Anyone have a second home?
Discussion
Not a holiday let or investment property, but another house you regularly live in?
We have a nice place in the country. Until recently we had two children (13/11) who get the school bus about 10 miles each way. We now have three children (which will probably become 4), and the idea of going back to the daily school run (about 2hrs a day total) isn't that appealing. We considered moving back into the local town, but we like where we are and it does have some earning potential for retirement, which anywhere in town without land would not.
Which brings me to my current bright idea - a smaller place in town for through the week, and keep our country house for weekends and school holidays. I know this is how old-London society used to do things, but does it still pass a sanity check today? The additional property would cost more than our current and future fuel spend, but would save lots of time, and eventually is another asset to sell or for the older children to use.
Does anyone still do this? Is it more hassle than it is worth? Keeping track of where things are, keeping food in-date, two sets of household bills. Is it really worth considering?
We have a nice place in the country. Until recently we had two children (13/11) who get the school bus about 10 miles each way. We now have three children (which will probably become 4), and the idea of going back to the daily school run (about 2hrs a day total) isn't that appealing. We considered moving back into the local town, but we like where we are and it does have some earning potential for retirement, which anywhere in town without land would not.
Which brings me to my current bright idea - a smaller place in town for through the week, and keep our country house for weekends and school holidays. I know this is how old-London society used to do things, but does it still pass a sanity check today? The additional property would cost more than our current and future fuel spend, but would save lots of time, and eventually is another asset to sell or for the older children to use.
Does anyone still do this? Is it more hassle than it is worth? Keeping track of where things are, keeping food in-date, two sets of household bills. Is it really worth considering?
It sounds like a very expensive way to avoid doing the school run - don’t know the value of property we’re talking about, but just the second home stamp duty will be significant, let alone the normal stamp duty, heating and utilities, maintenance and having to buy a whole load of new furniture, white goods, tvs etc etc.
I can also imagine a situation where on Friday afternoon, going ‘home’ will feel like a hassle.
I might consider a second home at some point, but there would have to be a benefit to it that went well beyond mere convenience - I.e. beach location, quiet escape etc.
I can also imagine a situation where on Friday afternoon, going ‘home’ will feel like a hassle.
I might consider a second home at some point, but there would have to be a benefit to it that went well beyond mere convenience - I.e. beach location, quiet escape etc.
We are also considering this so interested to read the responses.
In our case its the other way around insofar as we have the city centre place which is great for avoiding commutes and having the buzz of a city around you, but as we get older the idea of not being city centre appeals. We do have a house abroad already also where we can spend a chunk of time. One thing with owning that which is fairly obvious is the doubling of maintenance so we went with modern low maintenance properties with modest outside space to minimise that. Also factor in having to buy a second set of everything in your house, from cutlery to clothing.
In our case its the other way around insofar as we have the city centre place which is great for avoiding commutes and having the buzz of a city around you, but as we get older the idea of not being city centre appeals. We do have a house abroad already also where we can spend a chunk of time. One thing with owning that which is fairly obvious is the doubling of maintenance so we went with modern low maintenance properties with modest outside space to minimise that. Also factor in having to buy a second set of everything in your house, from cutlery to clothing.
If you're decamping the whole mob weekly it sounds impractical.
An adult or two treating one place or the other as temporary works well enough for me - especially on a short working week - but doing 5/2 with kids + all their stuff sounds like effort.
You'd be longing for the school run instead of the logistics & stress you'd be replacing it with. Or you'd end up just not bothering with swapping after a while and end up back using just a single home.
An adult or two treating one place or the other as temporary works well enough for me - especially on a short working week - but doing 5/2 with kids + all their stuff sounds like effort.
You'd be longing for the school run instead of the logistics & stress you'd be replacing it with. Or you'd end up just not bothering with swapping after a while and end up back using just a single home.
Yes, it does seem like an overly complicated and expensive solution to a non-problem. The country house would be the 'main' house for sure, the smaller town pad just a base. No moving suitcases full of stuff back and forwards every week. The children wouldn't have their own rooms, it would be more like a crew house/bunk house, set up with minimal distractions (no TV, computers) to encourage homework, study etc. through the week.
The hire driver has been suggested but not one I'm keen on.
Anyway, I'm just trying to consider all angles. We may well end up moving back into town, but the thought of having to pack up and move again is not one I relish.
The hire driver has been suggested but not one I'm keen on.
Anyway, I'm just trying to consider all angles. We may well end up moving back into town, but the thought of having to pack up and move again is not one I relish.
JoshSm said:
If you're decamping the whole mob weekly it sounds impractical.
An adult or two treating one place or the other as temporary works well enough for me - especially on a short working week - but doing 5/2 with kids + all their stuff sounds like effort.
You'd be longing for the school run instead of the logistics & stress you'd be replacing it with. Or you'd end up just not bothering with swapping after a while and end up back using just a single home.
Agree with this. I have two places and I switch between them but doing so with kids and literally every week would be a nightmare I’m sure An adult or two treating one place or the other as temporary works well enough for me - especially on a short working week - but doing 5/2 with kids + all their stuff sounds like effort.
You'd be longing for the school run instead of the logistics & stress you'd be replacing it with. Or you'd end up just not bothering with swapping after a while and end up back using just a single home.
