Tips on researching the area for your property

So you are ready to start looking for a property but you must do your research into location location location. So where do you start?

Ask local estate agents though remember they want to sell you a property and may therefore upsell the area. They should be able to tell you whether the area is within the catchment area of popular schools or close to good transport links.

Take a drive around the area and look out for:

• Houses with boarded up windows.
• Abandoned cars.
• Grafitti.

These are obviously all bad signs!

Check out the cars parked in the area; 4x4 suggest families where as Porches point to affluent professional types.

Check out the local shopping facilities - is it a Spar shop or a Deli? Is there access to a decent supermarket nearby for busy people? What are the transport links like and is it within commuter distance of a business centre.

Remember to look at the area during the day and at night. Is it too noisy, too quiet, or pleasantly busy with nearby access to trendy pubs and cafes.

And remember to look at the other houses in the area. Are they well maintained with curb appeal?

All of these things will give you a good idea as to the appeal of the area.