Research the area where you want to live

Research your chosen area.

Even if you’ve lived there all your life, it’s important to do some digging on the area you want to buy in before signing on the dotted line. Look into: Any regeneration projects or transport links being planned for the area School catchment areas and Ofsted ratings if you have (or are planning to have) children. Crime rates and flood risks Traffic and noise at different times of day If you’re exploring towns or neighbourhoods you haven’t lived in before, it can also be worth spending a night or two in a local B&B to check out the commute, shops, restaurants, and general atmosphere.

Finding the best place to live

One of the best techniques to find the best place to live in any town or city is to compare and contrast many key criteria, listing them in order of importance to you and your family. Schools or a University may be your preference, or it could be your commute to work to miss a busy junction or road which may remove 30 minutes off the communute. Looking at a number of options also can removed a blinkered approach and moving say a couple of roads in one direction may save thousands off the asking price without any real loss of amenties. Spending time at this stage will make a difference when the decisions are made.

View properties in person.

While you’ll inevitably spend plenty of time browsing Rightmove and Zoopla, it’s important to view properties in person as well as online. This will understandibly take more time and effort but it is time worth investing, property purchases are a large investment afterall. Viewing homes in real life will give you a deeper understanding of their potential - or lack of it - plus you’ll be able to gauge whether they give you that indescribable ‘feeling’, which simply can’t be conveyed via a screen. When you find somewhere you like, it’s worth viewing it more than once and at different times of day, as you’re more likely to notice potential problems. Make sure you take time to look in all area, cellar, loft spaces etc, it will be worth taking a par of set ladders and a torch. Specks of light in roof space indicate holes in roofs, these cant be seen from a laptop screen.