4:-Area research tips
How do I research an area effectively?
When checking out a new area, you can be armed with all the statistics possible but you cannot beat getting out of your car, walking the street and getting a feel for the area yourself. Remember your instinct is your best guide to what is right for you. Trust it.
Here are some top tips for how to get a good feel for an area:-
Start with an Estate Agent. They will be very helpful as they want to sell you property. Ask them the following:-
- What are the well sought after roads? Why are they sought after?
- What roads are in the catchment areas for good schools?
- What area always sell well and why does this sell well?
- What is the average age of homebuyers in the area?
- Do any areas have ASBOS or problems with youths, crime and graffiti?
- Where are the nearest train stations? How long does it take to walk?
- What main road links are nearby?, where are the major bus routes?
Do Your Own research
Remember the estate agent is keen to sell you a property and may put a gloss on everything. Therefore take thier advice with a deal of scepticism. You cannot beat doing your own research. Here are some things to look out for in a new area:-
- Visit the local supermarket:- This is a perfect way to check out all your neighbours in one go. Is it more olive bar, and Waitrose or frozen food and Lidol?
- Is it open 24 hours? If you live a busy life then this could be good for your hectic schedule.
- Go and the area visit at day and night. Is it busy? noisy? too quiet? well lit?
- Do a lot of retired people live there? Is it a commuter town? If so is there little life in the day? Is it mainly a place for young people? Is it all bars and not much else?
- Walk the streets – What are the shops like? Are their many bars, pubs and restaurants? Check the price and a menu of the local Fish and Chips, Chinese and Indian takeaway. If Fish and chips cost a tenner you know you are in an expensive boutique area!
- Nip to the local pub for drink. It will give you a flavour for the area, and the local people. It can also be very relaxing after a long day house hunting!
- Walk up and down the streets – are there lots of sale boards? If so then this could tell you two things – firstly what’s wrong with the area, why is everyone selling? Or secondly you are in a good position as a buyer to negotiate as you have options due to many people selling their property at the same time.
- What cars to people drive? Lots of 4×4’s and estates could mean families, whilst plenty of sports cars could mean affluent young professionals. Look out and avoid an area with too many burnt out wrecks. You don’t want to live on joyrider highway.
- What are the properties like in the street? Are they well maintained? Are they being gentrified are the lawns and drives well looked after? All these factors can tell if you an area is on the up, is well looked after or is perhaps in decline.
- Check to see if each property is a house or a flat. Are there a lot of properties with entry phones and doorbells? This could mean that there are lots of flats. Perhaps you could even deduce that you maybe an owner-occupier surrounded by letting tenants.
- Check the newsagent windows for community related events? Look at the interests and activities. What’s advertised? What clubs and societies are there? Is it origami and Yoga or Bridge and bird watching?
- Are there any new developments going up. Developers will be building in an area that will give them a good return on their investment. This could be a good sign. Is this an up and coming area?
- What is the age of the area? is it young? Great for now maybe, but what about 5 years time when perhaps you might want a family? Alternatively is it too old?, are you not ready for washing your car in the drive and sharing sugar with the neighbours!
- What other local facilities are there? e.g. Leisure centre, Gym, Cinema, community groups and clubs etc.
- What is the traffic like? Check in rush hour and check during the day.
- Are their any bad areas nearby? Look out for tower blocks, graffiti, burn out cars.
Please now go on and read the remaining pages in this section.
