Analysing Common Home Buyer Needs

Before you start with anything else, probably the main factor when moving home in or around the Manchester area, whether local or not, is what location do you have in mind.

Generally though you’ll have to think about more than just where you want to live, but what the area is like, what is there and what do you want to prioritise when looking for your dream home.

To help you get a better idea of the sort of place you’d like to live, we have compiled a detailed list of the different types of factors we have heard that home buyers look at when looking to find their new home in Manchester.

1. Busy city or relaxing countryside?

It is important to come up with an idea of the type of area you would like to make your residence in, as this is somewhere you are going to be living in for a good while, maybe even making it a family home.

If you’re the sort who feels a lot more comfortable surrounded by a thriving urban scene, the city life is definitely your best choice. If you have a preference for the quiet life, living in the countryside might be more your cup of tea.

You’ll find pros and cons to either choice, so give it a lot of careful thought before you get your heart set on a potential new home that could be based in an area that you might not enjoy.

The transport links to and from your potential new home base are important factors to pay attention to.

Make sure whether it’s to go out and socialise with friends or family, to make your way to work, to go shopping for essentials or anything else you like to do in your spare time, that your home has necessary transport links.

Also do some research as to how much each of these is going to cost you when travelling. If you drive your own vehicle, how long will it take for you to reach different places? How much will fuel be? Are there any nearby fuel stations?

3. Schools & Education

For home buyers who have some children, you should take a look at what schools are nearby. Find out what the local catchment areas are, so you can get a rough idea of what the schools are like. School league tables are handy learning tools.

If you don’t have any children now, whether you are planning for the future or have no plans at all, it may be beneficial to at least look it up, just to future proof yourself.

4. Nearby Facilities – What You Need Vs What You Want

There may be certain facilities that you would like to have close to you when you are planning on a place to potentially live. We would suggest writing a list and separating those that you want from those that are essential.

An example of this would be if you really want to have a gym nearby but doing so could mean that you have to live in an area without the shops you need within a reachable distance.

You probably need the shops more for your general living, so that might be something to prioritise, whilst leaving the gym as an added bonus if you can make it work.

5. Friends & Family

The distance between where you might be living and where your family and friends currently live can have an influence on where you move to. Many prefer keeping them close by, so they have that support network if they need it.

On the other hand, some prefer to keep to themselves with their loved ones at a distance, prioritising peace and quiet over going out and socialising with people on the regular.

6. Is the property good value for money?

When making purchases, we all would like to know that we’re getting good value for money. Determining this for your home will depend on the area that you’re looking to live in.

It may be a better option for you to look for a cheaper property to start out with, though this might mean compromising various features or nearby facilities that you would’ve preferred to have had.

7. What is the community like?

The local community can impact your home living experience quite a bit.

As established, some prefer the quiet life. This might entail having a few residents nearby who keep to themselves. Others like to have a thriving busy community, generally where everyone is known and communicates regularly.

Have a word with your estate agent and find out what the area is like. Community Facebook pages or locally run websites tend to be quite common these days, so they’re worth looking up to get a rough feel for the local vibe.

8. Career Changes

Some home buyers may be moving because of a new job or career plan. This is something we’ve heard from customers a lot and is a very big factor. You should review the distance between your new home and workplace.

If you’re going to be working in a home office and only visiting the office sporadically, would you be okay with living a bit further out? What is the space like within the property? Is there even the scope for a home office?

For those who will be job hunting once they have already moved, do some research on the companies in the local area and compile a list of the main employers to potentially apply with.

9. Property Type

You will find a lot of different property types available to you across the open property market, with these varying depending on where you’re looking.

Some prefer end-terrace properties with a garden to enjoy, whilst others prefer a modern flat or studio apartment.

Make sure you have a good look at all the options available to you, undertake some property viewings and get a good idea of the type of property you would prefer to live in.

10. Local Developments

Any proposed local investment would probably be helpful to find information on, especially if you’re looking to build a life within that home and stay there for quite a while.

Online research will be the best port of call when looking to find any future investments. It’s important to consider whether these will be a benefit or a detriment to your lifestyle.

To explain further, those who might have a preference for quiet country life might find their dream scenario turned into a nightmare if a big new housing development is planned within close proximity.

Moving Home Mortgage Advice in Manchester

Hopefully through reading our list you’ll now be better equipped for finding a place to call your home.

When the time comes for making offers on property and getting yourself a mortgage, get yourself booked in for a free mortgage appointment. We would be happy to help!

We have a dedicated team of mortgage advisors available from early until late, all throughout the working week and weekend, subject to availability.

No matter if you need some assistance with a first time buyer mortgage in Manchester or are moving home in Manchester, we can’t wait to hear from you and help you kickstart your mortgage journey.

Date Last Edited: May 3, 2024