Tips for First Time Buyers

FIRSTTIMER

Hi,


Wondered if anyone could give me some advice on how to make sure I am picking the right location on a property and the right property.


- How do you find out about crime?, what's normal rate of crime if I look on police.uk
- How do I find out if the next door neighbours are nice if the place is empty and is being sold by estate agents not vendor?


These are just a couple of issues that have cropped up....what else should I be doing....

LKA87

I used a website called streetcheck (won't let me put full link) where you simply put in the postcode of the property and it gives you all the local statistics, there is a tab for 'Crime'. I found this helpful and also very interesting!

The house we are buying is currently empty, we did viewings at different times of the day and also on the weekend when the neighbours were in ( the children gave us a wave from the windows) We have also had a drive past at night etc. Although we haven't spoken to neighbours we've got a good feel for the place and their house/garden looks very well kept.

Hope this helps

hazyjo

Join all the local FB groups that you can. You'll soon find out about any gossip, moans, whinges, planning apps and issues in the neighbourhood.

Jx

sn1987a

You can have a look also here:
http://maps.met.police.uk/

ETA: You can check also the quality of schools in the area if you have kids.

Doshwaster

hazyjo wrote: »

Join all the local FB groups that you can. You'll soon find out about any gossip, moans, whinges, planning apps and issues in the neighbourhood.

Or spend an evening in the local pub.

hazyjo

Doshwaster wrote: »

Or spend an evening in the local pub.

Only if everyone's drunk enough to talk to each other (I'm in London!)

Jx