Poole, Dorset

sammie1884

Thank you so much for your advice paul it has been very helpful. I will pass all this info on and I am sure it is gonna help them loads when they go down again in 2 weeks. I think that oakdale sounds just right for them.

Woby_Tide

I'm confused to why they have ruled Bournemouth out because of it's shopping area. The whole Bournemouth/Poole/Christchurch conurbation means pretty much anything is within reasonable distance of shops/beach/rural etc. That said the places mentioned in Poole I don't thin k many are easy walks to the beach apart from Lilliput/Branksome etc. which cost an arm and a leg. All depends on their budget but have they looked at likes of Southbourne/Tuckton/Christchurch/Mudeford/Highcliffe way? There is a hospital at Christchurch and then the main Bournemouth Hospital all within a reasonable drive of their. And the majority of those areas are walking distance to beach/small high streets with shops on. Plus Bournemouth and Poole are still within easy reach.

System

This year you are doing what we did last year!.

Our son and his family are in Swanage. Our daughter and husband about two hrs from them. We were in the East Midlands and both families wanted us to move nearer to them.

We kept an open mind but kept a constant eye on the cost of living and travel as we don't drive. Surprisingly enough, Weymouth council tax was higher than Poole/ Swanage/Bournemouth/Boscombe. Bus travel was the poorest in Swanage. Some property in Swanage had quirky issues as "you must have lived in the town for X years before you can have a mortgage here".

We did viewings in Portland/Weymouth/Wareham/Boscombe/Bournemouth & Poole. Regardless of whether a property was in a residential area or ex local authority estate and irrespective of how great or perfect it was, there was always something which had a downing effect, ie neighbours property/ road noise etc.

Came the day an offer was accepted, we started packing, only to have it fall through. Despondency set in, but then quite out of the blue something appeared, an offer was put in and accepted. The usual three months transaction took four months and then we moved in.

What do we have?. an end of terrace two bedroom, conservatory, patio, lush garden, two ponds, three sheds,greenhouse. We've had it decorated from top to bottom and new carpets throughout. We have so many buses to take us every 10 minutes to anywhere we want, 7 days a week. We're 5 mins from the sea and every type of shop we could possibly want and our bus pass gives us free deck chair use.

The rates, water bills, gas, electric and somewhat dearer but what the heck, I suppose this is the so-called rainy day we saved up for.

Oh yes, dare I say it? it is so so quiet and we have smashing neighbours who frequently ask if they can do any shopping for us.

sammie1884

Woby_Tide wrote: »

I'm confused to why they have ruled Bournemouth out because of it's shopping area. The whole Bournemouth/Poole/Christchurch conurbation means pretty much anything is within reasonable distance of shops/beach/rural etc. That said the places mentioned in Poole I don't thin k many are easy walks to the beach apart from Lilliput/Branksome etc. which cost an arm and a leg. All depends on their budget but have they looked at likes of Southbourne/Tuckton/Christchurch/Mudeford/Highcliffe way? There is a hospital at Christchurch and then the main Bournemouth Hospital all within a reasonable drive of their. And the majority of those areas are walking distance to beach/small high streets with shops on. Plus Bournemouth and Poole are still within easy reach.

TBH I dont really know the full reasons for ruling it out, I didnt go down with them on that trip. But I know they do like the beaches around there. I sure they have mentioned Christchurch to me but cant remember why? I will ask! There budget is up to £200k but ideal they want to spend a little less than that. Do you think Bournemouth is a betting living area than poole? They are open to all comments because it all helps them decide.

sammie1884

islandman wrote: »

This year you are doing what we did last year!.

Our son and his family are in Swanage. Our daughter and husband about two hrs from them. We were in the East Midlands and both families wanted us to move nearer to them.

We kept an open mind but kept a constant eye on the cost of living and travel as we don't drive. Surprisingly enough, Weymouth council tax was higher than Poole/ Swanage/Bournemouth/Boscombe. Bus travel was the poorest in Swanage. Some property in Swanage had quirky issues as "you must have lived in the town for X years before you can have a mortgage here".

We did viewings in Portland/Weymouth/Wareham/Boscombe/Bournemouth & Poole. Regardless of whether a property was in a residential area or ex local authority estate and irrespective of how great or perfect it was, there was always something which had a downing effect, ie neighbours property/ road noise etc.

Came the day an offer was accepted, we started packing, only to have it fall through. Despondency set in, but then quite out of the blue something appeared, an offer was put in and accepted. The usual three months transaction took four months and then we moved in.

What do we have?. an end of terrace two bedroom, conservatory, patio, lush garden, two ponds, three sheds,greenhouse. We've had it decorated from top to bottom and new carpets throughout. We have so many buses to take us every 10 minutes to anywhere we want, 7 days a week. We're 5 mins from the sea and every type of shop we could possibly want and our bus pass gives us free deck chair use.

