Top location tips for buying a home
Thursday, 21 Dec 2006 09:26
Knowing what to look for in a property's location is all important when it comes to keeping your new home's value going up
Location, location, location the saying goes, but what are the things buyers should be looking for?
New advice from Smart Media Services, the people behind Email4property.co.uk, has just been issued, pointing people in the right direction in terms of what buyers should find out about their chosen area before they go to a viewing.
"Buying a new home can be a daunting experience and never more so than when you are moving to an unfamiliar area," the site explained.
"More people today are leaving the place where they grew up or have established roots and are migrating to other areas within the UK - with financial or work related reasons proving one of the main driving factors.
"Ill-informed buyers who fail to research a new area can find them selves located just round the corner from a crime ridden estate, in the catchment area for a failing school or worse – and these mistakes can be extremely costly, both socially and financially, and in some cases can make the property almost impossible to sell on at a later date."
With this in mind, Email4property are giving their essential research list for making sure you get the location of your new home right.
Essential location research for buyers
What developments are planned for the area? The property may have views over green fields now, but will it in future?
What is the crime rate?
Are there good schools? Even if you are not planning to have children, top performing schools will draw people to the area and may drive up the price of your home.
What public transport is available and is it close to major road networks?
What amenities are close by?
Essential viewing tips for buyers
Arrive early and get a good feel for area
Do not make an instant judgement or be influenced by the sociability of the vendors, their taste in furnishings or their (un)tidiness
Assess the general state of repair of the roof, walls, windows and doors, plasterwork, wiring, plumbing and heating, kitchen fittings and bathroom sanitary ware
Find out if any recent improvements have been carried out or will be required, such as double glazing or insulation, and if guarantees exist for the improvements
Consider where the morning and evening sun will be
If you are interested in buying, make sure you revisit is at a different time of day and day of the week when it may be busier or quieter