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Original poster

Worsley or Wilmslow?

83 replies

ElAndy · 07/03/2018 23:34

Hello guys, I am currently looking for a place to buy in Manchester for me and my partner. The problem is that we are not from this area, therefore, we do not know which areas are safe to live at.

We would like to spend around 300k, 350k being the max for a 3/4 bed detached home. I have been looking for Hale, Worsley, and Wilmslow but there is not much choice, especially in Hale being 550k the cheapest detached home.

I know roughly the big names but not much more than that, I was super convinced to go to Worsley in Ellenbrook but I feel like Wilmslow is a nicer place, so I'm not sure!

Please let me know of any safe areas where you can start a family and not have to worry about getting stabbed. I am soft therefore wouldn't like a rough area.

Many thanks!

OP posts:
wowfudge · 09/03/2018 07:34

I suspect the house you are viewing in Wilmslow is likely to go for more than the asking price - the EA is holding an open day because they want to get potential buyers into a bidding war.

Original poster
ElAndy · 09/03/2018 17:53

Wowfudge, This property I am viewing has a set price. Its been on the market for 550k then reduced by about 80k because it was overpriced. It's been sat there at the current price for about a year now, which to me is a bit worrying. I'm going to negotiate with the vendor and try to lower the price (this usually works from a cash buying perspective) but also the fact its been up for sale so long.

It has a lot of work to be done to it since its very old, but I reckon that its worth every penny because of the potential it has and how big the property is.

The benefit to this is that construction and refurbishments is something I do for a living so I reckon it will be a perfect project. But I'm not sure why this property has sat there for so long and not been sold, maybe because its close to Colshaw Farm... Or maybe it's because of the bad entrance the house has, but that's something that I will try figure out on Sunday when I go view it.

Many thanks to all for contributing to this post!
Any opinions and advice will be greatly appreciated Smile.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 09/03/2018 19:14

So you're viewing a house that's on the market for £470k - that's a lot more than you maximum £350k you posted you could go up to!

userxx · 09/03/2018 19:19

It's clearly still very overpriced if it's been sat there for a year. I'm trying to find the house on right move but can't see it. Hope you can get it down to something affordable.

wowfudge · 09/03/2018 19:37

Must be this one @userxx

OP I seriously doubt you'll get up to £100k off the price. It's a bit dated and could do with a new bathroom and there's a lot of decorating to do.

wowfudge · 09/03/2018 19:45

Check out this beauty - nice area very close to Worsley. Offered as a project.

Original poster
ElAndy · 09/03/2018 20:13

wowfudge - The great thing is that with it being old, I can easily make it look new for example a bathroom takes me a week to complete and only costs will be the materials etc... therefore, I can take full advantage from it being sold slightly cheaper due to it being old.

Apart from that I will be looking around still and seeing if I can find something a bit cheaper or something nicer in a good area. The only reason I thought that was a really good gem to buy was that it has a garden, which gives me the feeling that I'm back at home in my Villa.
Plus all the extensions and modifications that could be done due to the house size.

Apart from all the above, I will still be looking for a cheaper house because like I said all I will be doing is viewing it, inspecting the property and seeing if the roof (plus structures of the house) are in good conditions and if its worth the investment. Then I will follow up with a low offer to see if the vender bites, considering it been up for a year and they are keen to sell.

Many thanks once again to all contributions, I will keep looking and viewing and hopefully soon enough I will post my new home? Smile

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! Grin

OP posts:
HarrietSmith · 09/03/2018 20:21

I think Wilmslow is a dump. A posh, bland dump admittedly. Lots of affluent but extremely bored looking teenagers hanging round whenever I go there. Masses of boutiques and coffee bars and overpriced restaurants but very few shops where you can buy anything useful.

No cultural life.

Good train connections into Manchester. Close to the aiport. Access to the - relatively dull - Cheshire countryside. Decent pickings at the charity shops

userxx · 09/03/2018 20:21

It's like stepping back into the 70's, It's got loads of potential though.

The wilmslow property is a bit of an odd one, why has it been on the market coming up 2 years and why hasn't the seller dropped the price any more. Will be interesting to see what happens with it.

userxx · 09/03/2018 20:26

@HarrietSmith A dump'a bit harsh isn't it !! I find all countryside a bit dull, not just Cheshire. There's only so many cows you can appreciate before it all gets a bit meh.

namechangedtoday15 · 09/03/2018 20:29

harriet surely you can't describe somewhere as a posh dump?! Only on MN could Cheshire countryside be described as dull Grin!

