I have been accepted at the University of Sheffield to complete my master's and will move my family there sometime in July/August. I live in Canada and therefore have NO idea about the neighbourhoods/communities around Sheffield. I have been reading your forum for the past several days, but I still have a few questions!

1. Could anyone recommend a decent estate agent? Or do you recommend that I deal with vendors privately? I emailed 16 estate agents 1 1/2 months ago and not one has responded! I would prefer to buy rather than rent (mostly because I am bringing a cat and dog with me...and was told it would be difficult to rent).

2. Could anyone recommend a really nice school? My son will be starting school this fall.

3. I don't mind a commute into Sheffield...so if there are any areas anyone can recommend to me, I would greatly appreciate it! I prefer a small community with trees/views, friendly people and low crime rate. I have made a list of previously recommended areas (ie, Hillsborough, Stannington, Loxley, etc) but only have a price range of max. 75,000 pounds (our Canadian dollar does not go far in England! :wink: )

4. Any other information that you would like to give would be GREATLY APPERCIATED!

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
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You can get a decent 2 bedroom semi detached home in the Sothall area of Sheffield for £69,950-£72,000. It's close to the countryside and very low crime rate. the area is private and the schools are pretty much bog standard to most others (although you can look further for schools if you wish)!

You'll be stuggling to get a 3 bed semi or anything you may call decent sized for £75k around this neck of the woods, or even anywhere close to tree's and the things you're looking for.

You could try Rotherham, which is the next town over from Sheffield but I have no idea of the good areas around there.

You may be best just checking out the websites of some of the estate agents to get a feel of what you're after.
If you see something you like, post a link to the house on here and (use this thread) and we (I) will give you an opinion if it helps.

The websites I'd check out are:
http://www.blundells.co.uk/
http://www.halifax.co.uk/estateagency/home.shtml
http://www.estateangels.co.uk/agents/13075

There are others and maybe some people could post some links to more or have a look at some other threads for some links.

Good luck! :D

S8 is a very good and sought after postcode for quality schools. AND you can find 3 bed terraces for under 80k - certainly in Meersbrook. We have lots of parks and mature trees, and friendly neighbours. S8 includes parts of Heeley, all of Meersbrook, Norton Lees, Woodseats, and Greenhill.
Blundells and Reeds Rains are the main estate agents in our area, with Baldersons coming a close second. Do beware Blundells, however...they are masters of putting houses on the market at low offering prices, getting a bidding war going, and then closing with blind bids which is very nervewracking :? Still, we managed with them all right.

Best of luck
Laura

Originally posted by "senseofplace"

S8 is a very good and sought after postcode for quality schools. AND you can find 3 bed terraces for under 80k - certainly in Meersbrook. We have lots of parks and mature trees, and friendly neighbours. S8 includes parts of Heeley, all of Meersbrook, Norton Lees, Woodseats, and Greenhill.
Blundells and Reeds Rains are the main estate agents in our area, with Baldersons coming a close second. Do beware Blundells, however...they are masters of putting houses on the market at low offering prices, getting a bidding war going, and then closing with blind bids which is very nervewracking :? Still, we managed with them all right.

Best of luck
Laura
I'd personally steer clear of most of the Heeley area.
Although I find Meersbrook, Meadowhead, Norton Lees and Woodseats very nice. Greenhill.... questionable.
A freind of mine has recently bought a house at Norton Lees (3 bed semi) in a delapidated state for £115k! So prices are rising fast!

Heeley isn't very bad at all, but that's why I said S8 :lol: . The not-so-refined :P areas of Heeley are S2.
I agree that semis are more expensive, which is why I would be looking at 3bed terraces, which are a good size, and less expensive. On my road they are going for 70-80K for a well kept, modernised 3bed terrace in a nice area.
oops, gotta go


Laura

I have a friend who has just moved over to Sheffield from Toronto, though he was from Sheffiled originally, and moved to Canada about twenty years ago. He is also looking for place to live at the moment, and is looking for a school for his daughter. Ill have a word with him tommorow, because he will have gone through all of the trials and tribulations that you are going through.

Mail me direct at eamonn@three-h.co.uk, and Ill pass your address onto him.


Yours


Eamonn

House prices have gone ballistic in Sheffield over the last few years and you will struggle to find much in the nicer parts of the city for 75k - however, since you don't mind a commute it might be worth looking around the Chesterfield area (up and coming apparantly, but still cheaper than Sheff) and other more rural areas to the north and south of the city. A bloke I did some web design work for bought an enormous house with pool/outbuildings/etc/etc for £250k a few years ago at the other side of Doncaster in a nice rural setting. That sort of property on the Peak district side of Sheffield would have been double to three times the price.

