isn't fussed about being out there unless we are as he is afraid he is missing out on something!! So as much as i like my garden space out the back, we don't use it much except for hanging out washing and keeping the bins. We got rid of the grass and put slate chippings down as neither of us have green fingers. I think i would rather have more space in the house than in the garden....which will hopefully be a selling point for our house as some people insist on a garden.

We do have a drive for the garage which helps with one car however we have 2 cars like everyone else so mine is on the road. I suppose the off street parking could become a problem if we did move.........

decisions decisions...........so many pro's and Cons
Smaller house, less to clean and less to heat.
Larger house.........can escape from the rugby on the tv !!

Thanks for your comments ethel.

[cassa333]

Do you have room to extend the driveway? perhaps across the front of the house? Or can you get to the back of your garden by road so that you can use the back for parking?

A move such as you are proposing is, I suppose, dependant on wether you want more indoor space or more parking space?

[coccinelle]

You might find that by changing the part of town you're in you could get a larger semi for the same price. Have a look around and at different estate agents

[squirtle]

cassa333 and coccinelle

Thanks for taking the time to reply.....unfortunately we cannot extend the driveway as our garage lies next door but one(don't know why they built like that) not everyone has a garage in the cul de sac so i guess it was an afterthought. We could however, put a drive on the front, instead of having grass there. But to be honest, that wouldn't give me more room inside which i think is the issue really.

Our semi has open plan staircase which is nice as when the fire is on it warms up the upstairs - but if either of us chooses to go up stairs to watch a bit of tv while the other stays down, then we can hear each others tv (and i know this isn't a life or death situation but its frustrating). Its little reasons like this that makes us want more space.

I guess all in all i wondered which would be more sought after in the future..........and would the price of a 2 bed semi overtake the price of a terrace even if it has 5 bedrooms. But to be honest i think not.