Offers Over

[colorao]

Currently looking at a move to Scotland. Looking at areas between Glasgow and Stirling, easy access to both. The move won't be until March/April (myself and 2 DC are currently in Spain, DH is currently in England) and we will rent for a bit first so we buy somewhere we really want to be (not wanting to repeat the same mistake we made here).

However, we are trying to look at house prices so that we hit upon areas that are going to be reasonably within budget. I did a quick Google search and one article said that offers over could mean 25% on top of the marketed price. I just wanted to get some input whether this is generally the case or if it is individual to the sale?

I can't fly over until February so that will be when we actually have a chance to look at areas, however at the moment we are looking at.

Bishopbriggs
Torrance
Bonnybridge
Denny

I've seen mixed opinions about the latter two, they are obviously more affordable for both rentals and purchasing, so we want to go and have a look for ourselves.

Ideally we want to rent where we want to buy so that the DC aren't moving schools again. They are only 4 and 3, but already at school here.

[soupmaker]

Have a look at house sale prices on Rightmove for the areas your considering. That will give you a better idea of how much over you'll need to bid. Also get the home report which will give you a valuation for properties you decide to view. Good luck.

[kikisparks]

Bishopbriggs and Torrance are both nice areas, easy enough to get into Glasgow city centre on public transport, not sure about Stirling. Think both areas have good schools too.

If you get the home report most properties go for around the valuation price.

[colorao]

Thank you, didn't even occur to me to do that! Seems obvious now! I think I am just getting myself worked up about the whole bidding process, my only experience of it was in London and it was a nightmare.

[colorao]

Thank you Kiki. Neither of us would be using public transport, my husband will be working around Glasgow and my position will be Stirling based but I will be driving. The benefit though is being able to take the kids in to Glasgow on public transport, they love a train or a bus! Haha.

[B00dyM4ry]

How old are your dc? I did a similar move and based my search.on high school catchments. In your search are the best are Bishopbriggs, Balfron and Lenzie.

Do you have friends in Scotland that can recommend a solicitor ' if so give them a call and ask what the market is doing in these areas in the price bracket you are buying. I would use the home report, not the offers ovet as your yardstick.

[FlippingBottleFlippers]

I don't know about the others but Denny is definitely not an area where houses go for 25% over the asking price. Maybe closer to 10 /15% max. I live there and like it but it depends on whether house or location are your priority. I have a large family so Denny offers me a lot of house for my money. We have family in Denny, Glasgow, Stirling and Dunblane and can travel to them all easily.

[colorao]

@B00dyM4ry DS is 4, DTwins are 3. High school is way off but we obviously need to consider it as I don't want to be moving again after we buy!

@FlippingBottleFlippers Location is important in the fact we want to be near amenities, we have lived rurally before and it's not for us at the moment. We want there to be things to do with the kids within easy access, whether it's parks, soft play, walks/bike routes whatever. We don't have to be near the cities, just close enough that you can have a day there if you want to. All that being said, there are 5 of us so house size does matter and that's why we want to take a look at Denny, it looks like we will get more for our money.

[B00dyM4ry]

I did high schools then drilled down to feeder primaries. You need to know tha school cuts offs - if your dc is due to start primary 1 next August by March the places I'm using out of catchment places may all be allocated. Some school keep a space back for kuds moving between March and the start if term but not all do.

Sorry to add to the complexity but you need to be aware of this.

Spain to Denny will be a very big change.

[B00dyM4ry]

Good resources to help get a picture of a new area are
Zoopla - house sold prices
Gspc - main website for houses
Scottish deprivation index maps - Google "simd"
School rankings
School quality reports

[colorao]

Thank you B00dyM4ry. Will look in to all this now.

[B00dyM4ry]

A mix of subjective opinions and data is no bad thing.
Imagine spending £££ to discover you were one street out of a fab primary and the best secondary in the areas catchment area. Yes, you could try for out of catchment places - but with 2 siblings that is stressfull!

[StoorieHoose]

Spain to Denny will be a very big change.

