New job in Ellesmere Port where to buy?

[Movein2020]

Looking to move as new job in Ellesmere Port. Haven’t visited the surrounding area yet but have been scouring Rightmove and am very confused re areas! So budget up to £650k, detached at least 2+ bedrooms, large garden with room to extend if needed, kids grown up so just myself and husband. Have been looking at Chester and surrounding area, and now thinking of Neston/Wirral or Deeside as Chester pretty pricey. Any suggestions of good areas? Thanks

TalbotAMan hopefully!

Love the whitchurch one but it's quite far from ellesmere port.

Unfortunately yes.

Avoid manor lane in Hawarden. It floods.

Fieldside is close to a busy road.

Check out Higher & Lower Kinnerton

Also previous poster who numbered their links - no1 you will hear the roar of the A55. Avoid avoid avoid.

Thanks nespressowoo!

Dodleston also lovely

@Movein2020

Northern parts of Chester are easier for the commute to Ellesmere Port but all areas with easy access to the bypass are ok. A couple of the junctions get really busy though which is why I suggested the Upton side of Chester or the villages outside as the roads generally flow a bit better.

Helsby and villages is another fairly easy route to Ellesmere Port

Personally I would avoid the wirral itself, the min there is an accident on the m53 traffic is a night mare. Not sure why people are saying to avoid little Sutton the area some lovely houses there

Thanks for the replies!
What about this house?
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-27248313.html

It’s on a fairly busy road but it’s in a good spot for facilities, local shopping etc. There’s a bus that will take you to Frodsham and Chester. Train station nearby for Chester which links to main services and merseytravel which is a good service.

Driving to Ellesmere Port is good from there.

I’d put it on a shortlist but I’d probably prefer to be higher up Helsby hill

That one is right on the main road OP. Not necessarily a bad thing.

What do you want out of the surrounding area. There are three in Alvanley between £500-£650k which might be better suited. It's a better "class" of area and right on the edge of delamere forest so great for dog walking. Drawback is there are no shops (well just a farm shop!) and nothing delivers. So you are down to Tesco in helsby if you need a pint of milk! (5 min drive). There is a lovely pub in Alvanley though.

What do you want out of the area? What is on your wishlist to be within a 5/10 min walk and drive?

Hi thanks for the info! Busy road not a real problem as long as garden is a good size. Don’t mind 10/15 walk to a shop or pub, or short drive. I looked at Alvanley but some said it’s close to oil refineries and a so smell can be a problem?

Could this be worth extending?
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-86148635.html

You have a massive budget for that area. You say you are moving from an expensive area - how long do you plan to stay? Do you really want a huge house and garden with expensive and time consuming up keep when it’s just the two of you? I think the market is slower in those areas at top budget (maybe with v little growth - check RM) so I would close v carefully - seems like a lot on the market for quite some time. I would focus on quality (location) over quantity (size of house).

I always think it is important to think about selling on - an exit strategy - if you are not there forever and don’t want something stuck on the market for 2 years. If you would need to move again soonish - then always buy is a the most desirable area (you will need the locals to tell you which areas are most desirable). Also you are an unusual customer for such a house - I would imagine it would be younger / larger families - so have a think if you were to sell on does the house meet their needs (good schools, local facilities etc).

There are many many options for you - all have v different lifestyles. How do you spend your down time now (holidays/weekends), how do you want to spend your time for this next chapter of your life. Do you want to walk your dogs on the beach, be near cosy pubs and delis, do you want to shop, go to galleries, theatre - which of these do you need on your doorstep to do daily and which of these are you happy to jump into your car for a 30min drive to do monthly etc. How do you socialise - do you want to be actively involved in community cultural stuff / a hobby / volunteering?
Do you need regular and quick access to visit relatives in another part of the country?

Personally I would rent somewhere for 6 - 12 months so that you get to explore the areas and get it right first time. There are so many nuances to areas that you can only pick up to build a picture by talking to locals and spending time in places at different times of the day, week and year.

Neston sounds like a good place to achieve most things - near enough to Liverpool if you want significant cultural stuff (galleries, big city events) and near enough to Chester for what it offers. Also walking on the beach, lovely small upmarket cafes and restaurants and v well kept, well heeled properties.

Sounds v exciting !

Do you want a project OP? Is that to make money or just because you enjoy it? If it’s the former - then be careful as you really need to know the local market....and you could get it wrong. I am not sure it is like some other areas where you renovate / extend and a return is guaranteed.......even in those areas where this was historically the case - none of us are certain that we are not in for a 10 year nuclear winter with regards to property and the economy post Brexit.

Innish hi!
We hope to stay for 5ish years so re sale is a factor. As we have 2 dogs we would prefer detached or a large semi with big garden, we also would like off street parking and a garage. Chester would be our first choice but our budget doesn’t appear-looking on Rightmove- to stretch to the property we would like. So we are looking for an area with good road links, all of the above and some local amenities. I would like to get involved with the community and maybe take some classes or volunteer. The problem seems to be that to get a house with a decent garden and some privacy you have to look at family homes. Ideally we are looking for something with only 3 beds but more living space!

Would quite like a project, rather than pay for a kitchen etc that wouldn’t be our choice, to make a house exactly as we would like. Agree that that the days of making money on a renovation are probably over so total budget would be cost of house plus renovation could be £650k.

Re Alvanley there are no oil refineries... don't know where anyone has got that from. My parents actually live there. The nearest refinery is stanlow which is Ellesmere Port but there is no smell problem. Houses would be considerably cheaper if there was!

As a PP said have you thought about renting to get a feel for the area?

How about this house in Alvanley?
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66745519.html
Had considered renting but difficult with 2 boisterous dogs!

The one in alvanley OP - ideal location. It's a 5/10 min walk to the pub (White Lion if you want to google). There is a farm shop and church also in walking distance. Tesco would be a 5 min drive down into helsby. You're about 10 mins from M56 and 20 mins from Ellesmere Port. 20 min drive into Chester (traffic allowing) although my parents drive to mouldsworth train station and get the train in because it's easier than traffic and parking for them. If you play golf the club is less than 5 min drive down towers lane. Lots to get involved in locally (proper village with fetes etc). Definitely bookmark it and go and see Alvanley and see what you think. Depending on what you are used to it may be too "in the sticks"!

OP my mother has just informed me that the farm shop has closed - just incase your plans were hinging on it!

Brianna83 shame about the farm shop but will definitely keep looking in the area!

Alvanley is lovely, if you want a recommendation for a dog walker pm me

You can buy a semi or detached with off street parking, garage and decent garden for 650k in Chester with no problems.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E313&maxPrice=650000&propertyTypes=detached%2Csemi-detached&includeSSTC=false&mustHave=parking%2Cgarden&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Hope that works. The one on Boughton Hall Drive is in the catchment for Christleton, it's a shame it doesn't have canal access as well.