HarrietSmith · 09/03/2018 20:37

I have an elderly relative in Wilmslow and I think works well for my relative at their time of life I am dubious about it as a place to bring up children or teenagers. (I'm glad I didn't grow up there myself. (From the Manchester/NE Cheshire area originally.)

Original poster
ElAndy · 09/03/2018 20:40

Userxx - I will be posting If I would be putting down money on it asap, I will keep everyone updated anyway, still keeping an open mind to any other properties anyway because for all I know I might not like it!

Thanks for your opinion @HarrietSmith - Every opinion is taken into consideration, I always look at everything with an open mind so thanks for your opinion Smile.

Let's see if anyone else has anything to share; thoughts/experiences/advice and opinions!

Many thanks to all.

OP posts:
HarrietSmith · 09/03/2018 20:43

Has anyone mentioned Bramhall? I think if I had a bob or two - shows age - I could cope with Bramhall.

I suppose it depends what you - and anyone else in your household - want/need. An interesting property? An area that feels as if it's thriving? What else??

drinkswineoutofamug · 09/03/2018 22:15

I'm a Macc lass and you can buy a decent sized house round here for fraction of wilmslow.

RaspberryCheese · 09/03/2018 22:49

You can get stabbed anywhere. I have lived in North Manchester in areas people in Wilmslow wouldnt dream of living and never had any issues. I now live in south mancs and there are so many twats around here !

Criminals travel. You can be mugged.stabbed.abused in wilmslow and wythenshawe and collyhurst.

UrsulaPandress · 09/03/2018 23:06

But everyone in Wilmslow is not from Cheshire. Maybe they have all moved there from north Manchester hence why you were lucky enough to not be stabbed when you were brave enough to risk living there.

userxx · 09/03/2018 23:31

@UrsulaPandress you're making north Manchester sound like the Bronx !

HarrietSmith · 10/03/2018 07:17

I rather like Macclesfield. Plenty of character - in the older parts of town. Okay for supermarkets. Access to good countryside. On the train line. But not 'naice'. Though I am as keen on good ham as the next person, 'naice' is stifling and dull. Horses for courses.

UrsulaPandress · 10/03/2018 08:25

userxxx

I have longed called for an irony emoticon.

I was referencing an earlier post where an overspill estate's poor reputation was based on the fact that residents were not real Cheshire folk. And the general consensus on theses threads that anything outside south Manchester is akin to Castle Black and The Wall.

redbirdblackbird · 10/03/2018 08:32

You need to accept you are not going to get a detached house in South Manchester for 350k, my semi in sale is valued above that!
Maybe look out further, Wigan / Warrington direction

HarrietSmith · 10/03/2018 08:33

I was thinking about Manchester last night. I do know the South side better than the North. But I think what I really like is being able to see the Pennines and being able to get out there - so heading East would be my priority.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 10/03/2018 09:08

Ursula it is partly true though - those estates were only built in the late 60s/early 70s. Whole communities moved there from inner Manchester and lots of them are still alive!

People who knew each other have married and stayed there - because of the geography they go to school together etc. The accent is (or was about 10 years ago) much more Manchester than is normal for the rest of the area.

And I didn’t actually say its bad reputation was due to that - I said it had a different feel, which I will stand by. It’s not a Wilmslow community - it’s a mainly Manchester community transplanted to Wilmslow together all in one go. Different to individual people moving.

SundialInTheShade · 10/03/2018 11:03

@holycityzoo great name

I'd second a previous poster's suggestion of out towards Bury. Loads going on, bars and restaurants opening all the time, decent schools, lovely parks and more in the op's price range

Gizzymum · 10/03/2018 11:22

@ElAndy I hate to break it to you but driving anywhere around Manchester is a nightmare so I'd suggest ignoring that aspect. I've lived near Manchester City centre and it was quicker to walk the 2 miles than drive or get the bus. I now live in Stockport (Davenport/Bramhall area) and drive to work in the city centre (if you aim to get to work for 8am, the drive is only 30mins, getting home is more like 45min). I've previously worked in Oldham/Bury (north of Manc) whilst living in Stockport and the commute was only 30mins as I was going against the flow of traffic. To cut a long story short, if you work in the centre of Manc your commute will be long if driving. Train is prob the better option.

The places @wowfudge listed around Stockport are good areas and a house is about £200-300k less than in Didsbury. Plus Stockport has lots of hidden green spaces and is nearer the Peak District for walks.
I don't know N Manc that well but know Prestwich and Worsley Green are meant to be nice.