This! I’m originally from Denny now live in Stirling and my parents are still there. I had a great childhood, but it seems to be the Falkirk Council black spot - no investment without major pressure from residents and a dumping ground for problem tenants

[FlippingBottleFlippers]

@colora - pm me if you have any questions about schools or houses etc in Denny. There is lots of kids to do within Denny itself, all the usual sports, dancing, scouts etc and Stirling/Falkirk are both very close with even more opportunities. Wells field farm does membership for a reasonable price as does sky high trampolining in Falkirk. Cycling paths are great, you can go from Bonnybridge to the Falkirk Wheel along the canal path.

My Spanish ex FIL loved Denny but yes it hugely different to Spain however so is anywhere in Scotland.

[AgentProvocateur]

Torrance is what I would class as rural. Not much public transport other than an infrequent bus, and they’d need to get the school bus to Boclair, meaning most of their friends would be in Bearsden so you’d end up being a taxi service when they’re older. Lenzie and Kirkintilloch (and Bishopbriggs) would be better.

[prettybird]

When did your ds turn 4?

[colorao]

@Agent - Thank you for your input. I'd not heard of Lenzie so will look it up. We like the look of Bearsden too, but know nothing about it.

@prettybird He was 4 in April. The girls were 3 in August.

[prettybird]

So that confirms he'll be going into P1 next August as one of the older ones in his year.

Your twins will start the following year and be in the middle of the year, age-wise.

[maplesyruponpancakes]

Lenzie would be good for you as you can get the train directly to Stirling without having to go into Glasgow and back out.

Croy is a bit massive-housing estate in the middle of nowhere, but may also be a possibility, it's on the same line.

[kikisparks]

Bearsden is lovely and short drive to either Loch Lomond or Glasgow city centre depending what you’re in the mood for, schools are very good, it is expensive so depends on your budget and size of house you want.

If you’re looking at Bearsden look at milngavie as well which is pretty much the same in terms of price/schools/ access to town.

Neither is that close to Stirling though.

[colorao]

Access to Stirling isn't a deal breaker, I will probably only have to go once or twice a month.

Have applications for P1 next August been done? If not, when is the cut off point? The kids and myself could move sooner if it is going to help school wise.

I will be working remotely/flexi time until the twins go to school so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to get us in to a rented property earlier if it was going to help with school applications.

[B00dyM4ry]

You must to check with the council. When we moved thought it was Nov for registratuon we were told we would be okay in Jan or Feb as long as we were in catchment before the out of catchment offers were made.

[colorao]

OK, thank you. November will be a push but I will speak to the relevant councils and see what they say.

Feel like my head is going to explode! Haha. But thank you to everyone, I really appreciate everyone's input and advice.

[prettybird]

I think schools are now allowed to keep one or two places "free" if they want to, for people who move into catchment after the cut-off date (which I think varies between LA). Previously they couldn't if there were lots of placing requests/appeals as the placing requests/appeals would fill all the available places.

Bearsden and Milngavie are good locations with excellent public transport (they're where I was brought up), good schools and good access to the lovely countryside north of Glasgow but they are expensive.

When we lived in Milngavie, my dad commuted to Stirling for a while - think it took him about an hour (rush hour) and 45 minutes (other times) . But that was a long time ago

[WaxOnFeckOff]

We moved to Denny with two small children 16 years ago and moved out again to Stirling within 2 years. There was nothing wrong that I can put my finger on, I just found it a difficult place to be an "incomer". However when we moved to Denny it was to the first new build estate for a few years and there has been more building since so maybe it's better now.

I have friends there who are perfectly happy :)

What's your budget - is Stirling itself manageable?

[colorao]

WaxOnFeckOff - Max budget is £300,000 so I'm guessing we are looking at around £250,000. Needs to be a 3 bed at least. I'm having a look at Stirling now but will need to speak to DH as it is him that is based in Glasgow for work and I don't know if it will be too far for a daily commute. My commute to Stirling isn't daily so wouldn't be as much of an issue if I was further away.