House hunting’s an exciting time. It’s a chance to find somewhere that suits who you are and what you enjoy doing. It’s a big investment, but one that offers the opportunity to improve your quality of life. And while it’s important to find a home that ticks all the boxes in terms of size, condition, number of rooms and so on, it’s also vital to think about where it is, and whether its location fits your needs. But what should you be looking for to ensure your new neighborhood is the right one? Here are a few key points…
Schools
Are you moving with kids, or planning to start a family? If so, you might want to check out the local schools, nurseries and daycare centres before you commit to the house purchase. As a parent, being confident the schools are good is one of the most valuable benefits of an area. Conversely, poor schools, and trying to send your children to one in a different catchment area can create a lot of stress. It’s also important to check out the local green spaces, as Sunday mornings are far easier if the kids can release energy at a good playpark or football field just round the corner.
Safety
It’s often hard to judge how safe a place is just by visiting a couple of times on a Saturday afternoon. You might be able to spot signs of trouble, such as shattered glass on the pavement or broken windows, but the most reliable way to decipher how much crime there is, is by looking at the crime rates. You can do this online, plus you can chat to people who live in the area about their experiences to get a broader picture.
Another safety consideration, particularly if you have children or pets, is how close you are to a main road. Picking a quiet street with a low-speed limit will make you feel far more at ease.
Convenience
Are you someone who likes to feel well away from it all, or do you like to have everything on your doorstep? If you’re a country bumpkin, but rural homes are hard to come by, then try finding somewhere on the edge of town with easy access to the countryside, somewhere close to a large park, or in an area with plenty of greenery. Urbanites might want to live right in the city centre, but again, this isn’t always possible. In this case, find somewhere with good transport links, and which has amenities – such as supermarket, cafes and pubs – a short walk away.
To get the best of all worlds, you might want to consider looking at new developments and new builds near you. These are normally built with all the considerations above in mind. They’ll usually consist of quiet streets with slow-moving traffic, plenty of green spaces to enjoy and lots of amenities just a short walk away.
Taking all of this in mind when hunting for your new home will ensure you end up with a property you love and an area you can make some happy memories in.
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