Buying a Property in Dorking
Dorking is one of the most sought after locations to purchase property in Surrey, mainly due to its idyllic location and stunning local attractions.
It is popular because of its proximity to London, but also because it allows people to escape the urban hustle and bustle and live in rural idyll without being isolated in the middle of nowhere.
Dorking is a well-established market town with its own events, thriving ecosystem and beautiful attractions that make it a great place to live all year round.
So, what do you need to know about buying a house in Dorking?
Price Firstly, you need to remember that house prices in Dorking and the rest of Surrey are, on average, significantly higher than much of the rest of the country.
The South East in general is an expensive place to buy, so you might get less for your money than you are used to elsewhere. This might mean you have to compromise on some of the things you want.
Can you do without a spare bedroom or a smaller garden? Do you need a garage, or could you even downsize to a flat?
Property Type With several renovation projects occurring throughout the county currently to cope with the increased demand for housing, if you can’t find anything right now there could well be a brand new property arriving on the market which is perfect in the near future.
Find out if there are any showhome open days you can visit to see if this could be an option for you, as there are often ways to help first time buyers move into this type of property.
Properties in Dorking are fairly diverse, with flats and detached houses being the most popular, although there are also a number of terraced houses and semi-detached houses currently on the market.
Prices range from anywhere between £130k – £200k for one bedroom flats, right up to just under £2 million for a stunning 5 bedroom bungalow, so you’ve got a wide range of properties to choose from if you have a bit of money to spend.
People Another thing to consider is that as Dorking is relatively close to London and the main railway line the town is likely to be frequented by commuters on their way to and from work.
Generally, the bigger towns closer to London will be full of younger city workers who may not spend a lot of time in their home, so this isn’t for you if you like the community spirit associated with your hometown.
However if you yourself are building a career in London and are looking for somewhere a little out of the way but with good connections still to the capital, then Dorking may be the perfect choice.
Dorking itself is home to a number of community groups, festivals and cultural traditions that occur throughout the year, so if you have a young family or are keen to get involved in some local group activities, there is certainly no shortage of that sort of thing in Dorking.
Plus, with a number of small independent shops, its own museum and own theatre group, a sense of community is well rooted in the heart of Dorking, making it perfect for anybody looking to socialise.
So What Next?
Once you have found a property you are interested in, it is crucial that you find yourself a local chartered surveyor to look out for anything about the property which might affect its market value now or in the near future.
Surveyors based in Dorking or with specific experience in property surveying in Dorking will have a deeper knowledge of the potential problems with the houses in the area and will know exactly what they are looking for.
It’s important that any flaws are spotted at this stage so that you don’t end up paying more than the market value of the property when there are lots of issues you will need to fork out to fix.
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