LimaDelta said:
Yes, it does seem like an overly complicated and expensive solution to a non-problem. The country house would be the 'main' house for sure, the smaller town pad just a base. No moving suitcases full of stuff back and forwards every week. The children wouldn't have their own rooms, it would be more like a crew house/bunk house, set up with minimal distractions (no TV, computers) to encourage homework, study etc. through the week.
I can see the kids being less than happy with the weekday home in that case! Admittedly its a flight away, but we found doing long weekends at the second home ok for a while but soon the realities of the journey each time outweighed a lot of the pleasantness of being there, or thinking of the journey home only a few days later. We much prefer how we tend to use it now for extended periods at each - ideally a month here and a month there, subject to social commitments at each end.
In a similar manner, I have to travel regularly between Leeds and Southampton for family reasons and if you go for any less than about 5 days I find myself driving down there almost grimacing at the opposite side of the carriageway knowing its only a few days before I will be having to drive it in reverse. Wasn't an issue for the first year or so but with time it soon grated.
I also think you want to ideally have similar creature comforts each place, or else you might miss certain "advantages" of the other home, albeit appreciate the location change might give rise to other perks in itself to offset what you might miss when at the other house.
LimaDelta said:
Yes, it does seem like an overly complicated and expensive solution to a non-problem. The country house would be the 'main' house for sure, the smaller town pad just a base. No moving suitcases full of stuff back and forwards every week. The children wouldn't have their own rooms, it would be more like a crew house/bunk house, set up with minimal distractions (no TV, computers) to encourage homework, study etc. through the week.
The hire driver has been suggested but not one I'm keen on.
Anyway, I'm just trying to consider all angles. We may well end up moving back into town, but the thought of having to pack up and move again is not one I relish.
The kids will hate that and you could end up with a deeper problem of them starting to resent you for it. What does the wife think? The last thing you want is to be six months in and financially committed and then realise you have become the enemy of the entire family. Divorce is much more costly! Also, how happy would you be with a bunk house idea? The hire driver has been suggested but not one I'm keen on.
Anyway, I'm just trying to consider all angles. We may well end up moving back into town, but the thought of having to pack up and move again is not one I relish.
These things only really work if both properties are mirrored with at least the basic conveniences.
I think the idea has been floated already of an air bnb to give it a go for say a month see how it gets on.
Ok, bunk house might give people the wrong idea. They won't be on mattresses on the floor, it will still be a home, just not the main home. However, to offer the kids a room each and the space they have right now would mean spending essentially the same as we spend on the main house, which is not really feasible. Plus there will be no compulsion to stay there, only that it will be there for the times when it makes sense. Sometimes it will be convenient, sometimes it won't.
You have to ask yourself why you bought your main home in the first place. It’s clearly not convenient for aspects of daily like so there must be massive positives that outweigh that. In that case you would be better off investing in some other way of dealing with the kids travel needs as suggested because anything else would just add to the inconvenient reasons around where you live now. You need to make sure your solution doesn’t lead to another unintended consequence of the family starting to hate the main house.
I’ve been looking into this recently due to my wife’s new job , what should be an easy 2 hour round trip will easily be 4 hours plus due to traffic .
Options are buy a second home, rent a second home , live in hotels during the week or try and do a deal with an air b and b host for 4 nights a week , the latter is the only one that makes real sense .
Buying comes with the bills , increased stamp duty , increased council taxes unless your willing to bend the truth by saying your separated .
There’s no kids to take into consideration for us so it makes it easier but the second home costs a lot more than you first think .
Options are buy a second home, rent a second home , live in hotels during the week or try and do a deal with an air b and b host for 4 nights a week , the latter is the only one that makes real sense .
Buying comes with the bills , increased stamp duty , increased council taxes unless your willing to bend the truth by saying your separated .
There’s no kids to take into consideration for us so it makes it easier but the second home costs a lot more than you first think .
We’ve had a holiday home for 5 years but it’s used purely for school holidays and occasional weekends, and we don’t rent it out and never would do. We love having it but it’s not something to enter into lightly as there’s the inevitable maintenance to keep on top of, things go wrong every so often (a dodgy light switch and faulty shower right now plus we’ve just had to have some woodwork replaced) and of course it’s simply an expensive luxury.
Your situation is different of course but the same would apply although the expense is outweighed by the appreciation over the long term. One thing I’d suggest is you look at buying a newer or recently refurbished property to help keep the costs down.
I have to say it does sound like a lot of faff to get involved with in your circumstances
Your situation is different of course but the same would apply although the expense is outweighed by the appreciation over the long term. One thing I’d suggest is you look at buying a newer or recently refurbished property to help keep the costs down.
I have to say it does sound like a lot of faff to get involved with in your circumstances
craigjm said:
You have to ask yourself why you bought your main home in the first place. It s clearly not convenient for aspects of daily like so there must be massive positives that outweigh that. In that case you would be better off investing in some other way of dealing with the kids travel needs as suggested because anything else would just add to the inconvenient reasons around where you live now. You need to make sure your solution doesn t lead to another unintended consequence of the family starting to hate the main house.
The country house is our forever home (although I dislike the term, and yes there are massive positives which outweighed the minor inconvenience of driving into town on occasion. However, since growing the family again, those occasions will be more and more frequent.I can't see the kids hating the main house, as it (and the land) offer things no town house ever can.
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