Passage B

One of the most important things to consider before buying any property is the location, because it is where you plan to spend a large part of your life or the rest of your life in some circumstances. Therefore consider the type of life you enjoy leaning. Are you a very sociable person who enjoys nightclubs and discos? If so, then you may wish to consider something close to a city, or indeed, in a city where it is convenient for all types of nightlife.

On the other hand, if you like me you prefer a quieter life, then you may what to consider something away from the city. However, do remember that proximity to your place of work is also important. Indeed, we spend most of our life at work, and you don't want to have to spend two or more hours every day travelling to work now, do you? Therefore transport is of the utmost importance. City suburbs, however, are often conveniently located for commuting to work, or for shopping, without being in the heart of a busy city.

You may, however, think that a house in the suburbs would be far too expensive. Yet house located in cities can often exceed the price of suburban houses. So check out the prices. You may be surprised.

Family is another important consideration. You may prefer a house that is away from busy street or main road. And,of course, remember that children have to attend school: is there a good school in the area, or would your children have to travel a long distance to get to school? Therefore, if you have children or you plan to have children, location is a very important factor. And of course, remember that a family influences the size of the property.

There are, of course, various types of houses. There are detached houses, which stand alone, and are not joined by another building. Then there are semi-detached houses, which, incidentally, are the most common. And for good reason,because they are less expensive than detached houses. This is because they are, in fact, two houses joined together, and therefore take up less space. And finally there are town houses, which are many houses joined together to form a long row. But don't think that town houses are less expensive than semi-detached houses. They rarely are. This is because they are usually built in cities where the property is very expensive indeed.

The age of property is another consideration. If you're considering buying an old house, beware: you may be faced with expensive repairs and renovation bills. So have the house thoroughly checked by a professional surveyor before you decide to buy. But then again there are things you can look for yourself—things such as the condition of the woodwork,especially doors and windows that can be expensive to replace. But more importantly make sure all the fixtures and fittings, things such as cupboards, sinks, taps and bathtubs are all in good working order because replacing kitchens and bathrooms can be a very costly business.

And don't forget the garden, if the property has one. If you enjoy gardening, then fine. But if you don't enjoy gardening then you may prefer a small garden, opposed to a big one. But even if you do enjoy gardening it is important to remember that gardens take up a lot of your time. So keeping a garden in good order may be very difficult if you work long hours.

One final thing is the general feel of the place. Does it have a good atmosphere? And most importantly of all, would feel comfortable living there?

According to the article, it is important to consider many factors except ________when buying a property.

Houses in cities are ________.

If you have children, ________.

According to the article, when buying an old house you should pay particular attention to ________.

According to the article, gardens can be ________.