Neighbourhood and Area Research Sheet

Who this is for

Check the area before you make an offer. One sheet per address: what you checked, where you checked it, what you found and whether it matters to you.

Buyers and renters with a shortlist of homes in places they do not know well, and anyone moving to a new town who wants more than one viewing's impression.

What this helps you track

• Flood risk looked up from the official maps where you live
• The commute tested at the times you would really travel
• Schools, GP, shops, transport, broadband and mobile signal
• Noise heard on weekday, evening and weekend visits
• Planning applications and community information nearby

How to use it

1. Write the address or area, the dates you visited and who did the research.
2. Work down the checks, writing where you looked or how you tested it and what you found.
3. Visit at different times for the noise checks, and do the commute on a working day at the time you would travel.
4. Mark each line good, acceptable or a concern for you; there is no score, because what matters differs from one household to the next.
5. Write the pros, cons and your overall view at the foot; the browser version saves in your own browser.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Where do I check flood risk?

Most countries publish flood maps through a government or environment agency. They usually show risk for an area rather than one property, so ask the seller and look at the home's insurance history as well.

Why test the commute at real times?

A journey planner shows a typical time; the 8am traffic or a packed train may be different. Doing the trip once at the hour you would travel gives you a figure of your own to write down.

How do I find planning applications nearby?

The local council or planning authority usually has a searchable list of applications by address or map. Look for large schemes, roads or anything next door that would change the area.

How is this different from the viewing questions sheet?

The viewing questions sheet is about the home itself and what to ask the agent or seller. This one is about the area around it, checked by you on your own visits and from public sources.