Moving to Woking / Surrounding areas from the SW (not london!)

[georgyporgie]

My dh has the potential for a new job up in Woking and is grizzling and grumbling to the point where he's almost talking himself out of it because of the house prices and the area.

Now I'm a london girl through and through- lived there for 8 years and then moved out to the deepest darkest south west 18 months ago with my dh job when he left the forces as that was where he was from and with me being pregnant, seemed the best thing to do. (disclaimer; I am not a fan of the deepest, darkest SW and can't wait to move closer to my friends and family quite apart from the fact that I currently don't have a job and it would be far easier for me to find one back in London/ SE).

Anyway, I know from reading the threads about moving out to surrey, that it tends to be people getting more for their money moving out of London, but we will get quite considerably less, having a maximum budget of £240k (which gets us a veritable mansion comparatively down here).

I need some help to convince him that he really does want this job, if there is potential for us to get somewhere nice (ideally an old terraced victorian type of house and in a village somewhere, BUT I know that this might be a bit unrealistic) and ideally near a good primary school. Can anyone recommend where I can look- happy to commute from somewhere to woking (and me to London, but that's by the by at the moment). I just need a carrot to dangle in front of dh so that he isn't so gloomy about the area (busy, full of delis- honestly you can SO tell he has never been a london boy nothing for money, so on so forth, YAWN )

[annh]

Come and live in West Byfleet, although you will struggle to get your Victorian terrace for that kind of money. An example of what is available is www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-25358322.html and it's an easy drive or train of 5 mins to Woking. Four trains an hour to London, two fast and two slow. At least two outstanding primary schools for your children, secondary a bit more problematic, although many people seem happy with Fulbrook, which is the default option. WB itself is rather over-full of hair and beauty places but has a Waitrose and a couple of other nice shops. Lots of toddler groups, friendly churches, good walks at weekends and only 10 miles to great shopping in Guildford or a bit further to Kingston. Have I sold it to you?! If you move out into one of the more outlying villages like Send or Ripley direction you can probably get a bit more for your money but the trade-off is lack of a decent supermarket and having to drive to get to a train station.

[georgyporgie]

Ooooo, will rightmove WB then & have a look around. Just looked at Send/ Ripley & all we can get is a mobile home for our budget. Not sure that would sell it to dh..

God, very used to lack of a decent supermarket and having to drive everywhere, so that isn't too much of a problem though obviously I'd LOVE to be in the thick of it with a waitrose and walking on tap

Never saw the point of going on location, location till now (watch this space). However, hearing from friends that apparently every property worth its salt in this area gets snapped up like hungry sharks spying an arm over the side of a boat, am seriously contemplating it if they need people for their next series! Especially as house hunting from 250 miles away probably isn't the easiest thing to do.

[mummytime]

Well you can get okay properties for that price, what about this one in Guildford, in the catchment of a good primary and a sought after secondary? Easy train to Woking.
Or this one close to the mainline station (5 mins to Woking, 35 minutes on the fastest train to London).

[FlightofFancy]

If you don't mind a slightly longer journey to Woking, think about Farncombe, near Godalming. I suggest this because I've just sold a lovely (even if I do say so myself) Victorian terrace cottage for around £240k. It's on the main line to London - Woking is about 15 mins.
Nice in patches though - hence cheaper - so you want to watch our for some areas - one good Primary and one not good (but allegedly on the up, so depends how soon you'd need it).
Walking distance to Waitrose...

[cece]

Burpham is very nice and has good primary schools. However, more importantly, it has a fab secondary. George Abbot.

West Byfleet is also nice. Local primaries are good and the local secondary has just had a good from Ofsted.