Move from detached to a semi?

Downsizer

New Member
Messages
8
I'm downsizing from a detached property and am considering a semi-detached house built in 2006.

The big concern is hearing noise from next door. The living room, dining area of the kitchen, master and other double room are all on the party wall. Am I mad to consider it? Is soundproofing effective? Is it expensive?

I haven't viewed the property yet.
 
Everyone's different I suppose. Do you have to downsize right now? If you don't and have never lived in a semi-det, it's very difficult to explain what you'll be giving up.
 
Everyone's different I suppose. Do you have to downsize right now? If you don't and have never lived in a semi-det, it's very difficult to explain what you'll be giving up.
No, I don't have to but it's a good time to sell.

I did live a 90s built semi in a house share, they were poorly built houses. I could hear plugs being inserted into sockets, socket and light switches being turned on and off next door, domestic violence and arguing. Inside the house I knew what people were doing in the bathroom and see light from other rooms coming in under the skirting boards!
 
No, I don't have to but it's a good time to sell.

I did live a 90s built semi in a house share, they were poorly built houses. I could hear plugs being inserted into sockets, socket and light switches being turned on and off next door, domestic violence and arguing. Inside the house I knew what people were doing in the bathroom and see light from other rooms coming in under the skirting boards!
Good time to sell? Yes, but not necessarily a great time to buy. By buying and pocketing some money, you will more than likely be more asset poor in what you have. Yes, you'll have some dosh, but if you're youngish and want to trade up again, it's probable that a lot of money is going to be needed. But, if you're downsizing forever then make certain you have the right place to enjoy life and living. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it. Tons of good luck with it if you do.
 
I'm downsizing from a detached property and am considering a semi-detached house built in 2006.

The big concern is hearing noise from next door. The living room, dining area of the kitchen, master and other double room are all on the party wall. Am I mad to consider it? Is soundproofing effective? Is it expensive?

I haven't viewed the property yet.
Downsizer
Do not move into a semi under any circumstances unless you have no other choice. I grew up in a terraced house and to be honest noise was not a issue probably because every house had a clatter of kids all making noise. Emigrated for several years returning to buy a semi detached house. To cut a long story short Gardai could do nothing about noise and carry on next door. Two years of hell. Purchased a detached. Moved twice since bought detached and will never ever live in a semi again. Up where I grew up sadly every few months former neighbours pass on and talking to elderly people one of their main worries is who will move in attached to the house or secondly will social welfare/housing body buy next door.
Dont go taking huge risks that without exaggeration could. ruin your quality of life.
 
Good time to sell? Yes, but not necessarily a great time to buy. By buying and pocketing some money, you will more than likely be more asset poor in what you have. Yes, you'll have some dosh, but if you're youngish and want to trade up again, it's probable that a lot of money is going to be needed. But, if you're downsizing forever then make certain you have the right place to enjoy life and living. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it. Tons of good luck with it if you do.

Downsizer
Do not move into a semi under any circumstances unless you have no other choice. I grew up in a terraced house and to be honest noise was not a issue probably because every house had a clatter of kids all making noise. Emigrated for several years returning to buy a semi detached house. To cut a long story short Gardai could do nothing about noise and carry on next door. Two years of hell. Purchased a detached. Moved twice since bought detached and will never ever live in a semi again. Up where I grew up sadly every few months former neighbours pass on and talking to elderly people one of their main worries is who will move in attached to the house or secondly will social welfare/housing body buy next door.
Dont go taking huge risks that without exaggeration could. ruin your quality of life.
Thank you to both of you, much appreciated.

I won't need to upsize again, just wanted a smaller house. I have enough equity to be a cash buyer, a smaller house would be more economical to run and maintain, and the plan is to throw money into a retirement fund.

I guess I'll have to wait until a suitable detached becomes available and reassess then. I was expecting more properties to come to market after restrictions were lifted but that has yet to materialise.
 
I downsized from a detached to a smaller semi-detached bungalow 2 years ago. Houses built in mid to late 1990s. I don't hear a thing from indoors next door, thankfully. My first house, also a semi-detached, was so poorly soundproofed that we could hear next door stirring tea!
What has taken a lot of getting used to is the noise from outdoors - next door's front garden is much closer to my lounge window than the detached gardens were, so I hear all the noise from children playing, music, chat, etc. The garden is the "go-to" play area for many of the kids in the immediate area, so there can be a lot of noise.
What you can hear indoors isn't the only consideration when thinking about downsizing from a detached house.
 
I have always lived in terraced housing. The difference in my view, is that the older houses, as a general principle, had much better noise insulation. I literally cannot hear most noise. I do hear if my neighbour puts on the hoover in the hall, or drills a hole, but it is very occasional.
 
I have never lived in a detached house - what am I missing?

The vast majority of people live quite happily in semi-ds, terraced or apartments.

Brendan
I suppose it's what you're used to really. I grew up in a detached house in a rural area and am now in a detached house in a suburban area.

I'm not sure I could cope with listening to my neighbour's bathroom and bedroom activities.
 
I would never do it again unless I had absoluely no option, lived in many rented semi detached in my early years and that was back when I think they were a bit better built! Hated hearing next door running up stairs, tv, shouting etc. Worst though was an apartment my daughter was renting in a nice new development back maybe 15 yrs ago, you literally could hear the guy next door peeing as obviously their bathroom was adjacent to spare bedroom of her apartment. I'd really need to try it out first before buying which is hardly practical.

If buying I'd want one where neighbours had already done all possible extensions, avoiding possibilty of big extension spoiling garden use or overlooking worse than it might already be.
 
I've never lived in a detached either (a very urban life too), but it's striking how many people on the thread say they have only lived detached and only ever would.

I've had mixed experiences. In my own semi-D I don't hear much. Not sure if it's good quality build or quiet neighbours (maybe both). My parents now share a party wall with a guy who blasts metal 40 minutes a day during his home gym workout. They heard nothing at all from the prior owner, but he was a priest! The worst thing I've ever had was an apartment where the tenant upstairs walked around in heels after midnight.

The more you spend at home the more of a problem it becomes. I wouldn't retire to a house where you can hear neighbours all the time.
 
If I were you I wouldn't dream of doing that move.
I live in a semi - if I had been able to afford not to, I wouldn't. Now my neighbours attached are very quiet people but if they aren't you will hear noise. With my previous neighbours who were also good you could heat TV, running up and down stairs, chatting, and music. And these were good neighbours!!! The chances of hearing other peoples noises are high so don't do it.
The day - if it ever comes that I can afford detached I'll move.
 
While a detached house obviously helps with noisy neighbours, in the greater scheme of things does budgeting for some soundproofing make more sense than ruling out the majority of housing stock?

Having lived in various configurations of housing I don't think a semi-d/terraced house are so bad. Whatever about noisy neighbours I've appreciated having warm neighbours in the past and noticed how cold the winters were the times the house was vacant.
 
Back
Top