Doing your Homework Before Buying

Buying a new home can be a daunting experience and never more so than when you are moving o an unfamiliar area. More people today are leaving the place where they grew up or have established roots and are migrating to other areas within he UK - with financial or work related reasons proving one of he main driving factors.

Ill-informed buyers who fail to research a new area can find hem selves located just round he 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.

David Bexon, managing director of Smart Media Services Ltd said: “Today there is a vast amount of information available o those buyers who are sensible enough to do some research before making any final decision. Visitors to email4property.co.uk can review lists of the top and bottom ten streets in a given postcode by average price, search average house prices in the region or even in a given street as well as obtain further information and tips for buying in unfamiliar areas.”

When purchasing in a new area here are some essential things o investigate:

* Are developments planned for he area – the property might overlook green fields now, but what does the future hold?
* What is the crime rate?
* Are there good schools– even if children are not a consideration, top performing schools draw people to the area and can drive up house prices?
* What public transport is available and is it close to major road networks?
* What amenities are close buy – local shops, restaurants etc?

Once you have researched the area and you are ready to start viewing properties there are some further steps you can take o ensure the property is right for you:

* Arrive early to get a good feel of the neighbourhood, and prepare any local questions you may wish to ask
* Don’t make an instant judgement. Do not be influenced by the sociability of the vendors, their taste in furnishings or their (un)tidiness
* Assess the accommodation that he property provides
* Assess the general state of repair: Roof, walls, windows and doors, plasterwork, wiring, plumbing and heating, kitchen fittings and bathroom sanitary ware
* Find out if any recent improvements been carried out or will be required (e.g. double glazing, insulation, kitchen) and if guarantees exist
* Consider where the morning and evening sun will be
* If you are interested try to revisit at a different time on a different day when the area may be busier or quieter.