Finding info on new area?

nabowla

I might be moving to a new area in the near future. I don't know anyone in that part of the world so have no insider info on where to start househunting. Can anyone recommend any websites that give the lowdown on good (and bad) neighbourhoods?

julesgr

I used up my street when I moved here 6 months ago found out some basic stuff etc, you can also try the website for your new local council.
www.upmystreet.com

dander

You can't beat actually going there and looking around yourself. Even if you're going a long distance it would be worth getting a hotel in the area and spending some time there to really get a feel for the place. The kind of money you spend on a house is a huge amount to risk on the basis of other people's opinions.

Just driving around the area will quickly give you a starting point of which areas you like the look of, and which you don't - then you can start investigating the 'good' ones more thoroughly.

lynzpower

Definatley back up what dander says. Personally, Id leave the car as far away from the prospective streets as you can after dark, suss out what, if anythings going on? Kids outside the offy? Groups of sketchy people about? Burned out cars? LOL im in london so these are the things Id look for, as well as wheres the nearest, library, dry cleaners, transport links, schools etc.

nabowla

Sussing out the area myself is going to be a bit tricky. I don't own a car and would only have one month to sort everything out: packing, finding somewhere to live, moving, buying a car, refresher driving lessons (haven't driven since I passed my test), getting ready to start a new job, the whole works :eek: Thankfully I'm looking for somewhere to rent rather than to buy so I'm not risking huge amounts of money, just my personal happiness. The Upmystreet website sounds useful - thanks for the link.

libra10

You might find the following websites useful

http://www.homecheck.co.uk/hcf/Welcome.do;jsessionid=03D3F0A8EF958C597E6E2B6EE34C444D

http://www.nethouseprices.com/

http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/home.do;jsessionid=ac1f930dce6ec46f0afa90646469da8e5662acc8a0e.e38OaNuRbNuSbi0LbhqMbNyTax0Pe6fznA5Pp7ftolbGmkTy?bhcp=1

Good luck

lday77

If you won't have time to check out the area yourself, could you post what area (county) you're thinking of moving to on this forum - I'm fellow MSE's will be more than happy to offer their advice on good and bad areas etc.

Bun

Hi, I'm in the same situation, and as well as using the websites already mentioned, which have been very helpful, I've searched the area's council website (and then compared it to our own). This should also tell you where the stamp duty free areas are, which tells you where they consider disadvantaged, whcih may mean avoid, may mean the area is being significantly improved. In addition I have googled and found the local papers online, which have given information on crime, local press releases about meetings regarding local problems/activities, good things about local schools etc. The letters pages have also been useful. No area is perfect, but at least you can see how it compares to your own. It will at least let you no any areas to absolutely avoid. You could also keep an eye on the area both to rent and buy on rightmove, so you can see which areas they find hard to fill. I was also going to ask for local advice on this board as everybody is extremely helpful.

mummytofour

I replied on your other post, but having seen this one and the fact that you wont have much time to look around areas, I would again say Horsham is a good bet if you want somewhere clean and safe with good rail links.