The rates, water bills, gas, electric and somewhat dearer but what the heck, I suppose this is the so-called rainy day we saved up for.

Oh yes, dare I say it? it is so so quiet and we have smashing neighbours who frequently ask if they can do any shopping for us.

Sounds lovely, and proves that all good things come to those who wait! Can I ask what area you moved to in the end?

System

Sounds lovely, and proves that all good things come to those who wait! Can I ask what area you moved to in the end? you can and it is the one place that was on the bottom of our list, Weymouth and I'll tell you why in a minute.

Our family felt that Poole "didn't have much in the way of beach area". We said that didn't matter as we would have enjoyed the waterside area. In hindsight they were right.

Our family felt that in Bournemouth, there was the constant trek through the gardens (as nice as they are) to get to the beach area. We wouldn't have minded that. But we had to concede it was a touch hilly for my angina and my wife's walking aid.

Boscombe cliffs would have suited us and we could have used the lift, but no property in our price range came along.

Weymouth, "you won't like that place, too commercialised". Well, we can walk, and have done from Overcombe to the Harbour area, several miles all flat. The only hurdy-gurdy is a tiny small childs fair at the far end with no noise. Narrow bunting bedecked car-less shopping streets full of atmosphere. Direct rail link to London. Yes we do walk on the beach as the sand is very firm. Very frequent buses. We are actually half-way between Weymouth & Portland (just off the Rodwell Trail) and have the sea within minutes.

and no, we haven't regretted it. In fact several times we have recalled all the properties we looked at and there isn't one that we would have preferred.

sammie1884

Well I think my parents have a lot to think about, thank you for your reply islandman. It has been very helpful and proven that they can not just look at one area, I think they need to widen there options, I am going to speak to them later and hopefully get them to view the thread. I had never considered Weymouth, it sounds like you made the right choice.

Woby_Tide

sammie1884 wrote: »

TBH I dont really know the full reasons for ruling it out, I didnt go down with them on that trip. But I know they do like the beaches around there. I sure they have mentioned Christchurch to me but cant remember why? I will ask! There budget is up to £200k but ideal they want to spend a little less than that. Do you think Bournemouth is a betting living area than poole? They are open to all comments because it all helps them decide.

All personal preference really. I moved down a decade or so ago but I've yet to find or see an area in Poole that I would personally like to live in (and could afford with a reasonable wage being the main barrier). Bournemouth has different areas depending on what you want and I'd still consider quite a few areas over time there (and have lived in 3 or 4 since I've been here). Purely through choice we've ended up in Christchurch now as it suits what we want. I just think from the few descriptions/criteria you've given(close beach, hospital etc) that Bournemouth rather than Poole has more to offer personally

islandman wrote: »

Our family felt that in Bournemouth, there was the constant trek through the gardens (as nice as they are) to get to the beach area. We wouldn't have minded that. But we had to concede it was a touch hilly for my angina and my wife's walking aid.

Boscombe cliffs would have suited us and we could have used the lift, but no property in our price range came along.

Bournemouth technically has something like 6 miles of beach so they are not all reached via the Central Gardens in the town centre. From Hengistbury Head through to Branksome Chine there are numerous places with access to beaches via a variety of methods i.e straight access or via the zigzags on the cliffs. Again I've no idea what property they are looking for but have they looked at Southbourne/Boscombe areas?

redpete

sammie1884 wrote: »

Do you think Bournemouth is a betting living area than poole? They are open to all comments because it all helps them decide.

The whole Poole, Bournemouth. Christchurch conurbation contains such diverse areas within the boundaries of each town that it's pretty much impossible to say one is better than the other, it depends on the particular part of the towns.

Even Canford Heath covers such a large area that it has a mixture of desirable and less so parts of it. The areas close to shops tend to be the less desirable (IMHO).

I'd second the recommendation for Wimborne if the distance from the coast is not a problem. It's got a small hospital, there's a large one in the middle of Poole. Bournemouth has got a large hospital on the outskirts (inland) and there's another smaller one in Christchurch.

£200k is a bit on the low side to live close to the beach in either town.

islandman wrote:

Our family felt that Poole "didn't have much in the way of beach area". We said that didn't matter as we would have enjoyed the waterside area. In hindsight they were right

The best beaches in the area are actually in Poole but often claimed by Bournemouh (Sandbanks, Branksome Chine, Canford Cliffs, Shore Road). Mind you - the main campus of Bournemouth University is also in Poole.

sammie1884

Woby_Tide wrote: »

Again I've no idea what property they are looking for but have they looked at Southbourne/Boscombe areas?

Yeah they have, they LOVE Boscombe beach area but not so keen on the town or houses they have seen there. I did manage to get them to view this thread last night and they are very grateful for all the replys it has given them a lot to think about and a lot more ideas for when they go back down in a couple of weeks, I think they will be going back over bournemouth as well.