Suburb features that add thousands to your property value

“When people are looking for a home, part of that is also their future wealth being tied up with wherever they are choosing to live. That’s where choosing the right location in a growing city like Melbourne is becoming very, very important,” she says. 

Buyers’ advocate Nicole Jacobs, author of SOLD: How to Buy and Sell Your Home With Real Confidence, and a regular on TV renovation show The Block, advises potential buyers to do due diligence on the particulars of the home’s precise location. Her firm uses Landchecker, an online service that offers access to a wealth of information on any individual address, including zoning, boundaries, high-resolution aerial imagery and planning permits and caveats, as well as price history. 

“It is one of those due diligence tools that is a must for me when I am looking at property for clients,” she explains. “Everyone should be aiming to get as much information about a property before they buy — don’t take the word of someone else.”

We asked Nicole and Jenny for their expert tips on what to look for and what to avoid when choosing a place to live. 

Location features that add value

1. Public transport

Access to transport is a key consideration for buyers of all ages, says Nicole. It affects lifestyle, budgets and even mental health (by way of reducing the stress of sitting in traffic). “Infrastructure surrounding transport and the ease of getting on to a bus, train or tram is really important — having it around the corner is a huge bonus,” she says. If you can’t afford the suburb you really desire, she suggests doing your research into government plans for infrastructure upgrades and buying a property close to the next transport hub.

2. Schools

Families want to be near the schools of their choice, says Nicole, and buy accordingly. This is so kids can travel to and from school without fuss, and feel part of the community by easily attending local sporting and social events. She says it is imperative for families to do their research — new residential developments near popular schools may force those schools to shift or reduce their catchment zone boundaries. “So you really need to buy as close to those schools as possible,” she says.

3. Cafes and local shops

Melbourne’s enduring latte love affair continues to increase the allure of living within walking distance of coffee shop hubs, and Jenny says this demand is also fuelling a resurgence of old-fashioned shopping strips. “There is a trend toward people wanting to shop locally,” she says. “They want to support local communities. Clearly what we have seen recently with the bushfires, I think Australians really want to support one another and if we can do that at a community level in areas that we work and live in, part of that includes cafes and having shops that have that appeal.”

4. Open spaces and water

Not everyone can afford a waterfront view, but Jenny says proximity to water, coastal walks and open parkland cannot be underestimated. 

“The appeal of the general health and wellbeing that comes from living by the water for many people, coupled with that access to transport and healthcare make for a very appealing life in a major city,” she says. Ditto for nearby parks where buyers with limited space can enjoy the outdoors with children and pets. “Having access to open parkland, playgrounds and amenities are crucial to parents when choosing a place to raise their family.”