Top 10 local knowledge tips
Tips on finding the perfect area to live
House buying tips on choosing the right 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 it?
- What is the average age of homebuyers in the area?
- Do any areas have ASBOS or problems with youths, crime and graffiti?
- Where are nearest train stations? How longs 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 property and may put a gloss on everything. You cannot beat doing your own research. Here are some things to look out for in a new area. Firstly get out and walk. You cannot beat exploring an area on foot to get a real feel for what it is like.
- 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 visit at day and night. Is it busy? noisy? too quiet?
- Do a lot of retired people live there? Or is it a commuter town with little life in the day?
- 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 people and also can be very relaxing after 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? Or secondly you are in a good position as a buyer to negotiate, as it appears many people are selling 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.
- 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. This gives you a flavour for an area.
- Are there any new developments going up? New home 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 all 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.
