Buying a property is about much more than just the bricks and mortar. It’s also about the community and lifestyle that comes with the house, which means that the first step to finding your new home is to decide where you want to live. This will ultimately decide how happy you are with the move, and choosing the wrong location could mean moving again later down the line.
Deciding where to live is easy if you already know the area really well. However, if you’re relocating or looking to explore new parts of town, it can get trickier. After all, living somewhere day after day is completely different to a quick afternoon visit. To help you out, our property experts here at Coleman Estates have put together some top tips on researching your future local area. That way, you can choose your neighbourhood with confidence and look forward to a happy future within your new community.
Researching local areas has become a lot easier over the years thanks to the internet. There is now a whole load of websites packed with useful information at your fingertips, from Google Maps to the Telford and Shropshire council websites. There are even social media community groups and sites like Mumsnet where you can directly ask local residents for their opinions and insights.
Once you’ve found an area that sounds like it might be your cup of tea, head over and take a look around. This will give you a better feel and might even give you a chance to speak to the locals. If you’re interested in Telford and Shropshire, then you can also pop into our office for some expert insights, too. We’re always delighted to help people narrow down their search and find an area that suits your ideal lifestyle.
Now you know how to research potential new communities, here’s a list of what you should research. This is the sort of information that will help you understand exactly what the area has to offer, giving you the bigger picture and helping you find a place that will make you happy to call home.
First and foremost, remember that moving house is all about budget. There’s nothing more disappointing than finding your dream property in an ideal location, only to discover that it’s £20k more than what you can afford. Instead, work out your finances and the maximum amount you can offer. Then, research each of your local areas to find out the average sold price to get a realistic idea of where you could live.
The average price for properties in Shropshire is £267,408 (as of Feb. 22), while the average price in Telford & Wrekin is just £209,474. You can check current house price statistics for different areas with the UK House Price Index. You can then narrow down your search to different towns and cities by looking up UK sold prices on Rightmove. For example, this reveals that as of April 22, Shifnal is currently higher than average at £274,163 while Shrewsbury is just below at £269,231.
This price then becomes even more varied within the specific towns themselves. For example, the average sold price in Wellington was £222,955 in November 21, while in Hollinswood & Randlay it was £151,949. If you want to get an idea of prices in specific postcodes, then you can compare market trends in your area on Rightmove. Knowing these prices will also help in your property search later on, giving you a general idea of how much you should expect to pay.
The type of property will also have a big impact on your budget, with detached properties typically costing more than semi-detached or terraces. Properties closer to town centres are generally more expensive, so if you find an area close to town that you absolutely love, it might be a case of compromising on size. On the other hand, if you must have a 4-bed detached property and garden to accommodate your family, this might mean looking further afield to places where you can get more for your money.
Then there’s also the age and style of the property to consider. If you’re looking for a low maintenance new build, Lawley is a fantastic up-and-coming area ideal for anyone looking to get on the property ladder. By 2027, the village will have 3,550 new homes complete with a whole range of local facilities including shops, gyms, restaurants and a primary school.
On the other hand, if you’re after somewhere with more character, then older areas like Wellington and Muxton are where you’ll find your period properties. Telford was actually created in the 1960s by merging several smaller towns, so while these areas have continued to be developed with modern buildings, they also have some stunning older properties.
Safety is another important factor to consider when researching your local area, as you’ll no doubt want to make sure that you, your family and your belongings are going to be safe. Head to www.police.uk where you can find out the crime statistics for local postcodes. This will give you an idea of which areas are safest so you can move somewhere you feel comfortable.
It’s also worth looking out for crime prevention initiatives. In Telford, there’s the Safer Telford initiative in partnership with the West Mercia Police, designed to bring local communities together in an effort to tackle crime. Initiatives like this not only create a safer environment for everyone, but also help the area to develop a stronger sense of community.
If you have or are planning to have a family, then it’s essential that you choose an area with the right school. Throughout Telford, there are 12 secondary schools and over 40 primary schools to choose from, along with The Bridge SEN School. This gives you plenty of choice for a variety of educational needs, so narrow down your options by checking their ratings or asking for advice on social media community pages and forums like Mumsnet. There’s also Locrating which gives you information on schools and lets you check admissions data and those all-important catchment areas.
