Choosing your dream property in Brentwood
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Our newsBuying the right home in this varied and well-connected area of Essex
Like many areas of Essex within easy reach of London, Brentwood offers a good choice of living environments. Rural-like villages sit side by side with more built up areas, yet practicalities such as strong transport links abound, making it a good choice if proximity to London and various transport options are important.
Brentwood offers plenty of other amenities such as good schooling, plenty of shopping, strong leisure options and easy escapes to more rural environments. But choosing your ideal property takes time and a basic knowledge of the area.
Deciding on your requirements
Before you start house hunting, be clear in what you require both in terms of your property specification and the location.
Location - for example, if you’re new to the area and require easy access to transport links, then properties nearer mainline railway stations such as Brentwood or Shenfield may be a priority.
Perhaps you need the convenience of living in a well-connected area like Brentwood but would prefer to have a more rural feel to your location? If so, nearby villages such as 'The Five Parishes' might suit.
Property specifications - knowing exactly what you require of your property helps make the house hunting process more focused.
The emotional aspect can play a huge part when buying property, but keeping what you need firmly in mind will help you stick to properties that meet your requirements rather than spending time viewing those that may have an emotional pull but ultimately won’t suit you long term.
Research the area
Even if you think you have a reasonable idea of the lay of the land - perhaps you’ll be moving to Brentwood from a neighbouring area - it still pays to research what the region offers and its general make up. For instance, you may have a certain school in mind for your offspring so ensure you know where it is to maybe focus on properties in its catchment area. If you’re new to Essex generally, then it's useful to know it’s an area with more to offer than simply good rail links and close proximity to London.
Brentwood as an area
This affluent town is known heavily for its connection with television series ‘The Only Way is Essex’ (Towie) - much of the popular programme first broadcast in 2010 is filmed in Brentwood, and some cast members have opened boutiques and nightclubs in the area.
As mentioned above, Brentwood offers a mix of built up and more rural locations, and there’s a variety of property types suiting most budgets from smaller apartments up to seven figure executive homes. A knowledgeable Brentwood estate agents can help give you an idea of what’s available in the areas of interest to you - and offer advice on specific areas too if you need it.
Strong road and rail links
Brentwood is well placed if strong transport links are a requirement:
Rail - Brentwood and Shenfield offer quick connections to London, and these will be even quicker when Crossrail becomes established. This new rail link starts at Shenfield and means faster travel into London and beyond - it reaches as far as Reading to the west of the capital.
Road - Brentwood is adjacent to the A12 linking East Anglia with London and its interchange with the M25. From here it’s a short distance to the Dartford Crossing and into Kent, and - going anti clockwise - the M11 motorway is close by.
Air - Essex has two airports, Stansted and Southend, with both easily reached from Brentwood while Gatwick and Heathrow are both about an hour away on the M25.
Do the groundwork
The time you spend doing some research on the Brentwood area and property types available will be well worthwhile to ensure you secure your dream property.