How to choose the best place to buy your home
As the Midlands' leading surveyors and valuers since 1988, we at Carpenter Surveyors have inspected thousands of properties. We've seen firsthand how a brilliant house can be let down by a poor location, and how a "rough diamond" area can become a fantastic investment.
Buyers often fall in love with a property's features, but a surveyor is trained to look at the bigger picture. The location, its risks, and its potential are just as crucial as the building itself.
Before you even book a viewing, here is our professional advice on how to research an area like a surveyor.
Key Takeaways from Our Surveyors
Conduct 'on-the-ground' reconnaissance: Visit at different times of the day and night to understand the area's true character.
Analyse objective data: Don't rely on feelings. Check official data for crime, flood risk, and local planning applications.
Investigate infrastructure: Research school catchments, transport links, and local amenities, these are fundamental to long-term value.
Look for signs of change: Identify signs of regeneration (and decline) to understand the area's future financial potential.
Phase 1: The 'On-the-Ground' Investigation
You can't survey an area from your laptop alone. Nothing beats 'boots on the ground' to get a real feel for the community and its infrastructure.
Visit at all hours: That quiet residential street may be a noisy 'rat run' during the 8am rush hour. Is it well-lit at night? What's the atmosphere like on a Friday evening compared to a Sunday morning?
Test the infrastructure: Don't just check the train on an app. Do a trial run of your commute. How long is the actual walk to the station? Where are the bus stops? If you drive, look at parking. Is it permit-only? Is the street already full?
Assess the amenities: Walk the high street. Are the shops thriving and well-kept, or are there many empty units? A good local shop, a post office, decent pubs, and green spaces (like parks) are all huge assets to a community.
Talk to people: Be bold. Ask a neighbour you see washing their car what they think of the area. Local people provide insights you'll never find online.
Phase 2: The Surveyor's 'Desktop' Analysis
Before we ever visit a property, we conduct extensive desktop research. This is where you uncover the hidden risks and opportunities that affect a property's safety and value.
Check the Local Planning Portal: This is essential. Go to the local council's website and search the planning database for the postcode.
The Bad: Are there plans for a new industrial estate at the end of the road? A new bypass?
The Good: Are there plans for a new school, a regenerated town centre, or new transport links? These can significantly boost an area's desirability.
Investigate Environmental Risks: We always check for this.
Flood Risk: Use the Environment Agency's website to check the long-term flood risk for the area. This isn't just for properties near a river; surface water flooding is a common issue.
Air Pollution & Land Use: Check maps for air quality. Is the property near a major A-road? Is it close to an old landfill, industrial site, or sewage works that could create noise or odours?
Analyse Crime & Safety: Don't just go by 'word of mouth'. Use the objective data available at data.police.uk. This gives you a detailed breakdown of local crime statistics, which can impact your sense of security and your insurance premiums.
Research the Schools: If you have children (or plan to), this is non-negotiable. Check Ofsted reports and, most importantly, the admission catchment areas on the local authority's website. Being a street away from a great school is useless if you're not inside its tiny catchment boundary.
Phase 3: Assessing Past Performance & Future Potential
A home is your biggest investment. As valuers, we are trained to look for indicators of future growth.
Look for Signs of Regeneration: How do you spot an "up-and-coming" area? We look for classic signs of investment:
Lots of skips on driveways or scaffolding on houses (people are spending money on home improvements).
New independent retailers, delis, and coffee shops opening.
Well-maintained public spaces (parks, street cleaning).
New estate agents opening branches (a sign they see potential).
Check the Price Data: Look at what properties on that street actually sold for (not just the asking price). Is the area's price growth steady, or has it flatlined? This data gives you context for the wider market and ensures you aren't overpaying.
Your Next Step: From the Area to the Property
Choosing the right area is the perfect start. But once you've found your ideal location, the focus must shift to the building itself.
That beautifully located house could have hidden issues like subsidence, damp, or a failing roof that a seller's valuation won't mention.
That’s where we come in.
As the Midlands' most trusted surveyors since 1988, Carpenter Surveyors provide the detailed RICS Home Surveys and Valuations you need to buy with total confidence. We look beyond the fresh paint and tell you the true condition of the property.
Found a property in your chosen area? Contact us today to book your survey and make your next move a safe one.