For those looking into higher education, there’s also the University Centre Telford. Located in Priorslee, Hollinswood and Randlay are also within close walking distance, making these three areas ideal for older students.
When researching your local area, make sure to think about employment opportunities and your commute. The way you get to work will have a big impact on your lifestyle, especially if you live somewhere that’s an hour’s drive away from work. To narrow down your choice in area, set a maximum time limit that you would be happy to dedicate to your commute, both walking and driving.
You might also want to leave yourself open for new career opportunities, in which case you’ll likely want access to cities. Telford is ideal for those with big visions for their career, as not only are there direct trains to Birmingham, but there is also the M54. If you’re interested in Continued Professional Development (CPD) opportunities, then the University Centre Telford also delivers workshops and qualifications.
If you can find a property with parking, then this is something you might not need to worry about. However, if you need two cars, regularly have visitors or are struggling to find somewhere with a driveway, then you’ll need to work out what the general situation is like for parking in the area.
Take a drive around on different days at different times to see how many cars are parked on the street and whether there are spaces available. If you’re going to struggle to find a parking space near home on a regular basis, this can become increasingly stressful over time. It can also be quite dangerous and increase the risk of damage to your car, which will in turn increase your insurance premiums.
On the other hand, if you don’t drive or have a family, then you’ll want to find out what the public transport situation is like. Check for local bus stops and train stations on Google Maps, and if you plan on using these services for your daily commute, check the fares on Trainline. This will give you a clear idea of what time you would need to leave the house in order to arrive on time, along with costs and the number of changes involved.
Telford has excellent transport connections, with an abundance of bus routes and several train stations throughout the different areas of Telford. If you’re going to be taking the train regularly, then Wellington, Oakengates, Shifnal and anywhere near Telford town centre will make great choices.
Local facilities have a big impact on the lifestyle that an area can offer. You might want to be able to walk over to your local pub on a Friday night, or you might prefer having parks and woodland walks on your doorstep. Others will prioritise being close to hospitals and doctor surgeries, or near to entertainment facilities like cinemas, swimming pools and libraries.
Make a list of which facilities are most important to you so you can narrow down potential neighbourhoods that would suit your lifestyle and needs. If there are bars and restaurants nearby, take a walk around the area in the evening. This will give you a good idea of what sort of environment you can expect at the weekend, especially if you have a family.
Once you’ve settled on schools, work, transport and general facilities, the deciding factor for the area you choose will be distance. Consider how far you and your family members are willing to travel to get to each place. You can then draw up potential zones that are within the right commuting distance.
While you might find the perfect property with all the right features, it might not be all that perfect if it means walking 45 minutes to get to school or work. Even a 20-minute walk can seem far when you’re doing it twice a day come rain or shine, so make sure you know how far you would be happy to travel from each of your requirements.
Our final tip for researching your local area is to pay attention to levels of noise. When discovering new areas, there’s so much to take in visually that it can be easy to get distracted from the acoustics. Make a point of closing your eyes so you can really focus on what you hear and get an accurate understanding of the area’s noise levels. Living just one street over from the main road can significantly reduce the amount of traffic you hear while relaxing in the garden, so make sure you’re happy with what you can hear.
If peace and quiet is an absolute must, then Donnington and Muxton are just a 10-minute drive from the town centre and surrounded by peaceful woodland walks. Likewise, there’s also the Shawbirch area which features lakeside walks and is close to the vibrant town of Wellington, making it ideal for those who want to experience the best of both worlds.
Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to somewhere that ticks most or all of your boxes, explore the area at different times of the day so you can get a feel for what it would be like to live there. Make your commute at least once before buying a property so you can get an understanding of traffic and timings, and try out the local facilities and restaurants.
If you’re still unsure and want to make absolutely certain the area you choose is right for your family, then there’s always the option to rent first. This will allow you to experience local life to the full without making any big commitments, giving you total confidence that you’ve found the right neighbourhood to join. Once you’ve decided, you can then take your time finding the perfect property.
Home to some of our favourite places in Shropshire, there are plenty of reasons why Telford is a good place to live! If this sounds like somewhere that would suit you and your family, then start narrowing down your choice by taking a look at which area of Telford would be best for you.
Or if you prefer, you can reach out directly to our team of local experts. We will help you create a list of priorities and requirements, and then recommend some areas and properties within your budget that we think would be suitable. Come and discover why we’re Telford’s best rated estate agent.
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