Home in on sites that move
It's the home-buying and selling season again; a time when it's so easy to make costly mistakes. So why not look before you leap and avoid some of those pitfalls around the corner?
UpMyStreet: If you're thinking of a move to a completely new area of England or Wales, and want to know things the estate agent would rather not discuss, check here for a factual snapshot of the place. Just tap in your post code or town name, and UpMyStreet tells you relative property values, best local schools, council tax rate, crime clear-up rate and ambulance response time, plus guides to useful services, shops, cinemas and pubs.
www.upmystreet.com/Property Live: From the National Association of Estate Agents ('voice of the profession in the UK') a splendid guide to homes for sale or to let. Tap in details of the place you're after, or click on the map.
www.propertylive.co.uk/HouseWeb: How to go about buying or selling a home, and basic advice on making moving day as painless as possible. (Major items: Book time off work, have champagne on hand when it's all over).
www.houseweb.co.uk/Pickfords: It's been shifting sofas and beds and goodness knows what else for nearly four centuries. Now this famous firm is part of the huge Allied Pickfords international removals network. A map on the web site shows where all the UK offices and storage warehouses are, but to get contact details you need to phone.
www.pickfords.co.uk/UK Web Property Directories: Click on the town and/or postcode and see what's on offer in the buying and renting property market. The web site covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
www.realestate.demon.co.ukFor more sites on this or any other subject, contact the UK Plus web guide (http://www.ukplus.co.uk).