My thoughts exactly @Obelixx I haven't even seen the house yet however I'm already having ideas in my head of how the garden could look. So much room to play with and you could really fit a lot in! It's also south facing 😁😁
As you haven't viewed the house yet your question may not even apply! If you really like the house then don't let the hedge put you off. But you may find a house just as good with a better garden.
But, before making an offer, find out who the hedge belongs to, talk to the neighbour and find out if they like it, find out how much it would cost to get rid of the hedge and put up a fence.
I can't tell how wide the garden is. Is the boundary on the right the trellis with the bushes or is it the fence further right?
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Deliveryman came with a parcel so I hadn't seen the photos of the second garden. Looks a better one. Also, even though the second house needs work, you may find that a bigger house that you can change gradually as finances permit will suit you better in the long run.
Is this your first viewing? Make sure you have seen all the possibilities and the surroundings. Houses come on the market all the time and you don't want to regret your decision later. Tricky though as you don't want someone else to snap up a house you've set your heart on.
Often estate agents don't allow you enough time for a viewing. When we were buying a house the agents only allowed half an hour. I can spend longer that that choosing a dress!
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Lol @Busy-Lizzie My partner is the same! He can spend just as long choosing a pair of boxer shorts and it drives me insane haha
Yes this is my first ever 2 viewings and yea it is hard to not to set your heart on something especially when this is all new. The house is in a lovely village and there are some huge expensive houses surrounding me so to be honest the house we are looking at is on the cheaper end of the scale. It's an end terrace and I've seen other properties in that area for a similar price and they don't come close to the one with the walled garden.
It is going to be very hard to make a decision after seeing both though because as you said I'm scared of then something even better coming along. But I suppose that can always happen.
We saw 17 houses when we bought our Norfolk cottage. But some were obviously not right. Got emotional about two and bought one of them. Right decision!
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
If you havent done any viewings yet, then Id say you should try to rein in your hopes! in my experience, an internet listing often bears little resemblance to reality. The only way is to get out and see them really. Obviously the online details give you an idea, but much of the time the house feels very different (in either a good or bad way) when you actually go there. As busy lizzie says, its a big decision and you want to get it right, dont dismiss houses too readily online, and try not to fall head over heels for them online either, it can colour your judgement and make you overlook the pitfalls it may have when you actually view it.
Book as many viewings in your budget/location as you can, often the ones that dont seem as appealing online can be perfect in reality. On any second viewings try to be really objective, and take notes and photos.
As for the gardens, the walled one looks potentially lovely. But I bet nearly everybody on here completely transformed their gardens from how it was when they moved in. Even if I moved into a house with a stunning garden, I think I would want to reshape it and make it feel my own
Wow 17 houses seems a lot. But I'm glad it was worth the time in the end for you! I can imagine a cottage in Norfolk is always going to be quite beautiful!
To be honest I'm a very very indecisive person so I tend to agonise over things like this (and I call my partner indecisive!) the good thing with this house search is I definately know what I don't want in terms of the building itself and the type of area.
I am trying to be realistic in regards to what we will get for our money. I'm definately not going to get the Edwardian mansion with 3 acres of land that I have seen countless times on Escape to the country
@Eglantyne I am definately going to do this. I did start to think oh I hope they don't think I'm being cheeky checking out every little detail and nit picking everything but I suppose it's necessary! And I am going to take a list of questions so that I don't miss anything crucial out!
The crucial thing is who owns the hedge. If it's the neighbours, all you can do is trim it back. If it's yours you can take it out but you might upset the neighbours. We had a fat, messy lonicera hedge removed, and it was surprising what space it was taking up. Getting the top cut back and removed was one job, but then we had to get in a stump-grinding firm which did a brilliant job of removing the stumps and roots and shredding them all up, leaving a shredded mulch we could plant in. We put in a panelled fence as a short-term measure and then a variegated griselinia hedge which is much neater and smarter. This still left an extra area that is now a flower border.
If the hedge has to stay, I really wouldn't try to plant next to it, for reasons you've already identified yourself. Best just work within the constraints it sets you, and re-landscape the rest of the garden as you go along.
The second garden does look a more inviting project, although it would need a lot of work too. Once you view the houses properly, you may find the decision is made for you. Gardens are more easily changed than houses.
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As you haven't viewed the house yet your question may not even apply! If you really like the house then don't let the hedge put you off. But you may find a house just as good with a better garden.
But, before making an offer, find out who the hedge belongs to, talk to the neighbour and find out if they like it, find out how much it would cost to get rid of the hedge and put up a fence.
I can't tell how wide the garden is. Is the boundary on the right the trellis with the bushes or is it the fence further right?
It is my first house so obviously I just don't want to rush into anything.... But still so excited lol
Deliveryman came with a parcel so I hadn't seen the photos of the second garden. Looks a better one. Also, even though the second house needs work, you may find that a bigger house that you can change gradually as finances permit will suit you better in the long run.
Is this your first viewing? Make sure you have seen all the possibilities and the surroundings. Houses come on the market all the time and you don't want to regret your decision later. Tricky though as you don't want someone else to snap up a house you've set your heart on.
Often estate agents don't allow you enough time for a viewing. When we were buying a house the agents only allowed half an hour. I can spend longer that that choosing a dress!
Yes this is my first ever 2 viewings and yea it is hard to not to set your heart on something especially when this is all new. The house is in a lovely village and there are some huge expensive houses surrounding me so to be honest the house we are looking at is on the cheaper end of the scale. It's an end terrace and I've seen other properties in that area for a similar price and they don't come close to the one with the walled garden.
It is going to be very hard to make a decision after seeing both though because as you said I'm scared of then something even better coming along. But I suppose that can always happen.
Good luck.
We saw 17 houses when we bought our Norfolk cottage. But some were obviously not right. Got emotional about two and bought one of them. Right decision!
Book as many viewings in your budget/location as you can, often the ones that dont seem as appealing online can be perfect in reality. On any second viewings try to be really objective, and take notes and photos.
As for the gardens, the walled one looks potentially lovely. But I bet nearly everybody on here completely transformed their gardens from how it was when they moved in. Even if I moved into a house with a stunning garden, I think I would want to reshape it and make it feel my own
To be honest I'm a very very indecisive person so I tend to agonise over things like this (and I call my partner indecisive!) the good thing with this house search is I definately know what I don't want in terms of the building itself and the type of area.
I am trying to be realistic in regards to what we will get for our money. I'm definately not going to get the Edwardian mansion with 3 acres of land that I have seen countless times on Escape to the country
If the hedge has to stay, I really wouldn't try to plant next to it, for reasons you've already identified yourself. Best just work within the constraints it sets you, and re-landscape the rest of the garden as you go along.
The second garden does look a more inviting project, although it would need a lot of work too. Once you view the houses properly, you may find the decision is made for you. Gardens are more easily changed than houses.