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Discussion
Hello peeps
Need some info and advice on areas where to live.
I'll be moving up in a few months time and I'm looking at where would be suitable areas to look for a place. I'll be working in Dyce and the other half is likely to be in the Altens area. I was thinking of Westhill or the like, that would avoid either of us having to cross the city twice a day. Any thoughts would be appreciated, and if possible rough travelling times to get to each workplace.
cheers G
Need some info and advice on areas where to live.
I'll be moving up in a few months time and I'm looking at where would be suitable areas to look for a place. I'll be working in Dyce and the other half is likely to be in the Altens area. I was thinking of Westhill or the like, that would avoid either of us having to cross the city twice a day. Any thoughts would be appreciated, and if possible rough travelling times to get to each workplace.
cheers G
I live in WesthillElrick. Although my partner and I both work in Westhill, I find it a great place to live, it's far enough out of town, but not too far. As you say you can get anywhere without crossing town. I am not sure about commuting but in the evening for example I can be at Dyce and town centre in less than 15 minutes, out in the country in 1 minute, and altens in 20. Dyce isn't such a big deal in rush hour, maybe 30 mins or so, however Altens is a nightmare unless you live south of the city. I haven't worked there for 5 years now and it used to be a 40-60min commute home, morning were ok.
Edited by gwatson on Monday 12th February 12:40
There are lots of new-builds in the Blackburn/Kintore/Inverurie are at the moment, so more choice if you want a new house.
I live in Kintore, and in the rush hour it's about 15 minutes to Dyce (airport area), and probably under 10 minutes from Blackburn. Don't have to visit Altens that much, but last time it took about 50 minutes getting there for 8am. Only took 10 minutes to get to Kingswells, but then you are queuing pretty much the rest of the way. It could take you much longer if you stick to the main roads though, and don't use some rat runs.
John
I live in Kintore, and in the rush hour it's about 15 minutes to Dyce (airport area), and probably under 10 minutes from Blackburn. Don't have to visit Altens that much, but last time it took about 50 minutes getting there for 8am. Only took 10 minutes to get to Kingswells, but then you are queuing pretty much the rest of the way. It could take you much longer if you stick to the main roads though, and don't use some rat runs.
John
Edited by JohnS on Monday 12th February 14:27
My girlfriend lives in Cove which is just next to Altens, it takes her between 30 minutes to (very worst case) and hour and a half to get to Dyce for work, same coming back home. I live in Ferryhill in the city centre, takes me 20 minutes to get to work at the harbour if i take the car, 20 minutes if i walk.
Nice places to live, some nice bits in the city centre if you can handle the travelling, Westhill and Kingswell are both quite nice as well, Newmacher is a quiet out of city place if thats what you want. Most of Dyce is not great IMO
Nice places to live, some nice bits in the city centre if you can handle the travelling, Westhill and Kingswell are both quite nice as well, Newmacher is a quiet out of city place if thats what you want. Most of Dyce is not great IMO
I am also in Westhill/Elrick, quite nice but the house market seems to have gone crazy (See link) www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1177221.0.0.php
For day-to-day living it is pretty good with Tesco’s on your doorstep, an M&S food hall allegedly arriving soon, a Holiday Inn, a few pubs that do reasonable food and are quite family friendly although some of the patrons tend to be a bit anti south of the border. If you have children primary schools are good but the academy is getting pretty full and will continue to do so as the area grows. At the moment I think 500 odd houses are planned and no new schools or amenities and of course with more houses comes more traffic. Traffic has become noticeably worse over the last few years and will continue to deteriorate when the new houses are completed and all the new business’s open in the new industrial estate.
However, in comparison to other parts of the country it is really not that bad, my wife works in Dyce so she has a 30 odd min commute, I am in the city so 30 odd mins for me and when I was based in Altens I was a 40/45 min run.
Good luck
For day-to-day living it is pretty good with Tesco’s on your doorstep, an M&S food hall allegedly arriving soon, a Holiday Inn, a few pubs that do reasonable food and are quite family friendly although some of the patrons tend to be a bit anti south of the border. If you have children primary schools are good but the academy is getting pretty full and will continue to do so as the area grows. At the moment I think 500 odd houses are planned and no new schools or amenities and of course with more houses comes more traffic. Traffic has become noticeably worse over the last few years and will continue to deteriorate when the new houses are completed and all the new business’s open in the new industrial estate.
However, in comparison to other parts of the country it is really not that bad, my wife works in Dyce so she has a 30 odd min commute, I am in the city so 30 odd mins for me and when I was based in Altens I was a 40/45 min run.
Good luck
Edited by h2dca on Monday 12th February 16:06
Thanks to all for the advice.
I've subcribed to the Press & Journal, they have run few items on the housing situation in Westhill. Didn't think buying a house up there was going to be as difficult as it appears. Balls to sleeping in your car for a week just to get your name on a reserve list.
Can anyone suggest estate agent websites to have a look at, have found the ASPC site but there doesn't appear to be a huge amount of property on it. Or is that the reason demand is so high?
