Why now is right time to take the plunge in Bath
Bath always appears in lists of the best places to live in the UK. It comes with a mix of everything and is most appealing for those looking to escape the cities. Whether you have a young family or are thinking of retiring, are a student or a busy businessperson, Bath has something for you.
My name’s Martin Taylor. I’m a RICS-certified chartered surveyor covering the Bath and Bristol areas as part of GB Home Surveys. There’s never been a better time to consider moving to Bath, and I hope this article will explain why that’s the case.
Bath is probably the best place to live in the UK
Perhaps I’m a little biased, but I genuinely love Bath. You’ll find all sorts of reasons to live here, but for me, it’s about diversity. You get all the benefits of living in a big city like London or Manchester, but you’re in a beautiful part of the world.
The entire city of Bath is a UNESCO heritage site due to its Roman and Georgian architecture. The narrow streets give the area a very close-knit feeling. If you want to get out into the countryside, it’s not far away at all. You’ve also got easy access to the hills and beaches of Somerset and Devon and the open expanses of South Wales. The medieval villages of the Cotswolds are just a few miles northeast.
I’ve found something for everyone in Bath. Young families enjoy a safe, friendly feeling, while the nightlife appeals to students and party animals. There are plenty of work opportunities, as well as room to retire comfortably.
There’s a quick summary of why I love Bath. If I’ve piqued your interest, you might want to know a bit more about the property market.
What’s the property market like in Bath?
Bath is a very desirable place to live. It saw one of the most significant jumps in house prices over the COVID pandemic, as demand far outweighed supply. The trend stems from people seeking to move away from the suffocating cities (but still wanting to work there). Over the past twelve months, I’ve seen average increases of about 15% throughout Bath.
Prices very much depend on what part of Bath you want to live in. They get more expensive as you approach the historic centre. Buying a large terraced house here could exceed £1,000,000. If you’re happy to live further out in the suburbs, expect to pay £300,000 to £400,000. On average, detached homes are valued at around £500,000 to £600,000.
Bath is quite a pricey place to live compared to other parts of the UK – there’s no denying that. A 2019 Lloyds Banking Group survey found it’s the sixth most expensive in the country.
However, it’s still less than most London boroughs. For people looking to move away from the big city, it’s the perfect place to go. Since the quality of life has so much more potential, you might decide it’s a move well worth making.
How can a home survey help in Bath?
Before you commit to a move to this beautiful city, you’ll need somewhere to live. I can’t recommend a home survey enough as part of this process.
As a chartered surveyor, it’s my job to conduct residential surveys. After you place an initial (accepted) offer on a property, buyers contact me (or any other chartered surveyor). It’s then my job to carefully inspect the home they’re interested in. Depending on the requested home survey type (Valuation, Level Two or Level Three), I’ll do the following (and more):
- Documentation check
- Outside inspection (walls, chimneys, grounds, drainage)
- Inside inspection (detailed room-by-room checks)
- Services – electricity, gas, water, sewage, etc
It’s my job to provide you with an easy-to-read report based on my survey. It’ll include photographs and in-depth notes on the property’s condition. You can then use my findings and advice to decide what to do going forward. For example, you might submit a lower offer based on a particular repair that needs doing. Of course, I’m always happy to go through the report with you and discuss my findings again.
Can GB Home Surveys in Bath help you?
As you’ve probably picked up by now, I love this city. I firmly believe it’s an excellent place for anyone and everyone to live, no matter who you are.
If moving to Bath is something that’s always been of interest to you, now’s a great time to move. Before buying a new home, getting a home survey done (and done well) is a crucial part of the process. Contact me for an obligation-free chat about the area or to discuss instructing a survey. In the meantime, feel free to check out GB Home Surveys’ quote calculator.
I hope you’ve found my thoughts of interest, and I look forward to potentially hearing from you.
All the best,
Martin Taylor MRICS
