You could find your dream
home but if the area is
not what you want then you
will probably never be content
in your new home. It is
crucial that you find the
right area before you even
think about looking for
a home. There are a lot
of things to take into consideration
when choosing an area such
as crime, neighbors etc.
Here are a list of things
that you should find out
about before opting for
an area.
Amenities
Have you got interests outside
the home that you like to
do frequently? Maybe you
like to do aerobics, got
to bingo or you like to
go to the cinema. Maybe
you don`t have any transport
of your own and you need
to be close to local shops.
You will need to think about
things that you can`t live
without and whether the
area has them.
Here are some
things that you should make
a list of.
-
Do the area
have a busy high street and
do they have enough of the shops
that are of interest to you?
-
How far is the
nearest supermarket?
-
Is there a big
out of town shopping center
within reach?
-
Is there a leisure
center or gym to serve the area?
-
Are there enough
parks for the children?
-
Are there local
youth clubs that your children
can join?
-
Is there a local
library?
-
Is there a cinema?
If not is there one one in the
surrounding areas?
-
How far is the
town center?
-
Is there a local
post office, newsagents, butchers
etc.? Basically, is there anything
that forms part of your life
which would be difficult to
do without? If the answer is
yes and giving it up would make
you terribly unhappy, then maybe
it wouldn't be such a smart
move.
Crime Very few people want to
move into an area with a high
crime rate. The level of crime
in an area can have wide ranging
effects, from making you uncomfortable
walking the streets, extremely
wary of who your kids make friends
with, to being downright scared
in your own home. Crime can rip
the soul out of a community and
turn people's lives upside down.
There are obvious telltale signs
to look out for - graffiti scrawled
on walls and shop shutters, smashed
windows, burnt out cars, crime
is not always so obvious in the
evidence it leaves behind. Find
out about the crime rate in any
area you are thinking of moving
to. Check local newspapers, ask
residents, shopkeepers. Don`t
ask the seller they won`t give
you an honest answer. How many
houses are boarded up or are up
for sale?
Generally the house prices in
an area that has a high crime
rate will be cheaper then that
of its neighbors with little or
no crime. You can find out how
much crime an area has by using
www.upmystreet.com This site also
covers all aspects of an area
from, house prices, schools to
finding a plumber for that area.
Landscape
It can be worthwhile giving some
consideration to the physical
appearance of the area in which
you want to live. You don`t want
to open your curtains on a morning
to be greeted by a over polluted
factory. If you want to live in
a city, which most people do.
You will still need clean air.
Find out the answers to questions
such as
-
How built up
is the area?
-
How green is
the environment?
-
Are there plenty
of parks and trees?
-
Is the area
clean?
-
How quickly
can you get from the area out
into the country? Is it near
to the sea?
-
Are there any
factory`s in or around the area?
-
Remember that
certain industries have factories
that some people find pretty
ugly and that create unpleasant
smells or noise. If you have
no transport do you really want
to live in an area that has
lots of hills. What sort of
factories are active in the
area?
Neighbors
There is no real way of knowing
what the neighbors will be like
before you decide on a particular
property. The last thing you want
is "neighbors from hell".
Most house owners keep themselves
to themselves but it is still
a good idea to find out a little
bit about your future neighbors.
Ask the owner of the house you
are interested in, if they will
introduce you to the neighbors
They may get on very well and
this might be a good sign. But
just because they get on doesn't
mean you will get on. If the owner
frowns ask what is the matter
with the neighbors They might
have a running feud or they might
simply not get on with one an
other. Visit the neighbors if
you can you should get an inkling
whether or not you will like them.
As there is know real way of knowing
what the neighbors are going to
be like, keep your eyes open and
be ready for anything that might
a rise. Transport
If you are looking for peace and
quite it is no good moving near
an airport or a railway line.
But if you haven`t got your own
transport you will need a way
of getting to and from work, shops
in a neighboring town etc.
Answer these questions and you
will clarify your transport needs
-
How do you
normally get around and will
you be able to do that in the
new area?
-
How easy will
it be to get work?
-
Are there cycle
paths and footpaths?
-
Can you easily
get on to the motorway?
-
Does there
appear to be many taxi services
around?
-
What is the
local public transport like?
-
Are there good
bus services?
-
Does there
seem to be traffic problems?
-
Is there a
mainline train station nearby?
-
What rail network
does it connect you to?
-
Is it difficult
to get to an International airport?
Here are some useful
tips on choosing the right area
If you are moving with your partner,
make sure you both go have the same
ideas on where you want to live
or one or both of you will not be
able to settle.
Visit the area during the day and
night if you can. See if you can
spot many For Sale signs if there
are a lot of them on anything but
a new development, this can be a
bad sign. Why is everyone leaving?
Similarly, take note of the apparent
state of local businesses - are
they run down, or does it appear
that investment is coming into the
area?
Have a drink in one or two of the
local pubs to test the atmosphere.
You might even get to know a few
of the locals.
