Area & Amenities
Once you have seen a home you want, check out the local community. Locate the nearest shop or petrol station, and check out local amenities such as restaurants, shops and bars. If you have young children, you'll want to look into schools in the area. Inquire about other local authority services, such as libraries and sport facilities. Assess the transport links to your work, and to your family and friends.
Your priorities will depend on your lifestyle and interests, but these factors may also affect the value of your home in the future if you ever decide to sell up and move.
Some house builders are incorporating facilities such as creches and medical centres into developments. And, a new development can be an exciting place to live because it can provide a boost for the local economy by creating a new, or reviving an existing, neighbourhood.