Poole, Dorset

sammie1884

redpete wrote: »

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.

Thank you, I think you might be right about the price and wanting to be so close to the beach. I think they are a bit dissapointed about Canford Heath as from an outsider it looks like a really nice area. so I am pleased that there may still be nice parts! I think they will be taking a serious look at all parts when they go back down and I will pass on about Wimborne.

System

I may be repeating myself here, but do you use https://www.rightmove.co.uk ? I used to enter a particular town, then add search within 3/5/10 miles etc. I also kept an open mind about number of bedrooms. Then instead of stating a town, I entered Dorset, this brought in houses that I would not have found otherwise.

Once you have seen somewhere that interests you, you the map facility on that page to take a broader look.

Also, via http://www.bing.com/maps zoom in close and look at the property. (try you own first), and you can look at neighbouring houses.

Try looking at local newspapers on-line houses for sale.

sammie1884

Yeah we do use rightmove but I didnt think of just entering dorset, I will certainly tell them to do that. Thank you for the map link that is really helpful, I like the way you can save the places you have searched. I also hadnt thought of looking at local newspapers online so will get on the case with that this afternoon!

kjmtidea

I live in the Parkstone/Branksome area and I love it, of course you will always hear bad things about most areas but on the whole it is pretty good and we have never had any problems.
I have lived in Upton, Canford Heath, West Howe :eek:, Parkstone, Branksome and Bournemouth. Upton is nice, when I lived there a few years back it was pretty quiet, everyone was friendly, it was very much a 'everyone knew everyone' type of place.

Canford Heath is nice but as a young family I found it a bit quiet where I was, although it is very pretty being surrounded by the heath.

Ideally i'd like to live in Sandbanks, I just love it there .

sammie1884

What part of Canford Heath were you? I think quiet would suit them as its only them going, my family would only be going for holidays etc.

I think we looked at Upton and really liked it, that is defo an area they will have to go back and explore more I think. I also think Parkstone needs to be explored more!

heavensbug

kjmtidea wrote: »

Ideally i'd like to live in Sandbanks, I just love it there .

Wouldn't we all

Sounds like you are getting a lot of good advice Sammie.

Tell them to take their time and make sure you take a bit of time out of house hunting and explore the area as if you lived there.

go and see some of the beaches. Grab yourself some fish and chips and sit on the Quay watching the sunseakers come in and out.

The biggest thing I miss about living in that area is that I am 2 hours from a beach and sometimes all I want to do is go and buy a chip butty and sit on the beach smelling the salt water.

sammie1884

heavensbug wrote: »

Sounds like you are getting a lot of good advice Sammie.

Tell them to take their time and make sure you take a bit of time out of house hunting and explore the area as if you lived there.

go and see some of the beaches. Grab yourself some fish and chips and sit on the Quay watching the sunseakers come in and out.

The biggest thing I miss about living in that area is that I am 2 hours from a beach and sometimes all I want to do is go and buy a chip butty and sit on the beach smelling the salt water.

loads of great advice on here, thank you everyone, I can always rely on MSE'rs!!
When they go down in a couple of weeks they have now decided to stay for longer and do exactly what you said and take time to look and explore the area rather than just houses. They are gonna stay in a hotel in poole (normally they stay with my uncle in Southampton) so that they can see what everything is like at different times of day

kjmtidea

Sherborn Crescent in Canford Heath has loads of Close's leading off of it which are all pretty quiet and really nice.

If they like Upton they might like Lytchett Minster which is just a bit further down the road.

sammie1884

Ah this is interesting because one house they like is in Chalbury Close which is off Sherborn Crescent. But after reading the earlier posts I was a bit worried that it was to near all the recent trouble? Do you know how far away it is from all the trouble?

I will defo tell them about Lytchett Minster as they really do like Upton to

delain

Personally I think Christchurch is a fantastic place to live, quiet but only a bus ride from beach/big town.

But then I'm a bit biased, having lived here for about 17 years