Location, as just about every home buyer knows, is the most important statistic for any property. It’s something that can’t be modified over time in the same way as the house itself, and it can make an enormous difference to the overall quality of life.
A significant sub-component of location is transport. How easily will the homebuyer be able to get from their new purchase to their places of work and play? The answer will go a long way toward determining the price of the house.
So what sorts of transport links are the most important?
Road
Being close to a major road is a double-edged sword. While it might make getting from one place to another easy, it’ll also cause noise and air pollution that might impact the quality of life.
Rail
Rail links are often among the first things that young professionals look for. They want to be able to commute in and out of a nearby city with minimal fuss. This applies especially in London, where house prices are to a large extent determined by what zone the house falls into. A village without a train station can feel extremely isolated; a village with one can feel like a sort of picturesque suburb, striking a balance between accessibility and remoteness.
For example, travelling from Bexhill to London takes just under two hours via train, which makes it ideal for those looking to occasionally travel to the capital for work or leisure. More realistically, one of the stops along the route will provide convenient access to both London and the seaside.
Schools
Another thing that shapes the price of a house is school catchment areas. Being near to a good school isn’t enough if your children won’t be able to actually get there every morning. Good bus transport links will help in this respect – connected homes tend to be more valuable than isolated ones.
Cycling
For environmental and health reasons, many of us elect to cycle to work rather than driving there. But cycling can be a stressful experience if the roads aren’t set up with cyclists in mind. Commuters might, therefore, look for cycle lanes and other conveniences. A person who’s willing to cycle to work will also tend to look for recreational cycling opportunities, and so accessible parks and other green spaces might make some parts of the country more desirable than others.