Bear in mind commuting in an out of Sheffield can also be very trying due to the traffic situation.

Estate agents sites, relating to Sheffield/surrounding area:

http://www.blundells.co.uk

http://www.haybrook.com

http://www.saxtonmee.co.uk

http://www.reedsrains.co.uk

http://www.elr.co.uk

http://www.halifax.co.uk/estateagency/home.shtml


I don't know what I could recommend for that budget, sorry. Try searching around on the estate agents sites, and when you find a good house that you like that suits your budget, find out its postcode (if this is not displayed you can find it out using the address at http://www.royalmail.co.uk) and then put the postcode in at http://www.upmystreet.com . Some of the estate agents sites provide a ready made link for this so use that if you can, if not, as above - find out the postcode and plug it in yourself. This will give you some idea of what the local area is like, a map for its location, political representatives, property price guide, etc.

:D Thank you everyone for all of your help! It is greatly appreciated! :D

If you need to find a good school for your kids, why don't you look on the ofsted reports of each school. I think the address is http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/

Good luck!

[fixed link]

sorry! it was www.ofsted.gov.uk

fixed the other link for you anyway :)

i would have a look around Scunthorpe area. The roads are excellent into Sheffield about 45 minutes. Epworth is a nice little town and with 75k to put down and a small mortgage you would be better off than in Sheffield. The school there is pretty good too, the down side is a dentist, he's overloaded with work and will not take on new patients.

I have been accepted at the University of Sheffield to complete my master's and will move my family there sometime in July/August. I live in Canada and therefore have NO idea about the neighbourhoods/communities around Sheffield. I have been reading your forum for the past several days, but I still have a few questions!

1. Could anyone recommend a decent estate agent? Or do you recommend that I deal with vendors privately? I emailed 16 estate agents 1 1/2 months ago and not one has responded! I would prefer to buy rather than rent (mostly because I am bringing a cat and dog with me...and was told it would be difficult to rent).

2. Could anyone recommend a really nice school? My son will be starting school this fall.

3. I don't mind a commute into Sheffield...so if there are any areas anyone can recommend to me, I would greatly appreciate it! I prefer a small community with trees/views, friendly people and low crime rate. I have made a list of previously recommended areas (ie, Hillsborough, Stannington, Loxley, etc) but only have a price range of max. 75,000 pounds (our Canadian dollar does not go far in England! :wink: )

4. Any other information that you would like to give would be GREATLY APPERCIATED!

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
[/b]

The best website is iy find homes is www.rightmove.co.uk. ,
can i also recomend a mortgage company the guild of independent mortgage advisers, www.goima.co.uk. they search mortgages from all lenders{ unlike brokers and banks} and donot chare you a fee. Its Free
hope this helps

The classic advice would be that Broomhill is the student area. You might find rented that accepts your kid and pets for a reasonable price. However the prices might be too much. A studio flat in a nice bit of Broomhill might typically cost £80-100k! This is why I suggest rental, it would only be for a year (i presume) and you would find out for your self what the areas are like. My partner and I have only just summonned up enough courage to leave the leafy safety of the south west (S10,S11,S12) for the north of sheffield. So far it's been OK. The countryside near us is nice.

The traffic can be a hassle, and you'll find the uni want a fair bit of money in parking fees. which will depend on which bit of the Uni you go to, and whether you mind walking the last 10 mins. What is you Master going to be in BTW?

Oh, hang on look at the date you first posted, you will have come and gone or settled here by now!!!!

hi mate,

I am available to chat to you, re your impending move to sheffield. If you need anything just ask away.

I have contacts and for a family man like you with pets it may be possible to rent a suitable property rather thsn buying.

please email me and I will try to assist; markharrop@aol.com

thanks

Mark

Hi,

I have just read your thread re: moving from Canada. Have you had a uote to remoe your household goods or are you still requiring one? if so please do not hesitate to contact either Stacey or Louise @ Specialised Movers Tel: 0114 2611183

You have of course all realised that this thread was started almost 3 years ago ?

Thanks Lindsey most switched on...!

He's still packing. It's amazing how much stuff you acculmulate, y'know?

You have of course all realised that this thread was started almost 3 years ago ?

Absolute classic!

Hi, this is strange, we are also moving to sheff. from Canada! My daughter is also starting school, and my husband doing his masters! Kinda funny eh? It would be great to connect and see what progress you have made and what you have discovered! Hope to connect!

duh, just realized this post is from forever ago!