With regard to the "Offers over" system, what is the normal percentage of the asking price that you would have to slap on top to have a chance (I know that's probably a how long is a piece of string question, but ballpark figures would help give me an idea)
Cheers G
I've subcribed to the Press & Journal, they have run few items on the housing situation in Westhill. Didn't think buying a house up there was going to be as difficult as it appears. Balls to sleeping in your car for a week just to get your name on a reserve list.
Can anyone suggest estate agent websites to have a look at, have found the ASPC site but there doesn't appear to be a huge amount of property on it. Or is that the reason demand is so high?
With regard to the "Offers over" system, what is the normal percentage of the asking price that you would have to slap on top to have a chance (I know that's probably a how long is a piece of string question, but ballpark figures would help give me an idea)
Cheers G
uncle gueber said:
Can anyone suggest estate agent websites to have a look at, have found the ASPC site but there doesn't appear to be a huge amount of property on it. Or is that the reason demand is so high?
Cheers G
ASPC website will cover about 85-90% of all property on the market. Sometimes Aberdein Considine don't put all of their properties into ASPC so it's worth looking at their site
www.acandco.com.
There are very few non solicitor Esate Agents (who will not be in ASPC) try Bruce and Ptnrs ; Bain Properties etc
uncle gueber said:
With regard to the "Offers over" system, what is the normal percentage of the asking price that you would have to slap on top to have a chance (I know that's probably a how long is a piece of string question, but ballpark figures would help give me an idea)
I've seen sales this month at 10 below to 110% above!
Good luck
For your info - 2 2 bedroom flats in the same block in the west end of Aberdeen have sold this month.
The first was offers over 158k it went for 242k. The second was offers over 180k based on what the first one went for (the same selling agent in both cases) it went for 250k.
Both went to closing within 2 weeks of going on the market.
The first was offers over 158k it went for 242k. The second was offers over 180k based on what the first one went for (the same selling agent in both cases) it went for 250k.
Both went to closing within 2 weeks of going on the market.
I'm in Westhill and have worked in both Altens & Dyce since moving there. Dyce is a much easier commute - 20 mins on the back roads even at rush hour. Altens is more like 40 mins even on the back road but it you are early then you can get there through town in 20 mins or so.
The property market in Westhill is buoyant at the moment, I would think 20% over the asking price would not be uncommon. People camped out overnight to sign up for the next phase of new houses in Elrick recently!
The property market in Westhill is buoyant at the moment, I would think 20% over the asking price would not be uncommon. People camped out overnight to sign up for the next phase of new houses in Elrick recently!
Have been a busy boy at work & Noel still has the car. I won't get it back until sometime in March when exactly depends on his A1 GP commitments.
Off to Angola the weekend of the Celtic Gathering so I'll miss that jolly
I'll make it to a few of the Nessie meets later in the year though, see you then. Looking forward to seeing the new additions to your fleet.
Off to Angola the weekend of the Celtic Gathering so I'll miss that jolly
I'll make it to a few of the Nessie meets later in the year though, see you then. Looking forward to seeing the new additions to your fleet.
agent006 said:
Ho ho. Being overtaken by a supply vessel would be embarrassing.
I grew up in Westhill! (Does that count?)
Nice enough place. Nothing special, but there are worse places in the that part of the world.
If you look at one of the older 1970ies houses in the centre of the town, you will get *very* large rooms by today's shoe box standards. Be a little bit wary as these are timber frame and are now into the second half of their design life (note - design life, not physical life). Expect some updating to be required, but worth it for the room sizes. These are the Westwood, Westfield, Leslie, Keir roads. Depending on your budget, have a look at the Grange, or the houses going up to the golf course club house (stunning (and I mean stunning!) views to the Loch of Skene and far beyond). Or if you want something a bit newer the Cala houses round the side of the golf course are supposed to be good. I would avoid all of the new houses out towards Kirkton of Skene and down towards Elrick as there's modern generic shoeboxes,although older houses in Elrick are okay if traffic is your thing.
Quick edit to say that the bypass was "just about" to be built when I was a kid - 25 years ago!! It runs up the West side, obviously. Once you see Anderson Drive in all it's glory with the oil workers in their "it's a company car and I don't care if I hit you" attitude, you'll see why it will be a good thing.
Nice enough place. Nothing special, but there are worse places in the that part of the world.
If you look at one of the older 1970ies houses in the centre of the town, you will get *very* large rooms by today's shoe box standards. Be a little bit wary as these are timber frame and are now into the second half of their design life (note - design life, not physical life). Expect some updating to be required, but worth it for the room sizes. These are the Westwood, Westfield, Leslie, Keir roads. Depending on your budget, have a look at the Grange, or the houses going up to the golf course club house (stunning (and I mean stunning!) views to the Loch of Skene and far beyond). Or if you want something a bit newer the Cala houses round the side of the golf course are supposed to be good. I would avoid all of the new houses out towards Kirkton of Skene and down towards Elrick as there's modern generic shoeboxes,although older houses in Elrick are okay if traffic is your thing.
Quick edit to say that the bypass was "just about" to be built when I was a kid - 25 years ago!! It runs up the West side, obviously. Once you see Anderson Drive in all it's glory with the oil workers in their "it's a company car and I don't care if I hit you" attitude, you'll see why it will be a good thing.
Edited by dxg on Monday 19th February 23:06
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